NM Route 66 in a 56-Year Old 356: what are your Route 66 “must see” spots in New Mexico? (Albuquerque: to rent, hotel)
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I’m looking for suggestions for each of the states along Route 66, and I’m posting separately for these states. What along Route 66 that is worth seeing? We’ll be driving from east to west.
This will be an epic road trip a year from today, early September 2019, from Chicago to LA. When it’s all done we will have covered over 5,000 miles and 17 states — the 8 states of Route 66 plus 9 other states just driving from San Francisco to Chicago to the start of Route 66. It will be one big clockwise loop, San Francisco to Chicago, to LA, and back home.
The car? It's a special one, a classic that’s been in our family for 25 years — a 1963 Porsche 356 convertible. The car? It's a special one, a classic that’s been in our family for 25 years — a 1963 Porsche 356 convertible. His name is “Manfred”. Yes Manfred may be a little old, but he’s a good running car. We’ e taken Manfred on long trips before, 1,500 miles, but never before this long. It’ll be riskier in a car this old, but we’ll be flexible and we’ll be prepared. It will be part of the adventure.
So our trip will be “Route 66 in a 56-Year Old 356” — it sort of has a ring to it.
There’s a lot of Route 66 information out there and I’ve been researching for months already. I want to hear from you CDers and your experiences.
When driving from Chicago to LA, US Route through NM: is about 392 miles long in New Mexico (longest in any state), from San Jon NM to Manuelito NM
— Where do you suggest we go?
— What do you recommend we do and see?
— Where are decent places to stay?
— Where are great places to eat?
Hello, meet Manfred! We’re almost always top down when we drive him, except for when it’s rainy. Even when it’s cold outside we just bundle up and keep the top down. Here are some other Manfred memory pics over the years. And with this epic road trip, we’ll build some more memories.
If you are along Route 66 in New Mexico and want to meet up, for coffee or a meal or a beer, let me know. It’d be very nice meeting some CDers on this trip. We've met other CDers, and it has been very nice making those connections.
I do not know much about the eastern half, but on the western half:
Stay at the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, NM. It was originally a Harvey House and it now a historic landmark. Visit some of the pawn shops in downtown Gallup. Some have been around for a long time, but do not buy the fake junk from Pakistan and such.
If you have time, make a side trip to El Morro National Monument south of Gallup. It is a nice trip, has a short easy hike, and it is awesome to see those names carved in the sandstone. While you in that are, visit Bandera Crater and the Ice Cave. Awesome too.
The New Mexico Route 66 Association has a tour of the road in NM every year (usually in June). I-40 has overlain much of the original road, but many parts of it still remain (you'll see stretches along the interstate). If you get off of I-40 and drive through Tucumcari, Santa Rosa, Moriarity, Central in Albuquerque (which has become a less than inviting driving experience), Gallup and many other small towns, you'll be on the road.
Note that the original Route 66 veered north near Clines Corner (now US 285) to Santa Fe and then south on a road no longer very passable, which then becomes NM 313 through Bernalillo and into Abq. In 1937, that leg was eliminated and 66 followed the more direct route through Albuquerque.
Check here as many of those folks know a lot more about the road than I do.
Also, I think every state that Route 66 passed through has a similar association, so I'd be sure to check all them out. Oklahoma has two fun Route 66 museums, the state museum in Clinton and the national museum in Elk City (I think the state museum is better). There are numerous web sites laying out a path you could follow in each state and a couple of very good books and videos by Michael Wallis about the road.
Crossing into NM from Texas you will finally know that you are in the west. There is a roadside car museum at one of the first NM exits. The first mountain will be Tucumcari. Make advance reservations at the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari for an old Route 66 experience. If they are booked try the (60s era) Motel Safari. Tucumcari is something of a Route 66 time capsule. Clines Corners is the place to stop for a T-shirt, rubber Indian hatchet or wax teeth to scare the kiddos (unless you have a car full of that stuff already). Moriarty has an interesting glider/sailplane museum (US Southwest Soaring Museum) and a glider port if you want to take a ride in a glider. Next stop is Albuquerque -- the east-west Central Avenue is dotted with Rt. 66 relics but the highway once went north-south (from Santa Fe) so you will find some older relics along Fourth Street, too. Next year you might be arriving in Albuquerque during Baloon Fiesta so book a motel early and spend a couple days. Balloon Fiesta is a "bucket list" event for many people so the place is jumping for about two weeks. You can drive or take the Railrunner up to Santa Fe from Albuquerque for a day trip.
I'm most familiar with the eastern side coming into ABQ so I'll let others get you to Arizona. I've driven from Missouri to Albuquerque about ten times in the last few years and usually get off on Historic Rt. 66 for a few hours and almost always run into a van full of friendly Europeans -- Brits or Danes -- who are lost, or think they are, on old Route 66 so watch for them. The Danes like to rent Harleys in Chicago and drop them off in LA.
The very first stretch of 66 just over the border in Glen Rio is still very much active today but overlooked, as it is very easy to miss. If you exit from Glenrio, proceed west on 66, and it will appear to dissolve, but it remains unpaved, but passable, through the ghost towns of Bard and Endee, en route to San Jon. It's about a 15 mile stretch that does not shadow I-40 and worth taking the time out to explore.
I think the historic Rio Puerco Bridge on the north side of I-40 west of Albuquerque (across from Laguna Pueblo's Route 66 casino) is another neat place to stop and reflect on the Route 66 history. The casino - Route 66 Casino Hotel - is done in Route 66 decor, so if you're into casinos this might make a good stop as well.
- J&R Vintage Auto Museum (https://www.jrvintageautos.com/about/) - This is a little north of Route 66 up in Bernalillo, but is definitely worth the side trip. Lots of immaculate treasures!
I know you only asked about NM in this forum, but in AZ be sure to visit Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In in Seligman. Cool place with good folks running it.
I suggest visiting Richardson's Trading Company in Gallup for an authentic experience. Ask about getting a back area tour, it is truly amazing!
Yes, the good stuff is behind closed doors (and prices are usually 50% off starting in November).
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