Skip to content

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Everything Albuquerque is known for

RoadyGoat plays music like this when you drive through Albuquerque. It's free on iPhone, and full songs play through Apple Music.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, a city known for its rich cultural tapestry and as the highest metropolitan city in America, also boasts a vibrant musical identity. With 125 artists calling it home and 46 songs mentioning its name, Albuquerque's musical landscape is diverse. Artists like the hip-hop group Brokencyde and Latin artist Lorenzo Antonio hail from the city. Songs such as "Albuquerque" by Neil Young and "The King of Rock 'N' Roll" by Prefab Sprout feature the city in their lyrics.

Music in Albuquerque

Songs About Albuquerque

The King of Rock 'N' Roll
Prefab Sprout
100%
"Hot dog, jumping frog, Albuquerque"
albuquerque polka
rex allen
90%
Albuquerque
Dave Alvin
88%
"TITLE"
Bright Lights of Albuquerque
Melissa Black
81%
"Bright Lights of Albuquerque"
Albuquerque
Logan Mize
81%
"Albuquerque, casino lights"
Albuquerque Sky
Sarah Peacock
80%
"TITLE"
Albuquerque
Neil Young
79%
"TITLE"
Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque
The Partridge Family
79%
"Point me in the direction of Albuquerque"
Albuquerque
Gillian Welch
79%
"TITLE"
lights of albuquerque
billy mize
78%
Four Nights in Albuquerque
Derryl Perry
78%
"Four Nights in Albuquerque"
Albuquerque Lights
Charley Crockett
77%
"In the Albequerque lights"
Albuquerque
BYLAND
77%
"And for me it's Albuquerque"
C'mon Utah!
Shovels & Rope
64%
"Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and on up the Rio Grande"
Albuquerque
Asleep at the Wheel
56%
"(title) Albuquerque"
The Great Dust Storm (Dust Storm Disaster)
Woody Guthrie
55%
"From Albuquerque and Clovis, and all New Mexico"
The Only Pretty Thing in Texas
Kate Rhudy
55%
"In Albuquerque, New Mexico"
$87 And A Guilty Conscience That Gets Worse The Longer I Go
Richmond Fontaine
55%
"We were in Albuquerque at the fights"
How Far to Waco
Ronnie Dunn
55%
"Albuquerque by mornin' light"
55%
"But he's got him a misspelled cardboard of Albuquerque"

Showing top 20 of 62 songs · Hear more in the free iPhone app

Rivers & Roads in Song near Albuquerque

Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Albuquerque.

History of Albuquerque

Balloons Over the Duke City RoadyGoat

For nine mornings every October, more than five hundred hot-air balloons lift off over Albuquerque at the International Balloon Fiesta, the largest event of its kind on Earth — the high-desert air and a wind pattern called the 'Albuquerque Box' make this one of the best places anywhere to fly. The city is old: founded in 1706 and named for a Spanish duke (the first 'r' in Alburquerque later fell away), with its adobe Old Town plaza and the San Felipe de Neri church still standing on their original ground. Route 66 runs straight through as Central Avenue, lined with vintage neon, and the surrounding mesas and the Sandia Mountains gave 'Breaking Bad' its sun-bleached look — the show filmed here and put the city on screens worldwide. High desert, deep history, and a sky full of color.

El Pinto Restaurant RoadyGoat

El Pinto in Albuquerque's North Valley roasts over 50,000 pounds of New Mexico green chile every fall. The Thomas family opened it in 1962, and the sprawling hacienda now seats over 1,000 on its patios. The salsa is sold nationwide but tastes different here — maybe it's the altitude. Every New Mexico governor has a regular table.

5.9 mi away

Petroglyph National Monument

-1000

Over 24,000 petroglyphs carved into volcanic rocks along a seventeen-mile escarpment on Albuquerque's West Mesa, created by Ancestral Puebloans and early Spanish settlers.

