The old road had multiple roadbed alignments in many stretches of the highway throughout its history. The pre-1937 alignment ran north to Santa Fe and then south through Albuquerque to Isleta before again heading west. The post-1937 alignment took the more direct approach, bypassing Santa Fe and going straight from Santa Rosa to Albuquerque, and from Albuquerque to Laguna.
Early travelers put stakes into the ground to find their way from place to place.
The area is almost featureless making this practice necessary. It is possible to stay on the old road from Tucumcari through Montoya, Newkirk, and Cuervo, to Santa Rosa. You must rejoin the Interstate at exit 311 for the drive to Tucumcari. Take exit 329 to follow the old road through Tucumcari, and through San Juan and Bard, all the way to Glen Rio, Texas. At exit 256 take US 84 north towards the town of Dilla.