Ten top stops on Arizona’s long and lovely stretch of Route 66

There isn’t a better time to plan a Route 66 road trip through Arizona with your family. The Mother Road turns 100 in 2026 and we’ve found you 10 places to celebrate the icon.

Cool Springs Station, near Kingman, Route 66

The longest, preserved stretch of Route 66 runs through Northern Arizona, and who can resist ticking off an iconic road trip on holiday?

Of course there are innumerable reasons to stop along the way,  but we did a deep dive for you, keeping in mind you’ve got kids in the car. We’ve also considered the fact that it’s Arizona, and astonishing natural grandeur comes as easily as breathing here, so you’ll probably want to take your sweet time with the drive. So here are our top 10 must-dos. Do them all, or just a few, but do at least a little of Route 66.

The Petrified Forest ©National Park Service

Start your Route 66 family road trip at the Petrified Forest

Going east to west, Arizona’s Route 66 covers a grand total of 385.2 miles from Lupton on the New Mexico border all the way to the California border, and before you’ve driven very far at all (about 48 miles from Lupton) you’re already in monumental experience territory. Imagine a landscape strewn with enormous felled trees transformed over millions of years into rainbow-bright rock formations, that’s Northern Arizona’s Petrified Forest.

The fact that this is a drive-through National Park is great fun for kids, plus there are plenty of places to stop and stare along the 28-mile route, as well as the excellent Painted Desert Visitor Center and Rainbow Forest Museum. Older kids and teenagers might also be up for hiking one of the short, easy trails for closer views of giant logs, long logs and ancient log jams.

Wigwam Village, Holbrook, Arizona

Load up on classic kitsch in historic Holbrook

Nearby Holbrook is another must stop for classic Route 66 kitsch set within the magnificent Painted Desert, one of Arizona’s most beguiling landscapes. When you’re done staring at the natural grandeur turn your eyes to Wigwam Village and its impressive collection of giant tepees and vintage cars. Built in 1937, the Village’s tents are actually whitewashed concrete and could well be the most unusual accommodation you’ve tried.

Obviously kids adore the novelty, but parents will be delighted to know that today’s tepees are big on comfort too. Don’t miss a self-guided tour of Holbrook, starting at the visitor center and taking in sights like Bucket of Blood Saloon and landmark shootout locations. It really is the Wild West here!

La Posada Hotel, Winslow

Winslow is worth a detour on any Route 66 road trip

Next up, take the tiniest detour (about a mile off Route 66) and land in Winslow. We predict teenagers will be raving about this town for years. It’s selfie-heaven from the iconic Route 66 sign to its historic brick buildings and trad trading posts. But more soulful teens will be just as interested in the fact that the town sits on the edge of Navajo and Hopi communities and, if you’ve time, it’s a perfect gateway to explore some of Arizona’s Tribal Lands.

No matter how strict your itinerary, take a moment to admire La Posada Hotel, built in 1929 by the Santa Fe Railroad and as grand and elegant today as ever it was. The Affeldt Mion Museum in the original train depot is also worth a visit.

Meteor Crater ©Kyle Huber

Stretch your legs round the Meteor Crater

Just about 25 miles west of Winslow brings you to Meteor Crater, a phenomenon to silence the most boisterous young passengers.

This is the world’s best preserved meteorite impact site and awe-inspiring in its immensity and age: it’s around 50,000 years old. Drop into the Meteor Crater Visitor Center on its rim to fill up on facts and figures, catch a movie at the widescreen cinema and experience the indoor crater viewing areas.

There are also outdoor viewing platforms, and the well laid out trails around the site are the perfect excuse to stretch those car legs.

Flagstaff Visitor Center ©Discover Flagstaff

Do some stargazing on your Route 66 road trip

Less than an hour’s drive west of Meteor Crater, Flagstaff is Northern Arizona’s largest city and a good place to stop for a dose of great restaurants, cool coffee shops, skiing in winter at the Arizona Snowbowl resort, or summer fun in the treetops at Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course. It’s also home to the world famous Lowell Observatory and, just outside the city, you can explore extraordinary Walnut Canyon.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Make time for the Grand Canyon – by train

Route 66 is a legend and the road trip all other road trips want to be, but in Arizona the most legendary attraction of all is the Grand Canyon. It’s a bit of a detour if you’re on a determined road trip, but about 30 miles west of Flagstaff you come to Williams and there you can catch the Grand Canyon Railway for a round trip to the South Rim, with three hours built in at the Canyon for exploring, as well as jaw dropping scenery both there and back.

Pete’s Gas Station, Williams ©An Pham

Stop in Williams for vintage vibes

Make time to hang about in Williams for a little, you won’t be disappointed. The epitome of small town charm, its historic district is filled with reel-worthy retro sights like classic diners and quaint stores.

Kids less enamoured of vintage vibes will like the three mile wildlife-rich drive through Bearizona not far from the town, and the fun Canyon Coaster Adventure Park is the perfect place for the car-weary to burn some energy, you can even go snow tubing here in winter.

Seligman, Route 66

Hit Seligman for Route 66 road trip souvenirs

Route 66 turns 100 in 2026 and there’s no better place to celebrate that centenary than Seligman, the colourful little town whose local barber Angel Delgadillo was instrumental in preserving Arizona’s stretch of the original Mother Road.

Angel & Vilma Delgadillo’s Original Route 66 Gift Shop is a must for knick-knackery and don’t miss The Rusty Bolt for a fine selection of things you don’t need but really, really want, like Coca Cola collectibles, Elvis memorabilia and license plates and road signs, of course.

Then, because no classic American road trip is complete without a classic diner, drop into Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In. Famous for its dad-joke menus and outrageously good milkshakes, it’s a Seligman landmark that would be worth a detour if it wasn’t on-route.

Neon Route 66 signs, Kingman, Arizona

All the Kingman signs point to an iconic Route 66 road trip

Stop by Kingman for a browse round the Arizona Route 66 Museum’s collection of vintage cars and dazzling signs. If you want to head off Route 66 for a bit, Kingman is only 70 miles from Grand Canyon West. This is the slightly less visited rim, but it’s home to the astonishing SkyWalk and great rafting tours of the Colorado River and Horseshoe Bend.

Meeting the local burros in Oatman, Arizona

Do feed the burros in Oatman

Then, for burros and Wild West antics, you want Oatman in the far northwest. A one-time mining town, this tiny place has stuck to its roots, right down to letting burros roam its streets and gun slingers shoot it out twice daily. Fear not, this is all harmless fun courtesy of the Oatman Ghost Riders Gunfighters. Catch the show, see how far you can throw a Golden Burro and don’t miss the shops: Oatman souvenirs are the last word in curious and conversation-starting.