Route 66 nostalgia inspired by drive
Is there any highway in America as celebrated as Route 66? The “Main Street of America” has been mythologized in books (“The Grapes of Wrath”), songs (“Get Your Kicks on Route 66”) and on TV (“Route 66”).
Although the last section of Route 66 closed in the mid-1980s (in Williams), the road’s legend lives on. Check out a piece of the vanishing American landscape for yourself — motor west on the highway that’s the best between Seligman and Kingman.
Things to note along the way:
Grand Canyon Caverns: Arizona Geology 101: 350 mil- lion years ago, a shallow sea covered much of what is now northern Arizona. Limestone formed, the area rose above sea level and rainwater seeped into the ground, creating a weak acid and forming the network of rooms, corridors and formations in Grand Canyon Caverns, 25 miles northwest of Seligman. Tours cost $18.95, $12.95 for ages 5-12. The property has a motel, but
if you’re feeling flush, you can stay overnight underground in the Cavern Suite for $700 for two people.
Details: 928-422-3223, gc caverns.com.
Hackberry General Store and Museum: Step back in time in the store’s re-creation of a 1950s-style soda shop, complete with movie-star posters. Equal parts museum, memorabilia and kitsch, this is a don’t-miss stop for travelers along Route 66. There are gifts galore, of course, ranging from T-shirts and shot glasses to jigsaw puzzles and Route 66 bobby sox. Even if you don’t need to go, check out the restrooms.
Details: 928-769-2605, www.hackberrygeneralstore.com.
Kingman Co. Steakhouse: This restaurant serves only certified Angus beef aged for at least 21 days. The most popular steak may be the 11-ounce Delmonico, an end cut of rib eye that’s more heavily marbled. Those extra fat grains translate into moister meat with greater depth of flavor. If you’re looking for variety, try one of the combos, such as sirloin and barbecued chicken, or sirloin and Jack Daniel’s sweet salmon.
Details: 3157 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman. 928-718-2292, kingmancosteakhouse.com.
Total miles: About 475, round trip. From central Phoenix, take Interstate 17 north to Flagstaff. Go west on Interstate 40 about 66 miles to Seligman (Exit 123). Drive north about a mile to Seligman, then turn west onto Route 66. Go northwest about 25 miles to Grand Canyon Caverns, which is the last place to buy gas until you approach Kingman. Continue 10 more miles to Peach Springs, then 25 miles to Hackberry. From there, it’s about 25 miles to Kingman. To return to the Valley, take I-40 east about 20 miles, then turn south on U.S. 93 and go about 110 miles to Wickenburg. Turn east onto U.S. 60 and drive about 55 miles southeast back to central Phoenix.
Don’t miss: Diamond Creek Road is the only place between Lees Ferry and Lake Mead where you can drive into the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River. Start in Peach Springs, the capital of the Hualapai Reservation. Pick up a permit ($16.05 per person for Arizona residents; $26.75 per person for non-residents) at Hualapai Lodge, on the south side of Route 66, between mile markers 103 and 104. Only the first mile is paved, so plan on a drive time of about two hours for the 40-mile round trip. A high-clearance, fourwheel drive vehicle is recommended. After storms, the road may be closed.
Details: 928-769-2230, hualapai tourism.com.