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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Paducah, Texas
Skip unless you are driving US 83 or 70 and need a meal or a bed. Half an hour for the courthouse and depot museum, then move on.
Paducah is a farming town of about 1,500 people in the North Central Plains, 30 miles south of Childress. Its main draws are the 1930 Cottle County Courthouse and a small heritage museum in the restored rail depot. Most travellers pass through on US 83 or 70 without stopping.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot), Dec–Feb (cold, some closures)
- 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 $50–80 · Mid $80–120 · High $120+ (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 911 · Fire and 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 |
| Burger and fries | $8–12 |
| Motel room per night | $60–100 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3–4 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LBB · Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport
- About 1 h 45 min drive west via US 62/70 and US 84; nearest major airport.
- SPS · Wichita Falls Regional Airport
- About 1 h 45 min drive east via US 287 and US 70; check.
- CDS · Childress Municipal Airport
- About 30 min north via US 83; limited service, check.
Typical fares
- Paducah → Childress by car
- about 30 min, 30 miles
- Paducah → Abilene by car
- about 2 h, 120 miles
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable along Easly Street (US 83). A car is needed to reach the Matador Wildlife Management Area or any nearby town.
See and do
Known for
- Cottle County Courthouse (1930)
- Heritage Museum in the restored depot
- Cotton Festival in September
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Childress | US 83 north, about 30 min | 30 min |
| Matador Wildlife Management Area | FM 3256 northwest, about 20 min | 20 min |
| Turkey, Texas | US 70 east then north, about 40 min | 40 min |
Sleep
- Easly Street (US 83)
- Two motels along the main road; basic, no frills.
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
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
- Restaurant hours can be irregular; call ahead.
- No ATM in town? Check before relying on cash.
- Cell service may be spotty on the highways around Paducah.
Very low crime. The main risk is summer heat and limited services after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Paducah, Texas yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Cottle County Courthouse (1930)
- Heritage Museum in the restored depot
- Cotton Festival in September
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Paducah (Texas), revision 5228998 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5228998
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/paducah-texas). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.