AMERICAN TOUR ASSOCIATIONTourist attractions on and off the beaten path
USA / Route 66
The Mother Road · An AAGTO travelogue

Route 66 in Arizona

Mountain bends, wide horizons and towns that kept the road alive.

Arizona offers several different Route 66 experiences in one state: the winding Oatman road, the broad sweep through Hackberry and Seligman, pine-country towns around Williams and Flagstaff, and the open landscapes farther east. It is particularly rewarding when you allow time for people and places rather than treating the route as a checklist of famous signs.

Driving east

Eastbound sequence: Needles/Topock → Oatman and Sitgreaves Pass if suitable → Kingman → Hackberry → Seligman → Williams → Flagstaff → Winslow → Holbrook → Petrified Forest area → New Mexico. Modern connectors are necessary in places. The slower Oatman road and the AZ-66 section northeast of Kingman are distinct parts of the experience, not one uniform driving road.

Route 66 Motel sign near Seligman, Arizona
Route 66 Motel sign near Seligman, Arizona · 2018. Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress · Highsmith Archive: rights dedicated to the public. Display crop where shown.

Places to linger

01 · Arizona

Kingman and its road story

Kingman is a useful place to put the old road in context before heading for Hackberry and Seligman. The museum in the Powerhouse building explores transportation and the people who crossed this landscape. Around town, the diner and motel signs make an accessible introduction to the visual language of Route 66: strong colors, large lettering and buildings designed to catch a passing driver’s eye.

Getting here

From Oatman, follow the open signed road toward Kingman; otherwise use a suitable modern connection. Park at the museum’s designated visitor parking and check current admission and hours.

Mr. D’z diner, Kingman, Arizona
Mr. D’z diner, Kingman, Arizona · 2018. Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress · Highsmith Archive: rights dedicated to the public. Display crop where shown.
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02 · Arizona

Hackberry General Store

Hackberry rewards a slow look. Old pumps, vehicles and collected objects turn the roadside stop into a layered display of motoring memory. Some objects are surviving working-road artifacts; others have been assembled for visitors. Enjoy that distinction instead of assuming every item has always stood in exactly the same place. Buy a drink, browse and leave time for conversation if the shop is open.

Getting here

Follow AZ-66 northeast from Kingman to the signed store. Use its parking area rather than the highway shoulder.

Motoring collection at Hackberry General Store, Arizona
Motoring collection at Hackberry General Store, Arizona · 2006. Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress · Highsmith Archive: rights dedicated to the public. Display crop where shown.
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03 · Arizona

Holbrook and the Wigwam Motel

Holbrook’s Wigwam Motel is a striking example of novelty architecture being used to advertise an overnight stay. The buildings were intended to be noticed from a car, and their individuality survives even as travel habits change. The design also reflects how roadside tourism borrowed and simplified Indigenous imagery; it should not be presented as an authentic account of local Native housing or culture.

Getting here

Approach along Holbrook’s business corridor and respect the privacy of overnight guests. Confirm rooms and facilities directly if staying; use public viewpoints or ask permission for photography.

Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona · 2006. Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress · Highsmith Archive: rights dedicated to the public. Display crop where shown.
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Where to break the journey

Kingman, Williams and Holbrook divide the state into enjoyable sections. Flagstaff or Winslow can replace Williams or Holbrook if their attractions fit your interests better. Add a day for the Grand Canyon and allow proper daylight for Petrified Forest. High-elevation weather can differ sharply from the lower desert.

See the day-by-day overnight plan → · Accommodation and meal ideas →

Along the way

Historic Route 66 Motel in Seligman, Arizona
Historic Route 66 Motel in Seligman, Arizona · 2026. G. Edward Johnson · CC BY 4.0. Display crop where shown.

Useful sources & local information