Celebrate the upcoming Centennial
Did you know that the Centennial celebration for Route 66 is coming up in 2026? What a perfect time to plan a visit, as many towns along this historic road will be celebrating 100 years! I have spent the better part of 2025 visiting locations along the New Mexico stretch of Route 66 and look forward to sharing some of my favorite places with you. Each blog will be a new town along Route 66, traveling from east to west, starting with Tucumcari, New Mexico.
Cities Along Route 66 in New Mexico to Visit & How Long to Spend There
- Tucumcari, NM (2-3 Days)
- Santa Rosa, NM (1-2 Days)
- Santa Fe, NM (2-3 Days)
- Moriarty, NM (1 Day)
- Albuquerque, NM (2-3 Days)
- Grants, NM (2 Days)
- Gallup, NM (2 Days)
To get the most out of your trip, I recommend planning a couple of days for each city, as some of the locations you should visit may be off the beaten path and will require a short road trip to explore. However, you can also combine cities and adjust this as needed. This blog will cover things to do, places to see, where to stay, and what to eat in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
Tucumcari, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico, has some lovely hidden gems and is one of the best places in New Mexico to admire classic Route 66 Neon and murals.
Things to See Along Route 66
Neon: Blue Swallow Motel, Motel Safari, Teepee Curios, Americana Motel, The Wash Lady, Palomino Motel, Del’s Restaurant
Murals: Try out the Radio Talking Tour that discusses murals and iconic Route 66 locations
Route 66 Monument
Things to Do Along Route 66
Mesalands Community College’s Dinosaur Museum is fantastic for people of all ages, featuring a mini dig site, an actual lab where you can observe, and numerous hands-on sculptures.
The Tucumcari Historical Museum is an indoor and outdoor museum featuring a variety of trains, planes, and historical objects.
Ute Lake State Park and Las Conchas Lake State Park offer incredible boating, birding, kayaking, and picnicking opportunities, and I look forward to returning to camp someday!
Where to Stay in Tucumcari
Art City – This place is worth staying at for at least two nights. With your stay, you can access the outdoor exhibits AT NIGHT. The place looks completely different during the day. Explore the art exhibits throughout the property, as well as the nature – we spotted turtles, toads, and incredible birds in the bosque area on the property. We stayed in one of the trailers and can’t wait to return as the space grows and changes.
Where to Eat along Route 66
Del’s Restaurant – the breakfast Chile Relleno is SO GOOD.
The Jackalope – great coffee, beautiful mural, and even a little shop inside.
Check back for more!
Tucumcari was one of the towns that suprised me the most while visiting New Mexico Route 66 locations. The town had way more murals and neon than I expected and Art City is one of my top 5 favorites on this trip. Next up, I will cover Santa Rosa, New Mexico so be sure to check back! If you want a preview of Gallup, please check out: Gallup on Over to Gallup, New Mexico Part One and Gallup on Over to Gallup, New Mexico – Part 2 Visit Zuni Pueblo.
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