How far is Amarillo, TX from San Marcos, TX?

The driving distance from Amarillo, TX to San Marcos, TX is about 525.1 miles (845 km), with a travel time of about 09h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 432.8 miles (696.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 57m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
525.07 mi
09h 28m
Flight
432.78 mi
696.49 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Amarillo.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
432.78 mi
Kilometers
696.49 km
Flight Time
00h 52m

Driving Distance

Road route
525.07 mi
Kilometers
845.02 km
Drive Time
09h 28m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 09h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Marcos
Fri, Oct 16, 1:13 AM CDT
Return by in Amarillo
Fri, Oct 16, 10:42 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Amarillo
2026-10-15T15:44
Arrive San Marcos
Fri, Oct 16, 1:13 AM CDT
Route Timing
09h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:29 PM to 4:59 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
5:02 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Amarillo
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Blackwell
TX

City in Nolan County, Texas, United States

From Amarillo
262.5 mi
04h 44m
To San Marcos
262.6 mi
04h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Overnight

Areas Of Fog

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph WSW
Destination
89°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Amarillo and San Marcos.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Amarillo and San Marcos.

  1. 1

    Start on East Amarillo Boulevard

    87 m · 9 sec · East Amarillo Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Pierce Street

    2278 ft · 58 sec · North Pierce Street

  3. 3

    Continue on North Pierce Street

    1.5 km · 3 min · North Pierce Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Canyon Expressway

    14 mi · 16 min · Canyon Expressway

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway

    103.7 mi · 1 hr 44 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Loop 289

    1011 ft · 25 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto North Interstate 27

    2536 ft · 1 min · North Interstate 27

  8. 8

    Turn left onto North Loop 289

    1110 ft · 24 sec · North Loop 289

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight left

    885 ft · 22 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    7.5 mi · 9 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive

    128 m · 10 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Spur 331: Southeast Drive

    71 m · 6 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto Southeast Loop 289

    563 ft · 16 sec · Southeast Loop 289

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Southeast Drive

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Southeast Drive

  15. 15

    Merge slight right onto Slaton Road

    996 ft · 13 sec · Slaton Road

  16. 16

    Continue on East Highway 84

    6.9 mi · 7 min · East Highway 84

  17. 17

    Continue on Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway

    4.5 mi · 5 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on East Highway 84

    20 mi · 20 min · East Highway 84

  19. 19

    Continue on North US Highway 84

    1 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84

  20. 20

    Turn left onto East 15th Street

    734 ft · 17 sec · East 15th Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Ralls Road

    1863 ft · 38 sec · Ralls Road

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto North Avenue F

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Avenue F

  23. 23

    At the end of the road, turn left onto US Highway 84

    73.9 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US Highway 84

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene

    6.5 mi · 7 min

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo

    737 ft · 18 sec

  26. 26

    Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue

    624 ft · 17 sec · Southwest Georgia Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Lamar Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Lamar Street

  28. 28

    Continue on State Highway 70

    10.4 mi · 11 min · State Highway 70

  29. 29

    Turn left onto State Highway 153

    69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153

  30. 30

    Continue on West Walnut Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · West Walnut Street

  31. 31

    Continue on East Walnut Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · East Walnut Street

  32. 32

    At the end of the road, turn left

    9.4 mi · 11 min

  33. 33

    Continue straight

    21.5 mi · 25 min

  34. 34

    Turn right onto Garmon Drive

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Garmon Drive

  35. 35

    Continue on US Highway 84 East

    29.2 mi · 33 min · US Highway 84 East

  36. 36

    Turn right

    22.2 mi · 25 min

  37. 37

    Continue straight

    14.8 mi · 15 min

  38. 38

    Merge slight left onto North US Highway 281

    79 m · 4 sec · North US Highway 281

  39. 39

    Continue on North Key Avenue

    2.3 mi · 5 min · North Key Avenue

  40. 40

    Continue on South US Highway 183

    35.3 mi · 38 min · South US Highway 183

  41. 41

    Continue straight

    2151 ft · 30 sec

  42. 42

    Keep slight left to continue on 183A Toll Road

    14.3 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll Road

  43. 43

    Continue straight

    11.6 mi · 13 min

  44. 44

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South: San Antonio

    2251 ft · 55 sec

  45. 45

    Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Purple Heart Trail

  46. 46

    Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail

    31 mi · 35 min · Purple Heart Trail

  47. 47

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 80 East, TX 142 East, TX 21 East: Bastrop, Luling

    1079 ft · 26 sec

  48. 48

    Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

    3250 ft · 1 min · North Interstate 35

  49. 49

    Turn slight right

    144 m · 17 sec

  50. 50

    Turn slight right onto East Hopkins Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Hopkins Street

  51. 51

    Turn right onto North LBJ Drive

    64 m · 9 sec · North LBJ Drive

  52. 52

    Turn left

    128 m · 36 sec

  53. 53

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Guadalupe Street

    43 m · 3 sec · North Guadalupe Street

  54. 54

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Guadalupe Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Amarillo and San Marcos.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
54 steps
21 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
104 mi · 20%
US Highway 84
73.9 mi · 14%
State Highway 153
69 mi · 13%
US Highway 84 East
44 mi · 8%
South US Highway 183
35.7 mi · 7%
Purple Heart Trail
33.5 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Marshall Formby Memorial Highway

Keep slight left to continue on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway

104 mi · 01h 44m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
09h 28m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
18h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+92.3 mi
432.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Blackwell
04h 44m from Amarillo
Leave By
5:02 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Areas Of Fog leaving Amarillo and Sunny near San Marcos.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Amarillo to San Marcos?

The road trip is about 525.1 miles (845 km) and usually takes 09h 28m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Blackwell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 262.5 miles from Amarillo and 262.6 miles from San Marcos.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 432.8 miles (696.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 92.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $71.14 one way or $142.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 164.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Areas Of Fog around Amarillo and Sunny near San Marcos.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Amarillo and San Marcos. Straight-line distance: 432.78 mi (696.49 km).

Amarillo

#1 Amarillo

The second most populous city in Texas Panhandle.

Population199,654
Coordinates35.2220000, -101.8313000
Altitude1118
CountryUnited States
San Marcos

#2 San Marcos

The most populous city in Hays County, Texas.

Population66,350
Coordinates29.8832700, -97.9413900
Altitude188
CountryUnited States
Start: Amarillo (-101.8313, 35.222)
End: San Marcos (-97.94139, 29.88327)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 845 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)17h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)13h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
18.53 gal
70.14 L · about $71.14
Round trip
$142.27
37.06 gal · 140.28 L
Estimated CO2
164.7 kg one way
Round trip: 329.4 kg / 726 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.84 $71.14 $142.27
Mid-grade $4.35 $80.55 $161.10
Premium $4.72 $87.52 $175.03
Diesel $5.78 $107.03 $214.06

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Texas · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Amarillo and San Marcos. The current time is 15:44:37.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.