Santa Rosa (New Mexico) - city in and the county seat of Guadalupe County, New Mexico, United States

Santa Rosa , the "City of Natural Lakes", is a town (pop. about 3000) in northeastern New 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, 2436 U.S. Rte 66, 34.94622°, -104.65452°, +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, 1025 Hatchery Loop (off of River Rd), 34.9125°, -104.6711°, +1 575 472-3690.

Do

• Blue Hole, 34.94047°, -104.67327°, +1 575-472-3763. 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. Diving, swimming.
• Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club, 121 North Fourth St, +1 575 472-9987. 9 holes, par 36.
• Santa Rosa Lake State Park, 35.05°, -104.667°, +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, 1028 NM-156, +1 575 472-1169.
• Comet II Drive-In Restaurant, 1257 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 472-3663.
• Sun & Sand Restaurant, 2050 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 472-3092.

Drink

• Bar B Que Cafe at Santa Rosa Campground, 2136 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 472-3126.
• Joseph's Bar & Grill, 1775 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 472-3361. Historic Route 66 icon.

Sleep

• Best Western Santa Rosa Inn, 2491 Historic Route 66, +1 575 472-5877. This hotel has an outdoor pool with a couple of trees so you won't get cooked if you're napping in the chase.
• Americas Best Value Inn, 120 Highway 54 West, +1 575 472-3898. With the old fashioned motor inn look. $70
• Comfort Inn City Of Natural Lakes, 2524 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 472-2663. Indoor pool here.
• Days Inn, 2255 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 303-2822. For the more rugged travel enthusiast.
• Holiday Inn Express, 2516 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 472-5411. Indoor pool/spa and always such nice cinnamon rolls.
• La Loma Lodge, 1709 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 472-4379.
• La Mesa Motel, 2415 Historic Route 66, +1 575 472-3021.
• La Quinta Inn, 2277 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 339-2826.
• Sunset Motel, 1835 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 472-3762. The chance to stay at one of those vintage Route 66 motor court places, as shabby as it may be.
• Super 8, 2075 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 303-0634. $70
• Travelodge, 2533 U.S. Rte 66, +1 575 219-4731. Indoor pool as well.

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.