Spending a Night in a Rest Area

There is an RV park at the entrance to Meteor Crater. By the time we finished at the crater, the RV park had closed at 7 pm.

Fortunately, we found a Rest Area on I-40. We were thankful we had an RV. It was a comfortable night.

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Meteor Crater

From I-40, take Exit 233 to visit Meteor Crater. Meteor Crater is a National Natural Landmark that is privately owned. Admission is steep at $22.

At the exit, there is a Mobil Station with a geodesic dome, which was used for the filming of "Starman."

In the 1960s and 70s, astronauts trained here in preparation for the Apollo missions to the moon. You'll find an Apollo Test Capsule

and an astronaut on display.

The Discovery Center has an interesting display on meteors and at the entrance, you'll find a piece of the meteorite. Can you believe this piece weighs 1400 lbs?

Meteor Crater, nearly a mile across,was formed by a meteorite impact more than 50,000 years ago.

You can walk along the platforms and tour the crater yourself.

Or, you can take a free guided 1-hour tour that takes you to a part of the rim that is accessible only by the tour.

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Two Guns

A little further is Two Guns, at Exit 230. Two Guns was a tourist town on the edge of Canyon Diablo.

 The town is abandoned. There was a KOA campground

and an abandoned Shell gas station.

View of the Diablo Canyon

Crumbling buildings dot Two Guns. 

The Apache Death Cave is entered via a crumbling bridge. This is the site of a mass murder of 42 Apaches by Navajo Indians in 1878. It's not recommended to climb down and tour the cave.

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Twin Arrows

From the Old Truss Bridge in Winona, take I-40 to Exit 219.

Follow the signs to Twin Arrows.

All that remain of the abandoned site are the twin red & yellow arrows

and a graffiti'd abandoned building.

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Old Truss Bridge

Leaving Flagstaff on US180/BL40/Route 66, turn right on Camp Townsend Winona Road. Continue 10 miles east to Winona.

 At Winona, pull off to see an old truss bridge. Park at the end and walk across it.

Old Route 66 drivers weren't great drivers. The guardrail is dented in many spots.

View of the Old Truss Bridge from the current Route 66.

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Sweet Shoppe

The Sweet Shoppe is located at 15 E. Aspen Avenue in Flagstaff.

We picked up a Pecan Caramel Apple for dessert--$7.75. They will slice it for you.

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Proper Meats & Provisions

In Flagstaff, we had lunch at Proper Meats & Provisions, located at 110 East Route 66.

They specialize in sandwiches made of home cured meats.

Pastrami--$15.75. Sandwiches come with homemade potato chips & a pickle. 

Reuben--$15.75. The coleslaw was good and I preferred the Reuben to the pastrami. It made the sandwich a little more moist.

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Flagstaff

From Bellemont, take I-40 east to Exit 191. Cross under I-40 then right on Route 66/BL 40 into Flagstaff. After 4 miles, turn left on Milton Rd.

The prior Lumberjack Cafe, which became Granny's Closet, no longer exists

but the Paul Bunyan is still there.

Go under the RR tracks then curve into downtown, where the Hotel Du Beau is visible.

We found parking in the downtown area and walked around. The Coconino County Flagstaff Justice Court Building

has a free library modeled after its building.

The Flagstaff Amtrak Station on Route 66 serves as the Visitors Center.

The downtown area has several historic buildings, including the McMillan Building, from 1887. 

You'll find murals in the downtown area.

More historic buildings in the downtown area.

The old Babbitt Brothers Indian Traders Shop.

The Hotel Monte Vista is an iconic hotel in the downtown area.

After touring the downtown area, take US 180/BL40/Route 66 east. Stop at the Museum Club.

It was built in 1931 as a museum of native artifacts and taxidermy. Today, it offers live music, hence the large neon guitar.

Carved animals out front.

The Museum Club is housed in the southwest's reportedly "largest log cabin."

The fork of a giant tree stump frames the entrance.

Sign attesting the Museum Club as a Route 66 Roadside Attraction.

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Bellemont & "Easy Rider"

East of Parks, CO RD 146 turns to gravel over Fortynine Hill, the highest point of Route 66 in Arizona.

Cross over I-40 at Exit 185 to Bellemont. You'll pass an old gas station

then arrive at the Pine Breeze Inn.

This was the filming location for "Easy Rider."

Old abandoned cars sit at the entrance.

From here, you'll need to retrace your route and enter I-40 at Exit 185.

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Parks Store

Leaving Williams, take BL40 (Route 66) and join I-40 at Exit 165.

Take Exit 171 and follow CO RD 146 (Route 66) east. You'll find Auto Tour signs with maps and infos intermittently.

In Parks in the Pines, you'll find the Union 76 station and store.

Eclectic store with trophy mounts.

You can order something to eat.

We picked up cold drinks--Cherry Lime Rickey.

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