Route 66 in Flagstaff, Arizona
 Greetings from Flagstaff, Arizona |
We have traveled Historic Route 66 across Arizona multiple times over the years, both eastbound and westbound.
Some of the journey is on I-40, which parallels the old Route 66 in many places. We drive the segments of the Mother Road where it still remains. Exits to Route 66 are marked in many locales.
We have visited Flagstaff on several road trips, when heading to the Grand Canyon, or continuing on further west to Seligman and Kingman on Route 66.
Flagstaff is also a convenient jumping off location for trips to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Antelope Canyon, and other Arizona attractions.
And with over 5,000 hotel rooms, the city offers travelers on Route 66 a large variety of accommodations.
Location
Flagstaff is situated in the pines at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet (2,134 m), near the base of the San Francisco Peaks. Mount Humphreys is the highest point in Arizona and towers above Flagstaff at 12,633 feet.
The city is located near the center of Northern Arizona at the junction of Interstate 17 and Interstate 40, about 150 miles north of Phoenix, AZ and 80 miles south of the Grand Canyon. Flagstaff is the county seat for Coconino County, the second largest county in the United States, with an area of 11,896,720 acres.
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Climate
Flagstaff enjoys a four-season climate. Altitude and low humidity combine to produce clear air and relatively mild weather conditions year-round. Flagstaff has an average of 108 inches of snowfall in a year, but averages 266 days of sunshine per year. In the fall, stands of Aspen trees turn golden creating beautiful autumn settings.
Truly, Flagstaff is "Arizona's Destination for all Seasons".
Route 66 in Flagstaff
Historic U.S. Route 66 runs directly through Flagstaff, and Flagstaff was the city with the highest elevation on the historic Mother Road. Today, 14.2 miles of Route 66 remain in Flagstaff.
In Flagstaff travelers can still cruise Route 66 and look back in time at iconic buildings and neon signs. Several historic hotels and motels still line Route 66 in Flagstaff.
Walk This Talk - Route 66 is a new pedestrian audio tour that commemorates Flagstaff’s original alignment of Route 66 on Phoenix Avenue and Mikes Pike. Located in the city’s walkable Southside neighborhood, Walk-66 features pedestrian scale signs to announce significant structures, events, and people that were affected by the Route, or which in turn, affected the Route’s alignment. The first stop on the audio tour begins just outside the entry doors on the north side of the Visitor’s Center, and ends at the intersection of Mikes Pike and Milton Road.
Read more about Route 66 attractions in Flagstaff at DiscoverFlagstaff
Map showing the location of Flagstaff, Arizona on Historic U.S. Route 66
Lodging and Dining Options in Flagstaff
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Hotels in Flagstaff, Arizona with traveler reviews at TripAdvisor Flagstaff, Arizona restaurant reviews at TripAdvisor Attractions and Things to Do in Flagstaff |
Route 66 & More Roads to FlagstaffAll roads lead to Flagstaff ... or at least many do! Many highways pass through the city, including Route 66, I-40, I-17, and US Highway 180.
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Visitor Center in FlagstaffThe Flagstaff Visitor Center is a great place to find out more about Route 66 in Arizona, area attractions like Sedona and the Grand Canyon, and lodging options. You can also begin the "Walk This Talk - Route 66" tour here. |
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Route 66 Murals in Flagstaff |
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Flagstaff Arizona ... on Historic U.S. Route 66 ... mural at the LumberYard Brewing Co. at 5 S. San Francisco St. |
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Route 66: Will Roger's Highway |
Route 66" America's Highway |
Scenes & Attractions Around Flagstaff |
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Babbitt Brothers Merchants & Ranchers |
Weatherford Hotel  |
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Steam Engine Number 25 |
Museum of Northern Arizona |
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| Museum Club in Flagstaff |
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Lowell Observatory & Museum The lumberjack is the mascot of the University; one of these lumberjacks stands outside, and one inside, the Walkup Skydome stadium. The pair was formerly located outside of the Lumberjack Cafe (now called Granny's Closet) on Route 66. 
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Interactive Map of the Flagstaff, Arizona Area
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 Map showing a road trip from Route 66 in Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon |
Grand Canyon National Park is located in Arizona near Flagstaff and Williams, and is centered on a Colorado River canyon that is 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep. The Park is one of the world's most popular natural attractions, with attendance exceeding 6 million visitors a year.
The Park is located only about 75 miles northwest of Flagstaff, and is a popular side-trip for Route 66 travelers.
Those visitors approaching the park from Flagstaff take U.S. Highway 180 northwest from Flagstaff to Valle, and then U.S. Highway 64 north to the park.
Another access route is taking Highway 64 north from Williams, located a bit further west of Flagstaff on Interstate 40 and Route 66.
Some visitors to the park ride the Grand Canyon Railway, which runs from Williams, Arizona directly into the park. The railroad has operated since 1901.
