Route 66 Road Trip Laughlin to Flagstaff

Posted on by exploramum

Route 66 Road Trip

Laughlin to Flagstaff

our Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – Retro gas station

Route 66 is one of the most famous roads in the USA and our Route 66 road trip takes us from Laughlin to Flagstaff near the Grand Canyon.  “Have you won Lotto?”. This is a comment I have just received on Facebook. My answer is “no”, I have not won any Lotto. I just sold my home and some of the things I owned for this single parent travel. Very few luxury travel experts would recommend you do this, but in fact, it can give you the feeling of freedom. It is something that is very scary but still worth it. We made up our mind and knew that this is what we had to do if we were to have a great family travel all over the world.

I really loved the “Do Not Disturb” door sign at Laughlin. It was written, “Living the Dream”. I kept that as it is exactly what I am doing.

 We head through the back of Laughlin. Once again on our Route 66 road trip, the GPS takes us some off-beat way. We are heading to Oatman – an old mining town.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – stark mountains

We get there and everywhere smells like donkey poo. We spot “feed the donkeys” signs in the area. However, we find that they always come down from the hills when they are good and ready. Today, well, they are just not ready.

We also realize we have just lost 1-hour crossing state lines. There is a showdown with a cowboy gunfight at high noon but we choose to head on. We enjoy a couple of photographs but are surprised how cool it is getting.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – visiting a wester-themed town

We also notice it is getting windy as we continue to venture on our Route 66 road trip.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – wild and wooly weather starts to move in

We find this amazing gas station (first pic) and buy a magnet and postcard. They have some amazing old cars dotted all along the Route 66 road trip.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – discovering the vehicles that inspired the Disney Cars movie.

And it is getting windier by the minute as you can tell by the photo below!
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – it is getting very windy

 We find out that this is a road-runner territory but we are yet to spot one.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – finding wrecked vehicles along the way

We head along Route 66. We stop at Mr. D’z for a great retro diner for lunch. Milkshake and burger of course aa this is truly the American food and drink one must try when here.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – enjoying an American diner

 We also find another couple of theme cars from the Disney Cars movie and Explorason is loving it. We found “Sherriff” first on our Route 66 road trip.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – this is the Sheriff’s car

And then we did a quick U-turn discovered “Mater”. He is the theme car from the wreckers on the Highway which is so cool.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – we find Mater

 We start to find really great western towns and Indian Trading posts – all exciting places to stop on your Route 66 road trip so allow plenty of time for stops for these things make the trip special.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – Indian Trading Post

 We start to get addicted to the Route 66 stores and we are in and out of the car every time we see one on our Route 66 road trip.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – we try Root Beer here

We run out of daylight yet again. We have been told it is going to snow that night, and we have no idea it in a long weekend or public vacation. Again we find it hard to find a hotel which seems to be happening to us a bit – but then we do like ‘winging it’. The many we manage to check out are not up to our standards. I have learned to say “no” and not get phased. This was not the case earlier in the trip.

It starts to snow and my son is super excited. We find this reasonable hotel. It is Americas Best Inn – The Arizonan in Flagstaff.  Because we want to be here a few days we are also pleased it is clean and has an entrance straight off the car park.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – we arrive in Flagstaff as it starts to snow

It has refurbished rooms with a great price and is located On S. Milton by Route 66.
Route 66 road trip

©Exploramum and Explorason – we are so pleased to get a hotel room that is clean and refurbished

It also has a fabulous buffet 2 doors down. It is right next to the Embassy Suites. We meet a couple of AFL football teams and enjoy an evening drink by the fireplace. Off to the Grand Canyon and a few other sites while at Flagstaff. And some down time and world schooling I hope.

Stay tuned as our Route 66 road trip continues.

Questions and Comments

  • How well do you know the famous route 66 roads in the USA?
  • Have you been to Laughlin before?
  • What do you make of the place?
  • Pleas share your comments with us below.

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