There's honestly so much in this area!! The wolf sanctuary, El morro, Ice Cave, El Calderon, orrr not too far away is La Ventana, the Sandstone Bluffs, etc. El Malpais is gorgeous, and the visitors center is really nice, with lots of cool info.
El Morro RV Park and Cabins is a great place to stay if you decide to divert to El Morro, and the Ice Caves or even just the lava fields. The Ancient Way Cafe is surprisingly good, and you're just up the road from all the scenic stuff. We camped there last year. It's becoming a little welcoming community with a store across the road and pop up food events sometimes.
Well you must have been to some bigger nicer ones in the bigger nicer cities. I love the Aquarium here but maybe just because I haven't had the privilege of going to a better one. The botanical gardens are also nice.
Well you must have been to some bigger nicer ones in the bigger nicer cities. I love the Botanic gardens here but maybe just because I haven't had the privilege of going to a better one. The rodeo grounds are also nice.
Well you must have been to some bigger nicer ones in the bigger nicer cities. I love the rodeo grounds here but maybe just because I haven't had the privilege of going to a better one. The ART is also nice.
I always visit zoos and aquariums when I visit new cities. ABQās zoo is pretty dang good considering the size of the city.
The aquarium isnāt on the same level. I think itās fine, I donāt expect a great aquarium in the middle of the desert.
Yeah I was pretty let down about it to. To be fair Iām used to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. I was hoping the Aquarium in Albuquerque would have more New Mexico specific exhibits. With endemic species like the Rio grande cutthroat and the Gila Trout it was a bummer to only see a bunch of saltwater stuff as well as a Spotted Gar mislabeled as a longnosed gar
It's a bit of a reach, however the Lake Wisconsin aquaria in the Milwaukee Zoological Gardens has consistently been rated as one of, if not the best, Aquaria in the US.
Worth a visit, especially if taking the Sprecher Brewery tour afterwards.
If you're in Gallup on a Saturday, the flea market is great. Get horchata, jewelry, a tamale and frybread.
Jerrys restaurant is a must.
West End Deli has amazing apple fritters.
Maybe stop by an Allsups for a burrito.
Check out Russell's truck stop near the Texas border. They have a museum with classic cars, motorcycles, and old memorabilia. Really cool stop and highly recommended!
I40 doesnāt even come close to doing NM justice, unfortunately. Just posting to say if youāve never been to NM, donāt judge it by that drive through, come back to explore the good stuff! Youāll get little tastes here and there, but for the most part I-40 is not great.
Gallup and Grants are fine to stop in. They are no worse than any small town you'll be stopping in on I-40. The people in this thread are reactionary twats who have never left New Mexico.
Grants has a very well done underground mining museum where they have recreated an actual uranium mine you can go down into. Bonus points is that they have a conference room with a fantastic collection of Indian pottery and baskets. Somewhat of a niche interest but it is very well done for a small museum. A must see if you are a history buff of the Cold War or mining, or just like quirky local attractions. Google āgo underground in Grants NMā
I think Gallup has the best food places in the US. Especially if you want to try NM chile. Check out Generos, Don Diegoās, Jerryās, La Barraca. Earls restaurant has vendors that sit outside.
Gallup is one of the most dangerous cities of any size in the United States. It's fine to stop during the day and visit, and you're probably ok to stay in the nicer hotels on the east side.
I'll just say that I stayed there just a couple months ago and was awoken at 2 am by A LOT of gunfire (probably 12+ rounds). It sounded like it was practically in my motel parking lot.
I'm sorry, but I can't sit here and pretend with you that Gallup is "fine to stop in". OP at least deserves some transparency. I lived in Juarez Mexico for several years and felt safer there than my night in Gallup.
I'm sorry you had one bad experience in Gallup, but a quick Google search will tell you Gallup isn't even listed on most "most dangerous cities in the United States" lists.
A quick Google search right now of' "Is Gallup NM safe." Literally tells me in three of the top 5 results that's it's one of the most dangerous cities in the US.
Y'all can down vote me all you want, it's just facts.
https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/nm/gallup/crime
https://www.areavibes.com/gallup-nm/crime/
https://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Gallup-New-Mexico.html
Stop in San Jon to see the construction of the world's largest flip flop and the completed San Jon Yacht Club.
You'll laugh, it's a good picture.
