Population 12,905
If you’re road tripping through Northern New Mexico, make sure and stop in Las Vegas, especially if you are a Harvey House aficionado. Head on over to the historic railroad depot first, which offers accessible parking and barrier-free access. Constructed in 1899, it’s still a working depot, and it also houses a small visitor information center. Next door the beautifully restored Castaneda Hotel is also worth a visit. There’s ramp access up to this former Harvey House, and level access around the lobby, which is dominated by a massive staircase. There’s elevator access to the second floor, which features 22 renovated rooms. There’s also level access to the downstairs bar, with barrier-free access to outside seating. Stop in and have a drink or some appetizers, and enjoy the view from the porch. And if you’d like to spend the night, room 204, which is wheelchair-accessible, is equipped with a roll-in shower.
Population 2,769
Located along the post-1937 incarnation of Route 66, Santa Rosa is a must-stop for car buffs on any Interstate 40 road trip. The big draw is the Route 66 Auto Museum (www.facebook.com/Route-66-Auto-Museum-584173181695140/). The brainchild of Bozo and Anna Cordova — who also own Bozo’s Garage & Wrecker Service — is the result of Bozo’s lifelong love affair with automobiles. He built his first car when he was just 12, and subsequently Bozo and his crew have custom built over 150 different vehicles. These restorations, many of which required some “out of the box thinking” have been subsequently displayed in the museum. There’s accessible parking in front, with level access to the museum, and plenty of room for even the largest wheelchair to navigate around the displays. The collection dates back to 1920; and there’s also a good collection of old signs, Route 66 memorabilia, photos and vintage vending machines on display. It’s a great blast from the past.
Population 5,123
No Route 66 road trip would be complete without a stop in Tucumcari. From a drive along the original stretch of the Mother Road, to a stop at the nicely accessible New Mexico Route 66 Museum (www.nmrt66museum.org/), there’s no shortage of nostalgic attractions there. Add in an interesting collection of murals painted on the sides of buildings throughout town, and you’ve got a true remembrance of yesteryear. And if you’d like to spend the night in a modern hotel, the Best Western has a nice wheelchair-accessible room with a tub/shower combination.
Located at Interstate 40 Exit 369 on the Texas-New Mexico border, the TA Travel Center is home to the excellent Russell’s Auto Museum. Formerly Russell’s Auto Center, the property was sold to TA in 2023, but a lease agreement remains in place to keep Russell’s Auto Museum going for at least until 2028. Says Mark Russell, former Director of Operations at Russell’s Travel Center, “My mom and dad just wanted to keep the museum and keep people being able to look at the cars and stuff.”
Accessible parking is available near the truck stop entrance, with level access to the building. Inside there’s barrier-free access through the restaurant to the back of the building, where you’ll find the car museum. Highlights include a 1955 Corvette Roadster, a 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner and a 1957 pink T-bird convertible. There’s good pathway access around all the cars, which are surrounded by a plethora of memorabilia, from vintage photos, toys and gas pumps, to a nice collection of 1950s children’s push cars. Add in the vintage tunes playing on the juke box and you have the full nostalgic experience. Best of all, there’s no admission charge to this fun museum.
Barrier-Free Travel 22 Accessible Road Trips for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Located along the post-1937 incarnation of Route 66, Santa Rosa, the Route 66 Auto Museum is a must-stop for car buffs on any Interstate 40 road trip. This brainchild of Bozo and Anna Cordova — who also own Bozo’s Garage & Wrecker Service — is the result of Bozo’s lifelong love affair with automobiles. He built his first car when he was just 12, and subsequently Bozo and his crew have custom built over 150 different vehicles. These restorations, many of which required some “out of the box thinking” have been subsequently displayed in the museum.
There’s accessible parking in front, with level access to the museum, and plenty of room for even the largest wheelchair to navigate around the displays. The cars range from 1920 to 2005, and there’s also a good collection of old signs, Route 66 memorabilia, photos and vintage vending machines on display. It’s a great blast from the past. And while you’re tooling along on a nostalgic road trip, be sure to stop at the New Mexico Route 66 Museum up in Tucumcari (emerginghorizons.com/new-mexico-route-66-museum/)
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Barrier-Free Travel the Grand Canyon for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Located at the intersection of Highway 54 and Dog Ranch Road, Tim Mc Ginn’s PistachioLand is home to the world’s largest pistachio. This 30-foot monolith towers over the surrounding desert and attracts visitors from around the world. It was built by Tim McGinn to honor the memory of his father Tom McGinn. The elder McGinn founded the original pistachio and grape farm which grew into PistachioLand. Tim felt a “world’s largest” monument would be fitting, as his dad loved to stop at unique roadside attractions on their many road trips. Erected in 2007, this giant nut is constructed from five yards of concrete and is covered with 35 gallons of paint.
