6 New Mexico Roadside Stops Locals Say You Shouldn’t Miss

You know that feeling when your road trip playlist is just right, snacks are within arm’s reach, but you’re secretly hoping for an excuse to pull over and actually experience something weirdly memorable? That’s New Mexico for you. These are the stops that make locals look up from their coffee, nod, and say, “Oh, you have to go there.” So, pack your curiosity and a spare phone charger. We’re hunting for the kind of roadside magic that gives your camera roll new personality, and maybe, just maybe, a story you’ll tell at brunch for years.

1. World’s Largest Pistachio

You didn’t know you needed to meet a giant pistachio, but now you can’t stop thinking about it. Rising 30 feet in the New Mexico sun, this concrete nut is impossible to ignore. It’s like the universe’s way of reminding you that whimsy still exists on the open road.

Locals joke that it’s the state’s unofficial mascot, and honestly, after you try the chile-dusted pistachios at the shop, you might agree. McGinn’s PistachioLand isn’t just a selfie stop. You can wander the working farm, see how pistachios grow, and sample flavors you never knew existed (I’m looking at you, sriracha).

If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s a tiny wine tasting room tucked in next to the nuts. The staff is always up for conversation about pistachio trivia or tales of the sculpture’s 2014 grand unveiling. Kids love the nutty mascot, adults love the snacks, and everyone goes home with at least one accidental souvenir. Did you know this is the largest pistachio sculpture on Earth? Now you do.

2. Tinkertown Museum

Ever catch yourself wishing childhood forts could last forever? That’s the energy of Tinkertown. Artist Ross Ward spent over 40 years carving out tiny saloons, circus scenes, and wild west wonders, all tucked inside glass bottle-lined walls along the Turquoise Trail.

Every corner pulls you back to a different era or someone else’s daydream. There’s a peek-a-boo sense of discovery here, where every turn reveals another oddity: a fortune-telling automaton or a ship built inside the shell of a camper. Feels like you could get wonderfully lost for hours, and nobody would judge.

The museum is open from April through November, and if you catch a slow day, you might meet someone who remembers Ross himself, sharing stories as colorful as the displays. Tinkertown’s motto says it best: “We did all this while you were watching TV.” You’ll leave wanting to dust off your own forgotten hobbies, or at least call your artsy friend and drag them here next time.

3. Recycled Roadrunner

Sometimes, you just need a reminder that beauty can come from literal trash. The Recycled Roadrunner off I-10 isn’t just a local landmark; it’s a love letter to creative reuse, standing tall and proud with mismatched shoes and discarded cell phones woven into its metallic feathers.

Artist Olin Calk first hatched this 20-foot marvel in 1993 and later moved it to its current perch near Las Cruces. It’s the kind of place that makes you question why you ever threw out your old flip phone, and also why you don’t make more art just for the joy of it.

There’s something both hilarious and wise about a giant bird made from leftovers keeping watch over highway travelers. Whether you stop for a quick photo or actually wander around to hunt for odd objects in its belly, you’ll probably leave feeling a bit more optimistic about our collective resourcefulness. Even teenagers tend to unglue from their screens for a second here.

4. World’s Largest Chile Pepper

If you’ve ever argued over red or green chile, you know New Mexico takes its peppers seriously. The World’s Largest Chile Pepper (towering 47 feet beside the Big Chile Inn) lets you settle the debate by posing with a giant, unapologetically red version. It’s the stuff of spicy legend.

Travelers and locals alike can’t resist stopping for a goofy photo, half-laughing, half-sweating in the desert heat. There’s a quirky pride here: the pepper is fiberglass, but the agricultural love is real. Snap a shot and you’ll instantly be inducted into the unofficial New Mexico Chile Fan Club (membership: everyone who’s ever regretted touching their eyes after eating salsa).

Built in the early 2000s, this roadside wonder celebrates the region’s long chile-growing history. Farmers in southern New Mexico harvest thousands of acres of peppers every fall, and this sculpture stands as their fiery, photogenic tribute. No need to bring milk, just bring your sense of humor.

5. International UFO Museum (Roswell)

You don’t have to sneak into Area 51 to get your close encounter, Roswell’s International UFO Museum delivers it all in broad daylight. Think glowing exhibits, “alien autopsy” displays straight out of your favorite conspiracy doc, and more flying saucer trivia than you could possibly fit into a single road trip playlist.

It’s equal parts science fair and sci-fi fever dream, and the souvenir shop alone could keep you entertained for an hour (yes, you do need the alien bobblehead).

Locals have a soft spot for the museum’s unblinking embrace of the town’s infamous 1947 incident, and visitors leave either more convinced or more amused than they expected. Either way, your camera roll’s getting a few little green men.

6. Connie’s Photo Park (Madrid)

Road trips are basically permission slips for goofy detours, and Connie’s Photo Park is proof. Tucked into the quirky artist town of Madrid, this open-air gallery of giant cut-outs lets you step into a cowboy’s boots, an alien’s skin, or even a salsa-dancing chili pepper, no acting skills required.

It’s the kind of place where adults instantly regress to kids, kids think they’re celebrities, and everyone leaves with at least one picture they’ll treasure (or regret) forever. No admission fee, no judgment, just pure roadside fun.

If you’ve ever wanted to star in your own wacky postcard, here’s your chance to frame yourself in New Mexico’s best kind of weird.