Skip to main content
Header image
DRIVE TRIP

Route 66 - Eastern Arizona

236.2 miles: 5 hours, 13 minutes

For desert lovers, Arizona's most striking Route 66 scenery lies between Flagstaff and the New Mexico border. Chiefly, you'll travel I-40 as not much remains of old 66 in eastern Arizona. Along the drive you'll see a petrified wood forest, a gorgeous “painted” desert and a massive meteor crater. You want classic Route 66 towns, too? Buckle up and hit the blacktop.

TRIP STOPS

1

Flagstaff, AZ to Holbrook, AZ

103.2 miles: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Carolyn/iStockphoto.com

Leaving Flagstaff, the lofty San Francisco Peaks give way to desert expanse as you skirt the Navajo Indian Reservation's southern border. A short detour leads to an impressive, nearly mile-wide meteor impact crater. Up ahead are the towns of Winslow (of the Eagles' “Standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona” fame) and Holbrook, both rife with Route 66 nostalgia.

2

Holbrook, AZ to Gallup, NM

133.0 miles: 2 hours, 57 minutes

Photogrick/iStockphoto.com

This leg's primo stop, Petrified Forest National Park can easily occupy a half-day. Take the park's scenic drives to see colorful pockets of fossilized wood. Along I-40 near the state line, fans of Route 66 kitsch will find a collection of exceptionally cheesy trading posts (rubber tomahawk, anyone?). On the horizon is Gallup, gateway to the “Land of Enchantment.”

THE VALUE OF TRIP CANVAS

Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas

Get Ideas from the Pros

As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.

Build and Research Your Options

Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.

Book Everything in One Place

From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!

BACK TO TOP