Tucumcari

Tucumcari, a city of 5300 people, 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).

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.

• Tucumcari Historical Museum

  phone: +1 575 461-4201
  address: 416 S. Adams St.
  Includes a Route 66 exhibit.

• Mesalands Community College's Dinosaur Museum

  phone: +1 575 461-3466
  address: 222 East Laughlin St

• The Gallery Etc

  phone: +1 575 461-9908
  address: 201 S 2nd St
  Eastern New Mexico Art Space

• New Mexico Route 66 Museum

  address: 1500 West Historic Route 66
  On convention centre grounds, near back of parking lot. 1930s-1960s memorabilia and classic motorcars.

• Ostrich Ranch

  phone: +1 575-461-1657
  address: 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

• Tucumcari Mountain Cheese Factory

  phone: +1 575-461-4045
  address: 823 E Main St

• Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course

  phone: +1 575-461-1849
  address: 4465 Route 66

• Conchas Lake

• Ute Lake

• Odeon Movie Theatre

  phone: +1 575-461-0100

• Mountain View Bowling

  phone: +1 575-461-2133

• Tucumcari Convention Center

  phone: +1 575-461-3064
  address: 1500 W Route 66 Blvd

Events

• Annual Iron Pour

  phone: +1 575 461-4413
  address: Mesalands Community College, 911 South Tenth St.
  Every March, attracts artists from all over the country.

• Desert Rose Center

  phone: +1 575-461-2342
  address: 208 E. Main
  Hand crafts, fabric, quilts, and consignment gifts.

• Tepee Curios

  phone: +1 575-461-3773
  address: 924 E Route 66 Blvd
  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.

• The Gallery, Etc.

  phone: +1 575-461-9908
  address: 201 S. 2nd St.
  Art gallery and studio by local artists.

• Things

  phone: +1 575-461-3133
  address: 920 W Route 66 Blvd

• Timeless Treasures

  phone: +1 575-461-3889
  address: 1900 W Route 66 Blvd

• Trade Station

  phone: +1 575-708-0551
  address: 1201 E. Rt. 66
• Tucumcari Ranch Supply, 502 S Lake Street,
  phone: +1 575-461-9620

• Cornerstone's First Edition

  phone: +1 575-461-3326
  address: 711 E Route 66 Blvd
  Pizzas, pasta, salad, sandwiches, and ice cream!

• Del's Restaurant

  phone: +1 575 461-1740
  address: 1202 E Route 66 Blvd

• K-Bob's Steakhouse

  phone: +1 575 461-0002
  address: 200 E Estrella Ave

• KIX on 66

  phone: +1 575 461-1966
  address: 1102 E. Route 66 Blvd.
  Wifi café.

• Loretta's

  phone: +1 575-815-0056
  address: 624 S 3rd St
  Tex-Mex food truck

• La Cita

  phone: +1 575 461-7866
  address: 812 Tucumcari Blvd
  Mexican, on Route 66 with large neon sombrero.

• Pow Wow Restaurant & Lizard Lounge

  phone: +1 575 461-2587
  address: 801 W Route 66 Blvd

• Watson's BBQ

  phone: +1 575 461-9620
  address: 502 S Lake Street
  Family-run BBQ.

• Lizard Lounge

  phone: +1 575 461-2587
  address: 801 W Route 66 Blvd

• Branding Iron

  phone: +1 575 461-3780
  address: 3716 E Route 66 Blvd

“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:

Motels

• Blue Swallow Motel

  phone: +1 575 461-9849
  address: 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).

• Historic Route 66 Motel

  phone: +1 575 461-1212
  address: 1620 E Hwy 66
  Mid-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.

• Motel Safari

  phone: +1 575 461-1048
  address: 722 E Route 66 Blvd
  Restored vintage/classic 1959 independent motel, wi-fi, 32-inch LCD HDTV, patio, BBQ, no smoking, no pets.

Hotels and chains

• Best Western Discovery Inn

  phone: +1 575 461-4884
  address: 200 E. Estrella

• Comfort Inn

  phone: +1 575 461-4099
  address: 2800 E. Tucumcari Blvd

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Marriot

  phone: +1 575 461-7915
  address: 1901 S Mountain Road

• Holiday Inn Express

  phone: +1 575 461-3459
  address: 2624 S. Adams
  Free breakfast & Wi-Fi.

• Microtel Inn Tucumcari

  phone: +1 575 461-0600
  address: 2420 S. 1st St

• Rodeway Inn East

  phone: +1 575 461-4444
  address: 1023 E. Tucumcari Blvd

Camping and RV

• Mountain Road RV Park

  phone: +1 575 461-9628
  address: 1700 Mountain Rd.

• Blaze-In-Saddle RV Park

  phone: +1 760 486-3009
  address: 2500 E Route 66 Blvd
  Full hookups, horse facilities available.