Things to do & places to visit in Tucumcari, New Mexico, United States

Tucumcari city in New Mexico, United States. Timezone: America/Denver, current date and time: Thursday, May 02, 2024, 9:46.

Top things to do (11)

Top places to visit (15 attractions)

5.0 Route 66 Townhouse Welcome Center & Gift Shop (142 reviews)
- Beautiful shop and lovely owner
Thursday: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

Route 66 gifts. Jewelry. Handmade. Turquoise, silver, etc. TShirts, Hats/caps Handmade pillows and aprons. Vintage glassware. Coca cola collectibles Antiques Magnets, cups, stickers, key chains. Clocks, metal signs, motorcycle vest AND SO MUCH MORE!! Come say "HEY" to Flora May! See more..
5.0 Tucumcari Ranch Supply (20 reviews)
- A fun place with great BBQ.
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Speciality & Gift Shops

This is a really cool place. It's a combination of a souvenir shop, BBQ restaurant, supply shop and museum. Owned by the nicest people, it was really fun to stop and check it out. We looked around, took some pics, bought a couple of things, and picked up some delicious brisket for the road. Excellent food...super BBQ sauce! Definitely a must see if you're checking out the town. Lot's of cool old tractors and signs to see outside too. See more..
4.5 Murals of Tucumcari (287 reviews)
- Amazing murals...fun driving around!
Points of Interest & Landmarks

This may be one of the best hidden gems we've encountered in all our travels. After many years of driving past Tucumcari, we FINALLY stopped in to get to know the town. We read there were at least a hundred murals, so we spent about an hour just driving around slowly and checking them out. There is no particular order or route to follow, so it was like driving around a huge art museum. Come slowly around a corner and WHAM...there's a mural of the old west, or a mural of route 66, or a mural of a lake from the side (including the fish underwater), or a portrait of someone you don't know, etc. Some murals are small and you need to look sharp for them. Others are large, or even enormous. Magnificent! I am so glad we did this. See more..
4.5 Tee Pee Curios (259 reviews)
- Worth a Quick I-40 Detour, Browse and Fun Pictures of Interesting Route 66 Outdoor Kitsch
Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

While driving from Flagstaff to DC, the male half of IllyCoffeeDrinkers and one of our kids swung by Tee Pee Curios for some fun pictures of Route 66 outdoor kitsch (photos attached). The neon sign out front is classic, along the side of the shop is a modified flatbed Ford truck with a very unique skeletal creature riding on the back, and one of the outside walls has a large picturesque Route 66 mural that is great for photographs in the bright New Mexico sun. Around Tee Pee Curios, other parts of Tucumcari seem like a ghost town; if you are into taking photos of run-down Route 66 sites and memorabilia, this town is also worth a brief detour off I-40. If you found this review helpful and/or our photos helpful or pleasing, we hope you will click the “helpful/thank you” button. Those of us who write detailed reviews appreciate the feedback and it encourages us to write additional reviews for everyone’s consideration. Thank you. See more..
4.5 Mesalands Community College's Dinosaur Museum and Natural Sciences Laboratory (178 reviews)
- Worth the stop. Dino Museum
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality & Gift Shops • Speciality Museums • Natural History Museums

The Mesalands Community College's Dinosaur Museum and Natural Sciences Laboratory is located in Tucumcari, New Mexico, on old Route 66. Many of the genuine fossils on display were collected by students enrolled in the College's Paleontology program. Also on display are life-sized bronze dinosaur sculptures created through the College's Fine Arts Bronze program. We offer a discount on admission for active military, seniors, and educators. Parking available for RV's. See more..
4.5 New Mexico Route 66 Museum (108 reviews)
- Definitely worth a stop!
Speciality Museums

Great small museum run by friendly volunteers from the area. $5 admission fee. Have some cool old cars, memorabilia and pictures to check out. Museum is located to the back of the convention center. Nice restrooms available. Glad we stopped in. Be sure and check hours it’s opened before going. See more..
4.5 Tucumcari Historical Museum (94 reviews)
- Worth a Detour
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM History Museums

