OKRoads.com -- Deserts & Mountains Trip -- Interstate 40 New Mexico

Interstate 40 spans the nation, from the deserts of California, Arizona, and New Mexico, to the mountains of eastern Tennessee and North Carolina, and goes through Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas in between. I drove Interstate 40 West from Interstate 44 in Oklahoma City to its western end during the Deserts & Mountains Trip. On Day One, I drove from Oklahoma City to Albuquerque, New Mexico; on Day Two, I drove from Albuquerque to Kingman, Arizona; and on Day Three, I drove the interstate from Kingman to Barstow, California, which is the interstate's western end.

	"Welcome to New Mexico" sign on Interstate 40 West. This picture was taken from the exit ramp to the New Mexico Welcome Center.
	"Welcome to New Mexico" sign at the welcome center.
	"Speed Limit 75" sign just past the welcome center. Most southwest states have a 75 mph speed limit, and for good reason.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 369 - NM 93 South/NM 392 North - Endee.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 361 - Bard.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 356 - Historic U.S. 66/NM 469 - San Jon.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 343.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 339 - NM 278.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 335 - Business Loop I-40 West - Historical Route 66.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 333 - U.S. 54 - Mountain Road.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 331 - Camino del Coronado.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 329 - Business Loop I-40 East - Historical Route 66.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 321 - Palomas.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 311 - Montoya.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 300 - NM 129 - Newkirk.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 291 - Cuervo.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 277 - Business Loop I-40/U.S. 84/U.S. 54 - Santa Rosa.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 275 - Santa Rosa. Or, should I say, Xit 275 - Nta Osa?
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 273 - Santa Rosa.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 267 - Colonias.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 263 - San Ignacio.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 256 - U.S. 84 North - Las Vegas.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 252.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 230 - NM 3 - Encino/Villanueva.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 218B - U.S. 285 - Vaughn/Santa Fe.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 218A - Clines Corners.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 203.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 197 - Business Loop I-40 - Moriarty East/Route 66.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 196 - NM 41 - Howard Cavasos Blvd.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 194 - Business Loop I-40 - Moriarty West/Route 66.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 187 - NM 344 - Edgewood.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 181 - NM 217 - Sedillo.
	Interstate 40 West around mile marker 180. Albuquerque is just over those mountains in the distance.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 178 - Zuzax.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 175 - NM 14/NM 337 - Tijeras/Cedar Crest.
	View from Interstate 40 West around mile marker 174. The single LGS for Interstate 40 West is the way that interstates around Albuquerque are signed, instead of a directional tab, then a separate interstate shield.
	Interstate 40 West approaching Exit 170 - Carnuel - 3/4 mile.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 170 - Carnuel. Why is there an Interstate 40 shield on this exit sign?
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 167 - U.S. 66/ Central - NM 556/Tramway. This is also the eastern boundary of the city limits of Albuquerque.

	Interstate 40 West at Exit 166 - Juan Tabo Blvd.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 165 - Eubank Blvd.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 164 - Wyoming Blvd.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 162 - Louisiana Blvd.
	Interstate 40 West approaching Exits 159B-C - Interstate 25 - 2 miles.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 161 - San Mateo Blvd.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 160 - Carlisle Blvd.
	Interstate 40 West approaching Exit 159D - University Blvd./2nd-4th St. - 1/2 mile, and Exits 159B-C - Interstate 25 - 1 mile.
	The highway widens to six westbound lanes as Interstate 40 nears "The Big I" interchange. Exit 159D is in 1/4 mile, and Interstate 25 is 1/2 mile ahead.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 159D - University Blvd./2nd-4th St./LOCAL TRAFFIC.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 159B - Interstate 25 South - Las Cruces, and Exit 159A - Interstate 25 North - Santa Fe.
	The ramp from Interstate 40 West to Interstate 25 splits into opposite directions.
	Interstate 40 West as it prepares to head underneath Interstate 25. This interchange was reconstructed in the late 1990s/early 2000s, and like all bridges in Albuquerque, these are painted in desert tones.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 158 - 6th St./ 12th St.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 157A - Rio Grande Blvd. Later this same day, a wildfire broke out in this same area.
	Mileage sign on Interstate 40 West in west Albuquerque. The interstate will cross the Rio Grande River just ahead.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 155 - NM 448 North - Rio Rancho/Corrales.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 154 - NM 345 - Unser Blvd.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 153 - 98th Street.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 149 - Paseo Del Volcan/Central Ave.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 140 - Rio Puerco.
	"Driveway Entrances Next 5 Miles" sign on Interstate 40 West. The interstate was built directly on top of U.S. 66 in this area, and many ranches can only be accessed from this road, so the driveways are necessary for them.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 131 - To'hajillee.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 126 - NM 6 - Los Lunas.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 117 - Mesita.
	View from mile marker 117 on Interstate 40 West.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 114 - NM 124 - Laguna.
	Mileage sign on Interstate 40 West, near mile marker 112.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 108 - Casa Blanca/Paraje. A large casino is located at this exit.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 104 - Cubero/ Budville.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 102 - Acomita/ Acoma/Sky City.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 100 - San Fidel.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 96 - McCartys/ Acoma/Sky City.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 89 - Quemado.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 85 - Business Loop I-40/NM 547 - Grants/Mt. Taylor.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 81 - Business Loop I-40/NM 53/NM 122 - Grants/San Rafael.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 79 - Business Loop I-40/NM 122/NM 605 - Milan/San Mateo.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 72 - Bluewater Village.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 63 - NM 412 - Prewitt.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 53 - NM 612/ NM 371 - Thoreau.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 47 - Continental Divide.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 44 - Coolidge.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 39 - Refinery.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 36 - Iyanbito.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 33 - NM 400 South - McGaffey.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 26 - Business Loop I-40 - E. Gallup.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 22 - Miyamura Dr./Montoya Blvd.
	Interstate 40 West approaching Exit 20 - NM 602/U.S. 666 - Shiprock/Zuni - Next Right. U.S. 666 was decommissioned just a week later and was replaced with U.S. 491.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 20 - Munoz Blvd.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 16 - Business Loop I-40/NM 118 - W. Gallup.
	Interstate 40 West at Exit 8 - Defiance/ Manuelito.