The South Rim of the canyon, with an elevation of about 7,000 feet, is open year-round, while the North Rim is open only part of the year, during the warmer months. Most Route 66 travelers visit only the South Rim.
Read more about a Route 66 Side Trip from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon
Entrance to the Grand Canyon |
Grand Canyon Railway at the park |
Side Trip to Monument Valley from Flagstaff
For many Route 66 travelers heading westbound across Arizona, a side trip to Monument Valley is a great opportunity to see this world-class destination.
 Scene at the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park |
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is located in extreme southeastern Utah, on the northern border of Arizona. It is operated by the Navajo Nation, not the National Park Service.
Many travelers on Historic Route 66 make a once-in-a-lifetime side trip to visit Monument Valley, about 175 miles northeast of Flagstaff.
The valley is host to towering sandstone rock formations that have been sculpted over time and soar 400 to 1,000 feet above the valley floor. Combined with the surrounding mesas, buttes, and desert environment, Monument Valley is one of the natural wonders of the world.
Over the years, Monument Valley has been the locale for the filming of numerous movies starring such film legends as John Wayne. Scenes in movies such as Stagecoach, Back to the Future Part III, Easy Rider 2001: A Space Odyssey and Forrest Gump have been been filmed in the valley.
Visitors may explore the 17-mile scenic drive through the park in private vehicles or book a half-day or full-day jeep tour to explore the area's backroads and sacred lands with the help of a local guide.
 Click to read more about a trip to Monument Valley |
The road passes many notable features, including the Mitten Buttes, Three Sisters, Yei-bi-chai, North Window, and the famous Totem Pole. Passenger cars can drive the road, although care must be taken in loose sand and rocky areas. No hiking or driving off the posted track is allowed.
Leaving Flagstaff, head northwest on U.S. Highway 89; at Tuba City, resume northeast on U.S. 160 to Kayenta. There, join U.S. 163 north to Monument Valley. Travel time to cover the 175 miles is nearly three hours, leaving time to explore the Valley, and probably spend a night there. You can then reverse the route back to Flagstaff where you can rejoin Route 66 for the rest of your road trip westbound.
A option for the return to Flagstaff is to divert westward to the Page, Arizona area. Here visitors can explore Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend which is a horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. After your stay in the Page area, drive south on U.S. 89 to Flagstaff.
Map showing a round-trip journey from Route 66 in Flagstaff to Monument Valley, and back  |
Popular Destinations Just Outside of Flagstaff |
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Wupatki National Monument |
Scene at Wupatki Monument |
Walnut Canyon National Monument Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument north of Flagstaff |
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San Francisco Peaks, north of Flagstaff, Arizona |
While in Flagstaff, visit nearby Sedona, only a few miles to the south! |
More Information and Resources about Flagstaff |
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Driving West |
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Driving East |
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Arizona Route 66 Passport
The Arizona Route 66 Passport is your guide into the heart of America. Cruise along the Mother Road, collecting stamps at locations along the way. Each passport comes with a free Traveler's Guide. It is published by the The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, a non-profit organization, dedicated to the preservation, protection, and promotion of both the surface, and the memories along Arizona’s portion of Route 66. Proceeds from the sale of Passports benefit this cooperative marketing initiative. Purchase an Arizona Route 66 Passport online or pick one up at one of the locations where stamps are given. More information about the Arizona Route 66 Passport Order the Arizona Route 66 Passport online Arizona Digital Route 66 Passport: Rock the Route
The Arizona Office of Tourism launched in late August of 2022 the Digital Route 66 Passport. From Topock 66 on the Colorado River in the west to The Painted Desert Trading Post in the east plus miles of famous sights, shops, eats and towns in between, the free digital passport makes planning a Route 66-centric road trip easier than ever. There’s even the chance to win prizes by checking in and uploading photos through the passport. Access to the free digital map and passport is delivered instantly to phones and mobile devices after a quick sign-up. Read how the Passport works and how to get one: Arizona Digital Route 66 Passport Read the Press Release here: Arizona Office of Tourism Launches Digital Route 66 Passport |
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We have included below a sampling of our collection of vintage travel postcards dealing with Flagstaff and Route 66. What was Route 66 like in its earlier years, as visitors drove around and across Flagstaff? What did all the service stations, motels and public buildings look like when they were new? What did the traveling public experience on the Mother Road? We wonder such things when we travel Route 66 today. Those earlier times in the 1930s, 40s and 50s were not always captured on film. But the use of colorful postcards was common in those decades. These portray the historic road in its prime and help us to visualize, and appreciate, "earlier times" as we drive Route 66 today across Flagstaff. |
Branding Iron Motel |
Lane Motel |
Downtown Flagstaff |
66 Motel Court |
The Spur Motel |
Sierra Vista Motel |
The "L" Motel |
Wonderland Motel |
Hi-Land Motel |
Travel Guides for Other States Along Route 66
Planning a Road Trip on Route 66? Here are trip planners for all eight states on The Mother Road ...
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