Last updated: February 10, 2022
Article
Route 66: New Mexico
Photo courtesy of Rhys Martin
Miles: 535 (approx.)
In New Mexico, Route 66 dips, curves, and winds across arid rangeland, mesas, railroad towns, tribal communities, and National Monuments. Settlements were established according to topography and availability of water and are usually separated by many miles. The area is renowned for its cultural diversity and rich mixing of tribal, Spanish, and American history.
Route 66 through New Mexico initially followed the Santa Fe Trail north from Santa Rosa to Romeroville and Santa Fe, then south along the Camino Real through Santo Domingo Pueblo and Albuquerque, to Los Lunas and Isleta Pueblo. By 1937, Route 66 was officially realigned to bypass this North-South path, adopting instead an East-West routing from Santa Rosa directly through Moriarty, Albuquerque, and Laguna Pueblo. This major re-routing reduced the cross-country journey by about 100 miles, and is known as “Hannett’s Joke”.
Preservation
In 1989 the New Mexico Route 66 Association was formed to educate, preserve, and promote the road. By 1994, Route 66 was designated a National Scenic Byway. The National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program has supported 25 cost-share grant projects in New Mexico including numerous neon sign restorations, El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, and the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari.
Addendum: Description and Historic Context for Pre-1937 Highway Alignments
New Mexico-General
State Maintained Segments
State Maintained Route 66: Albuquerque to Rio Puerco
State Maintained Route 66: Bernalillio to Algodones
State Maintained Route 66: Correo to Laguna
State Maintained Route 66: Iyanbito to Rehobeth
Route 66 Rural Historic District: Laguna to McCarty's-Cubero
State Maintained Route 66: Manuelito to the Arizona Border
State Maintained Route 66: McCarty to Grants
State Maintained Route 66: Milan to Continental Divide
State Maintained Route 66: Montoya to Cuervo
State Maintained Route 66: Palomas to Montoya
State Maintained Route 66: San Jon to Tucumcari
Neon Signs Along Route 66 in New Mexico
Locally Maintained Route 66: Glenrio to San Jon
Historic Bridges of New Mexico
Abandoned Route 66: Cuervo to SR156
Albuquerque
Aztec Auto Court
Auto Oriented Commercial Development of Albuquerque
Cottage Bakery
DeAnza Motor Lodge
El Campo Tourist Courts
El Vado Auto Court
Enchanted Mesa Trading Post
Hilltop Lodge
Jones Motor Company
J.R. Willis House and La Miradora Apartments
KiMo Theater
La Mesa Motel
La Puerta Lodge
Luna Lodge
Maisel's Indian Trading Post
Modern Auto Court
New Mexico Madonna of the Trail
Nob Hill Business Center
Pig and Calf Lunch
Rio Puerco Bridge
Skinner Building
Tewa LodgeTower Courts
Blue Water
Bowlin's Old Crater Trading Post
Gallup
Glenrio
Glorieta
Grants
Charley's Automotive Service
La Bajada
Route 66 and National Old Trails Road Historic District
Laguna Pueblo
Los Lunas
Montoya
Santa Fe
San Fidel
Santa Rosa
Santo Domingo Pueblo
Santo Domingo Indian Trading Post
Thoreau
Roy T. Herman's Garage and Service
Tucumcari
Metropolitan Park Bath House and Swimming Pool Historic District
National Park Service Sites
Pecos National Historical Park
National Park Service Sites Near Route 66
U.S. Forest Service
New Mexico Bureau of Land Management
New Mexico Department of Transportation
New Mexico Historic Preservation Division
New Mexico Main Street Program
New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance
New Mexico Route 66 National Scenic Byway