Family Fun in Tucumcari

If you’re driving along Interstate 40 through New Mexico's deserts, a lone flat-topped mountain in the distance is the first clue you're almost to Tucumcari. Green fields surround the city like an oasis, giving way to a ribbon of neon lights along old Route 66.

Get Your Kicks

Tucumcari's economy centers primarily around agriculture, but the famous Route 66 is what brings most people to the city. Many of Tucumcari's kitschy buildings still stand from back in the day, making colorful backdrops for selfies or group photos.Route 66 is also a prime spot to find souvenirs of your journey: head to Tee Pee Curios to pick up Route 66 memorabilia and Tucumcari mementos. Tee Pee's elaborate neon sign and longhorn skull light up every night around dusk, making it an ideal place for a photo op. At Tucumcari Ranch Supply, you'll find locally grown produce, meats and baked goods celebrating the area's ranching heritage, along with cowboy gear, of course.

Get Artsy

You won't find Tucumcari's famous artwork hidden away in a museum. Instead, enjoy the dozens of murals depicting the area's ranching and Route 66 roots that grace the sides of buildings throughout the city. While some are easily noticeable along the famous stretch of highway, you'll have to look for others on side streets in the downtown area. For a more traditional art experience, visit the Eastern New Mexico Arts and Cultural Center Art Space. View regional art ranging from paintings to sculptures, attend one of their many events featuring local artists and musicians or even take a class while you're in town.

Get a Load of History

Dig deep into the earliest history of the Tucumcari area at the Mesalands Community College Dinosaur Museum, which displays footprints, skeletons and bronze castings of the area's earliest residents. You'll feel snack-size as the skeleton of a Torvosaurus—T-Rex's meat-munching cousin that lived nearby—towers 30 feet above you. The museum is kid-friendly, with many touchable exhibits and an activity area especially for them. For more recent history, head to Tucumcari Historical Museum, a wacky, whimsical schoolhouse filled with overstuffed displays of oddities dating back as far as 12,000 years. The museum's two stories, basement and outbuildings overflow with items as eclectic as a collection of used cowboy boots and a bucket-load of colorful cow pies.

Get Filled Up

Dining out in the city will be a highlight of your trip. Head for the giant sombrero atop La Cita Restaurant's turquoise eatery for authentic Mexican and American favorites made from fresh, local ingredients. If your taste buds are hankering for barbecue, head to Watson's BBQ. You'll find mouth-watering beef brisket, pulled pork, turkey breast and sausage served up in a sandwich, by the plateful or by the pound. Cap off your meal with freshly made donuts, long johns, bismarks or fritters.

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