Blue Swallow Motel

There are certain hotels that hold a unique position in our culture. The Waldorf Astoria in New York. The Beverly Hills Hotel in California. Add to that the iconic Blue Swallow Motel on Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Though there are many wonderful classic motels along the Mother Road, the Blue Swallow sets the gold standard for retro accommodations. Rooms are cozy, tidy, and outfitted with original 1939 fixtures and furnishings, all lovingly restored and maintained by proprietors Dawn and Robert. Book a night. Be amazed.

Charming but don’t come here if you don’t like kitschy nostalgia. The place is adorable and iconic and Rob, the proprietor truly makes it a special experience. They are closed in January and February so don’t come them but a perfect Route 66 experience.

This is a true classic motel that has been lovingly maintained for 85 years, with just the right updates to make it comfortable today without losing the 1940s/1950s feel. We have stayed in a number of the classic Route 66 motels and they are all fun, but this one is the best. It's hard to get into, for good reason, so book early!. Many of the furnishings are original, even down to a 1950s TV set (just decoration, there's a flat-panel unit on the wall if you really want to watch) and working dial telephone. Rob was a fabulous host, very welcoming and helpful. When my wife asked if they had hair dryers to loan, he said of course, and proceed to bring out a classic 1950s hair dryer, the same model my mother had I think. He was kidding, it was just for show; he gave us a more modern one to actually use. Some of the classic Route 66 motels have ok rooms, others have decent rooms but the hospitality is lacking. Only a few have both, and The Blue Swallow is one of them.

I’ve stayed at the Blue Swallow Motel once before, about 10 years ago. I decided to stay again during my most recent Route 66 trip. There are 2 other motels I stay at in Tucumcari, Motel Safari and Roadrunner; I love them both! But honestly, who doesn’t love the Blue Swallow Motel?!? The lovely exterior of the motel with its beautiful neon, the magnificent iconic Blue Swallow Motel sign out front, illuminated with neon, the history of the property, the couple old cars displayed on the property, garages to park your car in, and the friendly owners…all are things to love! Besides those things, which are loved by Route 66ers as well as everyone else, let’s talk about the rooms! Before bringing in my belongings, I looked about the room and photographed it. It was adorable, well kept, and very clean! I checked out the bathroom and it was quaint and very clean. There were no problems with the room and everything was in good working order. I then unpacked my vehicle and parked in the attached garage beside my room. (You can only enter your room via the front door of your room, not the garage) The room I stayed in did not have a microwave, or refrigerator. However, there was a room two doors away from mine that had washer and dryer for the guests to use. Detergent/ and softener were available for purchase. There was a large older refrigerator and guest were allowed to put their items in the refrigerator to keep them cold. There is no breakfast of any type available at the Motel, but there are restaurants nearby and easy to get to. However, the owner keeps fresh coffee available in the office for guests during the morning hours.

We stayed at the historic Blue Swallow Motel during a road trip through Tucumcari. Upon arrival the owner gave us a tour of the hotel and explained its history. It is important to remember that the motel was built in the 1920’s and has had little to no remodeling since then. The rooms are small and have some original furnishings. The bathrooms are also small as is the garage beside each room. Remember cars were much small in the 1920’s. Outside the rooms are metal lawn chairs encouraging people to sit outside and enjoy meeting others, sharing Route 66 stories, and relaxing. All this said, the Blue Swallow Motel made for an interesting place to stay.

One of the best Route 66 stops! Rob and Dawn are the best, so friendly and helpful. Blue Swallow is like stepping back in time to a sunshiney moment in the heyday of Route 66. The room is very authentic while still being comfortable in a modern way. There are original aspects to the room--the bathroom floor, the rotary dial phone, etc. In the afternoon/evening, people sit in metal lawn chairs in front of their rooms, chatting and watching the world go by. Being able to park the car in a garage for the night was a treat. They have laundry but there's not really a system, so you may need to wait a bit.

Check in was great! Rob greeted us and gave us the history of the motel as he showed us to our room. Cool having a garage! Room was clean and bed was comfortable. We were able to sit outside our room and chat with other 66 travelers as the neon lights took over the street! Great stay!

Outstanding motel - what a blast from the past. Rob was a great host and very knowledgeable and friendly. Great coffee and life discussions!! Highly recommend staying here. Better book it way in advance.

This is A MUST DO! Great ol' spot on the mother road. It is ran my a couple who are "Glad to be there" and he made a great cup of coffee too. You can sit out front in the evening and feel like you are in just the right spot. The rooms are well maintained and yet are true to there heritage. A true taste of a time gone by.

When people list the "must-sees" on Route 66, ineveitably the BLUE SWALLOW MOTEL is near the TOP of the list! Iconic and easy to find - this Tucumcari classic is meant for photos!