Route 66 crosses Arizona with a number of the most scenic and historic stops alongside all the freeway.
Right here’s how you can plan your drive from New Mexico to the Colorado River, together with nationwide parks,
roadside icons and RV-friendly ideas.
Arizona is House to the Most Lovely and Numerous A part of Route 66
Essentially the most well-known freeway in America is celebrating its a centesimal birthday! Route 66 opened in 1926,
connecting Chicago to Los Angeles whereas protecting practically 2,500 miles passing by eight states.
Whereas most of “The Mom Street” has been changed by freeways, you may nonetheless largely comply with the
unique path. Search for “Historic Route 66” indicators on maps and alongside roadsides as you journey.
We expect Arizona has probably the most inspiring part of Route 66. Because it traverses the northern a part of the
Grand Canyon State, the route passes by or close to two nationwide parks and 4 nationwide
monuments. Then, there are traditional Route 66 websites just like the Wigwam Motel, Standin’ on the Nook
Park and Meteor Crater. It’s an unforgettable highway journey outlined by human historical past, geological wonders
and wild donkey meet ‘n greets.
What’s the Finest Time of Yr to Go to?
Northern Arizona sits at excessive elevation, and winters will be chilly and snowy whereas summers are scorching,
dry and dusty with occasional monsoons. So spring, fall and early summer time are perfect for exploring.
West of Flagstaff, Route 66 and I-40 descend from about 7,000 ft to the desert beneath, and in
addition to elevation modifications the temperature shall be extremely popular in the summertime. Be on alert for top
winds, too.
How Lengthy Does It Take to Drive Route 66 in Arizona?
In case you drove Route 66 throughout Arizona from the New Mexico border to California, the 385-mile journey
would take about 6.5 hours. However that’s with out stopping. Listed below are twelve of our favourite can’t-miss
sights. Some are situated proper off I-40 whereas others contain a lengthier detour. Relying on what
you select to see, we suggest three to seven days for this highway journey.
Spotlight 1: Canyon de Chelly Nationwide Monument
From New Mexico, Route 66 crosses into Arizona as I-40, a busy freeway and main east-west
trucking hall. At Chambers, 26 miles west on I-40, head north on US 191 to our highway journey’s first
main website. Canyon de Chelly Nationwide Monument is situated 77 miles north of Route 66, deep within the
Navajo Nation. But it surely’s well worth the detour to drive excessive alongside the canyon’s rim, stopping at a number of
overlooks. Peering over the sting, you may see historical dwellings constructed precariously into the cliffs. For
practically 5,000 years, individuals have lived in these canyons and much beneath Diné households proceed to reside
and farm on the valley ground. Spider Rock Overlook is one other spotlight the place a short hike results in a
gorgeous view of an 800-foot sandstone spire.
Time: Plan no less than a full day to achieve Canyon de Chelly and drive to the quite a few overlooks. Excursions
into the canyon by car, horseback or mountain climbing are additionally accessible.
RV driving and parking: US 191 and the park’s two roads, South Rim Drive and North Rim Drive,
are paved and well-maintained.
Tenting: Situated close to the customer heart, Cottonwood Campground is a peaceable, shaded
setting with giant, old-growth cottonwood timber. There aren’t any showers, hookups or reservations: websites
can be found first-come, first-serve.
Spotlight 2: Petrified Forest Nationwide Park
Again on Route 66 and I-40, it’s 22 miles from Chambers to a different gem within the nationwide park system.
All northern Arizona is a geological marvel, with pure forces sculpting the colourful panorama into
buttes, canyons and pinnacles. Petrified Forest showcases this terrain whereas that includes one other
component: hikes previous historical fallen timber, reworked into stone over thousands and thousands of years. Crystal
Forest is the premier path for petrified wooden, however many different hikes and quick walks by grassland
and the Painted Desert give close-up views of nature’s artistry.
Time: The nationwide park lies alongside Route 66 and connects on to Petrified Forest Street, a paved
28-mile scenic drive resulting in all main overlooks and trails. The highway travels south, ending at US 180.
Go west 18 miles to Holbrook to choose up Route 66 and I-40.
RV driving and parking: Petrified Forest Street is a straightforward drive for RVs with ample parking at overlooks.
Tenting: There’s no tenting or in a single day parking allowed.
