Take It Easy
Part 6: Enjoying Route 66 in Arizona and California
Into The Blue is about finding joy in simple pleasures. One of those pleasures is a road trip full of wonder.
Note: This is part 6, the last post, of a series on Route 66. Previous posts provided a thematic overview and practical considerations, as well as an in-depth look at the Illinois; Missouri and Kansas; and Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico legs. This post explores the final leg in Arizona and California.
Take it easy, take it easy
Don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
Don’t even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand
Take it easy
Glenn Frey and Jackson Browne, Eagles, Take It Easy
As you cross from New Mexico into Arizona on Route 66, you are entering Eagles country. The vibe of their debut 1972 hit Take It Easy is apt for this last section, stretching over 650 miles of mostly desert in Arizona and California until you descend into the Los Angeles region and finish up at the Santa Monica pier. And indeed, you can (and really, must) visit the famous corner in Winslow, Arizona that features in the song as you pass through the town.
Slow down, take it easy, and enjoy this part of the route because there are so many sites to see and so much natural beauty to behold. We spent extra time in Arizona and were so glad we did. If you begin your trek at the starting point of the Mother Road in Chicago, be prepared for a bit of melancholy to set in as you realize that the end of your epic journey is approaching.
For us, this phase of the adventure revolved around three themes: wonder, flexibility, and fatigue. If you decide to take your own Route 66 trip, expect for these to figure in your journey too. On that score, next year would be an ideal time to go, because 2026 will be the centennial of the Mother Road, with celebrations planned all along the 2,500 mile route.
America’s Highway in Arizona and California: Jewel upon Jewel
Prepare to be amazed. The natural beauty alone is overwhelming. This makes the driving itself so enjoyable as you encounter one enchanting scene after another. The Painted Desert. Petrified Forest National Park. Meteor Crater. The pine mountains near Flagstaff. The Black Mountains on the stunning but treacherous Oatman Highway.
But whatever you do, don’t just look at these scenes out the window. Plan for excursions along the way. Get out and go hiking. Stop at the scenic overlooks. Soak it all in. The majesty and grandeur is awe inspiring.
Then there is Route 66 itself. Arizona is a stand out for the amount of effort the state and its citizens have poured into restoring the route. You can drive the old 66 in many places, and many towns have gone all in. Plan to spend lots of time in Winslow, Flagstaff, Seligman, and Kingman. In Arizona, we had so much fun at the Eagles’ “Standin’ on a corner” memorabilia in Winslow, Mother Road Brewing in Flagstaff, and Delgadillo’s Snow Cap in Seligman. In California, we loved Emma Jean’s Burger Café in Victorville and The Donut Man in LA.
Now, you will certainly experience a lot of wonder, but don’t expect everything to go according to plan. And build some time in for happening upon sites you didn’t expect. That is half the fun. The key is just to be flexible, take it easy, and enjoy the ride.
The major issue for us on this part of the route was heat. We were here in early spring so we expected the desert temperatures to be manageable. However, when we arrived in the western Arizona and eastern California desert region, we found ourselves in a heat wave. Our van didn’t have a cabin air conditioning unit, so camping here quickly became problematic.
We decided to jump ahead to the mountains outside Los Angeles to escape the heat. This meant we missed some sites. But to our delight, we discovered the gorgeous Silverwood Lake Recreation Area and booked a last-minute spot. We loved camping there so much we decided to stay an extra night!
Mother Road Fatigue
The other factor is that a multi-week journey can get plain tiring. By this point, we had been to scores of museums, sites, and retro diners. While the vistas were always new, the Route 66 schtick was not. To counter this, it helped to plan diversions and other non-66 activities. For example, we broke off the route for a few days of camping and outdoor recreation near Lake Havasu City. That really recharged our batteries (until the heat set in)!
Arizona and California Highlights
So, what are the must-see sites on this final section of Route 66? Well, as I’ve pointed out before, that is highly subjective. If you are going to make this trek, it pays to tailor it to fit your preferences and needs. For us, below were some of our favorites.
Petrified Forest National Park, AZ. Gorgeous. Great place to hike.
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, AZ. Fun, restored retro 66 motel. Book early!
The Eagle’s “Standing on a Corner” corner, Winslow, AZ. Take it easy! So fun!
Flagstaff, AZ. Cool restaurants and shops, surrounded by natural paradise.
Mother Road Brewing, Flagstaff. This place has great beer, great food, and a great vibe. It has delicious plant-based food options. It was definitely the best brewery we found on all of 66.
Seligman, AZ. This is how you do Route 66 nostalgia!
Desert Diamond Distillery, Kingman, AZ. Unbelievably good rum.
Arizona Route 66 Museum and restored Beale Street area, Kingman. This area is really well done and features retro cafes as well as new restaurants, shops, and breweries.
Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch, Oro Grande, CA. A wonderful place to get lost for an hour.
Emma Jean’s Burger Café, Victorville, CA. This classic, old place appeared in Kill Bill: Volume 2. But the main thing is the amazing food.
The Donut Man, LA, CA. Old school establishment featuring exceptional service and unbelievably good, fresh strawberry donuts. Yummy!
That’s All, Folks!
Well, folks, after 6 posts over 6 months, that wraps it up for Route 66. It has been such a great joy, both the trip itself and sharing it with you. I’m a bit sad to see it go. The immersion in Americana and the encounters with wonderful folks along the way gave me new hope for the future of our troubled country. I hope some of this has been helpful and that you will consider a Route 66 adventure of your own. If you do, may you return home changed and charged.
Take it easy, my friends.
A Short Meditation
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
When the rains come and the desert bursts into bloom, it is a glorious thing. It is not simply a delight for the eyes. It is a balm for the soul.
Abundance out of scarcity. Life out of death. Joy out of mourning.
So it will be for the redeemed. Even now, the first shoots spring up.
They will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Truly, they will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isaiah 35: 2, 10).
This is a beautiful promise for those who labor under the bondage of injustice, of suffering, of sin, and who respond in faith to the one who beckons, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Be strong, do not fear, your God will come to save you (Isaiah 35:4).
Thank you for putting our adventures into words, a story, that we can read and relive over and over again. Mostly, thank you for making a bucket list trip happen for me. <3. It was truly epic!!