If You’re Frustrated By Amarillo Traffic, Try These Local Hacks

Driving in Amarillo, Texas, is surprisingly aggravating. When you first arrive in town, you wouldn't expect getting from point A to point B to be as daunting a task as it is. If you're new to Amarillo, here are the best pieces of advice I can give you for getting around town and beating the traffic.

If You Want To Get Somewhere Quick In Amarillo, Avoid I-40

I-40 is a blessing and a curse in Amarillo. I will admit that it is nice to jump on the highway to get out of town. It also helps when you have to get from one side to the other. However, there are plenty of times when the opposite is true.

READ MORE: On-Ramp Construction On I-40 Finally Complete

There are plenty of times when traffic is slowed down or backed up on the interstate. Most of the time, this is due to construction. Other times, it's just that crowded, and someone is holding up the line.

If I'm just trying to get around town, I've stopped using I-40 altogether. It may take an extra minute or two, but in the end, I haven't noticed a big difference. There's no dealing with delays or people who don't understand how to merge.

Find Ways To Get Around Town That Don't Involve Main Roads

If you're avoiding I-40, it isn't going to help you much if you stick to the main roads. Try to get through the intersection of Bell and Plains on any given weekday around 5 PM. It's insane. Traffic gets backed up, and people wind up stuck in the middle of the intersection half of the time.

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Get familiar with the side roads and residential areas in town. It took me a little while, but once I figured out different routes away from the main roads and getting around town became a lot less stressful. There's no waiting through more than one red light, and dealing with surprise construction is a lot easier when you aren't doing it surrounded by angry drivers.

Use your favorite map app and have it give you an alternate route to get where you need to go, avoiding all of the high-traffic areas. You'll be surprised how much time you'll save, and you'll learn plenty of new routes.