The Ultimate Guide to Route 66: Arizona

Although the Grand Canyon is Arizona’s most-visited national park, Petrified Forest National Park is another bucket list-worthy destination. Upon visiting Arizona for the first time with my aunt, we took a trip along Route 66, and one of our stops was at the Petrified Forest National Park. Coming from New England, we'd never seen anything like it before. 

The landscape is an extraordinary mix of otherworldly elements. There’s the Painted Desert with its multi-colored badlands, which do, in fact, look painted in hues of red and orange. There’s the Blue Mesa, whose bentonite clay also appears painted with blues and purples, and is accessible via the Blue Mesa Trail. But what many come to this national park for is its petrified wood.

Scattered throughout the southern end of the park is the Rainbow Forest, featuring thousands of pieces of petrified wood dating back 200 million years. You can view colorful petrified logs along several easy trails, including the Crystal Forest Trail, Giant Logs Trail, and the Long Logs Trail. In addition to its fascinating landscapes, Petrified Forest National Park is also home to the ancient 100-room Puerco Pueblo, which was occupied over 600 years ago by the Puebloan people.

An entrance fee is required, or you must have a National Parks Pass to enter the park. 

We all know that song by the Eagles with the lyrics, “Well, I’m a-standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona wth such a fine sight to see.” While you may not see “a girl… in a flatbed Ford” slowing down on the street, you can certainly stand on a corner in this town for one of the most iconic photos along Route 66. 

Standin’ on the Corner Park was inspired by the 1972 song “Take It Easy,” written by Glenn Frey of the Eagles and Jackson Browne, who collaborated with Frey but was not part of the band. This Winslow park is a throwback to a simpler time, like many other parts of Route 66. Here you’ll find a bronze statue of a singer, murals, including an Arizona Route 66 mural painted in the intersection of Kinsley Street and Route 66 (2nd Street), and a real flatbed Ford truck parked on the street.

Winslow draws visitors from all over the world, curious to see the town the Eagles sang about over 50 years ago. Standin’ on the Corner Park in Winslow, Arizona, is a must when visiting the town made famous by the Eagles. It really is “such a fine sight to see.” 

Situated close to Northern Arizona University (NAU) along Route 66, High Country Motor Lodge may look like a typical renovated roadside motel, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The original motel was built in the 1960s and served as a place for weary road-trip travelers to rest for the night before continuing their journey. Now modernized, the High Country Motor Lodge has retained many mid-century modern elements, creating a touch of nostalgia for its guests. There’s an evident mix of nostalgia, rooted in Route 66, the natural beauty and dark skies of Flagstaff, and contemporary design and décor.

When booking a room at the High Country Motor Lodge, you can opt for one of the stand-alone Cosmic Cottages, a junior suite, a classic room, or a room with a pool view. Accessible rooms are also available, and this hotel is pet-friendly. You’ll also have a variety of amenities at your disposal: aside from the pool, you can book a Nordic spa experience or spend time at The General Store, offering food, beverages, fire pits, live events, and outdoor movies under the stars.

Staying here in the heart of Flagstaff means you’re close to some remarkable roadside attractions. As this is the world's first designated International Dark Sky City, spending time outdoors under the starry sky is a must. One of the best places to go in Flagstaff is the Lowell Observatory, which discovered the presence of Pluto in 1930. Walk through the observatory’s informative museum and take the Cosmic Highways: A Centennial Tour to learn about how Route 66 is connected to the astronomical discoveries here.

If you have the time, taking a detour off Route 66 to the three mesas and 12 villages along the Hopi Arts Trails is worthwhile. The Hopi Arts Trail connects four mesas on the Hopi Reservation. First Mesa and Second Mesa are close to each other and about a 90-minute drive off Route 66 between Petrified Forest National Park and the town of Holbrook. Third Mesa is located 30 minutes north of Second Mesa, and Moenkopi is about an hour's drive from Third Mesa. They are connected by Highway 264.

