Arizona State Route 66
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State Route 66, or AZ-66 is a surface-road in Mohave and Coconino counties in northwestern Arizona. The road continues east into Yavapai county as a county-maintained road that is not officially part of the state highway system. State Route 66 is a relic of the now-decommissioned U.S. Route 66, and is the only part of old US 66 in Arizona to have Arizona state highway markers. Its western terminus is near Kingman at exit 52 on Interstate 40 and its eastern terminus lies near Seligman at exit 123 on Interstate 40.
State Route 66 tends downward toward the west, with the vegetation becoming more desert-like toward Kingman. The terrain changes at a slower pace than the more direct Interstate 40, making it a scenic alternative at the cost of some time. It still serves communities that the freeway avoids, including Valentine and Peach Springs; it enters the Hualapai Indian Reservation. For those willing to take the time to appreciate the scenery, it is a good alternative to the high-speed freeway.
[edit] U.S. Route 66 in Arizona
Between the California state line and Kingman, the original alignment is now known as Oatman Road and passed through the old mining town of Oatman. A later alignment (via Yucca) is now Interstate 40. The older alignment passes through the Black Mountains complete with numerous hairpin turns. This area is desert.
From Kingman to Seligman, it followed modern Arizona 66 as described above. Much of old 66 all the way to the New Mexico state line has been replaced with I-40. Older stretches of the highway exist as frontage roads and business loops of I-40. Between Seligman to east of Flagstaff, the area is mountainous (not desert) and covered with pine forests. The old section through Flagstaff itself is officially named "Route 66". Shortly before joining I-40 east of Flagstaff, US 66 passes through the famous Winona, a small unincorporated community made famous in the song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66".
The Meteor Crater is south of old US 66 at Meteor City, at Joseph City is the Jack Rabbit Trading Post, which once posted signs up and down the highway for hundreds of miles, and at Holbrook is the Wigwam Village Motel, a motor court built to resemble a group of teepees. About sixty miles before reaching New Mexico, the highway originally passed through the Painted Desert, though this section is now cut off.
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| Preceded by California |
U.S. Route 66 Arizona |
Succeeded by New Mexico |