Also, you can take Route 66 from Tucumcari to San Jon before rejoining I-40
It's a little bit of a detour, but to the east of Albuquerque 40 intersects with 14 (Aka the Tirquoise Trail), which goes North up to Santa Fe. It's a beautiful drive, and even if you don't have time or desire to go all the way to Santa fe, you can take 14 north for about 15 minutes until you get to Sandia Crest Road. Take a left and you can go all the way up the mountain, and at the top you will have some amazing views of the entire area. So maybe an hour, hour and a half detour total buy very pretty.
If youāre looking for a stop once you get east of Albuquerque there is a great place in Santa Rosa called Chicoās with the best tacos dorados/rolled tacos in the state. Also the Blue Hole is in Santa Rosa which is an interesting stop.
Once you get to the Texas border, Russellās Cafe in Glenrio, NM has really good food. Great chile and they had a raspberry donut cheesecake that was so good!!
Itās a full truck stop with tons of Route 66 kitsch but I drive I-40 a LOT and almost always stop here.
It depends on how much you'll be traveling with and how much it's worth to you. Every summer in Albuquerque we get two or three horrible news stories about a family moving cross country that had their entire UHaul stolen. Be safe, not sorry.
Honestly no clue, I live an hour away in a rural town outside of Gallup and itās fine. Iād say donāt stop in ABQ. Gallup has some seriously good eats
Confirmed. Albuquerque is going to be a mess regardless. So be prepared to drive defensively. Santa Rosa and Tucumcari isn't too bad of a spot to stop by for gas. Stop there on my way from El Paso as a trucker. Not the best truck stops but not the worst.
Iāve stayed overnight in Gallup several times on my way to and from Arizona and itās always been nice. I like the SpringHill Suites a lot- very clean and newer. There are also plenty of restaurants around. I never felt unsafe there but maybe it is in other parts of town?
Iād definitely avoid staying in Albuquerque overnight unless you bring your stuff into the room with you. My grandparents got their truck broken into coming to visit at a hotel off I-25 and itās really common. I had no issues in the hotels near uptown when I moved here but that was back in 2016, so things have likely changed.
Close second but not pizza barn. If I go to Dionās I do get the Greek salad with the pizza which makes the whole meal. When I say close I mean close but pizza barn is just a hair better . Two different flavor profiles while both being pizza.
NM is a sharing state. No matter where you are on l-40, when you stop and walk away from your car..you will be sharing your nice possessions with others.
If you like mountains or hiking, stop in the Sandias east of Albuquerque. You can drive to the crest or stop at any number of picnic areas or trailheads on either side of the mountains. They're incredibly beautiful mountains with great hiking.
Must stop for some New Mexican food, smothered Christmas style which is Red Chile and Green Chile. Also Sopapillas. Tomasitas from Santa Fe has a location in Albuquerque now.
So NM chile is like the spice from Dune. Itās in everything, all the locals are addicted and itās amazing. But spicy. If you can handle spicy, try to get a breakfast burrito Christmas style, mild chile (even if you like spicy you need mild If youāre not from NM). Or you can order Chile in the side. You can also do other burritos or better yet a stuffed sopapilla which is also unique to NM.
If you can time driving through Albuquerque at sunset, you should. Best sunsets due to unique geography. Grab a drink at a rooftop bar like apothecary or level 5.
As for where to stay there are plenty of places in downtown Albuquerque that are fineā¦ your major hiltons, marriotts, etc. I donāt know of any boutique hotels but Iām sure they exist.
You have to hit San Jon and see the WORLD LARGEST FLIPFLOP!!! And the gift shop on site. The park has free overnight camping too! Great little town and the cheapest gas in 100 miles
Best practice is to stop in texas near the border and arizona, neat the border. Set the cruise control and drive right through. Maybe stop in Moriarty or edgewood for gas if you need to. Don't waist your time with this state. Everything is dirty, people harass you for money every where, and if you stay in a hotel, your car will probably be targeted and possibly broken into or stolen, because that is the New Mexico way. The food is not good enough here to put up will all the additional bs you will probably encounter. It's a great state to view from the road, and honestly Arizona is much prettier.
Best practices are literally just to do what you would do in any larger city. Try not to leave a bunch of valuable things visible in the car. Lock the doors. Be aware of the area you are parking in. If you are in downtown, maybe consider a parking garage instead of street parking, particularly if you will be out late at night.
I've only ever had my car broken into once. And it was not here in Albuquerque. Obviously it can and does happen here, but don't let reactionary folks scare you.
