The Most Unforgettable Stops Along Route 66

El Vado Motel opened in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1937, the same year Route 66 was rerouted along Central Avenue. Built in Pueblo Revival style, it offered motorists a stylish place to rest, with a motor-court layout that fit perfectly into the highway’s growing travel culture.

Its survival gives the motel real meaning. After years of uncertainty, El Vado was restored and brought back as a reminder of early roadside lodging. It is worth seeing because it preserves New Mexico design, local determination, and the American tradition of finding welcome after a long day on the road.