Tucumcari, New Mexico
Time Needed: full-day
Experience Type: Route 66, small-town charm
Tucumcari captures the spirit of classic Route 66 with its neon glow, retro motels, and desert charm. Once a bustling stop for cross-country travelers, today it’s a living time capsule where art, nostalgia, and Americana converge beneath the endless New Mexico sky.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- Cruise Historic Route 66 – Drive the seven-mile Tucumcari Boulevard, where glowing neon signs and vintage motels light up the night in true mid-century fashion.
- Visit Tee Pee Curios – Stop by this legendary souvenir shop, entered through a concrete teepee, for quirky gifts, Route 66 trinkets, and retro roadside vibes.
- Explore the Dinosaur Museum – See the world’s largest collection of bronze dinosaur skeletons, including a towering Torvosaurus, alongside real fossils and paleontology exhibits.
- Discover Art City – Wander an immersive 40-acre open-air art park featuring outdoor sculptures, like fnnch’s super-size gleaming crimson lips.
- Stay at an Iconic Motel – Book a night at the neon-lit Blue Swallow Motel or the retro-chic Motel Safari, both Route 66 legends since the mid-20th century.
Recommended Reading: Abandoned Route 66 New Mexico: Land of Trading Posts documents the once-bustling landmarks of New Mexico’s stretch of the Mother Road, capturing deserted trading posts, neon signs, and roadside stops.
Photo Credit: Jim Nix/Flickr