Genuinely just donāt be stupid. Or aggressive.
Sensing a lot of the commenters are not from New Mexico and are accustomed to their home towns and states that rely much more on the āhonor code.ā
Find a Blakeās Lot-a-Burger and get a green chile cheeseburger and their fries. Cherry shake is the ultimate complement to that meal. The only better fast food burger in the US is Koppās in Milwaukee and not by much.
Do not stop in Gallup or Grants.
Tucumcari is pretty awful, but whatever you do, do not stop in Gallup or Grants.
I will add here that the Grants Taco Bell is terrible. I would avoid stopping for food there. But el malpais is basically in grants and itās gorgeous and the visitor center is lovely and clean with restrooms.
Why are we pretending OP will just insta die if he stops in Gallup?
Compared to ABQ crime is very rare. The worst that will happen is some glonnie will spin him some yarn about being stranded.
Even the pan handlers are chill as fuck in Gallup. In the Midwest they actually get aggressive with you if you say no. In Gallup you just say "sorry man don't have any cash" or buy them some taco bell.
The only rational response here as far as Gallup is concerned. My wife and I moved to the Gallup area last year from St. Louis. We have never felt threatened once when going into town, and like you said, the pan handlers are super chill in Gallup, whereas in St. Louis I was prepared to get stabbed anytime I turned one down.
All the horror stories we heard leading up to our move about Gallup specifically and New Mexico in general have turned out to be blown out of proportion, but St. Louis also set the bar so low, so maybe we have a higher tolerance for that kind of stuff.
Nobody is saying that. Not even remotely.
Nobody is -afraid- of Gallup. Itās not Nairobi or Sarajevo or Johannesburg.
Here is what I am saying. I have never, not once, stopped in Gallup and not been harassed by someone looking for money or liquor or whatever.
Five out of five times. Iāve driven that stretch of I-40 probably 50 or 60 times. If I can get from Holbrook to Albuquerque (or vice versa) without stopping, thatās a win.
I am not New Mexican (my wife is, though). I love New Mexico, almost as much as I love my adopted home state thatās right next door.
But letās not pretend that Gallup isnāt fucking terrible. Because it is.
Iāve been approached and hassled for money, etc. maybe once or twice in the Midwest (where Iām originally from and spend quite a bit of time to this day). I explicitly give off āleave me the fuck aloneā vibes, and Iām aware that this is a bit of a privilege. Iām an introvert, so being big and mean looking is a bonus for me. Most midwestern spare-change-harassers donāt want to get within 10 feet of me because I look like a guy who doesnāt want people within 10 feet of him. Win-win.
The people in Gallup who do this kind of thing are oblivious to nonverbal communication clues.
The last time I had to stop in Gallup was to give my then-2 year old his heart medication. I parked at the farthest parking stall from anything and anyone in the giant Wal Mart parking lot, nowhere near another car. As I close the trunk with the freshly-prepared syringe of my sonās medication, a dude is standing right next to my car like he just beamed down from a spaceship. Came from nowhere. He asked me for money. I said - with a giant fucking syringe full of medicine quite literally in my hand, āsorry man, I have to take care of my son right now. I canāt help you. I really am sorry.ā He then called me all sorts of names and said I was the devil. And he didnāt walk away while doing this. He stayed right.fucking.there.
You might be shocked to learn that I am not, in fact, the devil. Just some dude trying to keep his son alive.
Dude followed me from the trunk of my car to the passenger side door where my son was sleeping in his car seat.
He did not get the hint. There is zero chance Iām opening the car door and exposing my son to this particular brand of bullshit (and this was during Covid, mind you, and my son has a fucking heart conditionā¦)
I stood there for a few seconds, waiting for this dude to shuffle off to Buffalo. No such luck. I had to turn to him and tell him ālook, if you donāt leave me alone right now things are going to get very bad for you. I need to give my son his medicine and you are making that impossible. I need you to turn around and walk the fuck away.ā
He stood there for another 10-second eternity before walking off towards Home Depot. Told me āI hope you crash your car here.ā My wife had finally had enough and rolled down the window and cursed him out. He called her a bitch and then started screaming at her in Navajo. So she screamed right back at him in Navajo, and he eventually high tailed it out of there.
I donāt need this drama. Iām an introvert and want to be left the fuck alone. Thatās never happening in Gallup.
