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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Muleshoe
Skip Muleshoe unless you need a quick stop on I-40 or want to see sandhill cranes at the wildlife refuge: 1–2 hours, not a night.
Muleshoe is a small town on the Texas High Plains, named after a mule shoe found by an early settler. Its main draws are the National Mule Memorial, a small heritage museum, and the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge south of town. Most travellers pass through on I-40 without stopping; a half-hour detour covers the sights.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat), Dec–Feb (cold and possible ice)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $60–90 excl. bed · Mid $90–150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Lunch at Leal's Mexican Food Cafe | $8–12 |
| Motel room (double) | $64–120 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3–4 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AMA · Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport
- About 1 h 15 min drive east on I-40; rental car needed.
- LBB · Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport
- About 1 h 30 min drive south on US 84.
Typical fares
- Amarillo → Muleshoe by car
- about 1 h 15 min, about 70 miles (check gas cost)
- Lubbock → Muleshoe by car
- about 1 h 30 min, about 80 miles (check gas cost)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. The town is small enough to walk between the memorial and a couple of restaurants, but the wildlife refuge is 15 min south by car.
See and do
Known for
- National Mule Memorial
- Muleshoe Heritage Center
- Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge | Drive south on FM 2148 / County Road 1248, about 15 min | 30 min round trip plus time at the refuge |
| Amarillo | I-40 east, about 1 h 15 min | 1.5 h |
| Lubbock | US 84 south, about 1 h 30 min | 1.75 h |
Sleep
- Along US 84 / American Blvd
- The main road through town; motels like Heritage House Inn are here. Limited options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where is the bathroom?where is the bathroom |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- The wildlife refuge is open 24 h but the visitor centre has limited hours: check the FWS site.
- No public transport in town; taxis or ride-share may not be available.
- Last food orders at Leal's are 9 PM; other restaurants may close earlier.
Very safe small town. Watch for deer on rural roads at dusk, and carry water in summer.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Muleshoe yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- National Mule Memorial
- Muleshoe Heritage Center
- Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge (US Fish & Wildlife Service): www.fws.gov/refuge/muleshoe/
- Wikivoyage: Muleshoe, revision 4612745 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4612745
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Muleshoe
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
The nearest US consulate is in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico (about 4 h drive). For most visitors, the embassy in Washington, DC handles visa issues.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/muleshoe). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.