Not sure what to do in Amarillo?
This essential stop along the historic U.S. Route 66 is full of all sorts of fun for travelers of all ages!
If you’re perhaps looking to move to the Lone Star State, Amarillo has been crowned one of the best small towns to live in Texas!
From local history, to modern culture, to exciting parks and race tracks, here are the 21 best things to do in Amarillo, Texas (one of the best towns in Texas!)
GET A FREE TEXAS GUIDEBOOK WITH LOCAL TIPS!
With 71 pages of helpful travel tips and the “best of” Texas lists, this is your ad-free key to your Texas trip.
How to get around Amarillo
Like most of Texas, the best way to get around Amarillo is to explore on your own by car!
If you’re visiting and need to rent a car to get to your Amarillo activities, we highly recommend Discover Cars where they find you the best car rental deals from all of the competitors (has saved us so much money!).
Click here to check out Discover Cars.
Where to stay in Amarillo
From renovated VRBOS to boutique hotels, here are the best places to stay in Amarillo.
- (Hotel) My Place Hotel – with large family rooms, outdoor BBQing facilities and a friendly staff at the front desk, My Place Hotel is well-loved in Amarillo as the best place to rest your head. With kitchenettes in the rooms and laundry facilities, you can stay here for longer periods in comfort. Click here to check prices and read reviews.
- (AirBnb/VrBO) Lonestar Loft – this new-build house sleeps two in a master bedroom and two on a pull-out sofa, perfect for a family. Enjoy the stunning granite counter tops, Texas décor through and through, and immaculately clean Amarillo AirBnb. Click here to check prices and read reviews.
1. Get your kicks on Route 66!
Route 66 passes right through Amarillo, as mentioned in the classic song.
The city’s Route 66 Historic District is easily one of the best places to go in Amarillo, with plenty of classic eateries, vintage motels, gift shops, and more!
First, stop by the Texas Route 66 Visitor Center, where you’ll want to get your first vacay photo in front of the mural on the side of the building.
Then, head over to the Historic 6th Street sign and snap a pic or two before checking out the surrounding antique shops and eateries.
The Eatery on Route 66 may be a newer establishment, but its local charm and colorful macarons make it a cafe worth visiting!
For a more historic restaurant, check out the GoldenLight Cafe (more on that later)!
2. Take the coolest road trip photos at Cadillac Ranch
A quintessential US road trip attraction, Cadillac Ranch is a public art installation that’s been drawing visitors since 1974.
The half-buried Cadillacs spray painted in colorful graffiti make for an awesome photo op, and the attraction is open all day every day with no paid admission necessary!
Less than a mile away is another tourist attraction, the 2nd Amendment Cowboy, as well as a gift shop.
3. Dive into culture at the Amarillo Museum of Art
Looking for artistic things to do in Amarillo?
The Amarillo Museum of Art is a small but well-curated museum with a permanent collection of over 2,000 pieces!
The museum emphasizes historical American art, but also features Asian and modern works.
And the best part? Admission is free!
4. Check out the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum
Is there a horse enthusiast in your travel party?
If so, you’ve got to take them to the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum!
Located right off of the interstate, this museum will impress you before you even set foot inside, with life-sized statues surrounding the building – perfect for photo ops!
Inside, you’ll learn about the history of the American Quarter Horse, including some hands-on exhibits ideal for young visitors.
5. Get your Texas on at The Big Texan
The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery is world-renowned as one of the most quintessential Texan restaurants in the state.
It’s also one of the best breweries in Texas!
In fact, they’re such a big deal, they’ve got their own gift shop!
Head on down to The Big Texan for a Texas-sized meal in a restaurant overflowing with fun and immersive decor.
Looking for a unique stay in Amarillo? Check out the Big Texan Motel!
6. Visit the oldest restaurant in Amarillo, the GoldenLight Cafe
First opened in 1946, the GoldenLight Cafe may not look like much from the outside, but it’s adored by locals, and rich with history.
Located right along the historic Route 66, this is the perfect place to grab lunch or dinner and enjoy some live music.
With over 200 raving reviews about their burgers alone, it’s clear that the GoldenLight Cafe is one of the best places to get some classic American food in Amarillo.
7. Take a breathtaking stroll through the Amarillo Botanical Gardens
Step into paradise at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens!
Here, you’ll enjoy over four acres of thriving plantlife, including a lush greenhouse, a Japanese Garden and koi pond, and a small but breathtaking waterfall.
Traveling in December? Stop by the gardens in the evening to see them lit up with holiday charm!
8. Have a blast at Wonderland Amusem*nt Park
Wonderland Amusem*nt Park has been providing endless summer fun for families in Amarillo since 1951!
From thrilling roller coasters, to classic carnival-style rides, to refreshing water rides, Wonderland has something for everyone.
Not feeling the rides?
Check out the park’s mini golf course, or play some games in the classic arcade!
Head to the park on a Sunday for a special discount!
9. Hike the nature trails at Wildcat Bluff Nature Center
Take a walk through the dirt and rock trails at Amarillo’s nature preserve, the Wildcat Bluff Nature Center.
It’s not the most scenic hike, but it’s a great place to get some fresh air and stretch your legs after a long drive.
Traveling with dogs? Bring them onto the trail, too!
Just be sure to take some water with you, especially in the summer, and watch out for snakes and tarantulas along the path!
10. Go horseback riding
Ready to get your gallop on?
There are plenty of equestrian centers in or around Amarillo!
Take a breathtaking horseback ride through a canyon with Palo Duro Riding Stables.
