Route 66 Neon Drive-Thru Sign.

Route 66 Neon Drive-Thru

The Mother Road passes through no drive-thru trees, but it does have the Route 66 Neon Drive Thru, which combines the two favorite visual stimuli of Route 66 pilgrims: the 66 shield sign, and neon.

The 18-foot-high portal opened on August 6, 2016, and is outlined in ropes of purple and red LEDs and painted-on flames, celebrating Grants as New Mexico's "Land of Fire and Ice." It was built by NMSU-Grants welding department. According to Grants, the Drive-Thru was created to honor not only the Mother Road's 90th birthday, but also "the longest drivable stretch of Route 66 in the State."

A paved pull-off loops through the arch and back to the street, with height bars over the approaches on either side to warn away vehicles that are too tall. This was smart thinking on the part of the designers; no one wants their RV to be the one that gets stuck in a giant Route 66 sign.

Route 66 Neon Drive-Thru

Address:: 608 W. Santa Fe Ave., Grants, NM
Directions:: Downtown. On the north side of Route 66, between Iron Ave and Lead Ave, in Fire and Ice Park.
Hours:: Lit at night. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:: 505-287-4802
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

Nearby Offbeat Places

Replica Uranium Mine, Grants, NM - < 1 mi.

Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano, Grants, NM - 17 mi.

Continental Divide Trading Post, Continental Divide, NM - 32 mi.

In the region:

Route 66 Casino - Mother Road Slots, Rio Puerco, NM - 52 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in New Mexico

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New Mexico.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.