Looking for the best weekend getaways from Amarillo in the Texas panhandle?
The Texas Panhandle region is full of outdoor things to do from hiking and biking to fishing and skiing.
But it also has a variety of urban weekend getaways including cities and museums that are perfect for those who don’t want to spend time outside.
Amarillo, Texas offers plenty of options when it comes to beautiful sights, delicious food, and exciting activities; so here’s the list of 20 best weekend getaways from Amarillo.
Also Read
Best Things to do in Amarillo, Texas
Best Museums in Amarillo, Texas
Capulin Volcano National Monument, New Mexico
Amarillo is only a three-hour drive away from Capulin Volcano National Monument, which is located in New Mexico.
The park was established to commemorate the volcano that’s “considered extinct but could erupt again” according to nps.gov .
This national monument includes a scenic view of an inactive volcano, and visitors can experience the magnificence of the landscape and volcanic formations.
There are picnic tables available for visitors to enjoy their meals, and trails are open year-round for people who want to hike.
Also, there is a visitor center in the park that features displays about Capulin Volcano’s world-famous caves, mineral deposits, scenic vistas, wildflowers, and wildlife.
190 miles, 2 hrs 50 mins
Looking for attractions closer to Amarillo including Cadillac Ranch and Palo Duro Canyon? Read our post on best day trips from Amarillo, Texas.
Sugarite Canyon State Park, New Mexico
A three-hour drive west of Amarillo is one of the best weekend getaways from Amarillo; Sugarite Canyon State Park in New Mexico.
It is located close to the New Mexico and Colorado state line and has beautiful mountain views.
The park is ideal for people who want to experience the beauty of the Rockies and the Great Plains as well as enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and biking.
215 miles, 3hrs 15 mins
Roswell, New Mexico
A little more than three hours southwest of Amarillo is Roswell, New Mexico.
It is famous for the Roswell Incident, when a UFO is said to have crashed in the town.
The city is home to a variety of museums, historical sites, and artsy shops dedicated to UFOs and aliens.
There are various things to do in Roswell including taking a photo with the ET statue, visiting museums such as the International UFO Museum and Research Center or the Roswell Museum and Art Center, and exploring shops and art galleries in the Historic District.
215 miles, 3 hrs 30 mins
Wichita Falls, Texas
If you feel like traveling more than three hours outside of Amarillo, look no further than Wichita Falls in Texas.
The city is a great weekend getaway from Amarillo for nature lovers with its many parks and outdoor recreation.
Wichita Falls is home to famous waterfalls, gorgeous vistas, scenic trails and wildlife including deer, wild turkeys, quail, ducks, and other species.
People who visit Wichita Falls can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding,
But if outdoor adventure isn’t your thing, there are still things to do in Wichita Falls such as playing golf, shopping at the mall, dining at restaurants, and more.
225 miles, 3 hrs 30 mins
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital of Oklahoma and is one of the awesome weekend getaways from Amarillo.
The city has museums, artsy shops, cultural centers, and historical sites as well as family-friendly activities such as concerts, festivals, and events.
There are plenty of restaurants in Oklahoma City including fancy steakhouses to entertainment districts that offer jazz, blues, and more.
The city is also home to parks such as the Myriad Botanical Gardens which feature seasonal changes in its landscapes including roses, irises, tulips, and poppies.
260 miles, 3 hrs 50 mins
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Only about four hours driving away from Amarillo is Santa Fe.
It features a variety of art galleries, museums, restaurants, shops and beautiful landscapes.
Santa Fe is the perfect weekend getaway for culture vultures with its historical sites such as the Palace of Governors Museum or the Georgia O’Keefe Museum that are home to collections of artwork and artifacts.
People who come to Santa Fe can also visit the city’s art galleries, and attend concerts or cultural events at the Santa Fe Opera House.
280 miles, 4hrs 10 mins
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico and is a great weekend getaway from Amarillo.
The city features amazing scenery including mountains, canyons, plains and desert views as well as plenty of outdoor activities.
Albuquerque also has one of the best zoos in America called Rio Grande Zoo that offers animals such as orangutans, gorillas, lemurs and rhinos as well as aquariums.
If you want to stay in shape while on a vacation then this is the place for you since there are also plenty of outdoor activities including hiking along sylvan trails through scenic mountains or biking through canyons.
There are also great museums like the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History which is home to cold war era planes, rockets and missiles.
290 miles, 4 hrs 10 mins
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a small city in Taylor County that is known as the ‘Storybook Capital of America’.
It is home to great family friendly attractions like Frontier Texas! Museum, the Abilene Zoo, the Storybook Garden, and Grace Museum.
There are also plenty of artsy shops and restaurants in Abilene offering great dining options.
277 miles, 4 hrs 15 mins
Ruidoso, New Mexico
This is a small city nestled in the mountains, lakes and pine trees of northern New Mexico.
It has great attractions such as Fort Stanton, nature trails, mountain lakes, .
People who are into the outdoors can also enjoy hiking along trails that wind through forests along Bonito Lake in the summer.
In winter, visitors can enjoy skiing at Ski Apache which is one of the largest ski resorts in New Mexico or enjoy sledding at Ruidoso Winter Park.
290 miles, 4 hrs 45 mins
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a small city in the mountains of northern New Mexico.
It has plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, skiing and other ski sports at Taos Ski Valley Resort or geocaching through its many trails.
There are also great art galleries in Taos that will be enjoyed by culture vultures.
Taos is also home to the Taos Art Museum which features amazing art work as well as other reputed museums.
300 miles, 5 hrs 10 mins
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is a city in Texas that lies along the path of Chisholm Trail.
It is home to great family friendly attractions like Sundance Square Plaza which offers plenty of restaurants, shops and art galleries as well as cultural sites such as the Kimbell Art Museum or Fort Worth StockYards.
The city also offers great events such as spring and fall art walk, film festival, Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
340 miles, 5 hrs 10 mins
Grapevine, Texas
Grapevine is a town in Tarrant County, Texas that offers visitors family friendly activities.
People can visit the Grapevine Vintage Railroad Museum or attend concerts at Main Street Garden Amphitheater.
The town is also home to great restaurants, shops and other attractions like Market Street Village or Kids’ Driving Rides.
Grapevine is known as the Christmas Capital of Texas and is one of the best places to visit in Texas during winter.
340 miles, 5 hrs 15 mins
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a large city in Texas that features plenty of attractions.
Visitors can visit Six Flags Over Texas which has thrill rides or the Rangers Baseball Stadium.
Another great attraction is the AT&T Stadium which is home to the Dallas Cowboys.
The city also has plenty of museums and galleries.
360 miles, 5 hrs 20 mins
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is one of the best places to visit in Texas where visitors will experience a diverse mix of culture and civic life.
Visitors can visit the Dallas Arboretum, the Sixth Floor Museum or Dallas World Aquarium.
Another great attraction is the Dallas Zoo that offers animal exhibits as well as a zoo-themed restaurant.
The city also has tons of restaurants, shops and other activities like kayaking on White Rock Lake.
365 miles, 5 hrs 30 mins
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Great Sand Dunes National Park is a national park in Southeastern Colorado.
It features an extensive area filled with sand dunes so large that they look like mountains from a distance.
Visitors to the park can also enjoy sledding down the sand dunes, camping and hiking trails.
350 miles, 5 hrs 30 mins
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is one of the most vibrant cities in Colorado, it features plenty of outdoor activities.
Visitors can enjoy hiking and mountain biking or visit Garden of the Gods which features red rock formations.
The city also offers unique attractions like Pikes Peak Cog Railway that transports visitors to the summit of this Colorado fourteener.
365 miles, 5 hrs 30 mins
Glen Rose, Texas
Glen Rose, Texas is a small town that offers visitors scenic views and fun attractions.
It is home to Dinosaur Valley State Park which features plenty of dinosaur tracks preserved in the limestone rock bed as well as other animal and plant fossils.
Visitors can enjoy camping and hiking trails or attend educational programs at the park.
Other Glen Rose attractions include Fossil Rim Wildlife Safari and Dinosaur World.
395 miles, 6 hrs
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
White Sands National Park is a national park in New Mexico that features some of the best landscapes on earth.
It is home to pristine white gypsum sand dunes that look like a winter wonderland.
Visitors to the park can enjoy horseback riding or biking as well as hiking trails on the gypsum sand dunes.
If you are visiting this park, don’t forget to try sandboarding which is one of the best things to do in White Sands National Park.
365 miles, 5 hrs 45 mins
Further Reading: Best national & State Parks near Amarillo, Texas
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a national park in the southwestern part of Texas.
The park features mountain views, hiking trails and rock climbing.
Visitors can also explore the landscape or hike Guadalupe Peak which is the highest peak in the national park.
335 miles, 5 hrs 15 mins
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a national park in New Mexico featuring one of the most spectacular natural wonders on earth.
Visitors can explore Carlsbad Caverns which has extensive cave passages, carved out by ancient water flow.
Another great attraction is the Bat Flight Program that allows visitors to watch more than 1 million bats fly out from the cave entrance during summer months.
310 miles, 5 hrs 5 mins
Denver, Colorado
Colorado is a state known for its breathtaking views of mountains covered in snow.
Denver is a short drive from Amarillo where people can enjoy various outdoor activities including skiing, hiking and biking.
It has great attractions for culture vultures such as Denver Art Museum or the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Denver also has plenty of restaurants with great dining options, and fun bars to hangout in after a long day on ski slopes.
435 miles, 6 hrs 30 mins
There are several weekend getaways from Amarillo, Texas that offer plenty of stunning views, delicious food, and tons of exciting activities.
From Colorado Springs, CO – home of Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak Cog Railway – to Glen Rose TX where visitors can explore Dinosaur Valley State Park featuring dinosaur tracks preserved in limestone rock bed as well as other animal fossils; or White Sands National Park NM where people can enjoy sandboarding on pristine white gypsum dunes looking like snow-covered mountains, we hope you like our list of amazing weekend getaways from Amarillo, Texas.