Route 66 in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city, sits about 1,525 miles from Chicago. Route 66 crosses the whole city along Central Avenue, and that is where most of our stops are, from Tijeras Canyon in the east to the volcanic West Mesa.
- About mile 1,525 of 2,448 from Chicago
- 32 stops in and around Albuquerque
- Main overnight town
Tap a dot to see that stop here.
Tap a dot for the photo and a link to the stop (the fork-and-knife markers are places to eat). Open Albuquerque on the full map to filter by kind or add stops to your trip.
Central Avenue is a museum of the motor court. The El Vado Auto Court, a 1937 Pueblo Revival court, was saved by a landmark fight and reopened in 2018 with a pool and taproom. The 1946 Tewa Lodge is one of the city's best-kept Route 66 era motels, and the 1937 Modern Auto Court survives as the Nob Hill Motel, a rare pre-war survivor. Some are gone or changed: the De Anza Motor Lodge is mostly gone, though its neon sign and Zuni murals live on in a new complex, and the La Mesa Motel was torn down in 2003. Near the university, the 1938 Lobo Theater is back in business as an event venue.
The city has much more than neon. Petroglyph National Monument protects thousands of rock carvings on the edge of the West Mesa. Beside the river, the ABQ BioPark Zoo, open since 1927, and the Rio Grande Botanic Garden make an easy half day, and the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History tells the story of the atomic age. East of the city, Tijeras Canyon is the mountain pass that Route 66, and now I-40, uses to cross the Sandia–Manzano range.
Practical note: Albuquerque is a main overnight town on our planner, with plenty of places to stay along Central Avenue. Grants is about 90 miles further west, and Gallup about 150.
Top 10 Route 66 attractions in and around Albuquerque
Retro roadside (11)
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Route 66 sites (1)
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Historic bridges (1)
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Nature & parks (9)
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Museums (8)
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Archaeology (1)
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Historic buildings (1)
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Where to eat in and around Albuquerque
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Next towns on Route 66
Route 66 in Albuquerque: questions
- Did Route 66 go through Albuquerque?
- Yes. Route 66 runs across Albuquerque along Central Avenue, where motor courts like the El Vado and the Tewa Lodge still stand. Before 1937 an earlier alignment ran north and south through the city instead.
- What is there to see on Route 66 in Albuquerque?
- We list 32 stops in and around Albuquerque, mostly retro roadside stops, parks and nature areas and museums. The ones our trip planner rates highest are Luna Lodge, Lobo Theater and Rio Puerco Bridge. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.
- How far is Albuquerque from the next towns on Route 66?
- Albuquerque sits at about mile 1,525 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Tucumcari, NM, about 202 miles back. Heading west, Gallup, NM is about 153 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.
- Is Albuquerque a good place to stay overnight on Route 66?
- Yes. Our trip planner uses Albuquerque as one of its main overnight towns, so on a two-week trip a day often ends here. Plan the stops in town for the evening or the next morning.