Spotlight 3: Holbrook & Wigwam Motel
With campgrounds, eating places, grocery shops and gas, Holbrook is a welcome respite. It’s additionally
the place you’ll discover the Wigwam Motel, one of the enduring sights alongside Route 66. Formally
often known as Wigwam Village #6, the fifteen concrete and metal teepees date again to 1950. They’re
modeled after Historic Wigwam Village #2 which opened in 1937 and nonetheless operates in Cave Metropolis,
Kentucky. Listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations, Arizona’s Wigwam Motel is open for
stays, too, and options unique handmade hickory furnishings, air con and a small rest room
and bathe. The nostalgic theme continues all through the motel’s grounds with a set of
classic cars and a museum displaying memorabilia from the unique proprietor.
Spotlight 4: Winslow & Standin’ on the Nook Park
From Holbrook, proceed 33 miles west to a different essential city alongside Route 66. In downtown
Winslow, you’ll discover memento outlets, a brewery and Standin’ on the Nook Park. In 1972 the enduring
American rock band, The Eagles, launched the debut single, “Take It Straightforward” which incorporates the road,
“Properly, I’m a standin’ on the nook in Winslow, Arizona with such a wonderful sight to see. It’s a lady, my lord,
in a flatbed Ford, slowin’ down to check out me.” To commemorate one among The Eagle’s most
well-known songs, the city created a park with a mural, statues and flatbed Ford.
Spotlight 5: Meteor Crater
This otherworldly website is one among Route 66’s most astonishing sights. From Winslow, it’s 20 miles
west to the Meteor Crater exit after which six miles south to a big car parking zone. Set towards a hill, the
trendy customer heart is the entry level for expansive views of an enormous bowl-shaped despair
that’s 700 ft deep and stretches greater than 4,000 ft throughout with a circumference of two.4 miles.
Meteor Crater was fashioned some 50,000 years in the past when a huge meteorite or a dense cluster of
meteorites struck the bottom with a power higher than 20 million tons of TNT.
Time: It’s a fast and straightforward drive on a paved highway to Meteor Crater. Whereas it solely takes a couple of minutes
to soak up the unbelievable view, the customer heart has a museum, theater and occasional home so plan on a
A few hours’ go to.
Tenting: Meteor Crater has a campground with 71 RV websites and 36 full hook-up websites.
Spotlight 6: Walnut Canyon Nationwide Monument
Again on Route 66 and I-40, it’s 29 miles to exit 204 and Walnut Canyon Nationwide Monument. Situated
simply outdoors Flagstaff, people have explored, lived and farmed within the canyon for hundreds of years. Through the
1100s, the Sinagua individuals constructed dwellings beneath the canyon rim. Strolling the one-mile loop
path offers up-close views of a number of cliff dwellings in a powerful, forested setting.
Time: Situated simply off Route 66, this peaceable escape solely takes a few hours to discover.
Tenting: Whereas there’s no tenting at Walnut Canyon, the U.S. Forest Service runs a number of
campgrounds in Coconino Nationwide Forest and the Flagstaff space.
Spotlight 7: Sundown Crater Volcano Nationwide Monument
As if breathtaking stone formations, petrified wooden and a meteorite weren’t sufficient, volcanoes additionally
performed a component in shaping northern Arizona’s exceptional panorama. From Walnut Canyon and Route
66, comply with US 89 north for 15 miles to Sundown Crater Volcano’s entrance. A thousand years in the past,
Arizona’s most up-to-date volcanic eruption befell right here, forming the lofty cinder cone. Loop Street
travels east by the park, the place quick hikes move by lava fields. The route connects to our
subsequent spotlight as Loop Street can be Wupatki Nationwide Monument’s primary freeway.
Tenting: Situated throughout from the customer heart, Bonito Campground has 44 campsites.
Spotlight 8: Wupatki Nationwide Monument
Persevering with north on Loop Street, from Sundown Crater Volcano, it’s about 17 miles to Wupatki and the
spectacular remnants of a once-thriving neighborhood. At first, it would look like the 2 neighboring
nationwide monuments don’t have anything in frequent. And but, the pueblos of Wupatki symbolize a time
when the world bustled with life. Throughout Sundown Crater Volcano’s eruption round 1085 CE, individuals fled
the rapid space, inflicting close by Wupatki’s inhabitants to growth. The volcanic ash additionally improved
soil moisture resulting in profitable crops. Wupatki turned a flourishing regional commerce hub with multi-
degree masonry pueblos, such because the park’s namesake pueblo with 104 rooms, a ballcourt and pure
blowhole function.
