Route 66 stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica, but the most iconic stretch in Arizona runs from the state line to Holbrook. From Yosemite, we drove about seven hours to Kingman, Arizona, where we found a hotel just in time to explore the downtown. There, we got a glimpse of what a bypassed boomtown looks like today (spoiler: not much going on)—but it did give us a tour of a classic Santa Fe train and a fun photo op under the Route 66 sign with our car.
The next morning, we hit the road. Enter "Bill," our GuideAlong GPS narrator. This was a clutch —without him, the drive would’ve just been scenic. But with Bill chiming in, we learned the history of Route 66, the background of each little town, and, most importantly, how to actually stay on the route (it's not one continuous road, and definitely not a straight shot—at one point, we even ended up on gravel).
We stopped at the Route 66 Museum, had milkshakes at an old-fashioned diner, and snapped photos of vintage cars and roadside oddities. As we moved further west, Route 66 becomes more fragmented—sometimes merging with I-40, and other times just dead-ending. That was fine, though; we were running short on time anyway. Still, we kept Bill going and veered off the expressway a few more times. What really stood out? The kids actually groaned every time we got back on the highway. They wanted more boomtowns, more quirky stops, more open road.
Arizona’s Route 66 is a hidden gem. At times, we were the only car in sight. The route has history, food, scenery—and soul. I want to do it again and dive even deeper. Bill recommends doing it over three days: Eastern 66, the Grand Canyon, and Western 66. I’d love to combine that with stops at the Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, local caves (yes, you can sleep underground!), and other unique spots nearby.
Until next time, Route 66.
After Annie headed home, we weren’t quite sure what came next. I told the kids I didn’t even know if we were turning left or right out of the driveway. We had considered meeting Aunt Donna and Lynn in Zion, but wildfires near the Grand Canyon forced them to scrap their trip. So we pivoted—and decided to head to Arizona to get our kicks on Route 66.
Route 66 stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica, but the most iconic stretch in Arizona runs from the state line to Holbrook. From Yosemite, we drove about seven hours to Kingman, Arizona, where we found a hotel just in time to explore the downtown. There, we got a glimpse of what a bypassed boomtown looks like today (spoiler: not much going on)—but it did give us a tour of a classic Santa Fe train and a fun photo op under the Route 66 sign with our car.
The next morning, we hit the road. Enter "Bill," our GuideAlong GPS narrator. This was a clutch —without him, the drive would’ve just been scenic. But with Bill chiming in, we learned the history of Route 66, the background of each little town, and, most importantly, how to actually stay on the route (it's not one continuous road, and definitely not a straight shot—at one point, we even ended up on gravel).
We stopped at the Route 66 Museum, had milkshakes at an old-fashioned diner, and snapped photos of vintage cars and roadside oddities. As we moved further west, Route 66 becomes more fragmented—sometimes merging with I-40, and other times just dead-ending. That was fine, though; we were running short on time anyway. Still, we kept Bill going and veered off the expressway a few more times. What really stood out? The kids actually groaned every time we got back on the highway. They wanted more boomtowns, more quirky stops, more open road.
Arizona’s Route 66 is a hidden gem. At times, we were the only car in sight. The route has history, food, scenery—and soul. I want to do it again and dive even deeper. Bill recommends doing it over three days: Eastern 66, the Grand Canyon, and Western 66. I’d love to combine that with stops at the Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, local caves (yes, you can sleep underground!), and other unique spots nearby.
Until next time, Route 66.
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