Route 66 fans know that the Arizona’s stretch of this historic road is the heart and soul of the “Mother Road.” The preservation of this old highway, once known as America’s Main Street, began here and continues today. No other state can match the scenery of Arizona’s western landscape. Rugged mountains. Desert, pine forests, and rolling grasslands where pronghorns graze along Burma Shave signs. You will find small town with mom-and-pop diners, vintage motor courts, neon signs, and classic roadside attractions. Allow plenty of time for stops and photo ops.
Historic Route 66 All American Road – AZ
Local Visitor Information
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Byway Overview
Historic Route 66 Arizona: The Mother Road
Experience the charm, nostalgia, and open-road freedom of Historic Route 66 — America’s most iconic highway, famously known as The Mother Road.
This legendary All-American Road in Arizona draws travelers from around the world with its classic roadside attractions, vintage motels, neon signs, and small-town charm. From historic diners and quirky landmarks to breathtaking desert scenery, Route 66 embodies the spirit of adventure where “anything goes.”
Whether you’re chasing nostalgia, snapping photos at classic stops, or simply soaking up the atmosphere, driving Arizona’s stretch of Route 66 is a bucket-list American road trip experience.
Quick Facts
- Designation
- All-American Road (2005/2009)
- Intrinsic Qualities
- Historic, Natural
- Location
- CA, AZ, NM, OK, MO, IL
- Total Length
- 152 of 2040.6 total miles
Visitor Information & Byway Partners
Contact Details
For personalized travel assistance and local recommendations, please reach out to our regional visitor center.
Local Byway Partners
Driving across the top third of Arizona on Route 66, the road runs parallel to or joins Interstate 40 from Lupton on the east side of the state to Topock on the west side. The route goes through desert areas, national forest and mountains. Be prepared for all types of weather and temperatures, making sure to have bottled water on hand.
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Oatman
Village in the Black Mountains where two prospectors hit it big.
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Power House Museum (Kingman)
Built in early 1900’s to supply power to mining camps.
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Grand Canyon Caverns
Located a few miles east of Peach Springs, the caverns lie 210 feet below ground level. They are among the largest dry caverns, meaning they lack water, so stalagmites and stalactites are rare.
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Keepers of the Wild Nature Park (Valentine)
Home to over 150 exotic and wild animals that were rescued from lives of neglect or abuse including a grizzly bear, tigers, leopards, cougars, monkeys. Birds, reptiles, wallabies, hoof stock, and a variety of indigenous wildlife.
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Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park is a national park in Navajo and Apache counties in northeastern Arizona. Named for its large deposits of petrified wood, the park covers about 346 square miles , encompassing semi-desert shrub steppe as well as highly eroded and colorful badlands
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Meteor Crater
Over 50,000 years ago, a huge meteorite, approximately 150 feet wide and weighing several hundred thousand tons, struck an area outside of Flagstaff with a force 150 times greater than an atomic bomb. The result of this impact was devastation for miles and the creation of the giant bowl-shaped cavity known as Meteor Crater, which measures 550 feet deep and almost a mile wide.
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Bearizona Wildlife Park
View mountain goats, wolves, bison and black bears; all from the comfort of your own private vehicle.
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Caverns and Canyons
Day 1
Starting in Kingman, go west on Historic Route 66 for 22 miles to reach Giganticus Headicus. Stop to take pictures of this 14-foot green tiki head, a popular icon of the route. A few miles further pull into Hackberry General Store to explore endless memorabilia or stop at Keepers of the Wild, a rescue sanctuary for abandoned exotic animals. A few miles east of Peach Springs is Grand Canyon Caverns, where you can amble through the largest dry cavern in the United States. Continue south on Route 66 to enjoy lunch in Seligman, the town where the historic route began. Settle into one of many accommodations before exploring the historic town.
Day 2
Grab breakfast before continuing east on Route 66 to arrive in Williams. Ride the Route 66 Zipline, then head for Bearizona, a drive-thru wildlife park. Enjoy lunch in town before driving an hour to reach the south rim of the Grand Canyon.