Tucumcari

Tucumcari is a small town in northeastern New Mexico. It is along Interstate 40 and is the first town of significance in New Mexico if driving west from Texas along that route. The town is a highlight for those following the former Route 66 (Tucumcari Boulevard) as it contains a lot of Route 66-era neon and colorful signs.

Understand

Tucumcari, a town of 5,300 people (2020), is the county seat of Quay County, New Mexico and home to Mesalands Community College. Founded in 1901 as Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad construction camp Six Shooter Siding, it was renamed for Tucumcari Mountain in 1908. The USS Tucumcari (PGH-2), one of two prototype US Navy hydrofoil patrol vessel boats (1968-1972), was named for the town. Many scenes in Rawhide (1959–1966 Clint Eastwood TV series) were shot in the town; a modified version of Tucumcari Mountain (with the hand-painted 'T' changed to 'RS') appears in Radiator Springs in Pixar's 2006 Cars (film).

Get in

By car

Tucumcari is one of the historic wide-spots-in-the-road along Route 66 across the United States, which is followed by Interstate 40 in this region. It is about 1 hour and 40 minutes west of Amarillo, and 2 hours and 40 minutes east of Albuquerque by way of I-40. This section of I-40 was one of the last Interstate highway sections to become 4-lane. Tucumcari is accessed via any one of four exits off Interstate 40. Exits 329 and 335 both connect to Tucumcari Boulevard (Route 66), which runs east-west. Exit 332 and 333 connect to First Street and Mountain Street (respectively), which both run north-south.

By plane

See
  • Tucumcari Historical Museum, 416 S. Adams St., ☏ +1 575 461-4201, . Memorial Day-Labor Day: M-Sa 8AM-6PM; Labor Day-Memorial Day M-F 8AM-6PM. Includes a Route 66 exhibit. Adults $2, children $0.50. 
  • Mesalands Community College's Dinosaur Museum, 222 East Laughlin St, ☏ +1 575 461-3466. March 1 - Labor Day: Tu-Sa 10AM-6PM; Labor Day - February 28/29: Tu-Sa noon-5PM. Adults $5.50, seniors $4.50, children 5-11 $3.50, college students $3.00, children under 5 free. 
  • New Mexico Route 66 Museum, 1500 West Historic Route 66. M-F 9AM-2PM. On convention centre grounds, near back of parking lot. 1930s-1960s memorabilia and classic motorcars. 
  • Ostrich Ranch, 3705 Quay Road 64.5, ☏ +1 575-461-1657. 
  • Wall murals. Tucumcari has over 30 wall murals throughout town. Each one celebrates a different facet of the city's culture. Wall mural maps are available at the Chamber of Commerce. (updated Jul 2018)
  • Historic Downtown Main Street. 
  • Tucumcari Train Depot. 
  • Tucumcari Mountain Cheese Factory, 823 E Main St, ☏ +1 575-461-4045. 

Do

Events

Buy
  • Desert Rose Crafts, 208 E. Main, ☏ +1 575-461-2342. Handicrafts, fabric, quilts, and consignment gifts. (updated Jul 2018)
  • Tepee Curios, 924 E Route 66 Blvd, ☏ +1 575-461-3773. Last of the original Route 66 curio shops in New Mexicow with T-shirts, mugs, pottery, jewelry, post cards, Route 66 items, magnets, pins, patches, and books. (updated Jul 2018)
  • Trade Station, 1201 E. Rt. 66, ☏ +1 575-708-0551. (updated Jul 2018)
  • Tucumcari Ranch Supply, 502 S Lake Street, ☏ +1 575-461-9620. (updated Jul 2018)

Eat

Drink

Sleep

“Tucumcari Tonite!” A town of 2,000 motel rooms!" Billboards on Route 66 in its heyday invited travelers for hundreds of miles to spend the night in this tiny town.

As US 66 (Tucumcari Boulevard) was bypassed by Interstate 40, prime spots for billboards on the new road were few and far between due to highway beautification acts, independent family-owned motels were forced to compete with huge chains who built hotels on the new freeway's offramps and the number of rooms is now closer to 1200, but Tucumcari's position along Interstate 40 and Route 66 still means that it has far more motels and motor lodges than most towns its size. A small sampling:

Motels
  • Blue Swallow Motel, 815 E. Route 66 Blvd., ☏ +1 575 461-9849, fax: +1 575 461-9905, . Check-in: 3-9PM, check-out: 10AM. Non-smoking, wi-fi, elaborate neon signage. Twelve rooms and two suites restored to 1940s era with rotary-dial phones. On national historic register; this motel's neon '100% Refrigerated Air' slogan appears on the 'Cozy Cone Motel' in Cars (film). $70-130. 
  • Historic Route 66 Motel, 1620 E Hwy 66, ☏ +1 575 461-1212. Mid-century modern, curtain wall, floor to ceiling windows, TV. Cash, credit card, travellers cheques honoured. Some rooms pet-friendly, some rooms with microwave and refrigerator. (updated Jul 2018)
  • Motel Safari, 722 E Route 66 Blvd, ☏ +1 575 461-1048, . Check-in: 3-10PM, check-out: 11AM. Restored vintage/classic 1959 independent motel, wi-fi, 32-inch LCD HDTV, patio, BBQ, no smoking, no pets. $55-100. 

Hotels and chains

Camping and RV
  • Mountain Road RV Park, 1700 Mountain Rd., ☏ +1 575 461-9628, fax: +1 575 461-3134. (updated Jul 2018)
  • 🌍 Blaze-In-Saddle RV Park, 2500 E Route 66 Blvd, ☏ +1 760 486-3009. Full hookups, horse facilities available. (updated Jul 2018)

Go next
Routes through Tucumcari
Albuquerque ← Santa Rosa ←  W  E  → San Jon → Amarillo
Santa Rosa ← Merges with ←  W  E  → Dalhart → Stratford
Albuquerque ← Santa Rosa ←  W  E  → San Jon → Amarillo


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