Top 12 Must-See Stops Along Arizona’s Historic Route 66

Route 66 cuts through Arizona like a ribbon of history, offering some of the most iconic roadside attractions in America. This 158-mile stretch of the Mother Road takes travelers through quirky towns, stunning landscapes, and back to a time when the journey mattered more than the destination.

Grab your map and get ready for an unforgettable road trip through these 12 amazing stops that capture the true spirit of the Southwest.

1. Oatman’s Wild Burros

The moment you arrive in this old mining town, wild burros approach your car looking for treats! These descendants of pack animals abandoned by miners now freely roam Oatman’s streets, creating traffic jams tourists actually enjoy. Walking through Oatman feels like stepping onto a Western movie set.

The wooden boardwalks, historic Oatman Hotel (where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon), and daily gunfight shows transport you back to the Gold Rush days. Bring carrots to feed the burros, but remember they’re wild animals deserving respect.

The town’s elevation of 2,700 feet means cooler temperatures than other Arizona stops.

2. Hackberry General Store

Blink and you might miss this unassuming treasure trove of Route 66 memorabilia! What began as a simple gas station in 1934 has transformed into a living museum packed with vintage signs, classic cars, and quirky souvenirs that capture the essence of road trip Americana.

Visitors marvel at the red 1957 Corvette parked outside that’s become the store’s unofficial mascot. Inside, every inch of wall space tells stories of the Mother Road’s heyday through license plates, old advertisements, and faded photographs.

Don’t rush through this stop – the friendly owners love sharing tales about the road’s history and the store’s surprising cameo in several Hollywood films.

3. Winslow’s Standing on the Corner Park

Music fans flock to this corner made famous by the Eagles’ hit song “Take It Easy.” The park features a bronze statue of a man with a guitar alongside a mural depicting a girl in a flatbed Ford – bringing those iconic lyrics to life right before your eyes!

Around the corner, La Posada Hotel showcases stunning Spanish Colonial architecture and houses the last remaining Harvey House restaurant. This historic hotel, designed by Mary Colter, once welcomed Hollywood celebrities traveling by rail across the Southwest.

If you visit in September, you might catch the annual Standing on the Corner Festival where musicians perform tribute songs and locals celebrate their town’s place in rock history.

4. Meteor Crater

Just imagine – 50,000 years ago, a massive meteorite crashed here at 26,000 miles per hour, leaving behind this breathtaking hole in the earth! This giant crater measures nearly a mile across and 550 feet deep, making it the best-preserved meteor impact site on the planet.

From the visitor center’s viewing platforms, you’ll gain perspective on just how enormous this cosmic dent truly is. NASA actually trained Apollo astronauts here because the landscape resembles the moon’s surface so closely.

Interactive exhibits explain how the impact changed our understanding of astronomy and geology. Though technically a short detour off Route 66, this natural wonder provides a humbling reminder of our place in the universe.

5. Petrified Forest National Park

Colors burst from ancient logs transformed into stone at this magical national park! Once a lush forest 225 million years ago, these trees were buried under volcanic ash and slowly replaced by minerals, creating the rainbow-hued petrified wood scattered across the landscape today.

The Painted Desert portion of the park offers sweeping vistas where bands of red, pink, and lavender soil create a surreal panorama. Hiking the Blue Mesa Trail takes you through badlands of blue-gray clay hills topped with petrified wood pieces.

Native American petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock reveal the human history of this area. As the only national park that contains a section of Route 66, you can still see telephone poles marking the original highway’s path.

6. Wigwam Motel in Holbrook

Sleep in a concrete teepee at this quirky motel that’s been delighting travelers since 1950! Each of the fifteen cone-shaped units stands 21 feet tall and contains a bedroom, bathroom, and all the charm you’d expect from authentic Route 66 lodging.

Vintage cars parked between the wigwams enhance the nostalgic atmosphere that makes this place special. The motel appears virtually unchanged since its heyday, offering a genuine time-travel experience for road trippers seeking authentic Americana.

Frank Redford designed these distinctive structures, creating a chain of seven Wigwam Villages across America. Today, only three remain, making this Holbrook landmark a rare treasure and a must-photograph stop, even if you’re not spending the night.

7. Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In

Pranks await hungry travelers at this legendary Seligman eatery where the menu offers “cheeseburger with cheese” and the door handle might squirt water at unsuspecting visitors!

Juan Delgadillo built this quirky restaurant in 1953 using scrap lumber from the Santa Fe Railroad, creating an attraction that’s equally about laughs as it is about lunch. The walls and ceiling disappear beneath thousands of business cards, dollar bills, and mementos left by visitors from around the world.

Outside, a collection of modified vehicles includes a snow-capped 1936 Chevy adorned with Christmas lights year-round. Though Juan passed away in 2004, his family continues his tradition of good-natured humor and delicious malts. Many consider this stop the heart and soul of Route 66’s preservation movement.

8. Grand Canyon Caverns

Descend 210 feet underground to explore the largest dry caverns in the United States! Located just off Route 66 near Peach Springs, these remarkable limestone caves maintain a constant 56 degrees year-round, providing a cool escape from Arizona’s summer heat.

During the Cold War, the U.S. government stored enough emergency rations here to feed 2,000 people for two weeks in case of nuclear attack. Those Civil Defense supplies remain on display today alongside a peculiar attraction – a mummified bobcat nicknamed “Gertie” who wandered in and couldn’t find her way out 200 years ago.

For adventurous travelers, the caverns even offer an underground suite where guests can spend the night surrounded by 65-million-year-old rock formations!

9. Historic Kingman Downtown

Classic neon signs glow against the desert night in this Route 66 hub that serves as Arizona’s unofficial Mother Road capital. The restored train depot now houses the Arizona Route 66 Museum, where photographs, artifacts, and dioramas tell the story of the highway’s transformation from dusty trail to American icon.

Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner captures the 1950s aesthetic with its turquoise and pink color scheme and chrome-trimmed booths. Their famous root beer floats provide sweet relief from the journey while a vintage jukebox plays hits from the road’s golden era.

Downtown walking tours reveal historic buildings like the Hotel Brunswick, operating since 1909. The annual Route 66 Fun Run brings hundreds of classic cars cruising through town each spring.

10. Cool Springs Station

Rising from ruins like a phoenix, this restored gas station stands as a testament to Route 66 preservation! Originally built in the 1920s to service cars struggling up treacherous Sitgreaves Pass, Cool Springs was abandoned and eventually destroyed after Interstate 40 diverted traffic away.

In 2001, businessman Ned Leuchtner meticulously rebuilt the station to match historical photographs. Today it functions as a gift shop and museum nestled among massive boulder formations with breathtaking views of the Black Mountains.

The winding road leading to Cool Springs features hairpin turns and steep drops that challenged early motorists. While you can’t buy gas here anymore, the station’s revival symbolizes the enduring spirit of the Mother Road that refuses to be forgotten.

11. Giganticus Headicus in Antares

You’ll do a double-take when spotting this 14-foot tall tiki head seemingly watching over travelers from its perch near the Antares Point Visitor Center! Created in 2004 by artist Gregg Arnold, this quirky roadside attraction has quickly become a modern Route 66 icon that pays homage to the road’s tradition of unusual landmarks.

The massive green sculpture sits alongside what was once the Kozy Corner Trailer Court, now transformed into an eclectic art installation. Visitors can explore several repurposed buildings showcasing Arnold’s distinctive artistic style that blends humor with social commentary.

Many travelers consider this the perfect photo opportunity to capture the spirit of Route 66’s more eccentric side. The surrounding desert landscape creates a surreal backdrop for this unexpected roadside guardian.

12. Powerhouse Route 66 Museum

History comes alive inside this 1907 electric plant transformed into Kingman’s premier Route 66 museum! Full-size dioramas recreate scenes from different decades of the highway’s existence, allowing visitors to walk through time from the dusty 1920s through the neon-lit 1950s.

The museum houses a remarkable collection of vintage vehicles, including a 1950 Studebaker Champion and motorcycles that once cruised the Mother Road. Interactive exhibits feature oral histories from people who lived and worked along Route 66 during its heyday.

Before leaving, check out the 1,000-square-foot map on the floor tracing the entire route from Chicago to Los Angeles. The museum’s gift shop offers authentic Route 66 memorabilia, including pieces of the original roadway salvaged during renovations.