Major city · United States
GallupGallup, New Mexico
Use Gallup as one night on Route 66 or a base for Red Rock Park and the Navajo Nation: 1 night, 2 if you add Chaco or El Malpais.
Gallup sits on Interstate 40 where it follows old Route 66, about two hours west of Albuquerque, and is the main gateway to the Navajo Nation and the pueblos and parks of northwest New Mexico. It is a trading-post town: jewelry, crafts, motels and a railroad station, not a sightseeing city. Most travellers pass through on the way to Arizona or stop one night to see Red Rock Park and the Intertribal Ceremonial.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon storms and heat), Dec–Feb (wind-driven snow on I-40)
- Airport
- ABQ
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Gallup911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Gallup Police (non-emergency)505-722-2231
- Poison control1-800-222-1222
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Gallup, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyGallup has a serious crime and public-drinking problem for its size: stay downtown in daylight, drive between motels and restaurants after dark…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 505-722-2231 Gallup Police (non-emergency) · 1-800-222-1222 Poison control
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportABQ Albuquerque International Sunport (About 2 h 15 min by car on I-40; the nearest major airport.
- Getting aroundA car is the practical choice: sights and trailheads sit outside the centre and the Navajo Nation starts north and west of town.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$2–4
- Street or quick mealBreakfast burrito or diner plate$10–16
- BeerBeer at a bar$5–8
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Rex Museum, Cultural Center)Free–$5 (check)
- Budget bedRoute 66 motel double, a night, per roomUS$55
- Mid-range bedRoute 66 motel double, a night, per roomUS$90
- High-end bedRoute 66 motel double, a night, per roomUS$150
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$120 · High US$220
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ABQ Albuquerque International Sunport (About 2 h 15 min by car on I-40; the nearest major airport. Gallup has no commercial flights.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Feb
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Mar
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Apr
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
May
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jun
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Oct
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Nov
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Dec
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C) low), wettest Aug (9 rain days), driest Apr (3). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Gallup: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
4 rd
Feb
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
4 rd
Mar
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
4 rd
Apr
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
3 rd
May
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
3 rd
Jun
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
3 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
8 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
9 rd
Sep
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
6 rd
Oct
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
4 rd
Nov
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
3 rd
Dec
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
4 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the practical choice: sights and trailheads sit outside the centre and the Navajo Nation starts north and west of town. Gallup Express buses run hourly 6AM–6PM for $1, with the main transfer stop at East Aztec and South 2nd Street; route 1 links downtown with hotels near Rio West Mall. Amtrak's Southwest Chief stops in Gallup, but the station has no ticket office or machine, so buy tickets online or at another station.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Red Rock Park
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Drive east on I-40 to Exit 26, then Outlaw Road, about 10 min
Red cliffs, short hiking trails and a campground; the Intertribal Indian Ceremonial is held here in early August.
El Morro National Monument
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Drive NM 602 north and west, about 1 h 15 min
A half-day with the Inscription Rock trail; check winter closures.
El Malpais National Monument
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive east on I-40 then south on NM 117, about 1 h
Lava flows and sandstone bluffs; carry water, there is little shade.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Drive US 491 north, then NM 57 from the east side, about 2 h
The last stretch is rough dirt; avoid the southwest approach without 4-wheel drive.
Cuba, New Mexico
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Drive US 491 north then NM 197, about 1 h 30 min
A small Route 66 town; pair it with the Jemez Mountains rather than a return trip.
Farmington
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h
Drive US 491 north, about 2 h
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep one night and continue to the Four Corners.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Route 66 / West Coal Avenue
Historic motels, including El Rancho and the older independents; walkable to downtown shops.
East Route 66 near I-40
Chain hotels and easy highway access; best for one night with a car.
Rio West Mall area
West side, next to the mall and the Gallup Express route 1; useful without a car.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–90 excl. bed
- Mid
- $90–150 excl. bed
- High
- $150+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Route 66 motel double1 × 1 night × US$90 | US$90 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$120 | US$240 |
| Rental car, one day1 × US$70 · check | US$70 |
| Fuel, Gallup to Red Rock Park and back1 × US$8 · check | US$8 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$44 |
| Trip total≈ US$241 per person per day, bed included | US$482 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Breakfast burrito or diner plate | $10–16 |
| New Mexican plate (enchiladas, chile relleno) | $14–22 |
| Beer at a bar | $5–8 |
| Gallup Express bus fare | $1 |
| Silver and turquoise jewellery at a trading post | $40–400+ |
| Museum entry (Rex Museum, Cultural Center) | Free–$5 (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Violent crime is well above the national average and panhandling and public drinking are common downtown, especially after dark: keep to lit streets and drive between motels and restaurants at night.
- I-40 between Gallup and Grants is often under construction; dust storms and wind-driven snow can close or slow it.
- Do not approach Chaco Culture from the southwest (NM 371 to NM 9 to NM 57) without 4-wheel drive; take the longer eastern approach.
- Summer monsoon brings sudden afternoon storms; flash floods run through the arroyos around Red Rock Park.
- Many trading posts and small galleries keep short or seasonal hours: check before driving out.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Gallup Police (non-emergency)
- 505-722-2231
- Poison control
- 1-800-222-1222
Pocket card
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GallupGallup, New Mexico
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Gallup Police (non-emergency)505-722-2231
- Poison control1-800-222-1222
Embassy
No consulates in Gallup; national embassies are in Washington, DC, and the nearest consulates are in Albuquerque or Phoenix.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Gallup Express bus: $1, hourly 6AM–6PM (check)
- Amtrak Southwest Chief, Gallup → Albuquerque: about $30–60 coach, 2 h 30 min (check)
- Taxi or rideshare across town: $10–20 (check)
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
- No, thank you — No, thank you
- I need help — I need help
Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Gallup. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon storms and heat), Dec–Feb (wind-driven snow on I-40) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for ABQ: last shuttle and rental-car desk hours, I-40 construction delays, overnight rung in Gallup.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown Route 66, the Amtrak and Cultural Center block, the motel strip, Rio West Mall.
- Place pages with verified hours (Rex Museum, Gallup Cultural Center, Red Rock Park, Fire Rock Casino) and eat pages with last orders.
- Monsoon and winter-storm fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialCity of Gallup
- officialNew Mexico Tourism Department
- officialAmtrak — Southwest Chief
- officialNational Park Service — El Malpais
- officialNational Park Service — Chaco Culture
- secondaryWikivoyage: Gallup, revision 5025544 (CC BY-SA 4.0)