Route 66 in Arizona: Our Favourite Stops, Photos and Tips

I think Arizona was my favourite of all the states we crossed on our Route 66 adventure. We had spectacular weather, the scenery is vast and photogenic, and we even managed to fit in a detour to the Grand Canyon along the way.

Arizona has over 385 miles of Route 66, including the longest surviving stretch of original road you can still drive today. That 159-mile section between Ash Fork and Topock passes through some of the most dramatic desert landscapes on the entire route. Allow at least a full day for Arizona, though two would be better.

2026 is Route 66’s centennial year (the road was commissioned on November 11, 1926), and Arizona has celebrations planned all year. The Route 66 Fun Run from Seligman to Topock runs May 1-3, Flagstaff hosts a centennial celebration on June 6, and the Standin’ on the Corner Festival in Winslow is September 25-26. It’s a good year to drive the Mother Road.

We drove the whole route from California to Chicago (yes, the wrong way round, but we’re contrarians like that), and I photographed everything along the way. Below are the stops we made in Arizona, ordered roughly east to west so they match the traditional Chicago-to-LA direction most people drive. You can also buy prints of many of these images from my Route 66 photo gallery.

For detailed planning, see Jess’s comprehensive 2-week Route 66 itinerary and our Route 66 planning guide, which cover every stop in much more detail.

Route 66 in Arizona: All the Stops Worth Making

Coming in from New Mexico, the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest are right at the border. From there it’s about 25 miles to the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, 30 miles to the Jack Rabbit Trading Post near Joseph City, and another 35 to the Two Guns ghost town at Canyon Diablo.

Winslow and its famous corner is 25 miles further, then 55 miles to Flagstaff, 30 to Williams, and 70 to Seligman where the Route 66 preservation movement started.

The longest surviving stretch runs from there through Hackberry and Kingman, over Sitgreaves Pass (with a stop at Cool Springs), down to Oatman, and out to Topock at the California border. About 385 miles all up.

The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest

Arriving from New Mexico, the first big draw is the Painted Desert, a wide expanse of layered, colourful desert landscapes. Part of it falls within Petrified Forest National Park, where thousands of acres of fossilised trees are scattered across the ground. It’s a paid national park entry, but well worth it.

Nearby (though not on Route 66 itself), Meteor Crater is worth a detour if you have time. It’s the best-preserved meteor impact site in the world, nearly a mile across, and the Apollo astronauts used to train there. We didn’t visit on this trip but it’s on the list for next time.

The Wigwam Motel, Holbrook

You don’t have to stay in a normal motel on Route 66. In Holbrook, you can sleep in a concrete wigwam and park your car right outside. The Wigwam Motel is one of only two surviving wigwam motels on the route (the other is in San Bernardino, California), and it’s been here since 1950. The rooms are basic but the experience is pure Route 66.

If you’re looking for more accommodation options along the route, see our full guide to Route 66 era hotels and motels.

The “Here It Is” Sign and Jack Rabbit Trading Post

Probably the most famous sign on Route 66. Signs like this used to stretch for hundreds of miles in each direction, promising travellers all sorts of wonders when they finally arrived at the store. The Jack Rabbit Trading Post near Joseph City is one of the last survivors of that era, and it’s still open.

And who could be disappointed when arriving to find a giant rabbit that you can sit on? Free to visit.

Two Guns Ghost Town

Just off I-40 at Canyon Diablo, Two Guns is one of the eerier stops on the route. It was a gas station and tourist trap in Route 66’s heyday, with a zoo and a cave that the owner marketed as “Apache Death Cave.” The whole place was abandoned after the interstate bypassed it, and now it’s a properly spooky ruin. Free to wander around, but watch your footing.

There used to be a gas station here too. Time has not been kind to it.

Standin’ on the Corner in Winslow, Arizona

The town of Winslow became famous thanks to the Eagles song “Take it Easy”, and they’ve made the most of it. There’s a whole corner dedicated to the lyric, complete with a statue and a mural. It’s a little cheesy and absolutely worth stopping for.

The Standin’ on the Corner Festival runs September 25-26, 2026, for the centennial. If you’re driving the route this year, the timing could work out nicely.

Old Route 66 Bridge, Flagstaff

A great deal of Route 66 is no longer passable to vehicles. This old bridge near Flagstaff is one of many that got left behind when the interstate came through. Still photogenic though.

Flagstaff itself is a good base for side trips to the Grand Canyon and Sedona. If you’re heading to the Grand Canyon, see our guide to sunrise and sunset at the Grand Canyon for photography tips, and our guide to hiking Havasu Falls if you’re feeling adventurous.

Williams

Williams was the last Route 66 town to be bypassed by I-40 (in 1984), and it leans into its Route 66 heritage hard. There are diners, bars, and Route 66 memorabilia everywhere. It’s also where you catch the Grand Canyon Railway up to the South Rim.

I was fascinated by the immensity of the freight trains in this part of the US. They seemed to come through every few minutes, and they were enormous.

