Tucumcari
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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
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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
- Tucumcari Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport east of the city, conveniently located on the north side of Interstate 40.
- Amarillo International Airport is the closest airport with commercial airline service.
- Albuquerque International Sunport is farther away but has many more flight connections.
See
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phone: +1 575 461-4201address: 416 S. Adams St.Includes a Route 66 exhibit.
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Mesalands Community College's Dinosaur Museum
phone: +1 575 461-3466address: 222 East Laughlin St -
phone: +1 575 461-9908address: 201 S 2nd StEastern New Mexico Art Space
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address: 1500 West Historic Route 66On convention centre grounds, near back of parking lot. 1930s-1960s memorabilia and classic motorcars.
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phone: +1 575-461-1657address: 3705 Quay Road 64.5
Wall muralsTucumcari 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.
Historic Downtown Main Street
Tucumcari Train Depot
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Tucumcari Mountain Cheese Factory
phone: +1 575-461-4045address: 823 E Main St
Do
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Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course
phone: +1 575-461-1849address: 4465 Route 66 -
Odeon Movie Theatre
phone: +1 575-461-0100 -
Mountain View Bowling
phone: +1 575-461-2133 -
phone: +1 575-461-3064address: 1500 W Route 66 Blvd
Events
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phone: +1 575 461-4413address: Mesalands Community College, 911 South Tenth St.Every March, attracts artists from all over the country.
Buy
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Desert Rose Center
phone: +1 575-461-2342address: 208 E. MainHand crafts, fabric, quilts, and consignment gifts. -
Tepee Curios
phone: +1 575-461-3773address: 924 E Route 66 BlvdLast 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. -
phone: +1 575-461-9908address: 201 S. 2nd St.Art gallery and studio by local artists.
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Things
phone: +1 575-461-3133address: 920 W Route 66 Blvd -
Timeless Treasures
phone: +1 575-461-3889address: 1900 W Route 66 Blvd -
Trade Station
phone: +1 575-708-0551address: 1201 E. Rt. 66 -
Tucumcari Ranch Supply, 502 S Lake Street,
phone: +1 575-461-9620
Eat
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Cornerstone's First Edition
phone: +1 575-461-3326address: 711 E Route 66 BlvdPizzas, pasta, salad, sandwiches, and ice cream! -
phone: +1 575 461-1740address: 1202 E Route 66 Blvd
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phone: +1 575 461-0002address: 200 E Estrella Ave
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phone: +1 575 461-1966address: 1102 E. Route 66 Blvd.Wifi café.
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Loretta's
phone: +1 575-815-0056address: 624 S 3rd StTex-Mex food truck -
La Cita
phone: +1 575 461-7866address: 812 Tucumcari BlvdMexican, on Route 66 with large neon sombrero. -
Pow Wow Restaurant & Lizard Lounge
phone: +1 575 461-2587address: 801 W Route 66 Blvd -
Watson's BBQ
phone: +1 575 461-9620address: 502 S Lake StreetFamily-run BBQ.
Drink
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Lizard Lounge
phone: +1 575 461-2587address: 801 W Route 66 Blvd -
Branding Iron
phone: +1 575 461-3780address: 3716 E Route 66 Blvd
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 of 5000 people.
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:
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
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phone: +1 575 461-9849address: 815 E. Route 66 Blvd.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).
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phone: +1 575 461-1212address: 1620 E Hwy 66Mid-century modern, curtain wall, floor to ceiling windows. Color TV. Cash, credit card, travellers cheques honoured. Some rooms pet-friendly, some rooms with microwave and refrigerator.
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phone: +1 575 461-1048address: 722 E Route 66 BlvdRestored vintage/classic 1959 independent motel, wi-fi, 32-inch LCD HDTV, patio, BBQ, no smoking, no pets.
Hotels and chains
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Best Western Discovery Inn
phone: +1 575 461-4884address: 200 E. Estrella -
Comfort Inn
phone: +1 575 461-4099address: 2800 E. Tucumcari Blvd -
Fairfield Inn & Suites Marriot
phone: +1 575 461-7915address: 1901 S Mountain Road -
Holiday Inn Express
phone: +1 575 461-3459address: 2624 S. AdamsFree breakfast & Wi-Fi. -
Microtel Inn Tucumcari
phone: +1 575 461-0600address: 2420 S. 1st St -
Rodeway Inn East
phone: +1 575 461-4444address: 1023 E. Tucumcari Blvd
Camping and RV
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Mountain Road RV Park
phone: +1 575 461-9628address: 1700 Mountain Rd. -
Blaze-In-Saddle RV Park
phone: +1 760 486-3009address: 2500 E Route 66 BlvdFull hookups, horse facilities available.