After our trip through 8 national parks and state parks in the Midwest of the USA, we slowly made our way back towards the West Coast. Coming from the Grand Canyon National Park, we drove a long way along the historic Route 66, taking in the towns of Williams, Seligman, Kingman and Oatman. In our travel report we show you many impressions of this world-famous road in the USA.
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Interesting facts about the historic Route 66
The legendary Route 66, also known as the “Mother Road”, stretches over 3,945 kilometers (2,448 miles) and connects Chicago in the state of Illinois with Santa Monica in California. On its way, it crosses a total of eight US states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. This historic route was officially inaugurated in 1926 and for a long time served as one of the country’s main traffic arteries. It connected the east of the USA with the west and played an important role in the opening up and economic development of the western states.
Route 66 is not only of immense importance as a transportation route, but also culturally and historically. It was a symbol of hope during the Great Depression in the 1930s, when many people from the eastern states moved to the west in search of work and a better life. Over time, it developed into an icon of American travel culture, characterized by motels, diners and roadside attractions. Although it was officially removed from the US highway system in 1985, its legend lives on. Today, Route 66 is a popular tourist route that attracts travelers from all over the world to experience a piece of American history and nostalgia.
A map of Route 66 through the USA
Williams in Arizona
We started our journey along Route 66 in the small town of Williams in the state of Arizona. Williams is located about 95 kilometers south of the Grand Canyon National Park and serves as a starting point for many travelers visiting the national park. This is why the city is often referred to as “The Gateway to the Grand Canyon”.
Williams was founded in 1881 and has retained its historic charm to this day, with well-preserved 1950s-style buildings, classic diners and Route 66 souvenir stores. The city is also known for the Grand Canyon Railway, a nostalgic train ride that takes visitors directly into the Grand Canyon National Park.
No matter where you look, you’ll find signs or pictures of historic Route 66 everywhere in Williams.
We really enjoyed riding the 1.5-kilometer section in the heart of Williams. You can find pure nostalgia everywhere… Numerous well-preserved buildings, old motels, classic diners and museums, abandoned gas stations, old cars and one photo spot after another 🙂
We also made a short stop at the train station in Williams. This is the starting point of the Grand Canyon Railway, a historic railroad line that has been in operation since 1901. The station, officially known as Williams Depot, was opened in 1908 and is the oldest station still in operation in Arizona. Today, the popular train service departs from here, taking travelers on a scenic ride directly into the Grand Canyon National Park. The station is also part of the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel complex, which offers visitors comfortable accommodation.
We stayed at the Motel 6 in Williams for EUR 88 a night, but there are many other hotels in the city.
Seligman in Arizona
Our journey continued westwards to the small town of Seligman, 70 kilometers away. Seligman is considered one of the birthplaces of modern Route 66 tourism and is therefore also known as “The Birthplace of Historic Route 66“.
Located along historic Route 66, it is known for its role in revitalizing the road after it was bypassed by the construction of Interstate 40 in 1978. Thanks to the commitment of Angel Delgadillo, a local hairdresser and passionate advocate of Route 66, Seligman began to reposition itself as a tourist attraction. In 1987, Delgadillo founded the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, which led to Route 66 being designated a “Historic Route”.
Today, Seligman is a living monument to the golden era of Route 66, with nostalgic diners, souvenir stores and numerous retro-style buildings that remind travelers of the road’s heyday. For example, we really liked the Seligman Depot, a recreated historical backdrop to Seligman. It is also home to the“1860 Arizona Territorial Jail“, a fascinating piece of Wild West history that offers visitors an insight into the criminal justice system of the time. Although today’s prison is considered a replica, it is a historical tribute to the early days of the territory, when lawlessness and frontier justice characterized life in the West. The prison was not originally located in Seligman, but was later moved there to serve as a tourist attraction and historical monument along Route 66.
