what is the quickest route from abilene to amarillo?

I-20 to Roscoe, US84 to Lubbock. Don't take the loop around Lubbock, stay on 84 until I-27, then I-27 north the rest of the way.

There are several cutoffs and shorter routes (by miles) and several other scenic ways...but this is by far the quickest and most fuel-efficient (fewest stops). I can recommend scenic routes, too.

Let me know where you're going in Amarillo, and I'll suggest routes to that place.

I agree with Canyon Ag and I make the trip several times each year. Good McDonalds at Post for a rest stop.

Stop at Holley's in Post and get a sour lime or cherry sour lime.

I miss the Panhandle. You don't get those down here.

Our stop in Post is the Town & Country store. There's a Subway at the north end of town.

Highway patrolmen work the Snyder area and the Post area pretty hard.

83 to Childress, 287 to Amarillo?

You'll get a prettier view that way, you'll get to see all the big ranch country between Aspermont and Childress.

The Childress route is a good way. It is scenic, but may take a little longer.

But it beats going through Snyder and Hermleigh. That is just ugly.

The route through Childress may be more scenic, but he did say "quickest". The way I described is about 2/3 interstate highway, and the portion on US84 is divided 4-lane highway all the way. On the portion on 84, Post and the outskirts of Lubbock are the only towns you actually drive through and have to stop at traffic lights. 84 bypasses what little else there is.

be careful in tulia, i got tickets there all the freakin time...

Canyon, thanks for the advice...i think i will take the Lubbock route on my way to Denver

Ahhh, now you're opening yourself up to even more advice....the portion from Amarillo to Denver.

287 north out of Amarillo to Dumas, then west to Hartley on 87, then 87 to Clayton and Raton, then I-25.

There are a ton of fun little back roads to do that section differently. The best one is a little back road from Folsom to Raton that doesn't show up on Mapquest or Google Maps.

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287 north out of Amarillo to Dumas, then west to Hartley on 87, then 87 to Clayton and Raton, then I-25.

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thanks for the suggestion...i wasnt sure if i was going to go new mexico or oklahoma, but now i will for sure go new mexico since you suggessted it. about how long will it take to get there that way?

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how long will it take to get there that way?

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like 6 1/2 - 7 hrs from amarillo roughly if i remember correctly....

Let's see, 6 to 6.5 hours from Canyon (just south of Amarillo) to Colorado Springs, so what, add an hour or so to Denver?

A short back road that saves a mile or two is detailed below. But be warned, it is narrow, two lane, and consists of miles and miles of nothing. But you can speed through most of it.

On 87 north of Amarillo, after you pass the Masterson helium plant, there is a little road (highway 354) that cuts straight west to Channing. There you pick up 385 north and merge with 87 at Hartley.

Channing was the headquarters of the XIT ranch from 1888 to 1911 when the ranch was broken up and sold.

I usually just take US 287 from Amarillo to Denver. Colorado Springs and Denver traffic is fairly snarly. I've been 15 mi. on I-25 in an hour many tmes. US 287 has a 65 MPH speed limit (I got some CO green stamps a year ago flying at 70 mph north of Lamar).

You are right there. If your travel plans put you into COS at Rush Hour, rethink your plans. Explosive growth + construction = nightmare.

Thanks for the heads-up on the CO Springs to Denver traffic congestion! You're saving me valuable driving time.

don't forget that I-25 is 75mph as opposed to the 65 on 287. i did the drive from denver to clarendon twice monthly for a year and even with traffic, i'd rather do the I-25 route. not a lot of patrols once you're in colorado.