Our Route 66 Daily Journal: October 16, 2026

Page 1

Today we did Route 66 from Gallup, NM, to Holbrook, AZ.

As we were only on the second floor at the El Rancho, last night we just used the stairs to get to our room. Since we got an elevator instruction card with check in, we had to at least experience the elevator once before checking out, so we used it when we went down to get breakfast from the car.

Page 2

This morning we got coffee at Gallup Coffee Company.

We then drove a few blocks to see The Dude Man - a muffler man at John's Used Cars.

Next we parked near the Gallup Cultural Center, but since it did not open for another hour, we ended up walking around downtown Gallup checking out the various murals on the buildings.

Outside the Gallup Cultural Center, there is a Gallup/McKinley County Route 66 Centennial Monument.

At the Gallup Cultural Center, we explored the exhibits about the area's Native Americans and watched some of the movie about the Navajo codetalkers.

Next we planned to go to the Rex Museum, but it was not open. Before leaving Gallup, we saw a Blake's Lotaburger and this time we were able to get pumpkin shakes.

Page 3

As we neared Arizona, we stopped at the Chief Yellowhorse III shop, which we discovered is actually in both New Mexico and Arizona.

While at Chief Yellowhores III, Dad put the Arizona Route 66 license plate sticker on the car.

Our next stop was at the Tee Pee Trading Post in Lupton, AZ.

As we continued in Arizona, we mostly were forced to take Interstate 40, but we did drive a few miles of Dirt 66 that included going over Querino Canyon Bridge.

Since the Rex Museum was closed, we got to Holbrook too early to check in, so we decided to visit the Historic Navajo County Courthouse and Museum today instead of our original plan of visiting tomorrow.

We then headed to Wigwam Village #6, where we are staying in a "wigwam" that is more of a teepee...

See full list of Our Route 66 Adventures here and Google map here.