Tucumcari Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
city in and county seat of Quay County, New Mexico, United States
About Tucumcari
Tucumcari, a town of 5,300 people (2020), is the county seat of Quay County, New Mexico and home to Mesalands Community College. Founded in 1901 as Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad construction camp Six Shooter Siding, it was renamed for Tucumcari Mountain in 1908. The USS Tucumcari (PGH-2), one of two prototype US Navy hydrofoil patrol vessel boats (1968-1972), was named for the town. Many scenes inRawhide(1959–1966 Clint Eastwood TV series) were shot in the town; a modified version of Tucumcari Mountain (with the hand-painted 'T' changed to 'RS') appears inRadiator Springsin Pixar's 2006Cars (film).
Top Attractions in Tucumcari
Explore the best things to see and do in Tucumcari:
- ★Annual Iron Pour
- ★Conchas Lake
- ★Historic Downtown Main Street
- ★Mesalands Community College's Dinosaur Museum
- ★Mountain View Bowling
- ★New Mexico Route 66 Museum
- ★Odeon Movie Theatre
- ★Ostrich Ranch
Where to Eat in Tucumcari
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Cornerstone's First Edition
- 🍴Del's Restaurant
- 🍴KIX on 66
- 🍴La Cita
- 🍴Loretta's Burrito Hut
- 🍴Pow Wow Restaurant & Lizard Lounge
Where to Stay in Tucumcari
- 🏨Best Western Discovery Inn
- 🏨Blaze-In-Saddle RV Park
- 🏨Blue Swallow Motel
- 🏨Desert Inn Tucumcari
- 🏨Fairfield Inn & Suites Marriot
- 🏨Historic Route 66 Motel
Tucumcari Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 10 sections including: