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Places (POIs) visited during this tour

Place #1
Distance: 59.02mi
Map Pin
15405 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121, USA
POI 1 Tour Image
Canoncito Indian Reservation & Laguna Pueblo: Echoes of the Ancestors
Welcome to the lands of the Canoncito Navajo Chapter and the Laguna Pueblo, two distinct yet deeply rooted Indigenous communities along historic Route 66.

As you drive through this stretch, you're passing through land that holds generations of history, tradition, and resilience. To your east lies the Canoncito Navajo Reservation — a non-contiguous portion of the Navajo Nation often called To’Hajiilee, meaning “Dipping Water.” It's one of the few parts of the Navajo Nation located outside of the main reservation.

The community here continues to preserve its language, customs, and spiritual connection to the land.

A little farther along, you’ll arrive at Laguna Pueblo, a vibrant Native American village nestled among sandstone bluffs. The Pueblo was founded in the 1600s, but its people have lived in this region far longer.

Laguna is one of the 19 pueblos of New Mexico, and it stands as a symbol of cultural endurance, known for its striking mission church, hand-built from local stone, and its celebrated tradition of pottery and storytelling.

While much of Route 66 is about quirky Americana, this stop reminds us that the Mother Road also crosses sacred and sovereign lands — places with living cultures far older than the highway itself. As you drive, take a moment to reflect on the enduring presence of the First Peoples of this region.

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  https://tohajiilee.navajochapters.org/
Place #2
Distance: 5.73mi
Map Pin
523 W Santa Fe Ave, Grants, NM 87020, USA
POI 2 Tour Image
Grants, New Mexico – Neon, Mining, and the Mother Road
Welcome to Grants, New Mexico, a Route 66 town with a story as bold as the desert sky. What started as a railroad camp became one of the most significant uranium boomtowns in the country—and today, it’s a must-see stop full of Route 66 charm, history, and geological wonders.

Let’s start with the iconic Route 66 Neon Arch. This 18-foot-tall glowing gateway sits right over Santa Fe Avenue and is perfect for photos—especially at dusk when the neon flickers to life like a time machine to mid-century Americana.

The New Mexico Mining Museum, our next point of interest gives you a chance to go underground—literally. It features a full-scale replica of a uranium mine, telling the story of how a Navajo shepherd named Paddy Martinez discovered high-grade uranium in 1950, kicking off a mining rush that changed the town forever.

And if you’re a fan of vintage roadside stops, don’t miss Charley’s Automotive Service, a preserved Route 66 garage from the 1940s that looks like it’s straight out of a postcard. It’s even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

You’ll also find museums celebrating Route 66, local aviation history, and the town’s role in early air mail routes. And when you’re ready to explore beyond Main Street, Grants is the gateway to El Malpais National Monument, Bluewater Lake State Park, and the famous Ice Cave & Bandera Volcano.

So whether you're chasing neon nostalgia, mining history, or lava tubes, Grants is a highlight of your Route 66 adventure.

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Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour

Map Pin Place 1 Canoncito Indian Reservation & Laguna Pueblo: Echoes of the Ancestors
Map Pin Place 2 Grants, New Mexico – Neon, Mining, and the Mother Road
Map Pin Place 3 New Mexico Mining Museum (aka New Mexico Mining & Uranium Museum)
Map Pin Place 4 Bluewater Lake State Park: A Cool Desert Escape
Map Pin Place 5 Gallup: The Heart of Indian Country
Map Pin Place 6 El Rancho Hotel – Gallup, New Mexico
Map Pin Place 7 Kachina Point
Map Pin Place 8 Petrified Forest National Park
Map Pin Place 9 Jack Rabbit Trading Post Exit
Map Pin Place 10 Jack Rabbit Trading Post: Route 66 Icon
Map Pin Place 11 Standin' on the Corner Park
Map Pin Place 12 Walnut Canyon Rd
Map Pin Place 13 Walnut Canyon Cliff Dwellings
Map Pin Place 14 Historic Downtown Flagstaff



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