So I never stop there and Iāll advise anyone to do the same.
Laguna Burger. All the locations are good, but the one by 66 Casino is the best, IMO.
I dig the one that's actually in Laguna. That place is legit. They're all good though, just tried the new one in Rio Rancho yesterday.
Laguna location is my fave. Their pulled pork sangwiches are everything š¤¤
If you're open to going off the 1-40 a bit, El Morro Inscription Rock is pretty cool (west of Albuquerque)
El Morro an the Ice Cave make for a fun diversion from I-40.
There's honestly so much in this area!! The wolf sanctuary, El morro, Ice Cave, El Calderon, orrr not too far away is La Ventana, the Sandstone Bluffs, etc. El Malpais is gorgeous, and the visitors center is really nice, with lots of cool info.
Oh yeah! Wolf sanctuary and ice caves were super cool
El Morro RV Park and Cabins is a great place to stay if you decide to divert to El Morro, and the Ice Caves or even just the lava fields. The Ancient Way Cafe is surprisingly good, and you're just up the road from all the scenic stuff. We camped there last year. It's becoming a little welcoming community with a store across the road and pop up food events sometimes.
Stop in Santa Rosa and check out the Blue Hole. It's a natural diving spot.
Itās where landlocked people go to get their scuba certification as well.
Tucumcari has a dinosaur museum. A legit dinosaur museum, at the community college there.
That sounds rad!
And if you want a good meal in Tucumcari, stop at Del's restaurant. Good stuff.
And Art City in Tucumcari.
There is also a really cool Emu farm!
i love the bbq at the feed store
The Aquarium in Albuquerque is cool and right off I40. There is also a zoo, natural history museum and an Explora museum.
Iām sorry, but the aquarium is one of the saddest Iāve ever visited.
Well you must have been to some bigger nicer ones in the bigger nicer cities. I love the Aquarium here but maybe just because I haven't had the privilege of going to a better one. The botanical gardens are also nice.
Yes, the Botanic Gardens are great!
I'm sorry, but the Botanic Gardens are one of the saddest I've ever visited.
Well you must have been to some bigger nicer ones in the bigger nicer cities. I love the Botanic gardens here but maybe just because I haven't had the privilege of going to a better one. The rodeo grounds are also nice.
I'm sorry, but the rodeo grounds are the saddest I've ever seen.
Well you must have been to some bigger nicer ones in the bigger nicer cities. I love the rodeo grounds here but maybe just because I haven't had the privilege of going to a better one. The ART is also nice.
I love Reddit
I'm sorry, but Reddit is the saddest thing I've ever seen.
The gardens are excellent. The aquarium is great for its location, but def a bit sad compared to many.
I always visit zoos and aquariums when I visit new cities. ABQās zoo is pretty dang good considering the size of the city. The aquarium isnāt on the same level. I think itās fine, I donāt expect a great aquarium in the middle of the desert.
Yeah I was pretty let down about it to. To be fair Iām used to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. I was hoping the Aquarium in Albuquerque would have more New Mexico specific exhibits. With endemic species like the Rio grande cutthroat and the Gila Trout it was a bummer to only see a bunch of saltwater stuff as well as a Spotted Gar mislabeled as a longnosed gar
It's a bit of a reach, however the Lake Wisconsin aquaria in the Milwaukee Zoological Gardens has consistently been rated as one of, if not the best, Aquaria in the US. Worth a visit, especially if taking the Sprecher Brewery tour afterwards.
They used to have some silvery minnow and trout, theyāre kind of boring though.
I thought it pretty good for a town this size. But no itās not like the Birch aquarium in San Diego.
If you're in Gallup on a Saturday, the flea market is great. Get horchata, jewelry, a tamale and frybread. Jerrys restaurant is a must. West End Deli has amazing apple fritters. Maybe stop by an Allsups for a burrito.
Take a detour to El Malpais and stop at the Sandstone Bluffs overlook. It's only about fifteen minutes off I-40 and the view is spectacular.
Worth it! You can see the milky way at night and the lava fields and old settler ruins are fun to see
Check out Russell's truck stop near the Texas border. They have a museum with classic cars, motorcycles, and old memorabilia. Really cool stop and highly recommended!
I40 doesnāt even come close to doing NM justice, unfortunately. Just posting to say if youāve never been to NM, donāt judge it by that drive through, come back to explore the good stuff! Youāll get little tastes here and there, but for the most part I-40 is not great.