5.1 mi away

Things to Do in Albuquerque

Everything Near Albuquerque

33 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

  • Balloons Over the Duke City

    For nine mornings every October, more than five hundred hot-air balloons lift off over Albuquerque at the International Balloon Fiesta, the largest event of its kind on Earth — the high-desert air and a wind pattern…

  • Albuquerque, NM · Local history

    Albuquerque’s story is written in the dust of the high desert. Founded in 1706 and named for a Spanish Duke, its location wasn't accidental. The Rio Grande provided essential water, and the valley offered relatively…

  • KiMo Theater · 0.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Step back in time and experience a performance in this stunning 1927 Pueblo Deco theater, rumored to be haunted. The KiMo Theatre stands as a testament to Albuquerque's unique architectural heritage. Built by Italian…

  • Occidental Life Building · 0.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Prepare to be transported to Venice! Right here in Albuquerque stands the Occidental Life Building, a Venetian Gothic Revival masterpiece inspired by the Doge's Palace. Designed by Henry C. Trost, the building opened…

  • Maisel's Indian Trading Post · 0.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wonder where all those beautiful Native American crafts came from? Maisel's Indian Trading Post was a major hub for that in Albuquerque for decades. Skip Maisel's father started the business in 1939. Over the…

  • Hotel Andaluz · 0.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wonder what it was like to stay in a luxury hotel back in the Golden Age of Hollywood? This is the place to imagine it. The Hotel Andaluz first opened its doors in 1939 as a Hilton Hotel, the very first in the…

  • Southwestern Brewery and Ice Company · 0.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    This 1899 brewery, one of the few survivors of its era, once quenched the thirst of a growing city. Built in 1899, the Southwestern Brewery and Ice Company was strategically located next to the BNSF railroad tracks in…

  • Huning Highlands Conoco Service Station · 0.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Pull over here and take a look at this! It's a perfectly preserved piece of roadside history. This is the Huning Highlands Conoco Service Station, built in 1937. Back then, car travel was really taking off, and places…

  • Santa Fe Railway Shops (Albuquerque) · 0.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine Albuquerque without trains – hard to picture, right? This area, once home to the Santa Fe Railway Shops, was the heart of the city's connection to the rest of the country. Between 1915 and 1925, the Atchison,…

  • La Glorieta · 1.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine the stories these adobe walls could tell! La Glorieta is believed to be the oldest standing residence in Albuquerque. We know it was already here in 1803, but it might even be older than that! Over the years, it…

  • San Felipe de Neri Church · 1.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    You're approaching a spot that's been a spiritual center for Albuquerque for centuries. San Felipe de Neri Church, right here in Old Town, is one of the city's oldest buildings. Construction began in 1793 after the…

  • Tower Court · 1.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Step back in time at one of the few remaining 1930s motels along historic Route 66. The Tower Court was built in 1939 by Ben F. Shear along Central Avenue in Albuquerque. The U-shaped motel offered 16 units facing a…

Show all 33 nearby places
  • El Vado Auto Court · 1.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    This isn't just another motel; it's a survivor from the golden age of Route 66! The El Vado Auto Court, built in 1937, offered weary travelers a welcome respite along the Mother Road. For almost 70 years, El Vado served…

  • Ernie Pyle House/Library · 2.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine sharing a cup of coffee with the man who brought World War II home to America. This is the Ernie Pyle House, where the Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent lived before his life was cut short. Ernie Pyle,…

  • Nob Hill Business Center · 2.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Check out that building! It might not look like much now, but it marks a turning point in how Albuquerque grew. Back in 1946 and 1947, Robert Waggoman built this shopping center way out on the edge of town. At the time,…

  • Hilltop Lodge · 2.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    This spot whispers tales of a bygone era, when Route 66 was king and roadside motels were the castles of the highway. Once standing proudly on Central Avenue in Albuquerque, the Hilltop Lodge welcomed weary travelers…

