This delightful
drive along Historic Route 66 is a National Scenic Byway.
The distance covered is about 320 miles. You could do it in a day, but an
overnight or two along the way makes for a relaxed and leisurely trip with
plenty of time built in for good meals, sightseeing, museums,
shopping—whatever! You can find a detailed Byway itinerary and route maps
here.
But never forget Rule No. 1 of a Great Road Trip: follow your instincts,
not the map. If a detour grabs your fancy—go for it!
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What
better place to start a road trip than in Tucumcari at artist Thomas
Coffin's Roadside Attraction? A kicky tribute to Route 66,
the 40-foot structure, made of stone and topped with polished aluminum, is
shaped like a 1950s car fin and even possesses a set of working “tail
lights.” The
largest city between Amarillo and Albuquerque, Tucumcari's scenic
surroundings provided outdoor background in the 1950s TV megahit western,
Rawhide, which starred a young Clint Eastwood. Route 66 (now
officially Interstate 40) runs right through the heart of town, and many
of the restaurants and motels that grew up alongside the road long ago are
still thriving. A night-time
drive here will literally dazzle you with intensely-colored neon lights.
Related Interest: Route 66
Overview |
Route 66/Arizona |
Route 66/Illinois |
New Mexico Food Festivals |
New Mexico Historic Festivals
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It's less than a
mile to the
Blue Swallow Motel. A Route 66
icon since its 1939 construction, it was owned for decades by “Miss
Lillian,” a former Harvey Girl who became nearly as great a legend as her
motel. After Lillian Redman’s death the motel was sold, and its new owners
set about restoring the motor court and its spectacular neon sign. In the
rooms, mini-garages, and throughout the motel you’ll find period furniture
and signage, dial phones, and all sorts of little touches that make you
feel you’ve stepped into the past. The Blue Swallow is listed on both
national and state Historic Registers.
Now it’s on to Tucumcari’s famed Teepee
Curios. Built in the early 1940s, the oddly-shaped building—a
cement teepee fused into a small building—has been at various times
a Gulf gas station, a grocery store, and a curio shop. These days it
concentrates on souvenirs, particularly Route 66 memorabilia. Teepee
Trading Post, as it's also known, is one of the last vestiges of the
old-style souvenir shops that once flourished along the highway.
After this, let's leave Tucumcari and head
on down the road. ..
The next stop is the
KiMo Theatre in Albuquerque, about 175 miles away. Built in 1927, the KiMo was both a
vaudeville and movie house—some of the silent-era stars who got their
start here include Gloria Swanson and Tom Mix, as well as fan dancer Sally
Rand. But the KiMo’s real fame was as a “picture palace.” The ornate
interior harks back to the days when going to the movies was an exciting,
fashionable excursion (much of what you see is restoration work following
a 1963 fire). The twist in décor here is in its Native American
inspiration—drum-shaped chandeliers, Navajo rugs, steer horns with glowing
eyes.
A couple of miles from the KiMo you'll find El Vado Motel.
One of the city’s few remaining Route 66 era motor courts, it was known
for its fabulous neon signage and charming southwestern adobe cabins. In
recent years, though, the El Vado fell on hard times. For a few years the
motel’s future was completely up in the air,
pitting preservationists against an owner who wanted to tear it down and
erect townhouses. However, in early 2008 the city worked out plans with
the owner that will likely restore the motel to its former glory. For
now, you can at least drive by and gaze at the motel’s historic bones.
And from
there it’s on to the Back Alleys of Old Town Albuquerque. The area
dates back to 1706, so you’ll find lots of ancient adobe buildings,
romantic patios, shaded gardens, narrow winding pathways, and beautiful
wrought iron. Many former adobes have been renovated and now hold shops,
boutiques, and studios where you can shop for clothing, artwork, and
jewelry made by local artisans. Enjoy a meal at one of the fine
southwestern restaurants or relaxed cafés. Visit the historic San Felipe de
Neri Church, sit for a while in the Rose Garden, take a guided historical
tour.
From
Albuquerque it’s a 76-mile jaunt to Grants, where you'll encounter some
of the most famous Route 66 landmarks, including the Sands Motel, the
Franciscan Motel, the Uranium Cafe, and the Grants Cafe. You’ll also find
trading posts, weathered neon signs, and other remnants of the road-trip
glory days. Near Grants are many scenic and cultural attractions,
including Acoma Pueblo,
Chaco Canyon,
El Morro, and the
Zuni
Mountains. An
odd factoid: Grants was once known as “the carrot capital of the
United States.”
And now
it’s on to the finish—61 miles to the impressive
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup. Opened in 1937 by the brother of famed 1920s movie director, D.W.
Griffith, the El Rancho was where major movie stars stayed while on
location in the area’s scenic western landscape. Among the guests: Ronald
Reagan, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, and Kirk Douglas. Their autographed photos
decorate the hotel’s lobby, along with old Navajo rugs,
mounted animal heads, a huge stone fireplace, and an impressive circular
staircase. The décor is “Old West;” the building is a handsome combo of
brick, stone, and wooden beams. A large, southern-style porch is a great
place to sit and watch the world go by. Happy Trails!
