Route 66, America’s Mother Road, was established on November 11, 1926, and for nearly 100 years has inspired artists, writers, car lovers and dreamers to follow their muse for 2,000 miles on a two-lane road across the center of North America from Illinois to California.
Route 66 lost much of its drivable mileage to the Interstates from the 1950s to 1980s, but pieces have survived, notably a 158-mile stretch across northern Arizona. Arizona proudly lays claim to this longest continuously drivable piece of Route 66 that is studded with history, colorful Americana and photo ops galore.
Route 66 Loop Drive from Scottsdale
If you’re already in Scottsdale and want a taste of Arizona’s Route 66, this full-day adventure is for you. From Scottsdale, you’ll head north on AZ State Route 87 (a.k.a. the Beeline Highway) to Payson. Refuel here with gas, food or coffee as needed, then continue north on 87 to Winslow – your first glimpse of historic Route 66. Now that you’re on the Mother Road, here are some highlights to see along the way as you head east to west from Winslow to Williams:
- Winslow: Grab a selfie at Standin’-On-the-Corner Park (yes, just like the song!) and an early lunch at one of Winslow’s eateries, like the Turquoise Room at the renowned La Posada Hotel (reservations highly recommended).
- Twin Arrows: As its name suggests, this little ghost town is best known for its two giant arrows piercing the ground. Unfortunately, due to time and the elements, only one arrow remains as of this writing. The abandoned structures make for interesting photo ops.
- Two Guns: Another Route 66 ghost town, Two Guns had a reputation in the late 1880s as a wild and lawless settlement populated by drifters, gamblers and outlaws. Later, it was a popular tourist stop on the Mother Road until Interstate 40 diverted the cars and visitors, and the town perished.
- Flagstaff: Stop by the Flagstaff Visitor Center and pick up an Arizona Historic Route 66 Passport along with insider tips on where to find stamps. Other Route 66 highlights in Flagstaff include the Mother Road Brewing Company, the allegedly haunted Museum Club, Western Hills Motel neon sign and Phoenix Avenue Route 66 mural.
- Williams: Route 66 shines in Williams – literally, thanks to plentiful neon signs. Here you’ll find souvenir shops, Native American art and jewelry stores, restaurants and my favorite rustic dive pub, the Sultana Bar. It’s also a great spot to stop for the night if you’d like to extend your Route 66 explorations by a day or take a detour to the Grand Canyon. In fact, you can get another taste of history by riding the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams to Arizona’s most famous natural wonder.
When you’re ready to head back to Scottsdale, take I-40 east from Williams to the I-17 south, then east on AZ-101 right into town. From ponderosa pines to saguaros, high peaks to Sonoran Desert, this easy loop gives you a taste of Arizona’s ecosystems and history to savor.
The Full Arizona 158
If you’re going for the gusto and want to traverse all 158 Arizona miles of Route 66 from Kingman near the western terminus to Lupton in the east, grab yourself a good map and check out these can’t-miss stops along the way.
- Oatman: This quirky hamlet and former gold mining town is famous for its burros. The ornery miner’s burrows have free reign throughout the town and make for fun photos. You can even catch a friendly Western “gunfight” in front of the Oatman Hotel. Fun Fact: as you leave Oatman, the highway literally rides over the Gold Road Mine, with tunnels just beneath your tires.
- Kingman: Fill up on shakes and burgers at the ever-busy Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner, then sidle across the road to the Powerhouse Museum & Visitor Center.
- Antares: You might do a double-take at “Giganticus headicus,” a green tiki sculpture by local artist Greg Arnold set beside the 1965 Rancheros Motel.
- Hackberry General Store: Elvis (in 2-D) lingers inside this Route 66 gem, which also features Route 66 memorabilia, books, clothes and frosty root beer.
- Seligman: Plan to arrive in daylight to saunter the mother lode of Route 66 art and unabashed kitsch that adorns this sleepy burg. Route 66 cleaves the town, so park and go on a walk-about, from the Rusty Bolt to the Copper Cart (both are storehouses of kitsch for sale), and don’t miss the famous Snow Cap Drive-In (1953) for their crispy onion rings, creamy milkshakes and good/bad jokes served by the counter staff. Other dining options worth a taste include the Roadkill Café and, my personal favorite, Westside Lilo’s Café, which offers superb German and American fare.
- Williams to Winslow highlights: See the loop drive above.
- Holbrook: Located within the beautiful Painted Desert, Holbrook is home to the Wigwam Motel, known for teepees (yes, you can sleep in them!), period cars and twilight neon nights. Take the self-guided walking tour of downtown, which includes colorful historical sites like the Bucket of Blood Saloon.
From Holbrook, a scenic and easy 3-hour drive will land you in Scottsdale where you can recount your Route 66 stories around the pool, on the golf course, or while strolling Old Town with friends. After all, the journey is the destination, is it not?
