If you’re getting your kicks on Route 66 in Arizona, be sure to check out Petrified Forest National Park. This park is one of the most accessible National Parks during a Southwest road trip, sitting right off exit 311 of I-40 (Route 66). The park only has one road with a north and south entrance/exit, and a Visitor Center at both gates. It’s worth stopping at the Visitor Center to talk to a Ranger and plan your best route based on the time you have to spend. From the Route 66 entrance it begins with the Painted Desert and ends with the Giant Logs. We only stopped off because it was on our route and we had just enough time to drive through and see the main sights. After seeing it, we do think it would be worthwhile to spend a day and do a hike. The rock formations and colors were so cool! We did get out at the Giant Logs trail to take a closer look at the petrified wood.
Holbrook, AZ
We enjoyed driving around Holbrook, and its proximity to the Petrified Forest is great. I had heard a lot of the scenery resembled Radiator Springs in the Cars movies. Don’t miss the Wigwam Motel, possibly the inspiration for the Cozy Cone Motel in the movie. You can even book Wigwam for your overnight stay!
Standin' on the Corner in Winslow, AZ
“Such a fine sight to see!” Just another 40 minutes west on I-40 (Route 66), you’ll come to Winslow, made famous by the Eagles song. If you’re passing through you have to go stand on the corner for fun! We enjoyed a yummy lunch right across from Standin’ on the Corner Park at RelicRoad Brewing Company.
Best time to visit:
For the mildest temperatures definitely visit in the Spring or Fall. The elevation changes in Arizona can play a big role in varying temperatures. All of these locations are at 5,000′ making them much cooler than Phoenix not that far to the south at 1,000′
Where we stayed:
We stopped overnight in Holbrook, AZ and stayed at the La Quinta. It was brand new when we were there and worked well for our one-night stay.
Other things to do:
Check out one of the rock shops just outside the National Park or in Holbrook, its amazing what they can make out of petrified wood! We went to this one, and they had a lot of cool stuff!
If you have an extra day you can also check out Meteor Crater in Winslow. I have heard this can be a little pricy and touristy, but we didn’t have time to check it out on our way through.
