10 Iconic Stops Along Arizona’s Legendary Route 66
Imagine cruising down America’s most famous highway, where every mile tells a story of adventure, nostalgia, and the open road.
Arizona’s stretch of Route 66 offers some of the most memorable experiences along this historic Mother Road.
From quirky roadside attractions to breathtaking natural wonders, these ten stops capture the magic that makes this journey unforgettable.
1. Arizona Route 66 Museum (Kingman)
Right in the heart of Kingman sits a treasure trove of Mother Road memories that’ll transport you back to the golden age of American travel.
Inside this restored powerhouse building, you’ll find vintage photographs, classic cars, and authentic memorabilia that bring the highway’s history to life.
Interactive exhibits let you experience what it was like to travel Route 66 during its heyday.
The museum’s curators have done an incredible job preserving the stories of the people who lived, worked, and traveled along this iconic road.
2. Oatman (Oatman)
Wild burros wander the streets like they own the place in this authentic Old West mining town that refuses to fade into history.
Descended from miners’ pack animals, these friendly creatures have become the town’s most beloved residents, happily accepting carrots from delighted visitors.
Wooden sidewalks creak beneath your feet as you explore shops selling handmade goods and mining relics.
Daily staged gunfights add to the Wild West atmosphere, making you feel like you’ve stepped straight into a cowboy movie set that’s somehow still alive and kicking.
3. Cool Springs Station (Oatman)
Nestled in the rugged Black Mountains, this beautifully restored 1930s gas station stands as a testament to Route 66’s golden era.
After falling into ruins, the station was lovingly rebuilt by a Chicago businessman who fell in love with its history and remote desert location.
Today it serves as a gift shop and mini-museum where you can grab refreshments and browse vintage Route 66 collectibles.
The surrounding desert landscape offers stunning photo opportunities, especially during sunrise and sunset when the mountains glow in brilliant colors.
4. Seligman (Seligman)
Known as the birthplace of the Route 66 revival movement, Seligman bursts with personality and vintage charm that inspired Pixar’s Cars movie.
Angel Delgadillo, the town barber and Route 66 guardian angel, helped save this highway from being forgotten when the interstate threatened to bypass it completely.
Brightly painted buildings, classic diners, and quirky shops line the main drag, each one competing for your attention with vintage signs and nostalgic decorations.
Stop by the Route 66 Gift Shop to meet Angel himself if you’re lucky.
5. Williams (Williams)
As the last town bypassed by Interstate 40 in 1984, Williams holds a special place in Route 66 history and proudly celebrates its Mother Road heritage.
The entire downtown area feels like a living museum, with beautifully preserved buildings, vintage neon signs, and classic diners serving up nostalgia alongside their burgers.
Williams also serves as the gateway to the Grand Canyon, with the historic Grand Canyon Railway departing daily from the charming depot.
The town hosts Route 66 festivals throughout the year, keeping the spirit of the Mother Road alive.
6. Meteor Crater Natural Landmark (near Winslow)
A massive space rock slammed into the Arizona desert 50,000 years ago, creating this jaw-dropping crater that stretches nearly a mile across and plunges 550 feet deep.
Standing on the rim, you’ll struggle to comprehend the incredible force that carved this perfect bowl into the earth’s surface.
The visitor center offers fascinating exhibits about meteorites, impact science, and space exploration.
Guided rim tours provide stunning views and scientific insights, while the museum displays actual meteorite fragments that survived the cosmic collision and journey through Earth’s atmosphere.
7. Petrified Forest National Park (near Holbrook)
Ancient trees turned to stone create a surreal landscape where 225-million-year-old logs shimmer with quartz crystals in brilliant reds, purples, and yellows.
Walking among these fossilized giants feels like exploring an alien planet where time has transformed wood into rainbow-hued rock.
The park also protects sections of historic Route 66, including a vintage 1932 Studebaker rusting peacefully in the desert.
Painted Desert vistas, Native American petroglyphs, and the fascinating Blue Mesa badlands make this national park an unforgettable detour from the Mother Road.
8. Wigwam Motel (Holbrook)
Sleeping in a concrete teepee might sound unusual, but that’s exactly what makes this 1950s motor court so irresistibly charming and Instagram-worthy.
Each wigwam room has been lovingly restored with vintage furniture and modern amenities, offering a unique blend of nostalgia and comfort.
Built when roadside novelty architecture ruled the Mother Road, the motel represents the playful spirit of mid-century American travel.
Classic cars often park outside, creating perfect photo opportunities that capture the essence of Route 66’s golden age when motor courts competed for travelers’ attention.
9. Standin’ on the Corner Park (Winslow)
Eagles fans from around the world flock to this corner to recreate the famous lyric from “Take It Easy” that put Winslow permanently on the musical map.
A bronze statue of a hitchhiking musician stands ready for your selfie, while a clever trompe-l’oeil mural depicts that mysterious girl in a flatbed Ford.
The park has become a pilgrimage site for classic rock lovers and Route 66 enthusiasts alike.
Local shops surrounding the park sell Eagles memorabilia and Route 66 souvenirs, keeping the song’s legacy alive decades after its release.
10. La Posada Hotel (Winslow)
Built in 1930 as the crown jewel of Fred Harvey’s railroad hotel empire, this Spanish Colonial masterpiece nearly crumbled into dust before being rescued and restored to its former glory.
Architect Mary Colter designed every detail to feel like a gracious hacienda, with hand-painted tiles, carved wooden beams, and lush gardens.
Today the hotel welcomes guests with the same elegance that once attracted Hollywood stars and railroad travelers.
The Turquoise Room restaurant serves exceptional Southwestern cuisine, while the art gallery and gardens invite leisurely exploration of this architectural treasure.