The stretch of Interstate 40 between Amarillo, Texas, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, is fairly desolate. Aside from roadside truck stops and the occasional fast food chain, there’s not much to see or do along this 280-mile open road, but just a few miles off I-40 is an opportunity to cruise through one of Route 66’s most iconic towns: Tucumcari, New Mexico.
5800 Fm 1547, Shamrock, Texas, United States
The abandoned, vintage Magnolia Gas Station makes for a great photo op, particularly as the sun is setting.
Once you reach Adrian, pat yourself on the back: You've made it to the midpoint of Route 66. You'll know you've arrived once you see the MidPoint Cafe, a vintage-style roadside diner with lots of photo ops to commemorate your journey down (half of) the Mother Road. The restaurant and gift shop claims to be located at the geographic midpoint between Los Angeles and Chicago.
Glenrio, Texas, United States
Once a bustling desert oasis built on the state line between Texas and New Mexico, today Glenrio is a ghost town. But just because the town is abandoned doesn’t mean it’s irrelevant. The Glenrio Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also has a place in pop culture: A scene for the film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath was filmed here, and in the animated movie Cars, an abandoned "Glenn Rio Motel" is turned into a racing museum.
The next-level Russell’s Travel Center is located right on Historic Route 66 and has everything a road traveler could possibly want, including an onsite grocery store, a retro diner, a classic car museum, showers, and even a chapel.
If you need a break from driving, Ute Lake State Park in Logan features many miles of shoreline (the lake itself is 13 miles long), RV sites, and a campground where you can sleep under the stars. It’s a peaceful spot to recharge before getting your kicks in Tucumcari.
You’re more than halfway through the Mother Road, but don’t get nostalgic just yet—there’s still plenty left to see on your way into Arizona. The trading posts—and opportunities to buy moccasins—will become more frequent as you head further into the desert Southwest. Grants and Gallup, New Mexico, and Holbrook, Arizona, are all historic towns still full of top-notch neon and whimsical motels, so take your time and enjoy the dry air and colorful sunsets. Keep an eye out for black rocks that line the road between Grants and Gallup—this part of the route follows the Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field.