  • Modern Auto Court · 2.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine pulling off the Mother Road, tired and dusty, and seeing this welcoming sight! This spot matters because it's a surviving example of the classic auto courts that defined early Route 66 travel. Built in 1937, the…

  • Aztec Motel · 2.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    This unassuming spot marks the location of what was once the oldest continuously-operating Route 66 motel in New Mexico. The Aztec Motel, also known as the Aztec Auto Court, stood as a testament to a bygone era of…

  • De Anza Motor Lodge · 3.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    This unassuming spot was once a vibrant slice of Route 66 history, home to the De Anza Motor Lodge. Built in 1939 by Charles G. Wallace, a local trader of Native American art, it offered weary travelers a unique…

  • Tewa Lodge · 3.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Feel like stepping back in time? The Tewa Lodge offers a real slice of classic Americana, right here on old Route 66. Built in 1946, the Tewa Lodge offered weary travelers a place to rest their heads after a long day's…

  • Petroglyph National Monument · 5.1 mi · Historical Marker

    Over 24,000 petroglyphs carved into volcanic rocks along a seventeen-mile escarpment on Albuquerque's West Mesa, created by Ancestral Puebloans and early Spanish settlers.

  • El Pinto Restaurant · 5.9 mi

    El Pinto in Albuquerque's North Valley roasts over 50,000 pounds of New Mexico green chile every fall. The Thomas family opened it in 1962, and the sprawling hacienda now seats over 1,000 on its patios. The salsa is…

  • Gutiérrez Hubbell House · 7.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    This territorial-style hacienda, dating back to the 1820s, offers a glimpse into early New Mexico life. You're approaching the Gutiérrez Hubbell House, a place that has stood under three national flags. Imagine the…

  • Petroglyph National Monument · 7.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Imagine leaving your mark on the world, etched in stone, for centuries to come. That's exactly what happened here at Petroglyph National Monument. For centuries, perhaps beginning as early as 3000 years ago, and…

  • Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta · 8.4 mi · Things to Do

    Over 500 hot air balloons fill the sky each October. The largest balloon festival in the world.

  • Pueblo of Isleta · 12.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Pull over for a moment and imagine life here centuries ago. This is the Pueblo of Isleta, one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States. The Pueblo was established around the 1300s. The…

  • Sandia Peak Tramway · 12.9 mi · Things to Do

    The longest aerial tramway in North America. Albuquerque to 10378 feet in 15 minutes.

  • The Singing Highway on Route 66 · 13.3 mi · News Verified

    Somewhere under your tires right now, America the Beautiful is trying to play. In 2014, the New Mexico Department of Transportation and National Geographic cut grooves into this stretch of old Route 66 between mile…

  • Tinkertown Museum · 16.6 mi · Things to Do

    One man's 40-year collection of hand-carved miniature wooden figures and circus memorabilia.

  • Rio Puerco Bridge · 16.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    You're approaching a bridge with more history than you might think! This is the Rio Puerco Bridge, built in 1933 as part of the original Route 66. It replaced an earlier, less reliable crossing of the…

  • Coronado Historic Site · 17.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Pull over here for a second; this unassuming spot holds a story of clash and consequence. In 1540, Spanish conquistador Francisco Vásquez de Coronado arrived here, at the Kuaua Pueblo, seeking gold and a mythical…

  • Sandia Cave · 18.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Descend into Sandia Cave, where evidence suggests human habitation dating back over 10000 years. This unassuming cave holds clues to some of the earliest people in North America. Sandia Cave, near Bernalillo, New…

  • Otero's 66 Service · 19.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Ever wonder what it was like to fill up your tank on the Mother Road? Well, pull over here and imagine! This isn't just any old gas station; Otero's 66 Service is a genuine piece of Route 66 history, built way back in…

Sign up for the free newsletter

Longer stories, research notes, photos, videos, and where the road goes next. Free, and no iPhone needed.

Subscribe free