Route 66 Continental Divide

The modern high speed Interstate Highway 40 is Route 66 in most of the wide open expanses of the southwest, yet many of the old original Route 66 alignments still exist and these lonely stretches of road beckon to be experienced. In fact, there are many areas where old Mother Road parallels the modern highway and the less traveled Route 66 alignment serves as a local business frontage road. Remnants of gas stations and motels from an age gone by still remain, which provide an inkling of just how busy this famous tourism route used to be. In some places the Route 66 culture never faded into the past and some of the original attractions are still open. This even holds true way out in the middle of nowhere and the Continental Divide landmark is a good example.

The Route 66 Continental Divide Marker is located between Gallup and Albuquerque, New Mexico and it is easy to access from Interstate Highway 40. The frontage road in this area actually is the old original Route 66 and plenty of remnants of the past can be seen either direction one goes. There are a few trading posts at the actual Continental Divide that have been open since the golden years of Route 66 culture and the doors are still open to welcome new visitors. All sorts of unique hand crafted native goods that can be found nowhere else around the globe are offered in the Continental Divide trading posts, so this is a good place to learn a little something from cultural exchange. The Route 66 Continental Divide is also a family friendly learning experience, where explaining which direction the water flows from here will inspire dreams of what lies beyond the horizon!
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