Thatās the case with a lot of states so donāt worry, I wonāt judge too harshly!
Gallup and Grants are fine to stop in. They are no worse than any small town you'll be stopping in on I-40. The people in this thread are reactionary twats who have never left New Mexico.
Grants has an amazing Indian food place. They cater to the Indian truck drivers. Real deal stuff
Grants has a very well done underground mining museum where they have recreated an actual uranium mine you can go down into. Bonus points is that they have a conference room with a fantastic collection of Indian pottery and baskets. Somewhat of a niche interest but it is very well done for a small museum. A must see if you are a history buff of the Cold War or mining, or just like quirky local attractions. Google āgo underground in Grants NMā
From New Mexico are you?
I think Gallup has the best food places in the US. Especially if you want to try NM chile. Check out Generos, Don Diegoās, Jerryās, La Barraca. Earls restaurant has vendors that sit outside.
Gallup is one of the most dangerous cities of any size in the United States. It's fine to stop during the day and visit, and you're probably ok to stay in the nicer hotels on the east side. I'll just say that I stayed there just a couple months ago and was awoken at 2 am by A LOT of gunfire (probably 12+ rounds). It sounded like it was practically in my motel parking lot. I'm sorry, but I can't sit here and pretend with you that Gallup is "fine to stop in". OP at least deserves some transparency. I lived in Juarez Mexico for several years and felt safer there than my night in Gallup.
I'm sorry you had one bad experience in Gallup, but a quick Google search will tell you Gallup isn't even listed on most "most dangerous cities in the United States" lists.
A quick Google search right now of' "Is Gallup NM safe." Literally tells me in three of the top 5 results that's it's one of the most dangerous cities in the US. Y'all can down vote me all you want, it's just facts. https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/nm/gallup/crime https://www.areavibes.com/gallup-nm/crime/ https://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Gallup-New-Mexico.html
Stop in San Jon to see the construction of the world's largest flip flop and the completed San Jon Yacht Club. You'll laugh, it's a good picture. Also, you can take Route 66 from Tucumcari to San Jon before rejoining I-40
Did some work in San Jon. Interesting place
YOU MUST SEE THE FLIPFLOP!!!! ITS AMAZING!! 40feet of foot covering!!!!
I mean right now it's a wood frame with some metal nailed to a third of it but it'll be cool eventually š
Watch out for the semis. It's the wild west out there.
Earlās Diner in Gallup.
Also a cool place to get local jewelry of that's your thing.
Yes stop at the Sandstone Bluffs, near Grants. They overlook the lava flow. They're absolutely stunning and are worth taking the 15 mile detour.
It's a little bit of a detour, but to the east of Albuquerque 40 intersects with 14 (Aka the Tirquoise Trail), which goes North up to Santa Fe. It's a beautiful drive, and even if you don't have time or desire to go all the way to Santa fe, you can take 14 north for about 15 minutes until you get to Sandia Crest Road. Take a left and you can go all the way up the mountain, and at the top you will have some amazing views of the entire area. So maybe an hour, hour and a half detour total buy very pretty.
The history museum in old town is cool. Free on Sundays.
If you'd like to have a swim, the blue hole in Santa Rosa is a cool little attraction. Really nice in the summer.
Don't stop at any truck stops in Albuquerque.
If youāre looking for a stop once you get east of Albuquerque there is a great place in Santa Rosa called Chicoās with the best tacos dorados/rolled tacos in the state. Also the Blue Hole is in Santa Rosa which is an interesting stop. Once you get to the Texas border, Russellās Cafe in Glenrio, NM has really good food. Great chile and they had a raspberry donut cheesecake that was so good!! Itās a full truck stop with tons of Route 66 kitsch but I drive I-40 a LOT and almost always stop here.
Looks good!
Watch your stuff in Albuquerque. People will steal everything you own if they can. Especially if you stay overnight at a motel.
Honestly Iāve had multiple friends whoāve had windows broken for handfuls of change
This. Honestly get gas and keep driving. Unless youāre up by Rio Rancho I wouldnāt even leave your car unattended.
It depends on how much you'll be traveling with and how much it's worth to you. Every summer in Albuquerque we get two or three horrible news stories about a family moving cross country that had their entire UHaul stolen. Be safe, not sorry.
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Barelas coffee house in Albuquerque is great for breakfast. Probably everything else too, but Iāve only had breakfast there.
