Santa Rosa , the "City of Natural Lakes", is a town (pop. about 3000) in northeasternNew Mexico. The nickname sounds improbable for a town in the middle of some very dry country, but it's appropriate because of the presence of the Blue Hole and several other lakes based on springs. Santa Rosa is on historic Route 66.
- Santa Rosa Visitors Center, 1 575 472-3763.
Get in
Interstate 40 and US Routes 54 and 84 intersect at Santa Rosa.
Get around
See
- Route 66 Auto Museum, 2766 Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-1966. M-S 7:30AM-6PM (April–October) or 8AM-5PM (winter hours); Su 10AM-5PM year-round. Numerous antique automobiles and Route 66 memorabilia. $5.
- Rock Lake State Fish Hatchery, River Rd, ☏ 1 575 472-3690.
Do
- 1 [dead link]Blue Hole, ☏ 1 575 472-3370. Year round, 24 hours. This famous scuba diving spot is a crystal clear 80 ft (24.4 m) deep. Over 7,000 divers pull permits here each year. Basic dive shop on site.
- Janes-Wallace Park & Dam. Stocked for fishing.
- Park Lake. Family swimming, water park, fishing, tennis, basketball, softball.
- Park Lake Ponds. Stocked with trout, free fishing for kids and seniors only.
- Perch Lake (Off Route 91). Diving, swimming.
- Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club, 121 North Fourth St, ☏ 1 575 472-9987. 9 holes, par 36.
- 2 Santa Rosa Lake State Park (North of town on NM 91), ☏ 1 575 472-3110. Camping (some but not all sites developed), fishing, swimming, boating, water skiing and wind surfing on and around a man-made reservoir. Several short hiking trails offer great views. Fee $5/vehicle for day use; additional fees for camping.
Buy
Eat
- Carl's Junior, Old Highway 66 East Hwy 156, ☏ 1 575 472-1160.
- Comet II Drive-In Restaurant, 217 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-3663.
- Golden Dragon Restaurant, Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-4888. Chinese, inexpensive.
- Mateo's Restaurant, 500 W. Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-5720. 6PM-9PM. Mexican-American.
- Route 66 Restaurant, Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-9925.
- Sun & Sand Restaurant, 1124 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-3092.
Drink
- Bar B Que Cafe at Santa Rosa Campground, Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-3126.
- Joseph's Bar & Grill, 865 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-3361. Historic Route 66 icon.
Sleep
- American Inn, 924 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-3892.
- Best Western Adobe Inn, 58 Partnership, ☏ 1 575 472-3446.
- Best Western Santa Rosa Inn, 3022 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-5877.
- Budget 10 Motel, 120 Highway 54 West, ☏ 1 575 472-3898.
- Comfort Inn Santa Rosa, 3343 E Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-5570.
- Days Inn, 1830 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-5985.
- Holiday Inn Express, 3202 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-5411.
- La Loma Lodge, 761 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-4379.
- La Mesa Motel, 2415 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-3021.
- La Quinta Inn, 1701 Will Rogers Dr, ☏ 1 575 472-4800, fax: 1 575 472-4809.
- Rancho Motor Lodge, 112 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-3414.
- Sun & Sand Motel, 1120 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-5268.
- Sunset Motel, 929 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-3762.
- Super 8, 1201 Will Rogers Dr, ☏ 1 575 472-5388.
- Travelodge, 1819 Will Rogers Dr, ☏ 1 575 472-3494.
Camping
- Santa Rosa State Park, ☏ 1 575 472-3110. 48 developed sites with showers, flush toilets, electrical hook-ups and water. Other tent sites, too.
- Santa Rosa Campground, 2136 Historic Route 66, ☏ 1 575 472-3126.
Go next
- Santa Rosa is the key decision point for travelers following the Route 66 itinerary: follow the standard "historic" route directly to Albuquerque, or the "original" route to Santa Fe? Either continue west on I-40 or jog north on US 84 just west of town, respectively.
| Routes through Santa Rosa |
| Albuquerque ← Moriarty ← | W  E | → Tucumcari → Amarillo |
| El Paso ← Alamogordo ← | W  E | → Merges with  → Tucumcari |
| Santa Fe ← Las Vegas ← | W  E | → Fort Sumner → Clovis |
| Albuquerque ← Moriarty ← | W .svg/22px-US_66_(historic).svg.png){kind=small} E | → Tucumcari → Amarillo |