Things To Do in Gallup, New Mexico

Gallup Things to Do

If you are interested in the natural beauty and history of the American Southwest, a visit to Gallup, New Mexico might be in order. The city sits on Route 66 between Albuquerque, New Mexico and Flagstaff, Arizona. It has a sizable population of Native Americans. Its Native American history and history with the railroad give visitors to the city a lot of options when it comes to things to do.

11 Amazing Murals

There are 11 murals located around the city. Each one is painted on a different building and depicts and important part of local culture and history. There are a few that honor war veterans and specifically the contributions of Navajo peoples to the American war effort.

Visit the Rex Museum

The Rex Hotel is on the National Register of Historic places. It is one of the most beautiful older buildings in the town as it was originally built in 1900. Today, it houses a museum with exhibits on the history of the railroad and the mining industries in the town. The museum is free and is open until 3:30 pm each weekday.

One of the Biggest Hot Air Balloon Festivals in the United States

The Red Rock Balloon Rally is the second biggest event for hot air balloons in the country. The only one bigger is the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. Rides are offered all throughout the festival by the hundreds of balloon enthusiasts. You can even get a free ride in one of them by volunteering at the event.

El Rancho Hotel

The El Rancho Hotel calls itself the “Home of the Movie Stars” as many famous Hollywood stars used to stay there during its heyday as they traveled on Route 66. Today, it is a classic tourist’s stop with a great diner.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Gallup, New Mexico.