While visiting, you’ll discover traditional art, including basket weaving, silversmithing, and pottery, as well as more contemporary art, such as painting and sculpture, by the Hopi tribe at the mesa galleries. You may also have the opportunity to engage with local artists and learn about their techniques and culture. You can schedule a visit with an artist or book a tour with a certified local tour guide from the Hopi Tribe. A tour guide is perhaps the best way to learn about the Hopi Reservation, which covers 2,439 square miles in northern Arizona, and its people, as they will take you to cultural sites, villages, and art galleries, sharing their insight and knowledge along the way. 

These destinations on the Hopi Reservation require a detour, taking you on a journey of learning and discovery. Please be respectful when visiting the Hopi mesas and villages. Photography is not allowed in the villages.

The town known as the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon" is located an hour south of the park itself; Williams sits between the city of Flagstaff and Grand Canyon National Park and manages to blend early 20th-century history, a mid-century road-trip sensibility, and quintessential Arizona scenery.

Williams is best known as the southern terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway. Opened in 1901, the railway was built to transport tourists to the southern rim of the Grand Canyon. Williams’ other claim to fame? Old historic Route 66 goes right through the middle of town. Pete’s Gas Station is a small, free museum preserving a typical gas stop on the old Route 66. The main drag is lined with gift shops, restaurants, and motels catering to tourists searching for that authentic Route 66 vibe.

Over an hour’s drive west of Flagstaff, Seligman is a Route 66 town that epitomizes Americana. With its kitschy roadside attractions, neon signs, and motels, like the Historic Route 66 Motel or the 66 Canyon Lodge Motel, visiting Seligman feels like you’re taking a time machine back to the mid-19th century. Seligman served as one of the towns that inspired the fictional Radiator Springs in the Disney-Pixar animated film, “Cars.” Just like Radiator Springs, Seligman was bypassed by the newer, faster highway that was built for modern road travel.

Considered the “Birthplace of Historic Route 66,” there were efforts made by Seligman’s local barber, Angel Delgadillo, to preserve Arizona’s stretch of Route 66. He founded the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona and, eventually, in 1987, the state of Arizona designated the stretch of Mother Road between Seligman and Kingman as Historic Route 66. When in Seligman, you must, of course, stop by Angel & Vilma Delgadillo's Original Route 66 Gift Shop for souvenirs, including a copy of Angel Delgadillo’s book, “The Road to Happiness.” 

In addition to gift shops, photo ops abound around, including classic cars, neon signs, and vintage buildings that house the town’s shops and restaurants. 

During your time in Seligman, if there’s one place you must dine, it’s Westside Lilo's Cafe. This locally owned eatery is a true hidden gem, tucked away along Route 66. It occupies a building that was once a hobby shop that first opened in 1954. After closing, it was home to a restaurant, which subsequently closed in the early 80s. After sitting abandoned for a number of years, it was purchased in 1996 by Lilo and her husband Pat, and has become a beloved addition to the Seligman community ever since.

Lilo’s cooking and baking are influenced by her home country of Germany, and the restaurant’s decor also has a German flair. Since day one of the restaurant’s opening, Lilo has been baking fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, and carrot cake. The menu also includes a wide variety of homemade classics, comfort foods, and soups, as well as German dishes like schnitzel. While Lilo still bakes desserts at Westside Lilo’s Cafe, the restaurant is now owned and run by her daughter, Brenda.

Made with quality ingredients, dishes are served in large portions. Westside Lilo's Cafe is open 7 days a week, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with breakfast available all day.  

Known as the “Heart of Historic Route 66,” the small city of Kingman is a preserved relic of the bygone days of the Mother Road—and that only lends to its charm. Its downtown area is home to historic buildings dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Kingman was founded as a railroad town in the late 1800s and later became a popular roadside destination for Route 66 travelers. 

Throughout Kingman are a number of kitschy roadside attractions, such as the Route 66 Drive-Thru Shield, which is popular for photos, and the Hackberry General Store, which features retro gas pumps, a plethora of old signs, and classic cars. Then there’s the Arizona Route 66 Museum, a can’t-miss attraction filled with neon sign displays, murals, vintage cars, and other memorabilia related to the Mother Road. It’s here that you’ll also find the Visitor Center, so pick up a map before heading out on a self-guided walking tour—you don’t want to miss anything around town!

If you’re sticking around town for a while, pop by the iconic Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner for a burger and a root beer float. Spending the night? Book a room or a bungalow with vintage touches at Kingman KOA.