Angel Delgadillo’s barbershop in Seligman is one of the most famous landmarks along Route 66 and a symbol of the revitalization of the historic road. Angel Delgadillo, a local barber and barber shop owner, is considered the “keeper of Route 66” and was a key figure in saving and restoring the road after it was bypassed by the construction of Interstate 40 in the 1970s. His barbershop is not only a place where he has cut hair for decades, but also an unofficial museum and meeting place for Route 66 enthusiasts.
The store, now known as Angel & Vilma’s Original Route 66 Gift Shop, is filled with memorabilia, photos and stories about Route 66 and Angel Delgadillo’s efforts to preserve the road as a historic route.
And in Seligman, too, you’ll find a great new photo spot on every corner… Pure Route 66 nostalgia everywhere 🙂
Kingman in Arizona
Our next stop was the town of Kingman, often referred to as the “heart of the historic Route 66” is often referred to. It is located in the Mojave Desert in western Arizona and once served as an important hub for travelers and goods transport along the legendary road.
The city is home to several attractions dedicated to the history of the road and the region, including the Route 66 Museum at the Kingman Visitor Center, which highlights the development of the route from its construction to its heyday. The Locomotive Park is also located here and provides an insight into the role the railroad played in the development of the city and Route 66. At the center of the park is a restored steam locomotive, Santa Fe No. 3759.
Oatman in Arizona
The next section of Route 66 we drove was the 65 kilometers from Kingman to Oatman. This part of the “Mother Road” is certainly one of the most attractive sections, as it goes over the Sitgreaves Pass. Here you have steep climbs, tight bends and great views of the surrounding region. From the highest point of the pass at 3,550 feet (1,093 meters), the route descends again to the “ghost town” of Oatman, 6 kilometers away.
The history of Oatman is closely linked to the gold rush of the early 20th century. The town was founded in 1902 after gold was discovered in the area. Oatman was named after “Olive Oatman”, a girl who was kidnapped by Indians in 1851 and freed in 1856. Oatman quickly developed into a busy mining center, and the population grew to several thousand people working in the nearby mines. During the gold rush, Oatman experienced a period of prosperity, but gold deposits declined over time and the town began to shrink. The construction of Interstate 40, which bypassed Route 66, also contributed to a further reduction in the population. Today, around 100 people still live in Oatman.
However, the highlight of Oatman is definitely the wild donkeys, called “burros”, which roam freely around the town. The donkeys are descended from pack mules that were once set free by their owners after they were no longer needed. You can buy donkey food everywhere to feed the animals.
In fact, we’ve never seen anything like it on our travels. The donkeys really are everywhere. On the street, on the sidewalks and also directly in front of the souvenir stores and cafés. A really cool and exciting experience for us and our kids🙂
Oatman also offers a variety of free attractions, from vintage car rallies to mock Wild West-style shoot-outs and mock stagecoach robberies.
For us, Oatman was definitely the highlight of our section of the historic Route 66!
Avi Casino Resort Laughlin
We spent the night at the Avi Casino Resort Laughlin. Laughlin was founded in the 1960s and is located about 160 kilometers southwest of Las Vegas and is also a gambling city with large casinos such as Tropicana, Harrah’s, The Aquarius and The Edgewater Hotel and Casino.
We chose the hotel primarily because it is located directly on the Coloroda River and has a really nice pool area. And the special thing is that the Avi Casino Resort has a small beach on the Colorad River, so you can swim directly in the river 🙂
End of Route 66 in Santa Monica
After Oatman, we left Rout 66 and took the quickest route on the highway to Los Angeles. But of course we didn’t miss the opportunity to visit the official end point of Route 66 at the Santa Monica Pier. Here you will also find the historic sign with the “Route 66 End of the Trail”.
End of Route 66 in Santa Monica
Is a trip along Route 66 worthwhile?
Our route from Williams in Arizona to Laughlin in Nevada took us 235 kilometers along Route 66. And we absolutely loved the route! The small towns along the historic road are really something special, in some cases time seems to have stood still decades ago. There are an incredible number of great photo opportunities. And for us, the highlight was definitely the village of Oatman with its wild donkeys and the Wild West show.