Albuquerque’s Central Avenue follows much of the historic Route 66 alignment.
Central Avenue is one of the most recognizable urban sections of Route 66 in New Mexico. The road crosses Albuquerque from east to west and passes through districts that developed around automobile travel, including Nob Hill and the downtown area.
Many historic motels, neon signs, restaurants, and commercial buildings remain along the avenue. The route’s 1937 realignment through Albuquerque helped make Central Avenue a major travel corridor, replacing the earlier alignment through Santa Fe.
The city is sometimes confused with Santa Fe because the earlier Route 66 alignment passed through Santa Fe before the 1937 change. Albuquerque’s Central Avenue is associated with the later, straighter alignment that connected the city more directly with western New Mexico.