New Mexico Road 333: Albuquerque to Tijeras

Take a scenic ride through the high desert of central New Mexico as we follow a nostalgic 7.5-mile stretch of historic U.S. Route 66, now signed as New Mexico State Road 333, from the eastern edge of Albuquerque to the village of Tijeras. This short but storied segment of the Mother Road runs close alongside Interstate 40, but offers a much more intimate and engaging view of the terrain and history that define this part of the American Southwest.

Our journey begins at the intersection of Central Avenue (Old Route 66) and Tramway Boulevard, where the outer suburbs of Albuquerque meet the open spaces of the Sandia foothills. The urban landscape fades quickly in the rearview mirror as we head east, with the vast sky stretching overhead and the land gradually rising beneath us. This part of Route 66 retains much of its original charm, with classic roadside structures and faded signage hinting at a time when cross-country travel was more personal and exploratory. To the north, the Sandia Mountains loom as we ascend ever so gently in elevation, and to the south, the dry grasslands begin to give way to more rugged terrain.

A little past the outskirts of town, NM 333 passes over I-40 before climbing back up to cross under it again. Just beyond this point, we approach one of New Mexico’s most unique roadside novelties—the Musical Highway. This engineered stretch of pavement plays “America the Beautiful” when a vehicle drives across it at precisely 28mph (about 45 km/h). Though we didn’t capture the tune in the video due to equipment limitations, the feature remains a delightful blend of engineering and Americana. Installed as a collaboration between the New Mexico Department of Transportation and National Geographic, it’s both a quirky roadside attraction and a gentle encouragement to obey the speed limit. The rumble strips work by vibrating your tires at frequencies that align with the melody—a distinctly Route 66 sort of magic.

Continuing east, the terrain shifts as we enter the Cibola National Forest boundary near Tijeras Canyon. Juniper and piñon trees become more frequent, and the highway begins a gentle descent into the small village of Tijeras. At the junction with New Mexico 337, which leads south into the Manzano Mountains, we stay the course a bit longer on NM 333 before reaching our final destination: the eastbound entrance ramp to Interstate 40. From here, the road rejoins the modern interstate system, but it leaves behind the flavor of an earlier, slower kind of travel that Route 66 so beautifully represents.

This segment of NM 333 is more than just a frontage road—it’s a living echo of a time when the journey mattered as much as the destination. Whether you’re chasing history, enjoying the novelty of a musical rumble strip, or just savoring the vast New Mexican landscape, the route from Albuquerque to Tijeras offers a surprising amount of charm in a short span. It reminds us that even a few miles can still tell a powerful story—especially when they follow the path of legends.