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Arizona's Route 66

Proclaimed the "Mother Road" by John Steinbeck, Route 66 stands as a nostalgic reminder of days past. Arizona's section of the "66" is dotted with small towns filled with quirky attractions, colorful history, road-side diners and historic restaurants and some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Southwest.

In 1926, the Bureau of Roads created the Federal Highway System and Route 66 was created from existing local, state and federal roadways hobbled together to create what the Route 66 Highway Association touted as the “the shortest, best and most scenic route from Chicago through St. Louis to Los Angeles." Businesses popped up along the route to serve travelers, but it hit its heyday after World War II when rationing ended, car ownership increased and the family roadtrip became wildly popular.

After serving as the "main street of America," Route 66 was decomissioned after 59 years and replaced by Interstate 40 — it gradually fell out of use and into disrepair — drivers instead opting for the newer, faster highway.

Route 66 may have represented the past, but to many it was forever in their memories and immortalized in American culture. Thanks to the preservation efforts of Angel Delgadillo, the main founder of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, Arizona can claim the longest stretch of the original Route 66 in the United States — stretching 385.2 miles from the town of Lupton on the Arizona-New Mexico border to just west of Kingman near California.

Whether heading west to east or east to west on the Mother Road, be sure to check out the quirky landmarks and destinations of Arizona’s Route 66 below:

Travel the Mother Road

Holbrook

Travelers from around the globe get their kicks in this Northern Arizona gateway to the mother road as well as to an amazing national park, the Petrified Forest.

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Petrified Forest National Park

Nature, geology, archaeology, paleontology and even architecture meet at this high-desert park. Stretching for miles on both sides of Interstate 40 and located near the town of Holbrook in Northern Arizona, Petrified…

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Winslow

Explore this Route 66 gem that presents Western heritage with a big slice of Americana.

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Homolovi State Park

Discover a pueblo village occupied 700 years ago by ancestors of the Hopi Tribe.

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Flagstaff

Enjoy all four seasons in Northern Arizona’s biggest city.

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Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Explore an otherworldly landscape at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Arizona's most recent volcanic eruption site, which offers unique hikes and sightseeing.

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Walnut Canyon National Monument

See more than 300 Northern Arizona cliff dwellings that were abandoned 800 years ago.

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Williams

Midway between Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, Williams' small-town charms invite lingering. This gateway to the Grand Canyon boasts a vibrant historic downtown district, plenty of lodging and dining options, and access…

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Seligman

A quirky small town along a preserved section of Route 66 captures a vibrant slice of Americana. Between Flagstaff and Kingman in Northern Arizona, Seligman preserves the Americana of yesteryear at the…

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Peach Springs

This remote outpost in northwestern Arizona invites visitors to explore Grand Canyon West.

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Hualapai Tribe

See the Grand Canyon from a different perspective on the lands of the Hualapai Tribe.

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Kingman

Add this historic city on Route 66 to all road trips through Northwestern Arizona.

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Oatman

In the northwest corner of Arizona, discover a town full of rugged character…and burros.

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Route 66: Hackberry to Seligman

Journey with us as we meet some of the more unusual and famous people and places along the route, starting in Hackberry, 20 miles northeast of Kingman, and ending in Seligman.

Route 66: Winslow to Holbrook

Continue your trip on Arizona's Route 66, as you travel from Winslow to Holbrook, Arizona.

Arizona's Preeminent Pizza 'Pedaler'

Caleb Schiff, owner of Pizzicletta, gives his cycling buddies a taste of Flagstaff's culinary scene-a scene he helped elevate in a mountain town better known for hiking, star-gazing and high-altitude training.

Tips and Trips

More to Do on Route 66

Road Trips

Six Days Touring the Mother Road: Route 66

Travel America's famous Mother Road, historic Route 66, through classic towns still filled with Americana and more.

Road Trips & Tours

Iconic Landmarks Along Arizona’s Route 66

Arizona is gifted with many of the most memorable icons of funky architecture, quality kitsch and robust Americana to be found on the entire...

Road Trips

The Best Arizona Motorcycle Rides to Try Right Now

Hit the pavement on these Arizona motorcycle rides perfectly suited for two wheels.

Family Activities

25 Things to Do in Flagstaff

Consider this your definitive guide to Flagstaff—from stargazing to craft beer tasting, here are our favorite things to do in this mountain town.

Road Trips & Tours

Travel Like a Tourist: Williams

Play tourist in Williams—where Route 66 retro kitsch meets Grand Canyon grandeur.

Must Do

9 Amazing Landmarks You Didn't Know Were in Arizona

You know about the Grand Canyon, no doubt. Now discover what else geology, ambition, and technology have produced as you explore some of...

Road Trips

Arizona's Roadside Attractions

Find all kinds of roadside sights—odd, unexpected and one-of-a-kind— across Arizona.

Digital Passports

Visit Arizona Experiences Passes

Explore the Grand Canyon State your way with our Visit Arizona Experience Passes. Rock the Mother Road, discover over 50 Arizona Park locations...

Rock the Route Check-in Challenge

At nearly 100 years old Route 66 — the Main Street of America — evokes memories of roadside attractions, rock on the radio and road trips with the family where the journey was as much fun as the destination.

In Arizona remains the longest stretch of the original Route 66 in the U.S., where you’ll find a wigwam-shaped motel, a petrified forest, kitschy shops, a street corner dedicated to an Eagles song, and so much more. Now, it’s your turn to visit these and other unique landmarks with the Route 66 Check-in Challenge Passport and interactive map.

As you visit each location, be sure to check in and be automatically entered to win cool prizes from the Arizona Office of Tourism and the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. Every check-in counts as an entry, so the more places you explore the better your opportunity to win:

4 Check-ins = A Route 66 Sticker Pack
7 Check-ins = A Retro Route 66 Magnet

While you’re exploring Route 66, be sure to share or upload your photos using #RockTheRouteAZ and we may float a Random Act of Sunshine into your DMs.

Winners of prizes will be notified via the passport portal.