There’s accessible parking near the giant pistachio, and ramp access over to the perfect photo op spot. Next door there’s level access to the Country Store, which has plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair inside. It stocks everything pistachio — from brittle and nuts, to t-shirts and souvenirs. They even have salt-free and sugar-free products. And if you’d like to sample a little vino, the Arena Blanca tasting room is in back. The World’s Largest Pistachio is fun photo stop, and the country store has plenty of free samples.
Barrier-Free Travel Utah National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Located along Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway (nsbfoundation.com/nb/billy-the-kid-national-scenic-byway/) in Southwestern New Mexico, Smokey Bear Historical Park pays tribute to the popular fire prevention icon. Smokey was found in the nearby Capitan Mountains with burned paws, after a 17,000-acre wildfire destroyed his home in 1950. He quickly became a national poster child for the US Forest Service, and touted the catch phrase, “Only You Can Prevent Forest fires.” This park and museum was completed in 1979, and it’s conveniently located along the Capitan stretch of Highway 380 — also known as Smokey Bear Boulevard.
There’s good wheelchair access to the Visitors Center, which features exhibits about the history of Smokey Bear, fire prevention, ecology and forest health. Out back there’s level access to a nature trail that winds through native vegetation from six different climate zones. And of course, Smokey’s grave is prominently located along the trail. It’s a fun stop, especially if you have kids in tow.
Barrier-Free Travel Utah National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Located in the middle of nowhere, it takes a bit of effort to get to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory Very Large Array (VLA). Spread over more than 100 square-miles of New Mexico desert, the massive antennae that make up the VLA are located about an hour-drive west of Socorro. Take exit 150 from Interstate 25, then head west on Highway 60 for about 45 miles. After you pass Magdalena, go south on Highway 52 for about 3 miles. The VLA is on the right – you can’t miss it.
There’s accessible parking in front of the visitor center, with barrier-free access to the building. Inside there’s a small gift shop and a few exhibits about the VLA. There’s also level access to the theater, with plenty of room for a wheelchair next to the seats. Take some time to watch the excellent movie – narrated by Jodie Foster – that explains how the array works and what exactly it’s able to do.
The VLA is comprised of 27 dish shaped antennae arranged in a Y configuration across the desert. Visitors can also get an up-close-and-personal look at the antennae, as well as a few other outside exhibits, from a short level trail that winds around the complex.
The first stop on the walking tour is the Bracewell Radio Sundial, which is located near the back entrance to the visitor center. Named after Roy Bracewell, who created one of the world’s first radio telescopes, this sundial consists of a sphere mounted on a pole, and seven others mounted on cement pedestals. From the sundial, continue along the path past the Whisper Dish Gallery, and head over to the Radio Dish Gallery, which is located in the gazebo near the antennae. After that, make a left and head out to the base of the closest antenna, where there’s another interpretive plaque that describes its workings. From there you can circle past the control building and return to the visitor Center.
The VLA makes a fun New Mexico road trip stop even if you aren’t an astronomy buff, as the silhouette of the array against the vast desert backdrop is worth the short detour alone. And amateur astronomers will absolutely love the site.
Barrier-Free Travel the Grand Canyon for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
If a trip to the unofficial UFO capital of the world is on your travel itinerary, then be sure and stop at the creative Welcome to Roswell art piece just outside town. You’ll find the masterpiece on the east side of Highway 285, about six miles south of the city. Unveiled in 2013, the John Cerney piece is best described as giant cut-out art. Cerney’s Rockwell-like highway murals are designed to blend into the existing landscape and catch passing motorists off guard. And the Roswell installation does just that.
There’s no official parking lot for the mural, but there’s a wide level dirt area where you can stop and have a good look at the piece. And if you’d like a photo op with it — and who wouldn’t — there’s also a level dirt path over to the mural.
The mural itself depicts an alien spacecraft with a few green beings in front of it, who are being offered a pie by a local woman. The aliens seems put-off by the culinary creation, and one of them appears to be holding ET of movie fame in his arms. Back on the ship, the navigator is reading a map with Roswell prominently marked, which also includes a “photo” of two figures that eerily resemble The X-Files Scully and Mulder. And over on the other side, a rancher is receiving roadside assistance for his broken down California truck from yet another alien. There’s a lot going on in the mural, so take some time and look for the “little things”. And again, it blends into the landscape, so keep an eye out for it as you approach town.
Barrier-Free Travel Utah National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
19 Carlsbad Cavern Highway
Whites City, New Mexico
Although they seem a bit out of place, these Green Aliens sit in front of the Whites City Information Center, just off Highway 7 on the way to Carlsbad Caverns. There’s no interpretive plaque at the site; however locals say that the they are a tribute to the old Million Dollar Museum which formerly occupied the space, and had an “alien baby” on display. Today the aliens offer a good photo op on the way to New Mexico’s only national park. Accessible parking is located in front of the post office, with level access over to the aliens next door. It’s a fun stop, especially if you have kids in tow.
Barrier-Free Travel California National Park Road Trips for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers
Population 12,905
