Route 66 Road Trip to Grants, NM
One of our favorite segments of the Mother Road is from Santa Fe to Albuquerque and westward through Grants to Gallup, New Mexico.
The City of Grants is located in Cibola County, roughly half-way between present-day Albuquerque and Gallup on Interstate 40. To the west of Grants is Continental Divide.
Cibola County was created in 1981 from the westernmost parts of Valencia County, and Grants be- came the county seat.
Grants offers visitors a wealth of historical and recreational activities, despite being only two exits long. Several attractions are located in the city, such as the New Mexico Mining Museum, The Cibola County History Museum and the Route 66 Vintage Museum & Double Six Gallery. Nearby is the La Ventana Arch in the El Malpais National Conservation Area. Located 25 miles southwest of Grants is the Bandero Volcano, with a cinder cone 900 feet in height.
In Grants, U.S. Route 66 is also known as Santa Fe Avenue.
The city sits at an elevation of 6,460', and is home to more than 9,000 residents.
Map of Route 66 showing the location of Grants, New Mexico
Route 66 Arch
A popular attraction today in Grants is the 18-foot tall neon drive-thru Route 66 Arch, completed in 2016. The arch is located on Route 66 (Santa Fe Avenue) between the Fire & Ice Park, and the New Mexico Mining Museum, and features a circle driveway. Park under the arch, and take "selfies".
At dusk, the neon illuminates, making for even more fun pictures. Don't miss it!
Entering the Arch |
The "Selfie" side |
Instructions on how to take photos in the arch! |
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More Scenes Around Grants |
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New Mexico Museum of Mining |
Santa Fe Railway Caboose |
Lodging, Dining and Attractions in Grants ... from TripAdvisor
Grants Hotel Directory, Traveler Reviews and Reservations
Grants Restaurant Listings and Reviews Grants Attractions and Things to Do |
Earlier Times in Grants, New Mexico |
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Franciscan Lodge |
Grants Travel Lodge |
Continental Divide, New MexicoThoreau is located on old Route 66 and present-day Interstate 40 between Grants and Gallup. Just west of Thoreau, at Exit 47, is Continental Divide, at elevation 7,275 feet above sea level. There are multiple souvenir shops at the exit, and have been for years! |
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Seen here is the the "Ya-Tah-Hey" gift shop, during a trip on this segment of Route 66 circa 2009. |
Continental Divide ... rainfall divides at this point, either to the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans |
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More Information and Resources about Grants |
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Interactive Map of Grants, New Mexico
MORE NEW MEXICO ROUTE 66
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Travel Guides for Other Segments of Route 66
Planning a Road Trip on Route 66? Here are trip planners for the major segments ...
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