Moriarty, NM

If you decide to take this route rather than the pre-1937 route through Santa Fe, you will follow I-40 to Moriarty, then get back on I-40 and enter Albuquerque on Central Avenue. This route is quicker than going through Santa Fe, but there are other good reasons to select this option. The post-1937 alignment will take you along a stretch of Route 66 with many vintage motels, many of which are in great condition. It also will take you through "Old Town" Albuquerque, which is a colorful historic area with lots of intact Route 66 buildings and businesses.

Although there are a few places to stop on the way from Moriarty to Albuquerque, we have given you an express route. Along the way, you will pass the Flying C Ranch and Cline's Corners. Both of these places feature every tacky souvenir imaginable, but they both also have good road food, clean bathrooms and gas. If you have to pick one, we recommend Cline's Corners. Its bigger and it has its own restaurant rather than national franchises.

When you get off of I-40 into Moriarty, you will glide past the Southwest Soaring Museum, or soar past the Glider Museum. Both names are on the building. I've never been in, but if you are into gliders, stop and check it out.

Moriarty has the last Whiting Bros. station still in operation on Route 66. It does not sell gas. It only does tire repairs, oil changes and things like that.

Moriarty is home of the El Comedor de Anaya's Restaurant, which has the only neon rotosphere left on Route 66. It is a spiked neon globe with its hemispheres spinning in opposite directions. Very cool when lit up.