Arizona Route 66 Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

What your day looks like

Begin in Holbrook, home to the classic Wigwam Motel, where concrete teepees recall Route 66’s golden age. Nearby, the Jackrabbit Trading Post delivers roadside nostalgia before the road leads west to Winslow. Here, stop at La Posada Hotel, a restored Harvey House designed by Mary Colter, and visit the Winslow Visitor Center to explore the town’s railroad legacy. Continue west to Meteor Crater, a remarkably preserved impact site. Back on Route 66, pass Twin Arrows and the eerie ruins of Two Guns, a site tied to frontier legends and the Canyon Diablo train robbery. The landscape shifts as you approach Flagstaff beneath the San Francisco Peaks. Detour to Walnut Canyon National Monument to see ancient Sinagua cliff dwellings, then explore Flagstaff’s downtown, Visitor Center, and the historic Museum Club. Leaving Flagstaff, the road climbs through ponderosa pine forest toward Williams. Known as the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, Williams still buzzes with neon signs, diners, and rail history. Nearby Bearizona Wildlife Park offers a chance to see North American animals in natural habitats. Continue west to Ash Fork, a former railroad hub, and stop at the Ash Fork Route 66 Museum to learn how rail and road shaped the town. Next comes Seligman, widely credited with saving Route 66 from being forgotten. Visit Angel Delgadillo’s Original Route 66 Gift Shop and stroll the town’s vintage storefronts. Beyond Seligman, the road crosses Hualapai Reservation lands, passes Peach Springs, and reaches Grand Canyon Caverns, one of the largest dry caverns in the country. Truxton and Valentine follow, with an optional stop at Keepers of the Wild Nature Park. Hackberry is a highlight for many travelers. The Hackberry General Store is packed with classic cars, gas pumps, and Route 66 memorabilia. West of Hackberry, pass Antares and roll into Kingman, one of Route 66’s most important towns. Explore the Mohave Museum of History and Arts, the Kingman Railroad Museum, and the El Trovatore Motel, known for hosting Hollywood legends. Leaving Kingman, Route 66 becomes steep and winding as it climbs toward Oatman. Along the way, pass the Gold Road Mine, Cool Springs, and the dramatic switchbacks of Sitgreaves Pass through the Black Mountains. Oatman welcomes you with wooden sidewalks, frontier buildings, and free-roaming burros descended from mining-era pack animals. The route descends toward the Colorado River, passing Boundary Cone and Topock 66 near the Arizona-California border. This east-to-west drive captures the spirit of Route 66, blending desert landscapes, railroad history, roadside Americana, and unforgettable small towns.