If you’re going to Amarillo and you’re not staying with family, as is our case, you’re going to need a hotel. Fortunately there are several great Amarillo Texas hotels to choose from.

To our kids, a hotel with a pool is essential. Let’s face it, you’re going to get tired along the way and will want to relax at the hotel at times. Having a pool available keeps everybody happy.

It also helps to manage vacation costs if the hotel offers a fairly decent breakfast. That way, everybody is fed when you head out for the day and your first stop doesn’t always have to be a breakfast restaurant.

With that said, here are… 

Our Favorite Amarillo Texas Hotels

Ashmore Inn & Suites

The Ashmore Inn & Suites provides great value at an excellent price. They have all the standard amenities that one can expect from a decent hotel. This includes microwaves and refrigerators in the rooms, as well as free WiFi (wireless internet access). They also have a fitness center and an indoor pool.

If you’re planning to spend some time at Splash Amarillo water park, this hotel is a great choice because Splash Amarillo is only about 3 miles further east on I-40.

Drury Inn & Suites Amarillo

The Drury Inn & Suites Amarillo is another fine hotel in Amarillo. It also has all of the standard amenities of a good hotel, like microwaves, free WiFi, fitness center, and along with a pool, a hot tub.

It is located on the west side of Amarillo and fairly close to the Don Harrington Discovery Center and the Amarillo Botanical Gardens.

One of my favorite plusses of the Drury Inn is that there are a bunch of restaurants located all around it.

Sleep Inn & Suites

The Sleep Inn & Suites is fairly close to the Drury Inn, which means it is also close to the Discovery Center and Botanical Gardens.

The Sleep Inn’s rooms also have microwaves and refrigerators, and they have free WiFi available. They also have an indoor heated pool and a hot tub.

There are also some restaurants close to the Sleep Inn.

Courtyard Amarillo Downtown

If you want a slightly more upscale hotel closer to downtown Amarillo, I think the Courtyard Amarillo Downtown is a good way to go. They offer an upscale experience at a great price!

Their rooms are spacious and beautifully decorated and offer a great view of downtown Amarillo. High-speed internet access is available throughout the hotel. They also offer a hot breakfast.

The only potential issue is that the hotel does not have a pool, which could be a problem if you have kids traveling with you. Also keep in mind that this is a smoke-free hotel.

There are several restaurants across South Polk Street to choose from.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

A nice centrally-located hotel with easy access to highways is the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Amarillo. This is a newer hotel, so everything is in great shape.

It has an indoor pool, a hot tub, and a fitness center. They offer a complimentary breakfast, but there are also several restaurants located around the hotel, should you prefer something else. The rooms also have refrigerators, microwaves, in-room safes, and WiFi.

This Holiday Inn is certainly one of my favorite Amarillo Texas hotels!

More Amarillo Hotels?

I hope you have a great stay at one of these hotels in Amarillo. If you would like to consider a few more options, here are some more Amarillo hotels.

Amarillo Texas is located in the Texas Panhandle. Like Fort Worth, Amarillo is another of the places where you can get a taste of “Old West” Texas, which my dad is a big fan of.

There are several fun things to do in Amarillo that we like. I think the canyons are simply beautiful. You can see real cowboys buying and selling cattle, just like in the old days!

The kids can also have a good time in Amarillo.

Here are some of our favorite Amarillo attractions… 

Things To Do In Amarillo Texas

Amarillo Zoo

The Amarillo zoo might be smallish, but it costs only a couple of dollars to get in, and kids under 2 get in for free! They have more than 60 species of animals.

Right by the entrance is an exhibit of spider-monkeys that are a lot of fun to watch. They also have an exhibit showing some of the native wildlife, like coyotes and gray foxes.

I think small kids especially have a great time here! Happy kids, happy parents!

The Amarillo Zoo is also right next to Thompson Park where there is lots to enjoy.

Cadillac Ranch

Cadillac Ranch is an attraction in Amarillo that you probably won’t find anywhere else in the world! It consists of 10 Cadillacs from the 50s buried upright in the ground, with a little more than half of the car sticking out above the ground. Each car is covered in graffiti… artwork left there by previous visitors.

