Major city · United States
McLeanMcLean, Texas
Stop for 2–3 hours on I-40, not a night: the Route 66 block and the barbed-wire museum are the whole town, and Amarillo is 1 h west.
McLean is a Route 66 town of about 830 people on Interstate 40, 65 miles east of Amarillo, that barely changed after the interstate bypassed it. Two hours covers the restored 1929 Phillips 66 station, the Devil's Rope Museum and a Main Street that is still 1950s-shaped. Sleep here only if you want a quiet motel night between Amarillo and Oklahoma City.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (35 °C (95 °F)+ afternoons), late Dec–Feb ice stormsavoid Jul–Aug (95 °F (35 °C)+ afternoons), late Dec–Feb ice storms
- Airports
- AMA · OKC
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for McLean911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Road conditions (Texas DOT)800-452-9292
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about McLean, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyVery low crime; the real risks are heat, long empty drives and winter ice on I-40.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 800-452-9292 Road conditions (Texas DOT)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportAMA Rick Husband Amarillo International (About 1 h 10 min west on I-40; the nearest commercial airport.).
- Getting aroundYou need a car.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee to go$2–4
- Sit-down mealSteak dinner with a side$22–40
- Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$9–15
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entrycheck$5–8
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$110
- Mid-range bedRoute 66 motel double room, a night, per roomUS$95
- High-end bedRoute 66 motel double room, a night, per roomUS$140
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- AMA Rick Husband Amarillo International (About 1 h 10 min west on I-40; the nearest commercial airport.) · OKC Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma City (About 3 h 15 min east on I-40.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Feb
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Mar
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Apr
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
May
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jun
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Aug
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Sep
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Nov
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Dec
Avoid*
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)), coolest Jan (−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C) low), wettest May (8 rain days), driest Jan (4). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
McLean: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
4 rd
Feb
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
4 rd
Mar
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
5 rd
Apr
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
6 rd
May
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
8 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7 rd
Jul
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
6 rd
Aug
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
6 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6 rd
Oct
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
5 rd
Nov
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
4 rd
Dec
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
4 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
You need a car. Main Street is a 5-minute walk end to end; the museum, the gas station and the cafés sit within three blocks of each other. I-40 exit 141 puts you on the old road in under 2 minutes.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h
I-40 west, about 65 mi
Bigger base: Palo Duro Canyon, Cadillac Ranch, food and hotels.
Door to door: About 35 min
TX-273 north, about 30 mi
Larger town with fuel, groceries and a white deer herd.
Shamrock
goDoor to door: About 30 min
I-40 east, about 30 mi
Route 66 tower and a restored 1930s café block.
Door to door: About 1 h
US-83 south then TX-152 west, about 55 mi
Small courthouse town; only worth it if you are already heading south.
Door to door: About 1 h 15 min
I-40 west, about 85 mi
Route 66 hamlet west of Amarillo; pair with the Cadillac Ranch stop.
Borger
skipDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
TX-136 north via Pampa, about 60 mi
Refinery town with little for a visitor.
Adrian
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
I-40 west, about 100 mi
Midpoint of Route 66; a photo stop, not a day out.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Old Route 66 strip (Pine St / W Highway 66)
Restored vintage motels and the steakhouse; walkable to Main Street.
I-40 exit 141 services
Truck-stop and chain motels; practical for a late arrival, no walk to town.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–90 excl. bed
- Mid
- $90–150 excl. bed
- High
- $150+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Route 66 motel double room1 × 1 night × US$95 | US$95 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110 | US$220 |
| Fuel, 100 mi at 30 mpg1 × US$12 · check | US$12 |
| Museum entry, per adult2 × US$5 · check | US$10 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$37 |
| Trip total≈ US$202 per person per day, bed included | US$404 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at the till. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee to go | $2–4 |
| Diner breakfast | $9–15 |
| Steak dinner with a side | $22–40 |
| Museum entrycheck | $5–8 |
| Gallon of gascheck | $2.80–3.40 |
| Motel double room, weeknight | $70–140 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Most Main Street businesses close by late afternoon and several shut on Sunday and Monday: check hours before you build a stop around one.
- Cell signal is fine in town but thin on the ranch roads north and south.
- Summer afternoons hit 35 °C (95 °F)+ with little shade on Main Street.Summer afternoons hit 95 °F (35 °C)+ with little shade on Main Street.
- Fuel up here or in Groom; the next services east are Shamrock.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Road conditions (Texas DOT)
- 800-452-9292
Pocket card
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McLeanMcLean, Texas
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Texas DOT road conditions800-452-9292
Embassy
No consulates here; nearest are in Amarillo and Oklahoma City, with the main consulates in Dallas and Houston. US visitors: nothing needed.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Amarillo → McLean, I-40: 65 mi, about 1 h, roughly $8 of fuel (check)
- McLean → Shamrock, I-40: 30 mi, about 30 min (check)
- Museum entry: about $5–8 per adult (check)
Say or show
- Where is the Route 66 museum? — Where is the Route 66 museum?
- Is this the old Route 66 road? — Is this the old Route 66 road?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Is there a gas station nearby? — Is there a gas station nearby?
Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for McLean. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (35 °C+ afternoons), late Dec–Feb ice storms · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Field-check opening hours for the Devil's Rope Museum and the Main Street cafés, then publish a stop card with a hard 2-hour plan.
- Walking cluster map for the three blocks: Phillips 66 station, museum, Main Street storefronts, library.
- Motel and truck-stop inventory with real 2026 rates so the overnight rung can go green.
- I-40 weather and closure fixtures for winter ice between Amarillo and Shamrock.
Sources
Ask about McLean
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