There’s such a great mix of things to do in Amarillo, Texas like outdoor adventure, awesome food, and unique spots such as the quirky Cadillac Ranch and historic Route 66 District.
We honestly didn’t know what to expect before we visited, but we had so much fun exploring this underrated area. In the guide, we’ll share our top recommendations for things to do in Amarillo to help you plan your trip!
This post is written in partnership with Travel Texas, but all opinions are our own.
How to get to Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas is located in the Texas Panhandle. We drove from Denver and it took a little over 6 hours. You can also fly into Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA), which is located about 8 miles east of downtown Amarillo.
Things to do in Amarillo, Texas
Explore Palo Duro Canyon State Park
This was our favorite things we did in Amarillo! You’re going to want to dedicate a full day to exploring this beautiful state park.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is actually the second largest canyon in the United States after the Grand Canyon and there’s so much to do. You could honestly spend a full weekend exploring Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
Things to do at Palo Duro Canyon State Park
- Hiking: we would highly recommend hiking the Lighthouse Trail which is a mostly flat 6 mile trail to the unique rock formation that the park is known for
- Glamping
- Camping
- Horseback riding
- Ziplining
- TEXAS Outdoor Musical during the summer
- Lunch at Sad Monkey Mercantile
- See the Texas Longhorn cows near the entrance
- Check out the exhibits at the visitor center
Stop at Honey Buzz Winery for lunch and to try local mead and honey
Honey Buzz Winery and Creek House Honey Farm are located right next to each other in Canyon, Texas, which is just south of Amarillo and right outside of Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
Honey Buzz Winery offers mead tasting, local honey tasting, and amazing lunch options. Mead is considered to be one of the oldest types of alcohol and is a drink made from honey. This was one of the most fun lunch experiences of the trip!
We enjoyed avocado toast with spicy honey and goat cheese, rosemary, and walnut toast with local honey. We also got to taste chocolate honey and 6 of their unique flavors of mead.
Next door, Creek House Honey Farm sells home goods, skincare products made from local honey, and other honey related items.
Eat Brunch at Savor Tapas
This upscale dining experience offers brunch and dinner. We were really impressed with the aesthetic decor and the incredible service at Savor Tapas! Not to mention, the food was delicious. We went for brunch and got a variety of tapas items.
We honestly considered going back for dinner because the paella looked so good, but we figured we should try something different. They also offer unique cocktails, a beautiful bar area, and cozy booth seating. Definitely make time for a meal here!
Explore Historic 6th Street District
Historic 6th Street District is the one mile stretch of Route 66 in Amarillo that is home vintage/antique stores, historic bars and restaurants, and fun murals. It used to serve as a cultural hub for travelers along Route 66.
It was really cool to see the historic architecture of the historic buildings. The vintage shops, quirky bookstores, and kitschy decor contributed to the unique atmosphere. We’d say Historic 6th street is a must stop!
Go Shopping at From 6th Collective
We’ve never been somewhere quite like From 6th Collective! We always love shopping for local goods and there’s no better place than From 6th Collective.
This 5 acre property is home to a 15,000 square foot retail center featuring stalls from 50 small businesses. The warehouse had the cutest aesthetic too, with many amazing photo opportunities and each stall was different from the next!
It’s nearly impossible not to find something unique here. There’s also a fun on site Hawaiian restaurant called Aloha Kitchen.
Drink Beer at Pondaseta Brewing
Pondaseta Brewing was one of our favorite stops in Amarillo! We always love trying local beers and Pondaseta Brewing did not disappoint. I tried the “Don’t Call me Goose” sour beer and absolutely loved it!
Pondaseta Brewing offers a huge variety of beers and a fun atmosphere. This spot is also home to a food truck, so you can visit hungry.
Visit Cadillac Ranch roadside attraction for a photo opp!
Cadillac Ranch is a famous roadside attraction built in the 1970s. It features a line of ten Caddillacs half buried and sticking out of the ground. We’d recommend visiting at sunset or sunrise for the best light for photography!
This is a really popular photography spot, so you won’t be alone; however, it’s possible to get photos without people in them if you’re patient. Consider bringing your own spray paint if you want to leave your mark on the cars.
There were some spray paint cans around as well. The installation is an evolving piece of art, with layers upon layers of paint covering the cars.
Drink Specialty Coffee at Palace Coffee
Palace Coffee has three locations in Amarillo and one in Canyon as well. We fell in love with this coffee shop! The cozy and inviting atmosphere had tons of seating and would be a great place to work remotely. The coffee itself was absolutely delicious.
Go on a Mural Scavenger Hunt
You’ll probably notice murals all over Amarillo no matter what you’re doing! You can check out a map of all of the murals here. We enjoyed looking through the map for our favorites and then visiting them.
Some of them are in plain sight and some are a bit more hidden! They make for great photography opportunities.
Check out Downtown Amarillo
Downtown Amarillo is home to a lively atmosphere and a wide variety of restaurants and bars including breweries, speakeasies, casual eateries, and fine dining. We ate at Crush Wine Bar which offers a wide selection of wine and comfort food.
We didn’t have reservations, so we sat upstairs at the bar which is open seating. Although we liked the atmosphere, we would recommend making reservations in advance if it’s a weekend as it was quite crowded.
Responsible Recreation in Amarillo, Texas
Please leave no trace while exploring by packing out your trash and staying on trail! Download offline trail maps as there is no service in the state park. Palo Duro Canyon can get extremely hot during the summer so be sure to pack plenty of water and sunscreen.
Have you been to Amarillo?
