LIVE ON ROUTE 66 / GUIDEBOOK
Route 66 Visitor Center
Albuquerque / THE ROOM
Why this room makes the map
The city's Route 66 Visitor Center sits at the top of Nine Mile Hill, where far West Central climbs onto the mesa and Albuquerque and the Sandias spread out below. Its outdoor amphitheater hosts free concerts, and the terraced parking lot was designed to double as a drive-in movie lot.
About the room
The idea goes back to the mid-1990s, and Bernalillo County and the city paid for the 21,000-square-foot building, with space for a museum, exhibits, banquets and a taproom. After sitting closed longer than it had been open, it was handed from the county to the city in 2024 and reopened in April 2026 with a photography show and live music. Local lore says Elvis once pulled over on this hill to take in the view.
Before you go
It's at 12300 Central Ave. SW near Atrisco Vista and I-40, about nine miles west of downtown, and daytime hours have been limited, so check the City of Albuquerque's Route 66 Visitor Center page before driving out. Concerts are outdoors on an exposed hilltop, so bring a layer.
Published listings
- No current published event is attached to this room. Check back when the calendar changes.