Route 66. The Will Rogers Highway. Mother Road. Main Street of America. The quintessential American Road Trip.
Route 66 will turn 90 years old in 2016, a remarkable milestone for a road that served travelers well before the advent of the interstate highway system. Although much of it has bypassed over the years, many long stretches have been lovingly preserved. Established on November 11, 1926, Route 66 was one of the original cross-country U.S. highways, stretching southwestward from Chicago out to California’s coastal city of Santa Monica.
In its heyday, the road ran from Illinois through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to California, covering a total of 2,448 miles.
Route 66’s influence on popular culture was cemented by the hit song, (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66, a popular rhythm and blues standard composed in 1946 by songwriter Bobby Troup, and the Route 66 TV drama in the early ’60s.
Whether you are motivated by an interest in history or feel a nostalgic yearning for the “good old days,” Route 66 offers an unforgettable journey into America, then and now. Few places have preserved the Mother Road with as much care as Arizona.
Oatman
Start your trip on the longest stretch of the original Mother Road with a visit to Oatman. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved
We’ll start our trip just west of the Colorado River and up the hill from Laughlin, Nevada in the historic town of Oatman. Once a gold-mining boomtown, Oatman hunkers in a craggy gulch of the Black Mountains
Oatman provides a handful of historic buildings and photo opportunities, costumed gunfighters and 1890s style ladies strolling the wooden sidewalks. Burros from the surrounding hills wander into Oatman daily and mosey around town blocking traffic, greeting visitors, and chomping carrots sold by the local shop owners.
Kingman
From Oatman, take the thirty minute scenic drive through the Black Mountains to Kingman.
A visit to the old powerhouse, which has been converted to a Route 66 Museum and visitor’s center, is a must. The Powerhouse Building is also home to Arizona’s Route 66 Association.
Kingman is a jumping off spot for Hoover Dam and Chloride, a well-preserved ghost town, 20 miles northeast.
After entering Petrified Forest National Park from the south we hiked the Giant Logs trail located behind Rainbow Forest Museum. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved
Hackberry
Continuing east along the Mother Road you’ll come upon the small ghost town of Hackberry. The oldest town along this old stretch of the road, Hackberry’s origin dates back to 1874 when prospectors set up a mining camp on the east side of the Peacock Mountains. Today, Hackberry sits mostly silent with the exception of the revived Hackberry General Store and Visitors Center.
Winslow
Popularized by the Eagles first hit single “Take It Easy” in 1972, “Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see…”, put the town on the national map of consciousness. Winslow was a major stop for early travelers on the Santa Fe Railway as well as Route 66. Built in 1929, the La Pasada has been fully restored and caters to a new generation of Route 66 travelers.
Holbrook
Spend the night in the very cool Wigwam Motel. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved
From Winslow, continue east 32 miles to Holbrook. In 1881, the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad laid its tracks through an area that was known as Horsehead Crossing. Home to cowboys, cattle ranchers and railroaders, the settlement soon took on all the vices of a typical Wild West town.
By the time Route 66 made its appearance, the wild and lawless town had become more settled, and the narrow strip of asphalt became a symbol of hope to the city and the many travelers of the Mother Road.
Tour the nearby Petrified Forest National Park, one of the world’s largest and most vibrantly colored assemblies of petrified wood, historic structures, and archeological sites.
Spend the night at the real cool Wigwam Motel, comprised of 15 large wigwam sleeping units and vintage cars and an RV.