This article is part of our ongoing series on traveling Route 66 in 6 parts. Check out our previous chapter, Section 4 | Amarillo to Albuquerque.
This portion of Route 66 includes the only national park bisected by a stretch of Mother Road, a historic hotel with Hollywood bonafides, and one of the most recognizable souvenir shops along the route. These natural and manmade attractions offer plenty of opportunities to learn, reflect, and relax.
KOAs along the way:
Albuquerque North/ Bernalillo KOA Journey
Holbrook/ Petrified Forest KOA Journey
Williams/ Exit 167/ Circle Pines KOA Holiday
Seligman/ Route 66 KOA Journey
Historic Old Town｜Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque, New Mexico, is home to the longest continuous urban stretch of Route 66 (18 miles). Historic Old Town is located just off Central Avenue and home to more than 150 shops, art galleries, museums, and restaurants. Learn about the region’s prehistoric residents at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science; the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center features Native dances, live music, and food-centric events year round; and the American International Rattlesnake Museum offers curious visitors a chance to see the world’s largest live rattlesnake collection in a safe and educational environment (and yes, they also have a gift shop).
El Rancho Hotel｜Gallup, NM
Since it opened in 1937, Gallup’s El Rancho Hotel & Motel has played host to some of the most famous stars in Hollywood’s history, including John Wayne, Katherine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Joan Crawford, Gregory Peck, and many more. Built by the brother of film director D.W. Griffith, the El Rancho has been the home base for many movie productions utilizing the unique New Mexico landscape. Stop by for a photo op then journey on to your next KOA stop for the evening.
Petrified Forest National Park｜Holbrook, AZ
Although it may seem as if there is more petrified wood to be found in rock shops that ring this national park, nothing beats seeing this phenomenon in its natural habitat. The 346-square-mile park is home to colorful rock formations, badlands, and of course, the fossilized fallen trees for which it is named. Bisected by Route 66, the park is also home to culturally-significant petroglyphs set among Native ruins and the fossilized remains of several prehistoric species.
Jackrabbit Trading Post ｜Joseph City, AZ
If you’ve been looking for the perfect place to stock up on Route 66 souvenirs, “Here it is!” The Jackrabbit Trading Post became an instantly-recognizable Mother Road icon thanks to a series of billboards hyping up its eventual reveal near the railroad tracks five miles west of Joseph City, Arizona. Before you start shopping, make sure to snap a photo with the towering fiberglass jackrabbit that sits outside of the colorfully-painted building.
Standin’ On the Corner Park ｜Winslow, AZ
By this point in your trip, the sound of your own wheels may be driving you crazy—luckily, you can take it easy in Standin’ On the Corner Park located in Winslow, Arizona. The small park, which opened in 1999, is home to a mural, a flatbed Ford, and a bronze statue said to resemble Jackson Browne, one of the Eagles members credited with writing the song that made this formerly-thriving Route 66 town relevant to a whole new generation of travelers. A statue of Glen Frey was added to the scene in 2016—and if you’re somehow still in search of souvenirs, there is a shop full of them located across the street.
Seligman, AZ ｜Birthplace of Route 66 revival
Seligman’s reputation as the birthplace of the post-I-40 Route 66 revival is due to the efforts of one man, barber Angel Delgadillo, who formed the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. In 1987, Arizona proclaimed the stretch from Seligman to Kingman as “Historic Route 66.” Seligman is the starting point of the longest-surviving section of original Mother Road (the 160-mile portion between Seligman and Topock), and home to Angel & Vilma Delgadillo’s Original Route 66 Gift Shop, Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In, and the Roadkill Cafe (their slogan is “If you kill it, we grill it.”)
You’ll be glad you took it easy in Winslow, Arizona, because you’ll want to be alert for the homestretch of Mother Road. You may be almost done with your trip, but there are still a few more towns to check off before you hit the (metaphoric) end of the road, so keep on motoring west.
Continue to Chapter 6｜Kingman to Santa Monica
About the Author: Kampgrounds of America
Kampgrounds of America is the largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds in the world, with over 500 locations across the United States and Canada. Founded in Billings, MT in 1962, KOA’s family of campground brands – KOA Journey, KOA Holiday and KOA Resort – today serve more than a million camping families each year. KOA is dedicated to “connecting people to the outdoors and each other” by providing people with a variety of camping experiences and the information they need to make the most of their camping trip. Read more of their camping and travel resources by visiting KOA.com/blog.
