Historic Route 66 in Tucumcari (Tonight!), New Mexico

The small town of Tucumcari, New Mexico was my favorite town to photograph on my Route 66 trip. The whole town is quintessential Route 66 and filled with vintage charm! Here, you’ll find those classic neon signs (many of which are still illuminated at night), mid century motels, and (of course!) abandoned buildings.

Quick History of Tucumcari, New Mexico and why it’s famous

Back when Route 66 was still a huge thing, Tucumcari, New Mexico boasted that it had over 2000 hotel rooms available for travelers and launched the famous advertising campaign, “Tucumcari Tonight!” The flashy neon signs and the boastful billboards would entice motorists to stop in town for the night.

Today, Tucumcari can only claim to have about 1,200 rooms – some of those rooms are still from some of the same classic motels from back in the day.

Where to stay in Tucumcari:

While Tucumcari is a small town, there are two areas where you’ll find lodging – the classic motels along ’66 and your average chain hotels further south, closer to I-40. If you’re coming to Tucumcari for the nostalgia, then you probably should stay in one of the classic motels along Route 66. That’s not what I did; I stayed at the Best Western because I like loyalty points and fitness centers. I had thought about booking the Blue Swallow but because I was booking hotels on the same day of my arrival, I (wrongfully) assumed the Blue Swallow would be fully booked.

Let me tell you, I totally regretted that decision on that Best Western. (Not that it was a bad hotel – it was great.)

When I arrived to photograph the Blue Swallow Motel at dusk, there were already a few photographers with their tripods setup. The owner of the Blue Swallow Motel was outside, chatting with everyone about his motel’s history. He chatted with me for a while, told me all about the Blue Swallow and what the rooms were like (each room had its own garage for your car! And the amazing retro decor in each room! It was like a step back in time) – he even said he had rooms available for the night! Sometimes I need to make an exception from my chain hotels and leave those points on the table and go without a fitness center for a day or two. Tucamcari, New Mexico was one of those times.

Ultimately, the best place to stay in Tucamcari New Mexico is the Blue Swallow Motel, but if you can’t get a reservation there, some of the other classic motels along the Route 66 strip get great reviews too – a few to note:

Roadrunner Lodge
Motel Safari

The Palomino gets okay reviews – but it’s still an OG classic motel in the town and the rooms are cheap. You’ll see other motels along the main drag, some getting some pretty sketchy reviews, so make sure to do your research.

Photographing Route 66 Icons in Tucumcari New Mexico

Classic neon signs are the biggest Route 66 photography draw in this town and it doesn’t disappoint. If you want to get the most out of your visit, you’ll want to spend the night in Tucumcari to photograph the signs during the daytime and at night, when they’re illuminated.

And that’s exactly what I did – I planned my trip route so that I would be in Tucumcari for the night. Unfortunately, I forgot my tripod at home, so the night shots were handheld and many photos were unusable – don’t make this rookie mistake!

The most iconic sign in Tucumcari is, again, the Blue Swallow Motel. I absolutely love classic neon signs and honesty, this has to be one of best signs I’ve ever seen. It’s just so pretty – especially at night!

Across the street from the Blue Swallow Motel is TeePee’s Curios – this is another landmark Route 66 business, so make sure to photograph it! Also make sure to stop in – I’ve heard it’s a great gift shop but unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to stop in as it was already closed.

If you love photographing murals (or just viewing the cool artwork), Tucumcari is home to lots of murals. In fact, there are over 40 murals scattered around town. If you want to see them all, you’ll have to put in some time and effort to hunt them down. You can get a map from the Chamber of Commerce to help you out.

Even though you’ll find a lot of Tucumcari’s stretch of Route 66 well-kept and preserved, you’ll still see plenty of your usual casualties – abandoned restaurants, stores, and motels all are present on Tucamcari’s main drag – and the blight gets much more noticeable the further westward on Route 66 you go.

The Ranch House Cafe is one of the more iconic abandoned spots – the old neon sign is still standing, albeit very rusty, and the vintage truck parked in front of the sign makes for a great photo.

Tucumcari New Mexico – Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed my time in Tucumcari, I just wish I would’ve stayed in a classic motel, rather than a chain. If you’re doing Route 66, this town will be one of the highlights on your trip.