Stop over at the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, New Mexico ... location, maps, photographs



Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa

Greetings from Santa Rosa, New Mexico

We've had the opportunity to get out on the road and explore Route 66 in New Mexico on numerous trips. Santa Rosa is located west of Tucumcari and east of Albuquerque.

When Route 66 passed through Santa Rosa in 1930, numerous service stations, cafés and motor courts were built to accommodate motorists traveling the Mother Road.

Driving down Santa Rosa’s Historic Route 66 today, travelers see many old signs and buildings … remnants of the days when the bright neon lights were a welcome sight to weary travelers looking for great food and comfortable lodging.

Santa Rosa still delivers that down-home, Main Street USA friendliness. It offers classic Route 66 cars and neon, the best in fishing, boating and water skiing, camping, and a place for a cool swim in the Blue Hole.

Located on the Pecos River, between Albuquerque and Amarillo, you can see picturesque stone buildings in the historic district, enjoy down-home meals, chill out with our waterslide and pedal boats at Park Lake, walk or bike-ride along recreational trails or on level sidewalks connecting the downtown plaza where the grand Guadalupe County Courthouse is a central landmark, along the Route 66 corridor or on improved trails through an extensive but compact City parks system.

The Santa Rosa Information Center can assist with maps, event information, recreation opportunities, dude ranches, rodeos, local southwest history, the geology of the world-famous Blue Hole and in locating Route 66 alignments and remnants of the road.

A "must see" attraction in Santa Rosa is the Route 66 Auto Museum ... highly recommended!

Map showing the location of Santa Rosa, New Mexico on U.S. Route 66
Map showing the location of Santa Rosa, New Mexico on U.S. Route 66



Route 66 Auto Museum

One of the popular local attractions is the Route 66 Auto Museum, which draws car buffs from all over the country and beyond. The museum houses a large collection of classics, low riders, muscle cars and motorcycles … plus, gas pumps and other auto memorabilia from the early days of Route 66.  

Route 66 comes to life as you tour this iconic collection of vintage cars, trucks, toys, gas pumps, and memorabilia, all brought together to celebrate and remember the glory days.

There’s enough chrome, fins, and colorful finishes to give any car buff an unforgettable experience. A gift shop and snack bar are part of the experience as well. The museum is physically located at 2436 Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa.

For more information visit the Website of the Route 66 Auto Museum or Route 66 Auto Museum on Facebook - phone 575.472.1966

Mural at the Route 66 Auto Museum, Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Route 66 Auto Museum, Santa Rosa, New Mexico Entrance area at the Route 66 Auto Museum, Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Old rusted truck at the Route 66 Auto Museum, Santa Rosa, New Mexico One of the many indoor exhibits at the Route 66 Auto Museum, Santa Rosa, New Mexico
1957 Chevrolet on display  at the Route 66 Auto Museum, Santa Rosa, New Mexico Indoor collection of cars at the Route 66 Auto Museum, Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Interactive Map to the Route 66 Auto Museum



Hotels and Lodging Options in Santa Rosa

Click to review hotels and restaurants, read reviews and make reservations at TripAdvisor

Hotels and lodging in Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Santa Rosa hotels, reservations and traveler reviews at TripAdvisor

Santa Rosa restaurant listing and reviews

Attractions and things to do in Santa Rosa


More Santa Rosa Information and Resources

Visit Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa on NewMexico.org

City of Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa Main Street

Park Lake Historic District at NPS

Guadalupe County

Weather Conditions at Santa Rosa: Weather Underground

New Mexico Route 66 Association


Two Route 66 Alignments to Follow Leaving Santa Rosa

As one leaves Santa Rosa today heading west, there are two options to follow:

  • The 1926 alignment through Santa Fe to Albuquerque
  • The post-1937 alignment through Clines Corners and Moriarty to Albuquerque

Approximately 507 miles long in 1926, the alignment of Route 66 in New Mexico was reduced to 399 miles by 1938 bypassing Santa Fe.

The longest sections of the initial alignment created a large "S curve" as the road stretched across the middle of the state, as shown in the map below.

Route 66 alignment in central New Mexico in 1926 and post-1937
Map of U.S. Route 66 alignment in central New Mexico in 1926 and post-1937


MORE NEW MEXICO ROUTE 66

Route 66 road trip Across New Mexico

Route 66 road trip to Tucumcari, New Mexico Route 66 road trip to Santa Rosa, New Mexico Route 66 road trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico
Route 66 road trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico Route 66 road trip to Grants, New Mexico Route 66 road trip to Gallup, New Mexico