A journey to Arizona is always a thrilling adventure, thanks to all of the adrenaline-pumping activities available, such as hiking, fishing, wine tasting, and bicycling, to name a few. “Route 66” or “US Highway 66” is a well-known moniker that we hear not just when visiting Arizona, but also in films and television shows. What is Route 66, why is it so famous, and is it worth a visit if you happen to be in Arizona?

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About Arizona’s Route 66

Route 66 spans for up to 2,400 miles, passing through eight states and three time zones. It takes an average of 12 days to travel the entire length of Route 66 on a leisure trip. This assumes that the passengers are seasoned travelers who have made many stops to sightsee or visit renowned landmarks.

The reason why Route 66 is so popular both among locals and tourists is that it served as a primary route for migrants who escaped the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression in the 1930s. This gained the route its reputation as “the Mother Road”.

Route 66 was also the first pathway to significantly shorten travel time between Los Angeles and Chicago, earning it the title of “America’s First All-Weather Highway.” The distance between them has been decreased by as much as 200 miles, saving travelers hours of driving time.

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Top Route 66 Landmarks

If Route 66 is among your itineraries on your next visit to Arizona, here are the landmarks you must stop for:

1. Cool Springs. Cool Springs is a recreation of a lonely gas station and is now a famous museum and gift shop. Cool Springs gift shop proceeds support the restoration of Cool Springs so future generations can enjoy this window into the past. While you’re there, take a stroll through the Cool Springs Memory Garden. Two sculptures by renowned New York artist Mike Kelly were commissioned for the garden in May of 2012. The sculpture “Hearts with Wings, Souls That Sing” honors Mojave Indians and other Native American tribes.
2. La Posada Hotel, Winslow. Dine at one of the last of the great Santa Fe Railroad hotels when you’re traveling down Route 66 for some vintage-style cuisines. Its architecture reflects the visions of both Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, the hotel’s architect, and Allan Affeldt, the hotel’s owner. Fred Harvey “civilized the west” by introducing linen, silverware, china, crystal, and impeccable service to railroad travel. Harvey developed and managed all of the hotels and restaurants that were part of the Santa Fe Railway. He eventually controlled a hospitality empire that spanned the continent. MGM even produced a movie about Fred Harvey starring Judy Garland called The Harvey Girls.
3. Ash Fork Museum. Get to know the past by visiting the Ash Fork Museum where they display the history of the railroad and other artifacts. The Ash Fork Historical Society and a volunteer staff run this museum. There’s a lot more to see here than just Route 66 history. It’s located in the 1920s Maintenance Camp #1 building. The model of the long-gone Harvey House is among the many interesting displays. A model of the town is also on display.

No Arizona trip will be complete without seeing and traveling on the same path that went down in history for nearly a century now. Traveling down Route 66 is an adventure you’re guaranteed to remember for a lifetime.

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