Take a nostalgic ride through the high desert of northern Arizona as we cruise 17 miles west along Historic Route 66 from Ash Fork to Seligman. This segment of America’s Mother Road is more than just asphalt and signage—it’s a living ribbon of travel history, stretching through golden grasslands, weathered railroad towns, and roadside Americana that harks back to a bygone era.
Our journey begins just west of Ash Fork, a small town that earned the nickname “The Flagstone Capital of the World” due to its longstanding role in supplying sandstone across the country. At the western outskirts of town, we peel off from the modern I-40 corridor and rejoin Historic Route 66—now officially designated as Stockton Road by Yavapai County. The state turned over this section to the county in 1990, removing it from the Arizona State Route system, but its soul as Route 66 endures. The landscape immediately opens up into a sweeping plateau of juniper-dotted grasslands, edged in the distance by the rugged outlines of the Kaibab and Juniper Mountains. Trains run parallel to our route along the busy BNSF Railway, a constant reminder that this corridor has always been a conduit for movement—whether by iron horse or V8 engine.
As we press on westward, the miles between Ash Fork and Seligman are defined not by urban sprawl, but by the rhythm of the land and the whisper of history. This stretch once saw thousands of travelers a day before the interstate rerouted the masses. Now, it’s an introspective drive—free of fast food chains or mega gas stations. Instead, we pass under bright blue skies along a road that breathes with subtle curves and gentle rises, offering long-range views of the Arizona high country. Occasional roadside ruins—perhaps the remains of a long-closed café or a crumbling garage—offer fleeting glimpses into Route 66’s golden age, when each stop held the promise of a cold drink, a hot meal, or a warm bed.
Approaching Seligman, the quietude of the open road gives way to the unmistakable pulse of classic Americana. With its bright murals, vintage cars, and historic storefronts, Seligman wears its Route 66 heritage with pride. This little town played a pivotal role in the preservation of the highway, thanks in large part to local barber and activist Angel Delgadillo, who helped ignite the Route 66 revival movement in the 1980s. As we roll into town, it’s hard not to be swept up in the charm—Seligman is a shrine to the road trip era, where every corner seems to hum with neon nostalgia and sunbaked resilience. The town’s famous Snow Cap Drive-In and quirky gift shops remind us that while the interstates may have taken over the traffic, the soul of the journey still lives here.
Ending our drive in Seligman, we’re reminded of what makes this part of Route 66 special: the space to breathe, the sense of time slowed, and the layers of American travel history etched into the pavement. Between Ash Fork and Seligman, we don’t just traverse 17 miles—we traverse decades of dreams, detours, and devotion to the open road.
🎵 Music:
Piano March by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/
🗺️ Route Map
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