Experience Route 66 with NM MainStreet’s Passport Program

New Mexico’s stretch of historic Route 66 is a place where Americana, car culture and retro charm meet the freedom of the open road.

Get your kicks on route 66

During the 2026 Route 66 Centennial, New Mexico MainStreet invites travelers to visit participating businesses in the state’s 10 MainStreet districts along the route to collect stickers and complete the MainStreet Route 66 Centennial Passport rack card. Each sticker design represents the district’s history, community pride and distinct local flavor.

The free rack card is available in the ten Route 66 districts across the state from Gallup to Tucumcari. By collecting stickers from local businesses along the Mother Road, the program encourages visitors to stop and explore the sights and businesses that otherwise may be overlooked from the road. More details can be found online at nmmainstreet.org.

Whether travelers collect all ten stickers or just a few, the MainStreet Route 66 Passport is a personal souvenir marking the flavors and friendly faces that make New Mexico’s Mother Road a journey worth remembering.

The response from road‑trippers so far has been enthusiastic and encouraging.
Chris and Amber recently shared their experience collecting all 10 passport stickers:

We recently spent four days in New Mexico following Route 66, completing every stop and collecting all the stickers along the way. Traveling from our home in Arizona, we began in Gallup, continued to Grants where we stayed the night, then explored all five neighborhoods of Albuquerque before heading to Santa Rosa, the Blue Hole and then to Tucumcari. There, we stayed at the iconic Blue Swallow Motel—hosted by the incredibly welcoming owner Robert Frederico—and were the first to receive a sticker at the Odeon Theater. The warm welcome in Tucumcari truly felt like we were staying on Route 66 at its apex! The next day took us through Las Vegas and Santa Fe before ultimately returning to Arizona. The entire trip was a fantastic adventure, filled with unforgettable stops and even more memorable experiences beyond the passport itself, including visits to El Malpais National Monument, Ventana Arch, Old Town Albuquerque, and many other highlights celebrating the spirit of the Mother Road. 

Everywhere we went, business owners and locals were warm and welcoming, which made the journey even more special. Having previously completed the Arizona Route 66 passport and earned our certificate, we’re now working toward completing the entire route state by state. 

We truly appreciate the New Mexico Rackcard/Passport for creating such a meaningful and engaging way to explore. This trip was not only a celebration of Route 66 and its rich Americana—from museums, sculptures, and vintage motels to historic churches, classic cars, and unique roadside attractions—but also a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday. It was a truly memorable and blessed experience.

Photos courtesy of Christopher Studenka and Amber Henthorn. 

For travelers planning their Route 66 adventure, check out these MainStreet special events:

Tucumcari

Santa Rosa

Las Vegas

  • Future events will be listed online.

Albuquerque area:

Downtown ABQ

Nob Hill

Barelas

South Valley

San Pedro

  • Future events will be listed online.

Grants

Gallup

Other activities to celebrate the Route 66 Centennial:

New Mexico Tourism celebrates the Route 66 Centennial with history, films, an interactive map and more.

New Mexico Magazine’s interactive map, highlights and stories from the Mother Road are available at nmmag.us/route66 or download the app at nmmag.us/66challenge. Complete challenges to collect postcards and win other prizes!

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