Tucumcari/Route 66 KOA Journey Cabin Review – New Mexico (2024)
Want to know what it’s like to stay in a cabin at Tucumcari/Route 66 KOA Journey in New Mexico? We’ve got you covered with everything we experienced during our stay!
When we were moving from Southern California to Dayton, Ohio, we had a 16 foot moving truck towing our car all the way across the country.
We thought that the best way to make this drive would be to stop at KOA’s each night along the way.
This way we’d have plenty of room for the truck, we could keep an eye on it, and we could save money on hotels.
In general, the KOA cabins tend to be less than $100 a night, whereas many hotels after taxes, fees, and sometimes parking tend to be at least $150 a night.
The very first night of our drive, we stopped at the Kingman KOA Journey and stayed in a camping cabin.
The second night we stopped at the Tucumcari/Route 66 KOA Journey in New Mexico and staying in a camping cabin there as well.
You can see a full walk-through of our camping cabin in this video on our YouTube Channel!
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Tucumcari/Route 66 KOA Journey Cabin Review
We checked in late in the evening since we were driving from Kingman, Arizona, so they left a welcome packet at the after hours desk for us.
It was pretty straight forward.
There’s a map that shows you the cabin number that also includes all the codes to the bathrooms and other amenities you might need.
The internet information is in there as well.
So if you’re arriving after the check-in desk is closed, there is no need to worry.
We also received a pre-arrival text on the morning of our check-in day with directions to the KOA.
Cabin Amenities
The cabin was already heated when we arrived, but there was an additional space heater we were able to plug in closer to the bed.
This cabin did not come with a mini fridge or microwave, but it did have a tv, which the other place didn’t have.
We were very happy to have the tv that night because it was the night of the Superbowl.
We had been listening to it on one of the sports apps, but it was nice to watch from about the 4th quarter on on the tv.
Bedding
With these cabins, the beds do not come with any linens.
There is a queen sized bed and a set of bunk beds, so it’s perfect for family getaways too.
What we decided to do was bring two sleeping bags.
One to lay on and the other as a blanket.
Then we had our regular pillows that we use at home.
The bed was on the firmer side, which we like, so I slept soundly the whole night.
There’s also a small shelf next to the bed that can be used as a nightstand for your phone and anything else you want nearby.
Breakfast at the KOA
In the initial pre-arrival text we also received information about breakfast being available at the KOA.
You can pre-order through text or you can fill out a slip at the check-in desk or after hours window.
Breakfast I believe was $12.50 and we were able to add it onto our reservation, but you can also pay separately if you’d like.
The pancakes were so good, so big, and so fluffy.
They included just the right amount of butter and syrup too.
You can choose a coffee or orange juice with your breakfast, but they brought us both.
Breakfast also came with scrambled eggs and you can choose from bacon or sausage.
It was a good sized breakfast, even just sharing one between the two of us.
I highly recommend taking up the breakfast offer!
They even deliver it right to your door.
Restrooms at the KOA
Our cabin was just a couple RV spots distance from the bathrooms.
Since the cabins don’t have any bathrooms, you’ll have to use the bath house for toilets and showers.
The mens and womens restrooms are separate.
Since no one else was here during our visit I thought I’d get a couple pictures of what the showers are like.
There are 3 separate shower stalls that have a place to put your stuff down and then the shower is further back.
The sinks have enough space to do your full night time or morning getting ready routine.
There are also 3 toilets in the restroom.
The stalls are all larger than normal so if you’re just changing or something you don’t have to use up one of the showers.
Fun Things To Do In New Mexico
Below are our favorite places we’ve explored all over New Mexico that we highly recommend.
✅ Chaco Culture National Historical Park: Things To Do
Chaco Culture is a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It’s made up of a 9 mile loop drive where you can stop and explore a variety of ruins.
✅ Aztec Ruins National Monument: The Ultimate Guide
Aztec Ruins is another area that is included in the cluster of ruins in New Mexico that are part of this UNESCO designation.
✅ Santuario de Chimayó
Santuario de Chimayó is a pilgrimage just 30 miles outside of Santa Fe.
The dirt here is said to have healing powers, so it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors per year, especially during Holy Week.
✅ Pecos National Historical Park
Pecos is just outside of Santa Fe.
It’s another hidden gem that most visitors to the area don’t go to, but it’s so worth visiting.
✅ Gila Cliff Dwellings
Over in Southwest New Mexico are the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
This place is so fun to climb around the caves and spend some time outdoors.
✅ Petroglyph National Monument
Depending on what all you want to see and do here, you could spend as little as an hour or as much as 4-5 hours here.
As you walk each trail, you’ll come across hundreds, if not thousands of ancient petroglyph drawings.
Depending on the time of day and the shadows some are more visible than others.
✅ Guadalupe Mountains To Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Over in Southeast New Mexico is Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Just on the other side of the border is Guadalupe Mountains National Park, so these two make a perfect itinerary for a weekend getaway.
✅ The Best New Mexico Road Trip Itinerary
If you want to see all of the above plus a little bit more of New Mexico, I highly recommend this road trip itinerary.
Resources For Planning Your Trip To Tucumcari
If you need help planning your trip to Tucumcari, check out our Tips For Planning A Trip To Anywhere (A Step-By-Step Guide).
Read our Best Tips For Staying Safe When Traveling During Extreme Weather if you’re traveling during the extreme heat in Summer or the snow in Winter.
Also check out our Best Tips For Staying Well While You Travel if you’re prone to getting colds or have allergies when you travel or have other ailments.
Lastly, if you’re traveling on a budget, read up on our Best Tips For Traveling On A Budget: Your Guide To Planning An Affordable Trip.
Conclusion: Tucumcari/Route 66 KOA Journey Cabin Review
The Tucumcari/Route 66 KOA Journey is a great place to stay when you’re road tripping along Route 66 or through New Mexico.
We were only there for a little over 12 hours, but they had all the amenities we needed and we absolutely loved the breakfast!
