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Historic Route 66 in New Mexico

Before they bypassed Santa Fe and Los Lunas in 1937 New Mexico had one of the longest stretches of Route 66 at about 470 miles, but the two major realignments cut off about 100 miles.
Glenrio 9
If you are looking for a ghost town on Route 66 this is it! It's the home of several well known ruins on the Mother Road ... read more
xEndee 2
This dry weather stretch of the 1926 - 52 road takes you through Endee with only a couple of ruins more or less left standing, but the drive is ... read more
xSan Jon 7
I-40 Exit 356
Route 66 followed Main Avenue in San Jon for 56 years from 1926 to 1982 when I-40 opened a few blocks to the north ... read more
xTucumcari 22
Located between Amarillo and Albuquerque, Tucumcari played host to countless road weary travelers on the Mother Road ... read more
xMontoya  6
I-40 Exit 321 or 311
In wet weather start at exit 311. Exit 321 is a DRY weather ONLY option. There are several ruins including the Richardson ... read more
xNewkirk 5
I-40 Exit 300
Going west from Montoya cross I-40 and follow the 1936/64 route on the south frontage road and cross over again after ... read more
xSanta Rosa 15
I-40 Exit 277
This town must have been hopping in the heyday of 66, today many of the vintage motels struggle to stay open, often with ... read more


NOTE:
West of Santa Rosa at Exit 256 the original 1926 Alignment turns and goes northwest to Santa Fe, I-40 is the 1937 alignment between here and Albuquerque.

xMilagro 66, Flying C Ranch & Clines Corners
These three roadside business all have their own place on Route 66, but this is a pretty rural stretch of road and they don't easily fit into any "town", so here they ... read more
xMoriarty, Edgewood & Barton 17
Known as both the "Crossroads of Opportunity" and "The Little City With A Big Heart". Be sure to see the Lewis Antique Auto & Toy Museum and the Whiting Brothers Station ... read more
xAlbuquerque 15
Formerly Sam's 66 Service Station built in the 1940s in the Art Deco style. Cool styling and good food ... read more


Note:
I-40 Exit 126 takes you to the 1926 Alignment at Correo.

xMesita 2
About where the 1926 and 50s alignments of Route 66 met. To go west on Route 66 take the first left turn on the north side of I-40 at Exit 117, to goe east ... read more
xBudville 5
Budville sits just west of I-40 Exit 104 to Route 66 / Hwy. 124. The little community has an interesting history ... read more
xCubero 4
The Cubero Loop is an old alignment of Route 66, it starts at the east end of Budville and ends at back at NM 124 at the Villa Cubero Trading Post ... read more
xSan Fidel 5
Several interesting sites here including the old Acoma Curio Shop , White Arrow Garage and some Whiting Brothers ruins ... read more
xMcCartys
New Mexico is the "Land of Enchantment" and McCartys has its share from a 1933 church to Lava Flows ... read more
xGrants 14
Grants is about 78 miles west of Albuquerque and was bypassed by I-40 in the 1970s. Santa Fe Avenue is the original alignment of Route 66 here ... read more
Milan 3
Right next to Grants this town was named for Salvador Milan, a rancher that owned much of the land where the town was built ... read more
xBluewater & Prewitt 5
Bluewater is about 9.5 miles west of Milan and Prewitt is another 9 miles west on the original Route 66, now known as NM Hwy. 122 ... read more
xThoreau 4
The 1935 to 1960s alignment of Route 66 is right next to I-40 here. The earlier Route 66 (1st Street) is 1/2 mile north on 371 but you need to loop around a bit ... read more
xContinental Divide 4
Hwy. 122 at I-40 Exit 47
The Indian Market at Continental Divide is located at State Highway 122 (I-40, exit 47) ... read more
xGallup 14
1000 E. Route 66
Many of the guest rooms in this vintage hotel are named for the movie stars that stayed at the hotel ... read more

East < GO > West

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x About Us We started traveling Historic U.S. Route 66 as a destination in 2009. It's like a 2,400 mile long drive back in time from Chicago to Santa Monica! more
xDid You Know: Many parts of the old 4 lane Route 66 were reverted to a 2 lane road after 66 was realigned to the interstate. In many places the abandoned lanes are still there.

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