Before you go, stop at a local hardware store and buy a couple of cans of spray paint. Then you and the kids can make your own unique addition to the artwork.

We didn’t spend a whole bunch of time there, but it’s a lot of fun for at least 30 minutes.

Don Harrington Discovery Center

The Don Harrington Discovery Center is a great place to take the kids. It is a hands-on science museum that not only keeps the kids happy for hours, but they also learn something in the process!

The have several exhibits, like the Hunters of the Sky that teaches a lot about birds of prey. The Space lounge is all about… space! Kids love that! Other exhibits include Amazing Bodies, Kinder Studio, and more.

If you’re in Amarillo Texas with kids, don’t miss the Discovery Center!

Amarillo Botanical Gardens

If you like plants and gardens, the Amarillo Botanical Gardens is just a little bit down the road from the Discover Center. They have a tropical conservatory containing many exotic plants. The gardens are beautiful and well-maintained.

They offer guided tours for kids, but it’s best to call them at (806) 352-6513 for their tour schedule.

Splash Amarillo

Splash Amarillo is a water park with several water slides, a wave pool, and one of those “rivers” where you get on a tube and float along in a big circle.

On a hot summer day, that is just what any family needs. I don’t need to tell you your kids will enjoy it because you already know that. I know mine do!

It isn’t very expensive to get it. If you go after 3pm, you can get a half-day ticket. You can take a cooler in, but they charge a small fee for that. Kids under 4 enter free.

I hope you have a great time in Amarillo Texas!

Sooner or later during your Amarillo visit, you will get hungry! I know we do. Luckily there are several Amarillo restaurants to pick from!

When we travel with our kids, we don’t always look for fancy restaurants. I’d rather eat a little cheaper and spend more on fun.

Besides, most kids are happy with a good hamburger.

At times it is of course very nice if mom & dad can have a decent steak or pasta, etc.

So I try to pick Amarillo restaurants that give good food, but won’t break the bank. Here are our favorites… 

Country Barn Steakhouse

If you want a good steak, the Country Barn Steakhouse is the place to go. They use only the highest quality Bonsmara beef. You’re going to pay a little more for it, but it will be well worth it.

Steak is their specialty, but they also serve a variety of other dishes. Things like seafood, BBQ, Mexican, and some southern favorites, like chicken fried steak, and of course, hamburgers.

If you decide to stay at the Drury Inn & Suites, one of our favorite Amarillo hotels, you will be about 10 minutes’ walking distance away from the Country Barn Steakhouse!

Blue Sky

The Blue Sky is a great burger-joint in Amarillo. The large variety of toppings make it possible for people with many different tastes to concoct a burger that they will like.

They also have a variety of sandwiches and hotdogs to choose from. And if you need a little “green”, they have a variety of salads too.

The Blue Sky is fairly centrally located with easy access to I-40.

Jorge’s Tacos Garcia Mexican

Jorge’s Tacos Garcia Mexican restaurant is the place to go if you’re looking for excellent Mexican food (Tex-Mex).

Here you will find some excellent guacamole, fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, and several other fine Mexican dishes. They also have a variety of kids’ plates.

Another of our favorite hotels in Amarillo, the Ashmore Inn & Suites, is only about 5 minutes’ away from the Tacos Garcia Mexican restaurant.

Johnny Carino’s Italian Restaurant

Johnny Carino’s are popular Italian restaurants all over the US. The Johnny Carino’s in Amarillo is no exception in that it also serves great Italian food.

Although you can get some great pizza at Johnny Carino’s, this is not your typical pizza-joint. They serve a variety of excellent pasta dishes, grilled paninis (sandwiches), beef, chicken, and they also have a decent kid’s menu.

Johnny Carino’s is also right by the Drury Inn, which is very convenient if you’re stayng there.

Other Amarillo Restaurants?

The restaurants above are some of our favorites, but if you would like to consider other options too, here are a few more good restaurants in Amarillo to look at.

Bon Appetit!