California Road Trip: Amarillo, Texas

by Rob | Apr 26, 2026 | Road Trips

California Road Trip: Funny Jeep Gladiator Road Trip

California Road Trip: Funny Jeep Gladiator Road Trip

Meet Our Silent Travel Companion Every great road trip needs a dependable travel companion. Ours just happens to never ask for a restroom break, never complains about the music, and has absolutely no opinion on where we stop for dinner. Meet our mannequin. My Security…

California Road Trip: Blythe, CA

California Road Trip: Blythe, CA

From Campbell to Blythe: Garlic Fields, California Farmlands, and a Desert Sunset Leaving Campbell after a wonderful weekend with family, we began the next leg of our cross-country journey back toward Florida. Our route first took us south through Gilroy, a community…

California Trip: St. Lucy Parish, Campbell, CA

California Trip: St. Lucy Parish, Campbell, CA

Sunday Morning Mass at St. Lucy Parish Before the Journey Home Before beginning the long drive back toward Florida, we wanted to start the day with Sunday Mass at St. Lucy Parish in Campbell, California. It was a meaningful way to conclude our time in the San Jose…

California Road Trip: Testarossa Winery

California Road Trip: Testarossa Winery

From Santa Cruz to a Family Celebration at Testarossa Winery After spending the morning exploring California’s beautiful coastline, we returned to the Residence Inn San Jose Campbell to get ready for one of the main reasons for our cross-country journey—our…

Buc-ee’s Amarillo, Texas: The Ultimate Road Trip Stop for Food, Shopping, and Cheap Gas

Buc-ee’s in Amarillo, Texas, is much more than a gas station—it feels like a destination all on its own. Conveniently located along Interstate 40, the massive travel center is hard to miss with its enormous parking lot, rows of fuel pumps, and the famous Buc-ee’s beaver welcoming travelers inside. The Amarillo location opened in late 2024 and quickly became a popular stop for road trippers traveling across Texas and along historic Route 66. The store spans tens of thousands of square feet and features over 100 fuel pumps, making it one of the largest travel centers in the region.

Inside Buc-ee’s, visitors will find an incredible variety of fresh food, snacks, drinks, and merchandise. The smell of fresh brisket sandwiches, barbecue, roasted nuts, and baked goods fills the air as employees prepare food throughout the day. One of the biggest attractions is the famous wall of beef jerky flavors and the popular Beaver Nuggets snack mix that travelers love to take home. Beyond the food, the store also has aisles filled with Texas-themed souvenirs, clothing, home décor, drinkware, candies, toys, travel essentials, and seasonal items. Many people compare walking into Buc-ee’s to entering a mix between a convenience store, gift shop, and small department store.

Another reason travelers love stopping at Buc-ee’s is the reputation for cleaner restrooms and lower gas prices compared to many nearby stations. Buc-ee’s uses a high-volume pricing strategy that often allows them to sell fuel for several cents less per gallon than surrounding competitors along the interstate. For travelers driving long distances, filling up at Buc-ee’s can save money while also providing a much more enjoyable stop. The Amarillo location also includes diesel fuel and EV charging stations, making it convenient for many types of travelers.

For many road trippers, a stop at Buc-ee’s becomes part of the adventure itself. Families stretch their legs, shop for snacks and souvenirs, grab fresh barbecue sandwiches, and take photos with the famous Buc-ee’s mascot. Whether you are traveling across Texas, heading west toward New Mexico, or simply passing through Amarillo, Buc-ee’s offers a fun and memorable break from the road. It combines the convenience of a travel stop with the atmosphere of a Texas roadside attraction, making it easy to see why so many travelers make it a must-stop destination on every trip.

From Florida to California and Back: 6,169 Miles of Adventure in Our Jeep Gladiator

Join us on a 15-day, 6,169-mile cross-country road trip from Florida to California and back in our Jeep Gladiator. From relaxing on Biloxi Beach and visiting the towering cross in Groom to exploring the Grand Canyon National Park, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, California wine …

California Road Trip: Dragoon and El Paso

From Arizona’s Texas Canyon to an Overnight Stop in El Paso Leaving California and continuing east on Interstate 10, one of our favorite scenic stops of the day was the Texas Canyon Rest Area near Dragoon. The rest area is surrounded by enormous granite boulders…

California Road Trip: Funny Jeep Gladiator Road Trip

What’s a cross-country road trip without a little harmless fun? During our hotel stays, our blue Jeep Gladiator had an unusual overnight “driver”—a mannequin made from a pillow in a red hoodie, topped with a white mask featuring reflective foil behind the eyes. The re…

California Road Trip: Blythe, CA

Travel from Campbell through Gilroy, the Garlic Capital of the World, before enjoying scenic views of San Luis Reservoir and the fertile farmlands along Interstate 5. After driving through the Los Angeles region via Pasadena and San Bernardino, the day ends with a comfo…

California Trip: St. Lucy Parish, Campbell, CA

Before beginning the long drive back to Florida, we attended Sunday Mass at St. Lucy Parish in Campbell, California. The welcoming parish, beautiful sanctuary, and reverent celebration of the Eucharist provided a peaceful and meaningful start to our journey home. It was…

California Road Trip: Testarossa Winery

Celebrate a special family occasion at Testarossa Winery, a historic winery nestled in the foothills of Los Gatos, California. Housed in the original 1888 Novitiate Winery built by Jesuit Fathers and Brothers, Testarossa blends California’s rich winemaking heritage with…

California Road Trip: Lighthouse Field State Beach and Santa Cruz

Experience one of Northern California’s most scenic coastal drives as you travel from Shark Fin Cove to Lighthouse Field State Beach. Watch surfers ride the Pacific waves, enjoy panoramic ocean views from the coastal bluffs, and take in the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf stret…

California Road Trip: Shark Fin Cove

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Shark Fin Cove, a scenic coastal gem just a short drive from Campbell and San Jose. Located along California’s iconic Highway 1 near Davenport, this picturesque overlook features dramatic ocean cliffs, a shark fin-shaped sea stack, cr…

California Road Trip: Campbell, CA

Travel from the historic Gold Rush town of Nevada City to the heart of Silicon Valley with an overnight stay at Residence Inn San Jose Campbell. After cleaning off days of road-trip bugs at Alvarado Coin-Op Car Wash, relax with a delicious Veggie Pizza from Mountain Mik…

California Road Trip: Nevada City, CA

Follow a scenic drive across the snow-covered Sierra Nevada Mountains and Donner Pass before arriving in the charming Gold Rush town of Nevada City. Fans of Hallmark’s The Christmas Card will enjoy visiting filming locations including the historic National Exchange Hote…

California Road Trip: Leaving Las Vegas

Leaving Las Vegas for the Open Desert and Snow-Covered Mountains of Nevada Leaving Las Vegas and heading north on US-95 brought an entirely different side of Nevada into view compared to the bright lights and nonstop activity of the Las Vegas Strip. As the city slowly…