Get Your Kicks on Route 66

In 1938 the 2,400 mi of roadway connecting Chicago and Los Angeles was declared "continuously paved." U.S. Route 66 had been transformed from a ragged string of local lanes connecting isolated small towns into an "all-weather" highway that eased travel.

Just as the road crews changed what had been a string of rutty dirt roads into a paved roadbed, Route 66 changed the social landscape as communities adapted to the new road. The needs of travelers were met by new concepts, such as the gas station, the diner, and the motel. Nostalgic remnants from this retro road-tripping culture still exist along this stretch of the "Mother Road."

Most of old Route 66 has been replaced by the modern interstate system, but at Exit 139 from Interstate 40 you'll find yourself at the beginning of the longest remaining continuous stretch of the original Route 66. This 160-mi journey leads through Seligman, Peach Springs, Truxton, Valentine, Hackberry, Kingman, and Oatman, and on to the Colorado River near Topock.

Best Time to Go

Although Route 66 is accessible year-round, spring and fall are the best times to explore roadside attractions or partake of nearby hikes.

Fun Fact

Route 66 is no longer an officially recognized U.S. highway—it hasn't appeared on maps or atlases since 1984, except for certain sections that have been designated as special historic routes.

Shop for retro collectibles in Oatman

The mother of all souvenir stops on the Mother Road is Oatman.

The Leather Shop of Oatman. You can get in the spirit of the Old West with the leather jackets, Western gun holsters, and moccasins offered at the Leather Shop of Oatman. 162 Main St., Oatman, AZ, 86433. 928/768-3833. theleathershopofoatman.com/.

Main Street Emporium. This emporium offers a wide array of handcrafted items including Western-themed wall art, handwoven blankets, and cholla cactus candles. 150 S. Main St., Oatman, AZ, 86433. 928/788-3298. www.main-st-emporium.com.

Ore House. Browse through a nice selection of Indian jewelry, colorful gems, and Southwestern art at the Ore House. 194 Main St., Oatman, AZ, 86433. 928/768-3839.

Sign here

One of the joys of exploring Route 66 is admiring the vintage signage along the way.

Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-in. In Seligman, you can stop at Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-in for a "small soda" and to view the old Coca-Cola and Burma Shave signs. In fact, the whole town is rife with old signs and cars. 301 W Chino Ave., Seligman, AZ, 86337. 928/422-3291.

General Store. At this General Store, which is both a shop and museum dedicated to Mother Road memorabilia, you can pose for pictures with vintage cars, kitschy signs, ancient gas pumps, and highway memorabilia while sipping sarsaparilla from a bottle of Route 66 Beer. 11255 E Highway 66, Hackberry, AZ, 86411. 928/769-2605. hackberrygeneralstore.com.

Wigwam Motel. And in Eastern Arizona, the parking lot of the Wigwam Motel —where the rooms are inside 30-foot-tall wood-and-concrete tepees—you'll see a vast collection of classic cars, from a '59 Chevy Impala to a '51 Studebaker Land Cruiser. 811 West Hopi Dr., Holbrook, AZ, 86025. 928/524-3048.

Cool off in the caverns

Grand Canyon Caverns. Nestled among rolling, juniper-covered hills 60 mi east of Kingman, the full extent of Grand Canyon Caverns, a massive dry cave, is still unknown. Daily tours include an elevator descent to the main floor of the caverns, 210 feet belowground. The 0.75-mi walking tour takes 45 minutes. In the rodeo arena behind the basic 48-room motel, restaurant, and curio shop, area cowboys often hold calf-roping competitions that are a hoot to watch, and free to boot. Rte. 66, Mile Marker 115, Peach Springs, AZ, 86434. 928/422-3223 or 928/422-4565. www.gccaverns.com. $14.95. Mar.-Oct., daily 8-6; Nov.-Feb., daily 10-4.

Quick Bites

Oatman Hotel. This allegedly haunted landmark on Oatman's historic main drag has very basic rooms (years ago Carole Lombard and Clark Gable honeymooned here), and it contains a fun little restaurant that's renowned for its juicy buffalo burgers and addictively filling "burro ears"—house-made potato chips served with tangy salsa. The rambling dining room has an astounding number of dollar bills plastered upon its walls. 181 Main St., Oatman, AZ, 86433. 928/768-4408.

West side Lilo's. An unassuming roadhouse along Route 66 in Seligman, Westside Lilo's Cafe is a must for exceptionally well-prepared, hearty short-order cooking. The prodigious breakfast burritos, green-chile stew, hefty cheeseburgers, and famously massive cinnamon buns are a hit with regulars and tourists. One famous carrot cake "slice" is equal to three or four slices at most restaurants. 415 W. Rte. 66, Seligman, AZ, 86337. 928/422-5456. www.westsideliloscafe.com.