New Mexico Route 66 - Information about the New Mexico Mother Road

Route 66 Through New Mexico

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Located on Hwy 54, 21 miles west of Tucumcari, the ghost town of Montoya started when the Southern Pacific Railroad come through. Montoya's once busy Richardson's Store & Gas Station (1925) begins an almost uninterrupted 38 miles of old Route 66, through the tiny ghost towns of Newkirk and Cuervo, all the way to the west side of Santa Rosa. Montoya Mesa stands out with the washes of Caliche, a nitrate-bearing gravel, down the side. These deposits of Caliche were used to build the road beds for I-40 and to surface many unpaved roads in Quay and Guadalupe counties.

The 4,984-foot Cuervito Peak is one mile northwest of the village of Cuervo. Continuing your journey, return to I-40 at Cuervo and take exit 277 into Santa Rosa.

In Santa Rosa, you will find that Will Rogers Drive is the city's four-mile stretch of Route 66. Stop in at Joseph's Restaurant, built in 1956, or the Club Café, a 1935 landmark for a little refreshment. There is also an earlier jog (circa 1930) past the renowned Blue Hole. Several smaller locally owned hotels along the main streets in Santa Rosa were also part of Route 66.

Joseph's Bar & Grill in Santa Rosa was built in 1956

and continues to feed the hungry travelers of

Route 66 today. May, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

At Santa Rosa, you will need to make a decision as to whether to travel the pre or post 1937 alignment. The earlier alignment is more picturesque, taking you through numerous small towns northwest to Santa Fe, before dropping south to Albuquerque. However, the later alignment will save you several miles and also provides numerous views of the past.

By taking the earlier alignment, you will travel to Las Vegas, a city with a boisterous history of the Old West , having been said as being more wicked than Dodge City, Kansas. From there, the old route takes you to the beautiful city of Santa Fe. Steeped in rich history, “must see” stops in Santa Fe include the New Mexico State Capital, the La Fonda Hotel, the Palace of Governors, and the San Miguel Mission, the oldest church in the United States.

Santa Fe Vintage Postcard

If taking the later alignment directly west from Santa Rosa, your first stop will be Cline’s Corners, where you can see an abundance of southwest souvenirs, from rattlesnake ashtrays, to beaded belts, tomahawks and Indian lore. And if you’re hungry, try a taste of the home cooked southwestern flavors served at this Route 66 icon.

Clines Corners New mexico

Cline’s Corners Vintage Postcard

On next to Moriarty where a 58-mile chunk of highway to Rio Puerco begins. Along New Mexico Highway 333, you'll spot the former Buford Courts, Blackie's Restaurant, and the one-time Yucca, Cactus, Lariat and Sands Motels.

In Albuquerque, Central Avenue is an 18-mile stretch of old Route 66. When the realignment of Route 66 was completed in 1938, there were more motels on Central Avenue than had been built in the previous ten to twelve years on the other alignment. By 1955, there were more than 100 motels on Albuquerque's Central Avenue and in the summer, it was hard to find an open room. You can still see many of these vintage icons such as the De Anza Motel, the Royal Motor Inn, the Town Lodge Motel, and the Aztec Motel (originally the Aztec Motor Court), all built in the 1930's. You will also see Nob Hill, built in 1936-47, and the Lobo Theater and Lobo Pharmacy & Bookstore (originally Barber's El Rancho Market), also built in the 1930's.

Old Town Albuquerque today, December, 2004,

Kathy Weiser.

Downtown, there are several buildings that were highlights during the 1940's and 50's era, including the Sunshine Building (built in 1923-24), the First National Bank Building (1922), the Rosenwald Building (1910), and the KiMo Theater (1927). Other sites west of Old Town include Lindy's Restaurant (1929), Maisel's (circa 1940), and the El Vado Motel (1937). Continuing your journey, head north on I-25, take the Algodones exit and return south via NM Highway 313. Original Route 66 is now Fourth Street, Isleta Boulevard, and New Mexico Highway 314.

Your adventure will then take you 46 miles from Algodones south through historic Bernalillo and past Sandia and Isleta Pueblo.

In Los Lunas, you’ll turn west onto Main Street, where you'll pass the Luna Mansion, built in 1881. From there, stay on New Mexico Highway 6 continuing along 33 miles of the historic highway all the way to Correo.

At Mesita, old 66 reappears as NM 124, slithering 25 miles through Laguna, New Laguna, Paraje, Budville, Cubero, and McCartys.

In Grants, the old Mother Road is called Santa Fe Avenue. Here you will find the Franciscan Lodge, Grants Restaurant, the Uranium Cafe, and the Monte Carlo Restaurant.

Old building at Isleta Pueblo in 1937,

courtesy Library of Congress

The original highway reemerges near Iyanbito as a 13-mile introduction to Gallup. Along the city's nine-mile segment are Earl's Restaurant, built in 1947, and the El Rancho Hotel, built in 1936 and home to some Hollywood stars during the time when Gallup was a Western film capital (from 1929-64.) You can also visit the one-time Drake Hotel (1919), the Santa Fe Railroad Depot (1923), the former White Cafe (1928), the Richardson's Trading Post, the old Palace, the Rex Hotels (both circa 1900), and Virgie's Restaurant. (1950).

You are about to enter the great state of Arizona as you continue along the final 16 miles of old 66

Enjoy the ride!

Whiting Brothers.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

Tee Pee Curios is a Route 66 icon in Tucumcari,

December, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

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From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Route 66 Books - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store has collected a number of Route 66 Books for our Mother Road enthusiasts. As great as Route 66 is, if you aren't armed with a few good tools on your journey, you'll miss great attractions, eateries, places to stay, and wind up on the wrong path. To see this varied collection that includes "how-to" books, travel guides, photograph books, attractions, and more, click HERE!