Winslow

Winslow is a small town on Route 66 in Northern Arizona, roughly 50 miles east of Flagstaff on Interstate 40. While the town itself is of limited interest, it is a convenient gateway to a number of regional attractions, most notably Meteor Crater — one of the best-preserved meteor impact sites on Earth. Winslow owes much of its fame to the Eagles' hit song "Take It Easy" (1972), with lyrics that talk about "standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona," and the town has embraced that heritage with a dedicated park exhibit at the intersection referenced in the song.

The town sits at approximately 4,900 feet elevation in a high desert landscape of pinyon-juniper and mesa country. Winslow's historic core clusters around the intersection of Route 66 and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and the restored La Posada Hotel — one of the legendary Fred Harvey houses designed by architect Mary Colter — is its architectural crown jewel. Beyond the town limits, the region offers Homolovi State Park (an important ancestral Hopi pueblo site), the Little Painted Desert, and the extraordinary Rock Art Ranch with its thousands of petroglyphs.

By Car

Winslow is on Interstate 40 (I-40), which follows the roadway of old Route 66 through much of Arizona. Several state and local highways connect the town to Phoenix, about 150 miles away, which is a major commercial air hub. To get to Winslow from Phoenix, you'll just have to drive.

By Train

Amtrak Station - WLO, 303 E 2nd St (in the La Posada Hotel), toll-free: +1 800-872-7245. The daily Southwest Chief Chicago-Los Angeles line stops in Winslow. The westbound train arrives at 8:50PM and the eastbound train arrives at 7:09AM. This stop has no ticket office and no Quik-Trak ticket machine so tickets must be purchased at another station or online.

• Winslow Public Transit, +1 928-289-1462. Limited to within city limits.

• Dollar Rent A Car, 1001 N Minnatonka (I-40 Exit 257, NE corner), +1 928-289-1993. Daily 8AM-6PM.

The town is small and walkable in its core, but a car is essential for outlying attractions like Meteor Crater, Homolovi State Park, and the Painted Desert.

• Meteor Crater (Exit 233, about 18 miles west of Winslow on I-40), +1 928-289-5898. Memorial Day - Sep 15: daily 7AM-7PM; Sep 16 - Memorial Day: daily 8AM-5PM. This is an exceptionally well-preserved meteor (impact) crater. The crater was formed approximately 50,000 years ago by an explosion estimated to be the equivalent of 2.5 megatons of TNT, or 150 times the force of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. The meteorite itself was estimated to be 150 feet across and weighed approximately 300,000 tons. Although most of the meteorite vaporized upon impact, large chunks of nickel-iron remnants have been found in the surrounding area. Apollo astronauts trained here due to its similarity to lunar topography. The site includes a visitor center with interpretive exhibits and the Blasted Bistro restaurant, plus short trails to viewpoints and a guided rim tour. $16 (adults), $15 (seniors), $8 (juniors 8-17); no passes accepted.

• Homolovi State Park (I-40 Exit 257, 1.5 miles north on Hwy 87), +1 928-289-4106. This park preserves over seven separate ruined pueblos and over 300 archaeological sites. The park hosts interpretive programs throughout the year and has hiking trails and a year-round campground. $7/vehicle (1-4 adults), $3 (individual/bicycle).

• Take It Easy (corner of N Kinsley Ave and E 2nd St). Winslow owes much of its fame to the Eagles' hit song "Take It Easy," and the town has erected a small exhibit at Standin' on the Corner Park in the downtown area — go there and see if a girl in a flat bed Ford slows down to take a look at you. Free.

• Old Trails Museum, 212 N Kinsley Ave, +1 928-289-5861, [email protected]. Apr-Nov T-Sa 10AM-4PM, Dec-Mar T-Sa 11AM-3PM. A small museum with exhibits detailing the history of the Winslow area. Free.

• Brigham City ghost town. Founded by Latter-day Saints in 1876, the town was abandoned in 1881 due to flash flooding. It is now on the register of National Historic Places, and 37 buildings have been partially restored. Free.

