California Road Trip: Amarillo, Texas

by Rob | Apr 26, 2026 | Road Trips

California Road Trip: Starting Our New Orleans Morning

California Road Trip: Starting Our New Orleans Morning

Starting Our New Orleans Morning with Beignets at Café Beignet on Royal Street One of the things we knew we had to do while visiting New Orleans was enjoy a plate of fresh beignets. The next morning, we walked over to Café Beignet on Royal Street in the heart of the…

California Road Trip: Columbus, Texas

California Road Trip: Columbus, Texas

From El Paso to Columbus: A Long Texas Drive with Small-Town Hospitality Leaving El Paso behind, we began another long day on Interstate 10 heading east across the vast landscapes of West Texas. The scenery slowly transitioned from desert mountains and rocky terrain…

California Road Trip: Dragoon and El Paso

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…

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 …

Catches Waterfront Grille, Port Richey, FL

We enjoyed a relaxing lunch at Catches Waterfront Grille in Port Richey, Florida, with crab cakes and remoulade sauce, a Mahi Mahi BLT, and fries.

California Road Trip: Starting Our New Orleans Morning

Enjoy a delicious New Orleans tradition with fresh, powdered-sugar-covered beignets at Café Beignet on Royal Street in the heart of the French Quarter. See why beignets are a must-try treat when visiting New Orleans.

California Road Trip: French Quarter, First Night in New Orleans

Experience the charm of the French Quarter with an overnight stay at Hotel St. Marie, where convenient valet service and a private garage make arriving by car easy. Enjoy a memorable dinner at Oceana Grill featuring charbroiled oysters, a fried oyster po’boy, and authen…

California Road Trip: Columbus, Texas

Travel across the heart of Texas on an unforgettable drive from El Paso to Columbus, featuring a memorable stop at Pecos West Truck Stop, where an unexpected act of kindness made the journey even more special. Pass through San Antonio before ending the day with an overn…

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…