Two suggestions, besides Pie Town
The VLA is located on US-60 west of Socorro near Datil (Very Large Array of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory) a bucket list item for space flight geeks.
VLA on US-60Unfortunately COVID closed the information center this summer
The New Mexico Mining Museum in Grants is simply amazing. The basement is a recreation of a uranium museum. Wonderful. Well worth the detour.
Well, I lied, saying two.
El Morro National Mounument on NM-53 is also worth a visit.
We drove US-60 all the way across NM, from Clovis on the Texas border to Springerville, AZ in late June and early July. Only 25 miles of interstate on I-25 as mentioned above. Wonderful road, nothing too challenging as far as grades.
We also drove AZ-260 from Show-Low to Cottonwood. You will climb and descend 5 and 6 percent grades on that route. The stretch from Camp Verde to Payson is steeper and narrower. Nothing crazy, but a definite challenge.
Payson to Show-Low the road is better, more traffic, several passing lanes, and a couple good places to stop on the way.
