Enjoy the colorful palette of the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest, sleep in a teepee, and relive The Eagles song “Take it Easy.”
Mother Nature spent some extra moments in Northern Arizona when she created the wondrous sights between Winslow and Chambers. They can be seen along I-40, with a twist of nostalgia tossed in for good measure as Historic Route 66 weaves its way along this colorful 75-mile stretch of high desert nation. Exit 311 from I-40 delivers you to the colorful palette of the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert. You’ll be amazed at the endless stream of nature’s colors and gigantic chunks of prehistoric wood now rock-hard with the passing of the ages. Visitors can only take pictures, as the National Park Service prohibits pocketing pieces of the petrified rock. The roads through the Petrified Forest National Park are pristine blacktop with broad sweeping curves from one overlook site to another.
If sleeping in a teepee is on your life’s list of “things to do,” or in your “bucket list”, then take I-40’s Exit 286 into Holbrook where Business Loop 40 traverses the path of Old Route 66. The Wigwam Village, a motor court made up of a dozen concrete teepees, has enticed visitors since 1936. It is still very much in operation, but call ahead for a reservation, as availability is limited. To experience more nostalgic driving, drive west on the interstate to Winslow, where Business Loop 40 once again retraces the old alignment of Historic Route 66. At the intersection of Kinsley Avenue and Second Street is the corner made popular by The Eagles rock group in their 1970s hit “Take It Easy.” You, too, can “stand on the corner” in a setting reminiscent of the song’s words and “take it easy.”
Starting Point:
Chambers, AZ
Distance of Drive:
75 miles
Side Trip:
Meteor Crater–I-40 Exit 233. Meteorite Impact Sight: 570 ft. deep, nearly a mile in circumference (800/289-5898).
Must Eat:
Joe and Aggie’s Cafe Holbrook
120 West Hopi Drive, Holbrook, AZ 86047
Phone: 928-524-6540
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: Mexican Dishes
Falcon Restaurant
1113 West 3rd Street, Winslow, AZ 86047
Phone: 928-289-2628
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: American and Mexican Dishes
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Early Fall and Summer
Points of Interest on Drive:
Painted Desert
Giant Jackrabbit at Jackrabbit Trading Post
Pow Wow Trading Post
Old Trails Museum
Petrified Forest National Park
Roadworks (Route 66 gifts and souvenirs)
Tagged with: Arizona • best time:summer and fall • summer destinations
Filed under: Best Road Trips