Located just 30 miles away in Canyon, TX, this tried and true business has been open since 1962, and is one of the best things to do near Amarillo.
Looking to stay in town?
Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West will give you more than just a horseback ride – they’ll teach you about what western life was like in Texas back in the day!
11. Take the kids to the Don Harrington Discovery Center
The Don Harrington Discovery Center is easily one of the best Amarillo attractions for families with kids of all ages.
Your little ones will receive equal parts entertainment and education as they see a show at the Space Theater, learn about weather conditions on Earth and in space, or pretend to be an ant as they crawl through the museum’s giant ant farm replica!
The interactive KinderStudio is perfect for ages 0-6, and the life-sized animatronic dinosaurs looming over the Outdoor Science Park are sure to be an awe-inspiring sight for all ages!
Stop by Critter Row for a chance to meet Pinky the snake, or maybe even hold a tarantula!
12. …Or to Medical Center Park for some fun on the playground!
Kids of all ages will have a blast at Medical Center Park, locally known as Medi Park, where the huge neon green playground makes for the perfect day of fun!
Getting hot out? The park’s Splash Pad is full of fountains and mist zones to keep the summer heat at bay.
The duck pond and picnic tables are a scenic spot for a packed lunch, and in the plaza nearby is the Helium Time Columns Monument, made in 1968!
13. Check out the Jack Sisemore RV Museum
Open Thursday through Saturday, the Jack Sisemore RV Museum is an Amarillo attraction you don’t want to miss!
This free museum is located inside an RV dealership, and features over a dozen RVs that span decades of life on the road.
Each RV is stocked with things from their time period, to give you a glimpse of what travelers took with them back in the day.
Don’t forget to check out the world’s oldest Airstream, which dates all the way back to 1935!
14. Get a load of the classic cars at Bill’s Backyard Classics
The museum itself may only be less than a decade old, but the collection at Bill’s Backyard Classics has quickly grown into one of the coolest things to see in Amarillo!
With over 90 automobiles from as early as the 1920s all the way up to 2012, there’s plenty to see at this family-friendly museum.
The tour guides are full of interesting facts about the vehicles, so you’ll get a small history lesson in addition to an up-close look at this grand collection.
Remember to bring a camera so you can take some memorable vacation pics in front of these classic beauties!
15. Experience life in the fast lane at an Amarillo race track
One of the most exciting Amarillo things to do, you’ve gotta take the whole family out for an exhilarating experience at one of the city’s race tracks!
Your heart will be racing along with the cars as the ground rumbles under your stadium seats at Route 66 Motor Speedway.
Or, find out just how fast a car can go as racers zoom down the strip at Amarillo Dragway, with plenty of events from February through November!
16. Support a good cause at Kind House Ukraine Bakery
What’s better than delicious homemade goods?
Delicious homemade goods that support a good cause!
At Kind House Ukraine Bakery, there are no set prices.
Instead, the bakery accepts donations of any amount for each order, and the money goes directly to help the people of Ukraine.
You’ve got to try their locally adored, melt-in-your-mouth sweet cinnamon rolls!
Or, try a decadent Marble Salted Caramel cake, or order a dozen or two variety cookies for the family!
Be sure to order a week in advance so you can pick up your treats when you roll into town.
17. See the animals at Amarillo Zoo
Got $4.50 and a curiosity for wildlife?
Then you’ve got all you need to take a trip to Amarillo Zoo!
Amarillo Zoo has at least 70 different species, including the African Lion, the American Black Bear, and the Bengal Tiger!
This zoo might be small, but its cheap tickets are absolutely worth it for a couple hours of fun.
Be sure to get there either in the morning or the late afternoon to see the animals at their liveliest!
18. Go to an escape room
If you’re looking for exciting things to do in Amarillo, the city is home to several highly rated escape room experiences!
Time travel to the 1980s at Escape the Trap House, discover the truth about aliens at Xcape Room Warehouse’s Area 52, or go up against a dark wizard at Cinergy’s Wizards of Wormbly escape room.
Older players will enjoy a spookier experience in an abandoned house at Amarillo Escape & Mystery, a cursed mummy at Xcape Room Warehouse, or Cinergy’s Zombie Hour!
19. See a double feature at the Tascosa Drive In
One of the last remaining drive-in theaters in Texas, the Tascosa Drive In has been around since 1952.
Their evening double feature showings and moderately priced concessions make for one of the most affordable fun things to do in Amarillo!
Just remember to bring cash, as this location is cash only!
20. Check out the Texas Air & Space Museum
The Texas Air & Space Museum will give you an up-close and personal look at both military and civilian aircraft from as far back as the 1940s!
Children of all ages will jump at the chance to sit in the co*ckpit of an actual aircraft, and there are plenty of opportunities for memorable vacation photos throughout the museum!
This exciting museum is free to enter, but donations are very much appreciated.
21. Go downtown!
Downtown Amarillo is full of culture, craft beer, and excellent local cuisine.
The hip atmosphere of Six Car Pub & Brewery is the perfect spot to grab some lunch and a craft beer, and their rooftop patio will give you a great view of downtown.
Marvel at the brick towers of the Herring Hotel.
No longer in operation, this vintage downtown accommodation is a popular tourist attraction.
At night, the old Paramount Theater sign illuminates South Polk Street with colors of gold, blue, and red – an absolute must-see!
While the Paramount Theater has been closed for years, the nearby Globe-News Center Performance Hall is the perfect place to catch a show, with its stunning, unique indoor architecture.
Traveling with friends over the age of 21?
Head over to Lit Arcade Bar for a fun night of classic arcade games and reasonably priced drinks!