• Little Painted Desert County Park, Hwy 87 (18 miles N of Winslow). A gem of a park, with a good view of the Painted Desert. The view is particularly beautiful in the early morning and late afternoon. Free.

• Rock Art Ranch House and Museum (Chevelon Steps Petroglyphs), Territorial Rd (15 miles SE of Winslow), +1 928-386-5047. By appointment only. Over 3,000 petroglyphs are located on what is now a working cattle and buffalo ranch. The petroglyphs are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and have been determined to cover a period spanning 6,000 years produced by several Native American cultures. Personal guided tours are offered by the ranch owner. $15.

• McHood Park / Clear Creek Reservoir, Hwy 99, +1 928-289-2855. Offers opportunities for canoeing, fishing, swimming, and picnicking. Clear Creek Canyon, a deep rock canyon with petroglyphs, is accessible only by canoe. Camping is possible here. Free.

• Fishing. The area around Winslow offers several opportunities for fishing, including Clear Creek Reservoir and the Little Colorado River.

• Casa Blanca Café, 1201 E 2nd St, +1 928-289-4191. M-Sa 11AM-9PM, Su 11:30AM-8PM, closed Thanksgiving & Christmas. Serviceable, inexpensive Mexican food. Outstanding sopapillas, huevos rancheros and homemade salsa. Local dining at its finest. Kid-friendly, family-oriented, mobbed by locals. Dinners $4-10.

• Turquoise Room, 303 E 2nd St (La Posada Inn), +1 928-289-2888. High-end drinking in the desert with a competent barman. A bit pricey, but very classy and original.

• Tom's Tavern, 1500 E 3rd St, +1 928-289-3686. Daily 1PM-2AM. Soft neon beer sign glow to look at while you imbibe.

Lodging in Winslow can charitably be described as "functional" — geared to the thousands of travellers passing by on I-40 who need a place to sleep and nothing more. The usual motels and motor lodges (Best Western, Days Inn, Super 8, etc.) cluster near the exits, with little to choose among them. For a bit of flavour of the old town and Route 66, try the La Posada Hotel.

• Rodeway Inn Winslow I-40, 1916 W 3rd St, +1 928-289-4606. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Continental breakfast, wi-fi. $38+/night.

• La Posada Hotel, 303 E 2nd St (Old Route 66), +1 928-289-4366, [email protected]. One of the legendary Fred Harvey stations, designed by architect Mary Colter, in the process of a multi-year restoration. An architectural gem and must-stop for Route 66 tourists, rail buffs and fans of Old Hollywood. Very-high-quality gift shop, excellent bar and quality high-end restaurant in The Turquoise Room. Pets welcomed for a slight additional charge. $89-169.

• Motel 6, 520 W Desmond St, +1 928-289-4034. Basic budget accommodation. $40-60.

• Old Trails Museum Store, 214 N Kinsley Ave, +1 928-289-5861. Apr-Nov T-Sa 10AM-4PM, Dec-Mar T-Sa 11AM-3PM. Specializes in regional Navajo and Hopi arts and crafts, and books of local interest.

Groceries

• Safeway, 1601 N Park Dr, +1 928-289-3126. Daily 5AM-10PM. Has a hot and cold full-service deli, as well as a pharmacy onsite.

• Walmart Supercenter, 700 Mikes Pike, +1 928-289-4641. Daily 7AM-11PM. Has a full grocery store, deli and pharmacy.

• Meteor Crater (18 mi west on I-40) — One of the best-preserved meteor impact sites on Earth, with guided rim tours and visitor center exhibits.
• Petrified Forest National Park (60 mi southeast) — Home to the colourful Painted Desert and the ancient petrified logs of the Crystal Forest.
• Flagstaff (50 mi west) — A lively mountain town with a historic Route 66 downtown, museums, and easy access to the San Francisco Peaks.
• Canyon de Chelly National Monument (100 mi east) — A sacred Navajo landscape with cliff dwellings and petroglyphs dating back thousands of years.