Arizona Route 66 Road Trip Stops: 10 Places Worth Pulling Over For
Arizona is where Route 66 gets interesting. You can feed wild burros in an old mining town, photograph faded neon signs, stand on a corner made famous by a song, sleep in a concrete teepee, and end the drive surrounded by petrified wood and colorful desert badlands. And somehow, none of it feels quite like anywhere else in Arizona. Keep reading for all the stops on a Arizona Route 66 road trip.
If you want to drive Route 66 but don’t have time to research every roadside attraction, I’ve narrowed it down for you. These Arizona Route 66 road trip stops take you from Oatman to Petrified Forest National Park, with worthwhile detours to the Grand Canyon and Little Painted Desert along the way. The route covers about 419 miles, making it easy to build into a longer Arizona road trip.
Route 66 once stretched 2,448 miles between Chicago and Los Angeles, crossing eight states and three time zones. During the 1930s, people escaping the Dust Bowl and Great Depression traveled west on the road. Later, families followed it to vacation destinations such as the Grand Canyon and Disneyland.
Roadside businesses followed the travelers. Motels, diners, gas stations, neon signs, and increasingly quirky attractions appeared along the route. Interstate highways eventually bypassed many of these small towns, but much of old Route 66 remains drivable today.
Arizona has the longest continuous stretch, and you’ll still find vintage cars, old gas stations, soda fountains, neon signs, historic hotels, and plenty of odd things that make you pull over just to see what they are.
READ 13 Incredible Day Trips from Flagstaff Arizona
Arizona Route 66 Road Trip At a Glance
Distance: About 419 miles
Route: Oatman → Kingman → Seligman → Williams → Grand Canyon → Flagstaff → Winslow → Little Painted Desert → Holbrook → Petrified Forest National Park
Don’t miss: Oatman’s burros, Seligman’s Route 66 nostalgia, the Grand Canyon, Standin’ on the Corner in Winslow, and Petrified Forest National Park
Best for: Travelers who like scenic drives, Americana, quirky roadside stops, small towns, and easy detours
Plan for: Plenty of photo stops. This is not a road trip you’ll want to rush.
Best Arizona Route 66 Road Trip Stops
Oatman Arizona
Oatman is an old gold mining town founded in 1906. The town boomed and produced over 1.8 million ounces of gold. The gold dried up in the 1920s and the miners left. The town was briefly brought back to life when Route 66 was directed through its center. Today, the wild west ghost town of Oatman Arizona is a popular Route 66 road trip stop famous for its burros roaming the streets.
READ Oatman Arizona, a Day in the Wild West
Kingman Arizona
Kingman Arizona is 30 miles from Oatman and full of history. Stop at the Arizona Route 66 Museum, Kingman Railroad Museum, or Bonelli House for a little history. Or, stretch your legs walking the historic downtown. Don’t miss the longest Route 66 map in the world at the El Trovatore Motel and take a selfie with the Giganticus Headicus. Even McDonald’s takes part in the Route 66 theme with a ‘Get your big mac on Route 66’ sign. The Grand Canyon West’s famous skywalk is a 1.5-hour drive north of Kingman.
READ Grand Canyon West, Take a Walk on the West Side
Seligman Arizona
Seligman Arizona was named the birthplace of Route 66 in 1987. Today it is a flashback to the 1950s and is full of Route 66 memorabilia. The town began as a railroad town and was a popular stop until it was bypassed by Interstate 40 in 1978. This is the start of the longest remaining stretch of Route 66. Fun fact, Seligman was one of the inspirations used in Pixar’s animated Cars film.
Williams Arizona
Williams Arizona is a 1-hour drive from the Grand Canyon. Because it is known as the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, it is a popular tourist stop with many hotels, attractions, and restaurants. Head downtown to visit Pete’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum, shop for memorabilia, and have a burger at Cruiser’s Café 66.
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a popular vacation destination in the 1950s. Take a detour and spend the day exploring this World Heritage Site. Check out the views from the Rim Trail and walk part of the way down one of the trails to experience just how deep this canyon really is.
READ Ultimate Grand Canyon Travel Guide for First-Timers
Flagstaff Arizona
Not only does Route 66 cut through Flagstaff, but it is also a central point for amazing day trips to nearby attractions and parks. While in town stop at the Amtrak Train Station and photograph the Route 66 logo painted on the cement and mural on Lumberyard Brewery. Also, take the self-guided Walk-66 audio tour beginning at the visitor center, call 928-218-2926 for the recorded narration. Be sure to step back to the ’50s and enjoy a shake at the Galaxy Diner and photograph the Old Western Hills neon sign at 1580 E Route 66.
READ Day Trips from Flagstaff Arizona
Winslow Arizona
Winslow Arizona is 1 hour east of Flagstaff. Route 66 drives through the heart of the town and the corner made famous by the Eagles 1972 hit Take it Easy. Be sure to stop at the Standin’ on the Corner intersection of Kinsley and E 2nd Street for a selfie with the statue of Glen Frey and the red flatbed truck. While in Winslow check out the world’s smallest church, the 9/11 memorial of steel beams from the World Trade Center, Old Trails Museum, and the La Posada Hotel. Sipp Shoppe Soda Fountain is a great place to have a snack before continuing on to the Little Painted Desert and Petrified Forest.
Little Painted Desert
The Little Painted Desert is 15 miles north of Winslow on a dirt road loop off Highway 87, mile marker 360. Don’t miss this quick stop to see the browns, purples, and yellows swirling through the canyon badlands.
Holbrook Arizona
The 1930 teepees at Wigwam Village have been seen in many Route 66 movies. I’m pretty sure I even saw an episode of Ozzy and Jack’s World Adventure where Ozzy slept in one. Fun spot to drive past and a memorable overnight stay. If you are traveling with kids stop at the Rainbow Rock Shop to check out the dinosaurs.
Petrified Forest National Park
The Petrified Forest is divided into two parts. The northern section offers panoramic views of the desert landscape. The southern section is full of jeweled petrified wood. Both sections are connected by the 28-mile Petrified Forest Road. Spend a couple hours exploring the two sections or stay for the day and hike the trails. Save money with America The Beautiful Pass.
READ Petrified Forest National Park Travel Guide
Is Arizona Route 66 Worth Driving?
Arizona Route 66 works because the drive isn’t about one major attraction. It’s the strange mix of places along the way.
One minute you’re watching burros wander through an old mining town. A few hours later, you’re standing beside a vintage gas station, looking into the Grand Canyon, ordering a shake, or photographing a concrete teepee.
You don’t need to stop at every piece of Route 66 memorabilia to enjoy the drive. Pick the places that interest you, leave room for the odd roadside stop you didn’t plan, and don’t pack the schedule so tightly that you can’t pull over when something catches your eye.
Bookmark and Pin Arizona Route 66 Road Trip Stops
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