Route 66 Side Trip to Las Vegas, New Mexico
 Railroad depot in Las Vegas, New Mexico |
Many travelers want to know ... does Route 66 go through Las Vegas in New Mexico?
The answer is "No", but the city is only about 6 miles north of the 1926-1937 Route 66 alignment at its present-day connection of U.S. Highway 84 with Interstate I-25. It is a popular destination for roadtrippers traveling from Santa Rosa to Santa Fe on the 1926 Route 66 alignment.
About Las Vegas, NM
Las Vegas is the county seat of San Miguel County, located on the Gallinas River about 65 miles east of Santa Fe, and is home to about 13,000 residents. Once the city was actually two separate municipalities, both named Las Vegas: West Las Vegas ("Old Town") and East Las Vegas ("New Town").
The city was incorporated in 1835, and thrived as a stop on the Santa Fe Trail. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad arrived in Las Vegas from the north in 1879. Today, it is an Amtrak stop for the Southwest Chief. The city also is home to the New Mexico Highlands University, and the site of the filming of many well-known movies and documentaries.
Location of Las Vegas Showing Nearby Route 66
Map showing places along an early alignment of U.S. Route 66 across New Mexico, including nearby Las Vegas |
The museum in downtown Las Vegas  |
The historic Plaza Hotel |
First National Bank building |
Carnegie Public Library |
Things to See and Do Around Las Vegas
From museums to historic tours, outdoor adventures to arts and culture, Las Vegas offers Route 66 visitors a wealth of things to do for all ages. Listed below are some highlights of attractions and things to do in Las Vegas ...
- The City of Las Vegas Museum & Rough Rider Memorial on Grand Avenue, dedicated in 1940 and free and open to the public, houses a memorial collection of artifacts, archives and photographs from the Rough Riders and mementos in relation to the 1898 Cuban Campaign of the Spanish–American War.
- The classic Fort Union Drive-in is the only drive-in remaining in the state of New Mexico. It features a solo screen and a capacity for 340 cars. Open seasonally, weekends only, screening double features.
- Leisurely walks from the Visitor Center to the Historic Plaza and Bridge Street and beyond, through historic districts
- The Calumet Cowgirl mural was created in 1984 as part of the backdrop for the movie "Red Dawn," which was filmed here but set in Calumet, Colorado. The real Calumet Colorado is a defunct mining town with only one building still standing. Another popular mural is the panels of The People's History of El Norte.
- Visitors often seek out several art galleries such as the El Zócalo Cooperative Art Gallery and antique stores such as Plaza Antiques.
- Historic structures (mostly railroad-era houses and commercial buildings), with over 900 listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Popular architectural stops for Route 66 roadtrippers include the Plaza Hotel built in 1881, the Castañeda Hotel, a mission-style Harvey House built in 1898, and the Carnegie Library, built in 1903 at the center of Carnegie Park and modeled after Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.
- Montezuma Castle, about 6 miles northwest of downtown
- Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
- Spend a night in your RV at nearby Storrie Lake State Park
- Visitors also enjoy a stop at the Victory Alpaca Ranch. Phone 575.387.2254 and visit the www.VictoryRanch.com website
- Find adventure in the beautiful natural areas surrounding Las Vegas that offer birding, hiking, boating and more.
Be sure to visit the Las Vegas Visitor's Center at 500 Railroad Avenue. Phone 800.832.5947. Also, be sure to check out the VisitLasVegasNM.com website, and Visit LasVegas on Facebook.
Spend a day, or more, and enjoy the history and ambience of Las Vegas before returning to Route 66!
Scenes Around Las Vegas in New Mexico
Calumet Cowgirl mural ... says "Howdy" |
Montezuma Castle |
Hotel Castaneda |
Storrie Lake State Park |
Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge |
Victory Alpaca Ranch |
Lodging Options in Las Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas is popular stop for those roadtrippers traveling the Route 66 1926 alignment from Santa Rosa to Santa Fe, and has over 20 hotels and motels to select from. In addition, there are many other lodging options, including B&Bs, cabins, retreats, campgrounds and RV parks.
Visitors can choose from a great variety of restaurants and food establishments. There are over 45 restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries offering a variety of cuisines.
Las Vegas NM Hotel Directory, Traveler Reviews and Reservations |
Map of Las Vegas, New Mexico
More Information and Resources about Las Vegas, New Mexico
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| Route 66 Road Trips in New Mexico | |
Tucumcari thru Santa Rosa to Santa Fe  |
Santa Fe thru Albuquerque to Gallup |
MORE NEW MEXICO ROUTE 66
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