What an unusual gem of a find! Spent an hour or so in this former schoolhouse filled with every sort of treasure-or-junk imaginable!. It was like a mini (very mini) version of the V&A collection in London, but with items collected over the years that directly relate to Tucumcari, Route 66 and New Mexico. Worth a short detour if you're in the neighborhood. Very helpful and knowledgeable docent on duty! See more..
4.5 Tucumcari Railroad Museum (35 reviews)
- Interesting History
Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

This museum is located in the old Tucumcari train depot, which has been restored for this purpose. It tells the history of railroads in this town and their importance to the town. Currently, it only occupies half the terminal, but work is in progress to expand into the entire building. If you like trains, you will love this place. See more..
4.5 Lizard Lounge (12 reviews)
- Name is Pow Wow Lounge
Bars & Clubs

Call it the Lizard Lounge because there is a very large Lizard as a greeting character as you enter. You Food has been excellent each time we have stopped there. We a nice complete salad bar went with a lot of the meals on the menu. We loved the decor. On the wall of every booth are murals of the local townspeople. Amazingly lifelike. Wait staff was very friendly and menu prices were reasonable. See more..
4.5 Odeon Theatre (9 reviews)
- If you are staying overnight in Tucumcari, catch a movie here!
Movie Theaters

The Odeon theater was a great pastime in Tucumcari. They show a movie most nights, and a matinee on the weekends. It's an old-fashioned theater with just one screen, and a great snack bar with hot dogs and real popped corn. Cash only, no credit cards. Family owned. Show the kids how it used to be. See more..
4.0 Route 66 Monument (126 reviews)
- Trip Advisor photo misleading for this monunent
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues

We drove by looking for the deserted motel and old graffiti-covered pickup as shown in TA for this attraction. Stopped in the Route 66 Museum and was directed to the concrete base with the chrome-looking 66 with the tail fin from a 60s era car in their parking lot. I was able to climb up the base for a photo op. Sad to see so many deserted reminders of a once exciting era in faded and run down buildings. See more..
4.0 Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course (3 reviews)
- Inexpensive golf, great bargain, nice course !!
Golf Courses

Nine holes in a desert and mountain scene. Played the course in April of 2012 and the Fairways and Greens were in solid shape. The course has large trees, fairways with valleys, and a couple of the par 3 greens should be challenging enough for Phil Mickelson....cart, green fee, and you get to mingle with the pro out there who is a hoot - very inexpensive golf, really a deal for the money. The pro is very professional and my wife said the bathrooms were very clean. Suggest this highly !! See more..
4.0 ArteFormz Custom Artwork (1 review)
- Great small business in Tucumcari
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops
The Center Frame & Gift Shop was originally founded in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1948 by Edward M. & Josie Yost. It is now Located in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Land of Enchantment, and Gateway to the Southwest. We offer many different types of artwork, with a focus on Original & Limited Edition Southwest & Native American Art, Custom Framing & Matting, Pottery, Jewelry, Kachina Dolls, Southwest Gifts & More! Arte Formz was created in a vision, to bring the different formz of Art together into an empire of creativity. ArteFormz Custom Art Work & Design is surrounded by the many different Visions and Artistic Ideas inside each and every one of us! Arte Formz thrives on triggering those ideas and bringing them to life in the form of customization of any surface that may be considered a canvas! ArteFormz is located in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the Great Southwest, Land of Enchantment. We are VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED. We travel around to Motorcycle Rallies, Car Shows, & Events looking to inspire great visions. Please come visit our studio, art gallery, and more! Visually Changing the Way of the World! See more..
3.0 Northside Park (1 review)
- Nice place for a picnic
Parks
My husband and I were traveling through Tucumcari and decided to have a picnic at Northside park. It was a quiet park. They had lots of playground equipment but older than what I have seen in most playground but still in good condition. There was one small pavilion, 3 picnic tables, lots of trees for shade but no restrooms. The park is one block by one block in size and well mowed. The chain link fence along the main road was 6 foot tall and the other 3 sides were 4 foot tall. The park has a basketball court as well. See more..
Mt. View Bowl (0 review)
Spent 1-2 hours Bowling Alleys
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