New York Times Crossword 0912 May 2026

The puzzle’s theme consists of (A20, A35, A48, A61) that all hide a U.S. highway number inside a phrase describing a travel‑related activity. The numbers are written out as words , not numerals, which creates a pleasing symmetry of letters across the grid.

| # | Entry (Across) | Clue (Paraphrased) | Hidden Highway | Explanation | |---|----------------|-------------------|----------------|-------------| | 20 | | “Snack for a trekker on a path” | I‑80 (eighty) | “TRAIL‑MIX” contains I‑80 when the hyphen is ignored. | | 35 | SCENIC BY‑WAY | “Picturesque side route” | US‑20 (twenty) | “BY‑WAY” encloses US‑20 . | | 48 | ROAD‑TRIP RECIPE | “Dish for a long drive” | I‑90 (ninety) | The hyphen joins the letters I‑90 . | | 61 | CAMPGROUND GUIDE | “Handbook for a tent‑site” | US‑101 (one‑oh‑one) | “GROUND G” forms the hidden US‑101 sequence. | new york times crossword 0912

4.2 / 5 8. Final Thoughts & Recommendations Matt Gaffney delivers a well‑crafted Sunday that showcases his strength in thematic construction. The “Road Trip” theme is both intellectually satisfying (the hidden highways are a neat discovery) and visually appealing (the highway numbers appear in balanced locations). The clue set is clean, the fill is tight, and the solving arc feels natural—starting easy, building to a “aha!” moment, then cruising to the finish. The puzzle’s theme consists of (A20, A35, A48,