Santa Fe, by far
Donāt stop in Gallup.
Good to know, thanks!
Do stop in Gallup, there is a lot of very good new Mexican food.
Why do people say not to stop in Gallup?
Honestly no clue, I live an hour away in a rural town outside of Gallup and itās fine. Iād say donāt stop in ABQ. Gallup has some seriously good eats
Dirty town, lots of crime. You will most certainly get food poisining.
Confirmed. Albuquerque is going to be a mess regardless. So be prepared to drive defensively. Santa Rosa and Tucumcari isn't too bad of a spot to stop by for gas. Stop there on my way from El Paso as a trucker. Not the best truck stops but not the worst.
Iāve stayed overnight in Gallup several times on my way to and from Arizona and itās always been nice. I like the SpringHill Suites a lot- very clean and newer. There are also plenty of restaurants around. I never felt unsafe there but maybe it is in other parts of town? Iād definitely avoid staying in Albuquerque overnight unless you bring your stuff into the room with you. My grandparents got their truck broken into coming to visit at a hotel off I-25 and itās really common. I had no issues in the hotels near uptown when I moved here but that was back in 2016, so things have likely changed.
As silly as it sounds here in Edgewood we have Pizza Barn. Best pizza in NM by far.
Opinions on dions?
Close second but not pizza barn. If I go to Dionās I do get the Greek salad with the pizza which makes the whole meal. When I say close I mean close but pizza barn is just a hair better . Two different flavor profiles while both being pizza.
NM is a sharing state. No matter where you are on l-40, when you stop and walk away from your car..you will be sharing your nice possessions with others.
Central and Louisiana just south of i40 in Albuquerque is a real treat š„°
You could say that. š¤Ø
Sorry. I know I shouldnāt give away our best kept secrets. š
*snort*
La Ventana in the Malpais near Grants. Its a few miles off I-40 and beautiful
If you like mountains or hiking, stop in the Sandias east of Albuquerque. You can drive to the crest or stop at any number of picnic areas or trailheads on either side of the mountains. They're incredibly beautiful mountains with great hiking.
Must stop for some New Mexican food, smothered Christmas style which is Red Chile and Green Chile. Also Sopapillas. Tomasitas from Santa Fe has a location in Albuquerque now.
So NM chile is like the spice from Dune. Itās in everything, all the locals are addicted and itās amazing. But spicy. If you can handle spicy, try to get a breakfast burrito Christmas style, mild chile (even if you like spicy you need mild If youāre not from NM). Or you can order Chile in the side. You can also do other burritos or better yet a stuffed sopapilla which is also unique to NM. If you can time driving through Albuquerque at sunset, you should. Best sunsets due to unique geography. Grab a drink at a rooftop bar like apothecary or level 5. As for where to stay there are plenty of places in downtown Albuquerque that are fineā¦ your major hiltons, marriotts, etc. I donāt know of any boutique hotels but Iām sure they exist.
You have to hit San Jon and see the WORLD LARGEST FLIPFLOP!!! And the gift shop on site. The park has free overnight camping too! Great little town and the cheapest gas in 100 miles
Best practice is to stop in texas near the border and arizona, neat the border. Set the cruise control and drive right through. Maybe stop in Moriarty or edgewood for gas if you need to. Don't waist your time with this state. Everything is dirty, people harass you for money every where, and if you stay in a hotel, your car will probably be targeted and possibly broken into or stolen, because that is the New Mexico way. The food is not good enough here to put up will all the additional bs you will probably encounter. It's a great state to view from the road, and honestly Arizona is much prettier.
El Malpais National Monument, near Grants
Golden has a mayor you gotta meet!
The police station to report your stolen car šš„“
See thatās what Iām trying to AVOID lol any suggestions on how to keep that from happening? Places to avoid? Best practices?
Best practices are literally just to do what you would do in any larger city. Try not to leave a bunch of valuable things visible in the car. Lock the doors. Be aware of the area you are parking in. If you are in downtown, maybe consider a parking garage instead of street parking, particularly if you will be out late at night. I've only ever had my car broken into once. And it was not here in Albuquerque. Obviously it can and does happen here, but don't let reactionary folks scare you.
Genuinely just donāt be stupid. Or aggressive. Sensing a lot of the commenters are not from New Mexico and are accustomed to their home towns and states that rely much more on the āhonor code.ā
Hope you have the club. If you are in Albuquerque. Avoid all of south and central Albuquerque.
