Route 66 in Arizona

Hackberry General Store on Route 66 in Arizona

Route 66 Travel in Arizona

Traveling from East to West, Route 66 runs from the New Mexico border near Lupton across Arizona to Toprock at the California Border, a distance of about 411 miles. Arizona is home to a number or original Route 66 stops and is also home to one of the best Route 66 museums in Kingman.

Most of the original Route 66 was replaced by Interstate 40, but Arizona also has one of the longest stretches or original Route 66 highway on the entire route.

After crossing the Arizona border you’ll soon find that the route passes through the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert. Route 66 used to go right through the park but that stretch of Route 66 is only noted by an old car to mark the spot and a long line of telephone poles that used to stand along side the route.

Heading west from the Petrified Forest, you’ll soon arrive at the town of Holbrook which is home to several iconic Route 66 stops including one of the famous Wig Wam Motels, …

Driving from Holbrook toward Winslow, you’ll go through Joseph City and it’s famous Jack Rabbit Ranch, a once thriving trading post frequented by many travelers along Route 66.

The Petrified Forest National Park & The Painted Desert

Route 66 used to go through the Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert, but the only traces of the old highway now are a line of old telephone poles that once stood alongside the old roadway. There is also an old 1930’s Studebaker that marks the spot in the park where the old highway used to go.

Read more about the Petrified Forest or the Painted Desert

1930 Studebaker in the Petrified Forest in Arizona

Holbrook, Arizona

Holbrook was originally a cattle and railroad town. It was served by the National Old Trails Highway and then later Route 66 went right through town when it was commissioned in 1926. There are enough Route 66 landmarks remaining in Holbrook to make it a nice stop on Route 66. Hopi Drive is lined with historic places to see including Gillespie Park, Joe and Aggie’s Diner, the Roxy Theater, the Wigwam Motel and several others.

Joseph City, Arizona

Joseph City is home to the iconic Jack Rabbit Ranch. You’ve seen the signs “Here It Is” all across the highway from Illinois to California. The famous Jack Rabbit Ranch Trading Post opened in 1949 and continues to be a popular tourist stop for Route 66 Travelers.

Winslow. Arizona

Winslow is the next stop on Route 66 and it’s popular “Standing on the Corner” in Winslow, Arizona made famous by the Eagles. The corner in downtown Winslow with it’s sculpture, a Route 66 shield painted on the street, and a red pickup truck parked nearby is a must see and a great photo op.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff is Arizona’s largest city with a population of around 65,000 people. It’s also home to several hotels, museums, and the Flagstaff Route 66 Visitor’s Center. The also offer a nice walking tour through downtown Flagstaff.

Williams, Arizona

Williams was the last town in Arizona that was bypassed by Interstate 40. It has a wonderful downtown area with lots or bars and restaurants and is home to one of the original Harvey House hotels which is not part of the Grand Canyon Railway that offers service from downtown Williams to the Grand Canyon.

Ash Fork, Arizona

Ash Fork is about 18 miles east of Williams. Ash Fork calls itself the Flagstone Capital of the World because of the large number of stone quarries around the town. Many of the original Route 66 buildings in town were destroyed by fire but there are still several that remain. It was also home of one of the Harvey House Hotel which was called the Escalante.

Seligman, Arizona

Seligman is a wonderful little town on Route 66 and home to several Route 66 gift and souvenir stores. It’s on the original Route 66 roadway that was bypassed by Interstate 40 in the 1980’s. It’s home to the Snow Cap, The Road Kill Cafe, and also home of Angel Delgadillo’s Barber Shop. Angel Delgadillo was a business owner in Seligman and is known as the “guardian angel” of U.S. Route 66. He is main founder of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona which launched similar initiatives in the other Route 66 states.

Peach Springs, Arizona

Peach Springs is the next stop after leaving Seligman. It sits on the original stretch of Route 66 between Seligman and Kingman that was completely bypassed by Interstate 40. You’ll find a couple of old service stations, an former trading post, and the Grand Canyon Caverns just outside of Peach Springs.

Truxton, Arizona

Unfortunately, Truxton is on it’s way to becoming a ghost town. It once touted several motels, service stations, and restaurants to provide services to traveler’s on Route 66.

Hackberry, Arizona

Hackberry is best know for the Hackberry General Store on old Route 66 between Kingman and Valentine, Arizona

Kingman, Arizona

Kingman is on Route 66 between Seligman and Oatman and about two hours south of Las Vegas. It’s home to one of the best Route 66 museums along the route, the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, and several historic Route 66 landmarks including: the Beale Hotel, The El Travatore Motel, the Powerhouse Visitor’s Center, Locomotive Park, Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner, and many others.

Oatman, Arizona

Oatman is one of the most memorable towns along Route 66 in Arizona not because it was originally and old mining town on the highway, but rather the wild burrows that wonder through the town. It’s a great place to visit with a lot of charm and character, a gun fight show, and lots of Route 66 memorabilia and souvenir shops.