Arizona brings us to travel the last few miles that separate us from California and the final destination of our journey that began on Route 66 in Illinois. The Grand Canyon State, as you can guess from its nickname, is more famous for its national park than for the Mother Road, but, as we will discover, it also has much more to offer to those who decide to travel this stretch of Route 66. Before we get started, I remind you as always to read our articles to help you plan a Route 66 road trip and to find the best Route 66 stops all along the way.
As in previous articles, the cities are presented following the route from east to west. If you are following the route in the opposite direction, all you have to do is read this article from bottom to top. Let’s discover the best attractions of the Route 66 in Arizona!
Contents
Route 66 Arizona: Attractions and Things to See
Holbrook
The town of Holbrook is known for hosting the well-known and particular Wigwam Village Motel (811 W Hopi Dr) where the rooms are a reproduction of the Native American tent. A few miles from Holbrook, we find the famous Petrified Forest of Arizona (Petrified Forest National Park): on the Painted Desert Road – a colorful section of the park – there is also the wreck of an old 1932 Studebaker, which announces the junction with Route 66.
Joseph City
If while driving along Route 66 you start to see a big sign with a rabbit and the words“Here it is” in the distance, it means that you have arrived at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post, famous for its slogan: “If you haven’t been to the Jack Rabbit, you haven’t been in the Southwest”. After that introduction, how can you not visit it? And maybe while you’re there, don’t miss the chance to take a souvenir photo of yourself riding the giant rabbit outside.
Winslow
Well I’m a standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona and such a fine sight to see. If you are a fan of the Eagles you will immediately recognize the quote and you cannot walk the streets of this city without whistling Take it Easy, which refers to this town. As a testament to this, you will find Standing on the Corner Park with a statue of singer Glenn Frey celebrating the main reason to which Winslow owes its fame.
At the entrance to the city, there is also the 9/11 Remembrance Garden dedicated to the memory of the victims of 9/11, where you will find two steel beams from the Twin Towers and a flag that was originally placed at the Pentagon. If you have time to spare, it is also worth visiting the Old Trails Museum (212 N Kinsley Ave), a small museum focused on local history and therefore obviously also on Route 66.
Meteor Crater
Halfway between Winslow and Flagstaff there is a large crater caused by the fall of a meteorite that is defined as the “best preserved in the world”. There is, of course, a visitor center with a well-equipped interactive museum inside, but beware: the visit is not free! The price to visit the edges of the crater is $18. Find all the information in our article on Meteor Crater.
Flagstaff
This is a town definitely worth visiting or choosing as a jumping-off point to do some hiking along the way, for example to Walnut Canyon National Monument, Petrified National Park, or the Painted Desert. There are numerous things to do and attractions to visit, so we have dedicated an entire article to what to do in Flagstaff.
Williams
Speaking of Route 66, the small town of Williams is one of the most important along its route, basically for two reasons: from a historical point of view it is known for being the last city in 1984 to be bypassed by the construction of Interstate-40; also, logistically it is an excellent support point for visiting the Grand Canyon.
Williams is not only convenient for visiting the national park due to its proximity (a little over fifty miles) but also because you can take advantage of a convenient and quaint railroad connection. If you would like to leave your car and enjoy the Grand Canyon exclusively on foot or using shuttles, you can take advantage of the picturesque Grand Canyon Railway and the numerous packages that are available for all needs (and also for all budgets). During the two-hour tour, you’ll not only be able to enjoy the scenery, but you’ll also be able to experience an original western atmosphere! To learn more read our article on how to visit the Grand Canyon by train from Williams.
If you pass through Williams in spring or summer, we suggest soaking in the atmosphere of the city, especially in the evening when you will be surrounded by the colorful store signs, all strictly Route 66-themed. Among the many motels, a special mention goes to the very particular and well-maintained Canyon Motel & RV Park where, among other things, you can choose to stay in a room made from a real locomotive or a passenger car.
Before leaving the city, if you want to enjoy Route 66 from above, you can consider taking a ride on the Zipline, a sort of cable car located above the Mother Road city route. The experience will be very quick, just a couple of minutes, and for this reason the price may not seem so cheap ($12 per person if you use it for two), but if you are traveling with children it could be a fun and special adventure. To cap it all, no more than half an hour from Williams, you will also find Bedrock Arizona, the prehistoric town of the Flintstones!
Seligman: the town of Cars
This tiny cluster of houses is proof of how there are places that continue to exist thanks to the myth of Route 66. It is a town that, among other things, has enjoyed a real renaissance thanks to the often-mentioned Disney movie Cars. In Seligman, in addition to visiting the typical stores, you can take a picture with the protagonists of the animated film in “real life”, which you will discover to be the main attractions.
Seligman does not offer many “activities”, but you can’t help but visit Angel & Vilma Delgadillo’s Gift Shop, which also serves as a visitor’s center, and the Historic Seligman Sundries; with all the memorabilia they contain, the can both be defined as real Route 66 museums.
Grand Canyon Caverns
An old gas station, a diner, and a giant tyrannosaurus rex will welcome you to Grand Canyon Caverns, and if you’re up for a very kitschy caving adventure then you may want to consider a guided tour inside the caverns themselves. There are four options to choose from depending on your experience, your sense of adventure, and also how much you are willing to spend. On the official website you will find all the additional information you need. For a quaint stay, you can choose the Grand Canyon Caverns Inn.
Kingman
Once you arrive in Kingman, it is worth visiting the local museum dedicated to Route 66 at the Powerhouse Visitors’ Center, where you can relive the history of the Mother Road, from its opening to its decline, through an accurate and engaging reconstruction of stores, road signs, transportation and gas pumps. The cost of the ticket ($4 per person) is very reasonable, considering the care with which it is preserved: it’s a bargain for those who love Route 66! Kingman, moreover, is one of the most strategic towns for overnight stays between Los Angeles and Grand Canyon.
Fun fact: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard got married in the local Methodist church and then spent their honeymoon in Oatman, which is also our next and last stop before leaving Arizona behind.
Oatman
A real western town that is still alive and interesting to visit. Once you reach it along a winding road in the Black Mountains, be ready to see all it has to offer. Take a look at our article dedicated to Oatman.
Where to Stay Along Route 66 in Arizona
If you want some advice on the best hotels and motels along this stretch of Mother Road, you can read the section dedicated to where to stay along Route 66 in Arizona in our in-depth article.
Discover quaint accommodations along Route 66
Travel resources
Here are some guides you can rely on
- Lonely Planet Route 66 Road Trips: an overview of the main attractions along the Mother Road
- Route 66 Adventure Handbook a detailed description of all the towns and attractions you will encounter along the way
- Route 66 EZ 66 Guide: (detailed map plus attractions and advice on how to follow the original route
If you’d like to delve into the individual attractions of each city, each one has its own institutional website, in most cases very well maintained, where you can find all the additional information you’ll need.
Route 66 Arizona: Attractions Map
Let’s continue the route…
Here’s what not to miss in the other states:
