The Cadillac Ranch ... classic, half-buried Cadillacs! West of Amarillo Texas



Cadillac Ranch on Route 66

Amarillo is the largest city on the 178 mile portion of Route 66 from Oklahoma to Texas and into New Mexico. The city is flush with historic sites, Route 66 memorabilia, hotels and restaurants, and lots of fun places to see.

Interstate Highway I-40 traverses the city east to west, much as Route 66 did in earlier years. I-27 heads south to Lubbock, while U.S. Highway 87 leads north to Dumas, Clayton and Raton.

As one heads westbound out from Amarillo today on I-40 between exits 60 and 62, the Cadillac Ranch comes into view quickly, on the south side of the road, on a privately owned pasture.

The Cadillac Ranch ... classic, half-buried Cadillacs! West of Amarillo Texas on I-40

 

This "interactive" folk art site of ten Cadillacs is the work of financier Stanley Marsh. Creators included Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels, who were a part of the art group "Ant Farm".

The Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas ... graffiti gone wild!The Cadillac Ranch ... graffiti gone wild!

It was created in 1974 and consists of what were old or junked Cadillac automobiles, many sporting those classic tail fins. The cars, from the 1949 Club Sedan to the 1963 Sedan de Ville, face west in a straight line.

The cars are half-buried nose-first in the ground, at an angle corresponding to that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. As the city of Amarillo grew and encroached on the original site, the cars were moved two miles west to its current location in 1997.

The mountain range that dominates the Radiator Springs landscape in the movie “Cars” is the Cadillac Range, in Carburetor County, inspired by the Cadillac Ranch. The mountain range seems to copy the angles of the Cadillacs!

The ranch resides between I-40 Exit 60 (Arnot Road) and Exit 62 (Hope Road). The physical address is 13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX. Access is from the service road on the south side of the interstate. Park along the frontage road, cross over the fence gate, and walk across the field about 100 yards ... free admission. Note that it can be muddy after rain, and hot in the Texas summers, so be prepared.

Graffiti is allowed as you will quickly learn!

The Cadillac Ranch on Interstate 40 just west of Amarillo (Photo by Jamie Hudson - Travel Texas)
The Cadillac Ranch on Interstate 40 just west of Amarillo, Texas


If you are traveling in a recreational vehicle or trailer, the Cadillac RV Park is located nearby, at the intersection of I-40 and Hope Road. A bit further west is the Oasis RV Resort.

The Cadillac RV Park on I-40 west of Amarillo
The Cadillac RV Park on I-40 west of Amarillo, Texas

The 2nd Amendment Cowboy near Amarillo, Texas

The Cadillac RV Park is located just west of Amarillo, at the intersection of I-40 and Hope Road near the Cadillac Ranch. The 2nd Amendment Cowboy stands tall at the RV Park.

The 2nd Amendment Cowboy at the Cadillac RV Park, I-40 just west of Amarillo, Texas The 2nd Amendment Cowboy at the Cadillac RV Park at the intersection of I-40 and Hope Road near the Cadillac Ranch

The plaque under the 2nd Amendment Cowboy at the Cadillac RV Park near Amarillo, Texas

 

Read more about Giant "Muffler Men" Along Route 66


More Things to See & Do Around the Amarillo Area

Historic 6th Street on Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas

The Route 66 Sixth Street Historic District preserves 13 blocks of cafes, antique shops, boutiques, nightspots and restaurants. The district includes commercial development in the San Jacinto Heights Addition west of Amarillo’s central business district. 

Modern-day travelers through the city probably know about "The Big Texan" steak house! It was originally on Route 66, but is located today not far away, on I-40 ... it's a place many tourists to Amarillo want to check out. In 1960 Bob Lee opened the famous Big Texan Steak Ranch on Route 66 in Amarillo. The Big Texan moved to the east side of Amarillo on I-40 in the 1970s.

The Jack Sisemore RV Museum is located at 4341 Canyon Drive in Amarillo. The Sisemores began restoring and collecting unusual vintage RVs over 25 years ago. Their museum houses many of the RVs in their collection including a Flxible Clipper Bus, the first Itasca motor home ever built, the oldest Fleetwood in existence and many other RVs from the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. Several vintage motorcycles are also on display. The museum is free to the public. Phone 806.358.4891 for information and hours of operation.

Located 25 miles south of Amarillo is Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the nation's second largest canyon system after the Grand Canyon. It is also 14 miles from the town of Canyon.

The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum celebrates and preserves the history of the American Quarter Horse. Changing, one-of-a-kind exhibits are on display year-round, as is a gallery of western art. It is located at 2601 East I-40, and is open from 9:00 am to 5:00pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

Other popular attractions include ...

  • Amarillo Botanical Gardens
  • Amarillo Zoo
  • Slug Bug Ranch
  • Cowgirls and Cowboys of the West
  • Panhandle Plains Historical Museum
  • Amarillo Museum of Art
  • Texas Air & Space Museum
  • The Helium Monument


Lodging Options in Amarillo

We travel through, and to, Amarillo on a frequent basis. We have stayed there dozens of times over the decades. Today, the city offers more than 100 hotels and places to stay. It is a great stopping point for those traveling Historic Route 66, with not only many lodging options, but dining possibilities as well.

There are three primary clusters of lodging in Amarillo - downtown, on the east side of the city along I-40, and on the west side near Soncy Road (exit 64 from I-40). We prefer the Soncy Road area, near I-40 and the medical district, but that is just a personal preference.

Listed below are some popular Amarillo lodging options, with reviews from TripAdvisor.

This website has no affiliation or connection with the listed hotel properties. Listings from TripAdvisor are provided as a starting point in your hotel research. It is always recommended that travelers do their own research and make informed decisions about the hotels they book.

 

Click to review hotels and restaurants, read reviews and make reservations at TripAdvisor

2025 Hotel Directory for Amarillo, Texas, with traveler reviews, photos and reservation information

All Hotels in Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo West
Soncy Road Area

Holiday Inn Express Inn & Suites Amarillo West

Home2Suites by Hilton

Drury Inn & Suites

Homewood Suites Amarillo

Downtown & Central
Amarillo

Embassy Suites Downtown

Courtyard by Marriott Downtown

Staybridge Suites Amarillo-Western Crossing

Courtyard Amarillo West/Medical District

Amarillo
I-40 East/Airport

Hampton Inn & Suites Amarillo East

LaQuinta Inn & Suites Amarillo Airport

Fairfield Inn & Suites Amarillo Airport

Big Texan Motel

Cactus Cove Inn & Suites

 

More Information about Amarillo & Route 66

Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council: VisitAmarillo.com

City of Amarillo

Amarillo Chamber of Commerce

Amarillo Economic Development Corporation

TxDOT Amarillo District

Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport

TravelTexas.com - Route 66

Texas Route 66 Visitor Center in Amarillo

Old Route 66 Association of Texas

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

 

Interactive Map of the Cadillac Ranch Area


MORE TEXAS ROUTE 66

Route 66 road trips in Texas ... click for details ... maps, photos, attractons, hotels, dining and more!

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Texas Route 66 Passports

Texas Route 66 Passports

The Amarillo CVB has developed the Texas Route 66 Coin Passport Program in honor of the upcoming Route 66 Centennial. Travelers can collect uniquely crafted coins as they explore the various cities and attractions along Route 66 in Texas.

The Route 66 Passport was made to look like a classic vinyl record with a genuine vinyl record with coin slots cut out to place the collected coins in. Visitors will find QR codes for self-guided tours, a curated playlist, festival information, and a custom map to guide them along Texas Route 66.