It is about a 7 hour drive of between 420 and 435 miles depending on the chosen route.
It is 280 miles according to Google Maps. The chosen route avoids Albuquerque by heading Northwest on US 285 at Clines Corners, NM.
The distance between Barstow, CA and Amarillo, Texas is approximately 900 miles when driving on Interstate 40.
The Santa Fe Trail was a trade route between the United States and Mexico.
Interstates 40 and 27 and U.S. route 66 are the three main highways through Amarillo, Texas.
That drive can be made in an estimated 12 hours and 43 minutes via Wichita Falls, Amarillo, Dalhart, and Trinidad on US Highway 287 and then heading heading North on Interstate Highway 25. The distance is 726 miles and Amarillo is an excellent halfway point if you aren't in a hurry.
If you're taking the northern route through Amarillo, Goodnight is about halfway. If you're taking the southern route through Lubbock, Shallowater is about halfway.
The address of the Historic 6Th Street On Route 66 Association is: 3511 Sw 6Th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79106
He calls his route "The Joy Route"
742 miles taking this route: # Take I-35 NORTH from Dallas to I-40 WEST to AMARILLO at EXIT 126. # Take I-40 WEST to U.S. 285 to VAUGHN and SANTA FE at EXIT 218B in NEW MEXICO. # Turn RIGHT off the exit ramp onto U.S. 285 NORTH to SANTA FE, then take U.S. 285 NORTH to Santa Fe.
The fastest route is via Bakersfield, Flagstaff, Gallup, Albuquerque, Tucumcari, Amarillo and Wichita Falls with a 28 mile drive and covering 1,734 mile according to Google Maps.
It is 600.08 miles when driving via Fort Worth and Wichita Falls which is the fastest route according to MapQuest.