14-04-2025
What to eat, see and do along the New Mexico stretch of Route 66
Route 66, or The Mother Road, remains a firm fixture of pop culture and is one of the United States' all-time bucket-list road trips. But while many travellers are hoping for a hit of true Americana – think gargantuan roadside attractions and neon-decked motels – there's plenty more to discover besides that.
Route 66 is a gateway to some of New Mexico's top attractions, from natural swimming holes and trail-filled state parks to stellar shopping and dining spots. Here's how to plan an adventure that reveals the best of the Land of Enchantment.
The great outdoors
That Land of Enchantment moniker rings true when it comes to New Mexico's natural wonders – and plenty can be found right off the Mother Road. Make sure that your itinerary includes the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, home of the Route 66 Auto Museum. Here you can swim, snorkel or dive in the sapphire waters and venture into secret caves. A stone's throw from the Blue Hole you'll find Santa Rosa Lake State Park, an oasis popular for fishing, boating and camping. The park has more than five miles of trails – just keep your eyes peeled for birdlife, from osprey to swallows.
Just outside of Albuquerque, the Petroglyph National Monument is another worthy detour. Protecting one of the country's largest and most significant petroglyph sites, the monument features rock art that's estimated to date back as many as 700 years. It's thought that the designs are the work of both Indigenous peoples and early Spanish settlers.
Strike farther east still and you'll reach El Malpais National Monument. You can view the camera-friendly volcanic landscapes right from the Mother Road, but it's well worth venturing into the park for a hike. Walks such as the one-mile Lava Falls Trail reveal the site's impressive rock formations, while the park is also a hotspot for lava tube caving (you'll need to get a permit from the visitor centre). Ranger-led events are a great way to get to know the park, with programmes focused on everything from birdwatching to astronomy.
Nearby, in the wider El Malpais National Conservation Area, you'll be met with the stunning view of one of the route's most photogenic spots, La Ventana Natural Arch, a soaring sandstone vault.
Where to eat
The Mother Road serves up diners galore, but one of the oldest can be found along the New Mexico stretch. Foodies should beeline for Lindy's Diner in Albuquerque, which dates back to 1929, when it first opened as the Coney Island Cafe. Fast-forward almost a century and it's still satisfying road-trippers with a solid menu of American classics, from wings to hot dogs. Another historic hotspot in Albuquerque is the El Camino Dining Room, which focuses on New Mexico classics from huevos rancheros to enchiladas.
You can taste more top-notch Mexican food in Tucumcari, to Albuquerque's east. Family-run La Cita keeps drivers pouring in with a failsafe menu of tamales, stuffed sopapillas (a traditional fried dough), quesadillas and burritos.
Meanwhile, in Gallup, Jerry's Cafe is a winner. Dishing up tasty New Mexican cuisine, this down-to-earth diner is the top spot if you want to sample the state's classic red-and-green chile sauce.
Where to shop
The towns along Route 66 burst with one-off boutiques, trading posts and gift shops, so you won't be short of options when it comes to stocking up on gifts and souvenirs from your trip. Plan to stop at Richardson's Trading Post in quirky Gallup, which deals in jewellery and artworks by the region's Indigenous artisans. Expect a treasure trove filled with everything from Navajo baskets to Hopi pottery.
In Tucumcari, duck into the Desert Rose Center, whose artisanal quilts are inspired by the natural environment and state landmarks such as the Taos Pueblo.
Shoppers will be spoilt for choice in Albuquerque too. Route 66 runs through the city's buzzy Nob Hill district, which is packed with everything from vintage clothing boutiques and design-forward home stores to shops dedicated to music or spirituality.
Top photo ops
It always pays to have your camera ready when driving New Mexico's stretch of The Mother Road. Tucumcari's Route 66 Monument is a must-visit spot, a rock-and-chrome confection that looks like a cross between a tank and a spaceship. The Blue Swallow Motel sign – a vision in blue, hot pink and green – is one of the state's prettiest too. In Gallup, don't miss eye-catching murals themed around everything from Japanese culture to coal mining.
