Route 66 in New Mexico: Map, Towns & Things to See
- 67 stops
- 12 categories
The planner builds a day-by-day plan from the New Mexico line (east) to the New Mexico line (west) — about 362 mi.
Towns in New Mexico (5)
East to west. Tap a town for its guide and stops.
Kinds of stops in New Mexico
- Retro roadside stops 18
- Nature & parks 14
- Museums 9
- Historic buildings 7
- Historic hotels 6
- Historic districts 4
- Route 66 sites 3
- Historic theaters 2
- Archaeological sites 1
- Ghost towns 1
- Art & landmarks 1
- Historic bridges 1
Where to eat: 3 classic diners and restaurants on or near Route 66 in New Mexico. See them →
New Mexico has about 380 miles of Route 66 on the line the road has followed since 1937; before then it looped north through Santa Fe. It is high desert all the way: mesas at Tucumcari, spring-fed lakes at Santa Rosa, Albuquerque's long Central Avenue, lava fields near Grants and red cliffs around Gallup. Our map has 67 stops in New Mexico, many of them neon-era motor courts.
67 of 67 stops on the map
Tap a dot to see that stop here.
What to see on Route 66 in New Mexico
Tucumcari's Blue Swallow Motel is the classic neon motor court, with the Odeon Theatre and Tucumcari Mountain close by. In Santa Rosa, Park Lake is a cool stop on a hot day. Albuquerque has the biggest cluster: restored motor courts such as El Vado Auto Court and the Tewa Lodge on Central Avenue, the Lobo Theater, and thousands of rock carvings at Petroglyph National Monument. East of the city the road climbs through Tijeras Canyon. Grants keeps Charley's Automotive Service, a 1943 garage, and Gallup closes the state with the El Rancho Hotel, where Hollywood stars once stayed.
By kind, our 67 New Mexico stops include 18 retro roadside stops, 14 parks and nature spots, 9 museums, 7 historic buildings and 6 historic hotels.
Much of the old road here follows the Santa Fe Railway, and many towns, from Tucumcari to Gallup, began as railroad camps. Albuquerque is the only large city on the route in the state, and Central Avenue carries Route 66 straight through it, lined with neon signs old and new.
Towns, overnight stops and how long to allow
Route 66 towns in New Mexico, east to west: Tucumcari, Santa Rosa, Albuquerque, Grants and Gallup. Tucumcari, Albuquerque and Gallup have the widest choice of motels for the night; Santa Rosa and Grants suit a shorter day.
Plan two to three days. A night in a neon motor court is part of the fun here. Distances between towns are long east of Albuquerque, so fill the tank when you can, and expect cool nights even in summer at this altitude.
Best time to drive Route 66 in New Mexico
May, June, September and October are the best months. From July, summer afternoons bring short, heavy thunderstorms, and at more than 6,000 feet around Grants and Gallup, winter nights are cold and snow is possible. The Albuquerque balloon fiesta in early October fills hotels, so book ahead then.
Retro roadside stops in New Mexico (18)
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More retro roadside stops in New Mexico 12
- Cactus Motor LodgeTucumcari
- De Anza Motor LodgeAlbuquerque
- Tewa LodgeAlbuquerque
- Modern Auto CourtAlbuquerque
- Huning Highlands Conoco Service StationAlbuquerque
- Hilltop LodgeAlbuquerque
- El Campo Tourist CourtsAlbuquerque
- El Vado Auto CourtAlbuquerque
- Tower CourtAlbuquerque
- Grants-Milan Flight Service StationMilan
- Roy T. Herman's Garage and Service StationThoreau
- Redwood LodgeGallup
Nature & parks in New Mexico (14)
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More nature & parks in New Mexico 8
- University of New Mexico ArboretumAlbuquerque
- Rio Grande Valley State ParkAlbuquerque
- ABQ BioPark ZooAlbuquerque
- Rio Grande Botanic GardenAlbuquerque
- Valle de Oro National Wildlife RefugeAlbuquerque
- Rio Grande Nature Center State ParkAlbuquerque
- La Mesita BlancaAlbuquerque
- Mount SedgwickGrants
Museums in New Mexico (9)
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More museums in New Mexico 3
- University of New Mexico Art MuseumAlbuquerque
- Maxwell Museum of AnthropologyAlbuquerque
- Unser Racing MuseumAlbuquerque
Historic buildings in New Mexico (7)
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More historic buildings in New Mexico 1
- Pig & Calf LunchAlbuquerque
Historic hotels in New Mexico (6)
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Historic districts in New Mexico (4)
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Route 66 sites in New Mexico (3)
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Historic theaters in New Mexico (2)
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Archaeological sites in New Mexico (1)
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Ghost towns in New Mexico (1)
Back to top ↑Art & landmarks in New Mexico (1)
Back to top ↑Historic bridges in New Mexico (1)
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Route 66 in New Mexico: questions
Does Route 66 go through Santa Fe?
It did until 1937. The first alignment turned north at Santa Rosa, ran through Santa Fe and came back south through Albuquerque to Los Lunas. The 1937 realignment cut straight west from Santa Rosa to Albuquerque, the line most drivers follow today, so Santa Fe is now a side trip.
How many miles of Route 66 are in New Mexico?
About 380 miles on the post-1937 line from Glenrio to the Arizona border west of Gallup, and nearly 500 if you drive the older loop through Santa Fe. The whole road is about 2,448 miles long.
What towns does Route 66 go through in New Mexico?
The main stops, east to west, are Tucumcari, Santa Rosa, Albuquerque, Grants and Gallup. Smaller places on the road include San Jon, Cuervo, Clines Corners, Moriarty, Tijeras, Laguna, Milan and Thoreau.
Can you still drive Route 66 in New Mexico?
Yes, for most of the way: the old road survives as business loops and frontage roads beside I-40 and as Central Avenue through Albuquerque. A few pieces, such as the gravel stretch between Glenrio and San Jon, need slower driving.