Seligman

Seligman is one of the best places to get a feel for old Route 66 in Arizona. It’s the birthplace of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, founded by local barber Angel Delgadillo in 1987. Without him, much of this section of the route would have been forgotten entirely. The town is packed with Route 66 themed shops, art, and old gas stations, and it’s free to wander around.

Hackberry General Store

Between Seligman and Kingman, keep an eye out for the Hackberry General Store. It’s part museum, part gift shop, and absolutely packed with Route 66 memorabilia, vintage gas pumps, and old cars. Bob Waldmire, the travelling artist who inspired the character Fillmore in the Pixar movie Cars, used to run the place from his orange VW bus. Free to visit, and you’ll want to spend longer here than you planned.

Kingman and the Route 66 Museum

Kingman is the biggest town on the western half of Arizona’s Route 66 and a good place to refuel (yourself and the car). The Arizona Route 66 Museum is inside the Powerhouse, a converted 1907 power station, and it’s worth an hour if you’re interested in the history of the road. There’s also a small railroad museum nearby.

Route 66 Diners

Unlike the bridges and abandoned gas stations, many of the diners in Arizona are still very much in use. Mr D’s in Kingman is a good stop for a burger and a root beer, and there are plenty of classic American diners in Seligman and Williams too.

The Longest Surviving Stretch of Route 66

Arizona is home to the longest stretch of original Route 66 road you can still drive: 159 miles from Ash Fork to Topock, without needing to hop on the interstate at all. This is the stretch most people picture when they think of Route 66, and it doesn’t disappoint.

The section over Sitgreaves Pass between Kingman and Oatman is particularly dramatic, with steep switchbacks and a 2,100-foot elevation change in about 8 miles. Take your time on this bit. About halfway up, the restored Cool Springs station is a good excuse to stop, catch your breath, and buy a cold drink.

Oatman

The former gold mining town of Oatman is home to regular wild west shows, wandering burros (the descendants of those that once worked in the mines), and a fun, Old West atmosphere. It’s touristy, but in a good-natured way that fits the Route 66 spirit perfectly. Free to visit, though you’ll probably end up buying something.

Topock and the California Border

After Oatman, Route 66 drops down to the Colorado River at Topock, which marks the Arizona-California state line. It’s not much of a town, but the sign makes for a satisfying end-of-state photo if you’re ticking off the Route 66 states one by one (which, of course, we were).

Route 66 Signs

Route 66 doesn’t have as many signs to help you follow the route as you might hope for, so it’s always nice to find one. A good Route 66 guidebook is pretty much a requirement if you want to stay on the original road. We used the EZ66 Guide by Jerry McClanahan for the whole trip and met the author along the way.

Driving Route 66 in Arizona

Arizona has around 385 miles of Route 66 and you could drive it in a day if you didn’t stop, but you’d miss the point entirely. We spent two days on the Arizona section and could easily have spent three. If you’re pressed for time, the two stops I’d prioritise are Seligman (for the Route 66 atmosphere) and the Oatman-to-Kingman stretch over Sitgreaves Pass (for the driving experience and scenery).

If you need to rent a car for your Route 66 trip, we recommend booking through Discover Cars, which compares prices across all the major rental companies.

For much more detail on planning your Route 66 adventure, here are our main resources:

Jess has written a comprehensive Route 66 planning guide covering everything you need to know before you go. We also have a detailed 2-week Route 66 itinerary with day-by-day highlights, and a 1-week Route 66 itinerary if you have less time. For accommodation, see our guide to the best Route 66 era motels and hotels.

Arizona is also home to the spectacular Havasu Falls and the Grand Canyon. See my guide to hiking Havasu Falls and tips on photographing sunset and sunrise at the Grand Canyon for more on what to do in this state.

If you’re new to driving in the US, check out my tips for driving in the USA, and for budgeting, see our guide to travel costs in the USA.

You can also see our photos and tips from the other Route 66 states: California, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to drive Route 66 through Arizona?

Arizona has about 385 miles of Route 66 between the New Mexico state line and the California border. If you stuck to the interstate you could cover it in under six hours, but the whole point is to take the old road and stop along the way.

We spent two full days on Arizona’s section and it felt about right. If you want to add detours to the Grand Canyon or Sedona (both well worth it), allow three days.

What is the longest surviving stretch of Route 66?

It’s in Arizona. The 159-mile section from Ash Fork to Topock is the longest continuously driveable stretch of original Route 66 road in the country. It passes through Seligman, Kingman, and Oatman, and includes the dramatic mountain crossing at Sitgreaves Pass.

Is Route 66 in Arizona free to drive?

The road itself is free. Most of the roadside attractions and towns are free to visit too. The main exception is Petrified Forest National Park, which charges a park entry fee (currently $25 per vehicle). The Wigwam Motel is obviously a paid stay, and the diners and shops will happily take your money.

What Route 66 centennial events are happening in Arizona in 2026?

Arizona has celebrations planned throughout 2026. The big ones include the Route 66 Fun Run from Seligman to Topock (May 1-3), the Flagstaff Centennial Celebration (June 6), the Standin’ on the Corner Festival in Winslow (September 25-26), and the Kingman Route 66 Fest (October 16-17). The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona website has the full calendar.