Route 66 - Western New Mexico

Route 66 runs through the middle of Gallup, a time capsule of mid-century Americana—from funky old motels and diners to Southwestern pottery and jewelry shops. Crossing the desert, passing red-rock mesas, you'll climb to the Continental Divide and its wonderfully cheesy trading post. Up next is Grants, which retains a healthy amount of its old Route 66 character.

Departing Grants, the Mother Road traverses the Acoma Indian Reservation, home to a must-visit adobe pueblo that dates back centuries and sits high atop a sandstone mesa. Further down the highway, you'll roll into modern Albuquerque. Here, Route 66 becomes busy Central Avenue, chock-a-block with historic motels, restaurants, shops and glowing neon signs.