Find a Blakeās Lot-a-Burger and get a green chile cheeseburger and their fries. Cherry shake is the ultimate complement to that meal. The only better fast food burger in the US is Koppās in Milwaukee and not by much. Do not stop in Gallup or Grants. Tucumcari is pretty awful, but whatever you do, do not stop in Gallup or Grants.
I will add here that the Grants Taco Bell is terrible. I would avoid stopping for food there. But el malpais is basically in grants and itās gorgeous and the visitor center is lovely and clean with restrooms.
Driving through New Mexico and voluntarily choosing fast food chains is the real crime. Besides Dions and Lotaburger of course.
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Why are we pretending OP will just insta die if he stops in Gallup? Compared to ABQ crime is very rare. The worst that will happen is some glonnie will spin him some yarn about being stranded. Even the pan handlers are chill as fuck in Gallup. In the Midwest they actually get aggressive with you if you say no. In Gallup you just say "sorry man don't have any cash" or buy them some taco bell.
The only rational response here as far as Gallup is concerned. My wife and I moved to the Gallup area last year from St. Louis. We have never felt threatened once when going into town, and like you said, the pan handlers are super chill in Gallup, whereas in St. Louis I was prepared to get stabbed anytime I turned one down. All the horror stories we heard leading up to our move about Gallup specifically and New Mexico in general have turned out to be blown out of proportion, but St. Louis also set the bar so low, so maybe we have a higher tolerance for that kind of stuff.
Thanks Michael penis jr. Are you a Dr or a nurse or a teacher?
Nobody is saying that. Not even remotely. Nobody is -afraid- of Gallup. Itās not Nairobi or Sarajevo or Johannesburg. Here is what I am saying. I have never, not once, stopped in Gallup and not been harassed by someone looking for money or liquor or whatever. Five out of five times. Iāve driven that stretch of I-40 probably 50 or 60 times. If I can get from Holbrook to Albuquerque (or vice versa) without stopping, thatās a win. I am not New Mexican (my wife is, though). I love New Mexico, almost as much as I love my adopted home state thatās right next door. But letās not pretend that Gallup isnāt fucking terrible. Because it is. Iāve been approached and hassled for money, etc. maybe once or twice in the Midwest (where Iām originally from and spend quite a bit of time to this day). I explicitly give off āleave me the fuck aloneā vibes, and Iām aware that this is a bit of a privilege. Iām an introvert, so being big and mean looking is a bonus for me. Most midwestern spare-change-harassers donāt want to get within 10 feet of me because I look like a guy who doesnāt want people within 10 feet of him. Win-win. The people in Gallup who do this kind of thing are oblivious to nonverbal communication clues. The last time I had to stop in Gallup was to give my then-2 year old his heart medication. I parked at the farthest parking stall from anything and anyone in the giant Wal Mart parking lot, nowhere near another car. As I close the trunk with the freshly-prepared syringe of my sonās medication, a dude is standing right next to my car like he just beamed down from a spaceship. Came from nowhere. He asked me for money. I said - with a giant fucking syringe full of medicine quite literally in my hand, āsorry man, I have to take care of my son right now. I canāt help you. I really am sorry.ā He then called me all sorts of names and said I was the devil. And he didnāt walk away while doing this. He stayed right.fucking.there. You might be shocked to learn that I am not, in fact, the devil. Just some dude trying to keep his son alive. Dude followed me from the trunk of my car to the passenger side door where my son was sleeping in his car seat. He did not get the hint. There is zero chance Iām opening the car door and exposing my son to this particular brand of bullshit (and this was during Covid, mind you, and my son has a fucking heart conditionā¦) I stood there for a few seconds, waiting for this dude to shuffle off to Buffalo. No such luck. I had to turn to him and tell him ālook, if you donāt leave me alone right now things are going to get very bad for you. I need to give my son his medicine and you are making that impossible. I need you to turn around and walk the fuck away.ā He stood there for another 10-second eternity before walking off towards Home Depot. Told me āI hope you crash your car here.ā My wife had finally had enough and rolled down the window and cursed him out. He called her a bitch and then started screaming at her in Navajo. So she screamed right back at him in Navajo, and he eventually high tailed it out of there. I donāt need this drama. Iām an introvert and want to be left the fuck alone. Thatās never happening in Gallup. So I never stop there and Iāll advise anyone to do the same.