Traveling Route 66 Through the Southwestern United States

Town by Town Route 66 Guide - Arizona

Arizona boasts the best preserved section of Route 66 in the Southwest. This preserved route, about 165 miles in total, includes the main street of Kingman, the largest town on the route. Further east, another short stretch of original road runs through the center of Williams, another historic Route 66 town. Kingman has a Route 66 museum and in Flagstaff, many Route 66 buildings are preserved. The Route ends it's Southwest journey in Oatman and Bullhead City after, what I believe is, the most beautiful and winding section of Route 66.

Route 66 - East to West

Arizona Route 66 Reference Maps

Arizona

Holbrook- Holbrook was a very small town when Route66 first followed several streets through town. Holbrook's current claim to fame is that you can still sleep in a wigwam at Holbrook's Wigwam Village Motel. Wigwam Village is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Petrified Forest National Park - The Petrified Forest is the only National Park to contain a section of Historic Route 66. Visitors stayed at the Painted Desert Inn, which is now closed as an Inn but open to day visitors.

Winslow- Historic Route 66 runs through the center of Winslow, and it is bordered by the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation. The La Posada Hotel, a Harvey House built in 1930, provided fine cuisine and elegant lodging for the road weary traveler and railroad passenger alike. Remnants of Route 66 can still be found throughout the town. Have a look at the famous Lorenzo Hubbell Trading Post. Winslow is known for the corner made famous by the song, "Take it Easy," sung by The Eagles.

Flagstaff - Historic Route 66 runs through Flagstaff. Today there are several motels and old buildings that still stand. The famous roadhouse, The Museum Club, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Mueseum Club is rich in country legends and ghost stories. The Southwest’s largest log cabin, it was built in 1931 to house Native American artifacts and a collection of genetically unique animals preserved through taxidermy. Later, it became a nightclub, nicknamed “The Zoo”, where musicians traveling Route 66 performed. The Club continues to host rising country stars while patrons two-step around the trees, or browse in the Route 66 gift shop. Flagstaff hosts an annual Route 66 Festival.

Williams - Williams, known as "The Gateway to the Grand Canyon," is home to the Grand Canyon Railroad. The main street is a walk down Route 66 memory lane. You can still stay at the Route 66 Inn. You can dine at Rod's Steakhouse which hasn't changed a bit since the '40's.

Seligman - Seligman calls itself "the birthplace of Historic Route 66." In the early Route 66 years, Seligman housed many travelers with motor courts galore. Seligman is the beginning of the remaining 158 mile stretch of Old Route 66 to Topock and is rich in Route 66 memories. Seligman is worth a stop. Evidence of the glory days of the old road could be seen all along the main street. Motels such as the Aztec across the street from the famous Snow Cap, with its quirky joke menu, cafes such as the Copper Cart and 66 Road Kill, and numerous Route 66 gift shops are all survivors of the Mother Road. One of the few remaining A.T. & S.F. railroad stations and Harvey House structures still stand in Seligman.

Kingman- Kingman claims that they are "The Heart of Historic Route 66," and they do indeed have quite a bit to offer. Kingman is home to the Route 66 Museum. You can pick up a map at the Powerhouse Visitor's Center and drive or walk along Kingman's historic streets. The historic Hotel Brunswick, was originally built in 1909, and has been serving customers for almost a century. It is currently owned by a young couple who fled the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. For a typical Route 66 experience, check out the White Rock Auto Court, one of the last auto court motels on Route 66. If you’ve got an appetite, have a burger at Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner. You can find Mr. D's at 105 E. Andy Devine Avenue right downtown.

Oatman - Taking Route 66 along the winding road to Oatman is half the fun. The other half is reaching the little Wild West town, feeding the burros and fending off the tourist traps. It is a great trip.

Bullhead City - Bullhead City is the end of the line when it comes to Route 66 running through Arizona. Bullhead City actually has an airport. Many travelers are coming to the area for the gambling and shows across the river in Laughlin, Nevada. Bullhead City is known for access to the Colorado River, miles of natural hiking, thousands of acres of public lands, the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona's Veteran's Memorial, the Colorado River Museum and 24-hour entertainment across the river.