Tenting: Whereas there’s no tenting at Wupatki, the Bonito Campground is situated throughout from
the Sundown Crater Volcano customer heart.
Spotlight 9: Flagstaff
The biggest metropolis alongside Arizona’s Route 66 lies on the base of the state’s highest mountain, 12,633-foot
Humphreys Peak. Outside-oriented 7,000-foot-high Flagstaff is hip and occurring with bike outlets,
breweries, espresso outlets and quite a few campgrounds. For selfies, there are many Route 66 highway
indicators and two downtown murals to {photograph}: the Phoenix Avenue Route 66 mural and one other on
the facet of the Amtrak practice station. At evening, cruise by Route 66’s many motels searching for neon indicators,
just like the Western Hills Motel’s well-known stagecoach.
Spotlight 10: Grand Canyon Nationwide Park – South Rim
One other monumental detour lies 80 to 90 miles from Flagstaff and Route 66, relying on which
freeway you comply with. From downtown, US 180 is probably the most direct method to the Grand Canyon’s
South Rim, however it’s also possible to proceed west on Route 66 and I-40 to Williams after which head north on
State Route 64. In regards to the measurement of Delaware, the large nationwide park occupies an enormous chunk of
northwestern Arizona. The Grand Canyon is 278 miles lengthy and averages one mile deep and ten
miles broad from rim to rim. Most individuals go to the South Rim with quite a few overlooks offering chicken’s-
eye views of this geological masterpiece, carved slowing over thousands and thousands of years by the Colorado River.
Time: It’s a straightforward drive on glorious highways to the Grand Canyon. Desert View Drive, the freeway
following the South Rim, is well-maintained though at 7,000 ft excessive, snowstorms shut it down from
time to time. Price range a full day to achieve the park and benefit from the viewpoints and customer heart. Not like
most different sights alongside Arizona’s Route 66, this very talked-about park will get crowded so plan
accordingly. Summer time and spring and fall faculty trip durations are significantly busy. The park additionally
runs shuttle buses in spring, summer time and fall.
Tenting: The park operates seasonal and year-round campgrounds. Websites ebook quick and reservations will be made as much as six months prematurely.
Spotlight 11: Oatman’s Wild Burros
Returning to I-40, the westward journey on Route 66 continues. From Williams, it’s 19 miles to the
Ash Fork Route 66 Museum with reveals and relics celebrating The Mom Street. Six miles farther
west, exit 139 results in the longest remaining part of the unique two-lane freeway. Passing
by Seligman, Peach Springs and Valentine, its 107 miles of desert surroundings earlier than Route 66
reaches Kingman. This main hub has all of the requirements and one other Route 66 museum besides. However
one among Route 66’s most fascinating sections nonetheless lies forward. Proceed southwest of Kingman one other
29 miles towards Oatman.
As Route 66/County Freeway 10 winds up and thru the Black Mountains, it encounters an eight-mile stretch with 191 curves, turns and switchbacks. Known as “The Sidewinder,” it’s extra enjoyable than harrowing and the views are breathtaking. Clearly, the steep highway grade might or will not be proper to your RV. When Route 66 lastly drops into Oatman, search for wild burros roaming the highway and close by hills. The pleasant donkeys are descendants of burros delivered to work native mines within the early 1900s. In case you cease, the donkeys will seemingly method your car, searching for meals – or a head scratch. Additionally they wander round Oatman. As soon as a bustling mining city,
Oatman now thrives on tourism with Western-themed outlets, eating places and staged gunfights.
Spotlight 12: Colorado River
From Oatman, Route 66/County Freeway 10 continues southward one other 25 miles to Topock,
located on the Colorado River and Arizona/California border. The city can be surrounded by Havasu
Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, widespread for fishing, boating, kayaking, mountain climbing, birding and wildlife watching.
You’re now within the Mojave Desert so plan on extremely popular summer time circumstances and milder climate the remainder
of the yr.
