Celebrate Route 66’s Centennial with Arizona’s Route 66 Diners, Dives & Fine Dining

The centennial celebration of Route 66 is all set for 2026! It’s the perfect reason to cruise along Arizona’s portion of the Mother Road to discover the quirky dives, diners and fine dining options that have made it a favourite of travellers the world over.

Famous for its wacky attractions and nostalgic small towns, Route 66 in Arizona also offers a one-of-a-kind, self-guided culinary trail of unique dining experiences. Follow this guide for a road trip filled with memorable meals and great photo ops.

Oatman Hotel Restaurant and Bar in Oatman 
Roadtrippers can delight their appetite before embarking along Arizona’s Route 66 by grabbing lunch at the historic Oatman Hotel Restaurant and Bar in the Western town of Oatman. Step into this unique restaurant, where the walls are adorned with countless dollar bills left by travellers over the years and enjoy classic American fare with a cold pint.

Order the famous burro ears – hand-cut fried potato chips named after the town’s friendly free-roaming burros – to enjoy with a delicious buffalo burger, chili dog or chicken sandwich. Then sign a dollar bill and add it to the collection before heading out to browse the shops, explore the free mine museum and purchase burro food for the town’s most famous residents. Or, explore the Oatman Hotel museum on the second floor where Hollywood legends Clark Gable and Carole Lombard once honeymooned.

Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner in Kingman 
Travel back in time while enjoying a burger with a milkshake at Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner in Kingman, a quintessential Route 66 diner. Snag a spot at the counter to soak in the Route 66 memorabilia decor and roaring jukebox while ordering from the fun vinyl-shaped menu. After devouring their popular homemade root beer floats with a slice of pizza, try to finish a giant banana split, the “Big Kahuna.” Strike a pose next to the vibrant diner’s vintage cars out front before heading across the street to learn about the history of the Mother Road at the Arizona Route 66 Museum. While there, stop at the Kingman Visitor Centre and Electric Vehicle Museum, which are located within the Historic Kingman Powerhouse.

Diamond Creek Restaurant in Peach Springs
Try authentic fry bread at Diamond Creek Restaurant at Hualapai Lodge, owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe, for a unique experience in Peach Springs. Order a Hualapai taco, a dish made by piling ground beef, green chiles and beans on top of uniquely chewy fry bread. Or try the Hualapai stew which combines beef tips, potatoes, vegetables and a special broth for a savoury meal. With a full stomach, wander into the lodge’s trading post to buy handmade goods and learn more about the tribe’s history at the Hualapai Cultural Centre. Or,  for a one-day adventure, soar above the Grand Canyon on a Papillon helicopter ride that takes off from Grand Canyon West or raft through the Grand Canyon on the Hualapai River Runners’ day rafting trip.

Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In in Seligman 

The Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In in Seligman is a must-stop to enjoy juicy burgers while experiencing a key landmark in the birthplace of Historic Route 66. Once owned and operated by Juan Delgadillo, who co-founded the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona with his brother Angel Delgadillo (known as the guardian angel of Route 66), the eponymous Snow Cap Drive-In remains frozen in time continuing to serve milkshakes with jokes. Known for his playful antics with customers, Juan’s spirit lives on as his family upholds the tradition, staying dedicated to making travellers feel welcome. Explore this small town that helped reignite interest in the Mother Road by going into The Original Route 66 Gift Shop, which was Angel’s barber shop and is now a combination of a visitor center, museum and shop. Here, find the perfect Route 66 souvenir, learn how the Delgadillo brothers’ efforts saved the towns and culture along the original Route 66 in Arizona and discover how this small town inspired the Pixar film “Cars.”

Ranch House Cafe in Ash Fork
Originally known as The Frosty Spot in the 1970s and located on eastbound Route 66, the restaurant later changed its name to The Ranch House Cafe. In May 2022, it was featured on the reality show “Restaurant Impossible,” hosted by Robert Irvine. The Ranch House is known for its delicious hometown cooking.

Cruiser’s Route 66 Cafe in Williams 
Stop for finger-licking BBQ at Cruiser’s Route 66 Cafe in Williams after riding the town’s Route 66 zipline. At this retro diner, hungry visitors can enjoy smoked BBQ ribs and brisket cooked over mesquite wood, a Southwestern culinary technique, along with other classic diner dishes. Browse the gift shop while waiting for the food to find keychains, snowglobes and other souvenirs. Savour a banana split sundae surrounded by restored gas pumps and old-school road signs or dine on the patio while watching fellow travellers zoom by. Stay an extra day to ride the rails of the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Atria in Flagstaff
Atria, in historic downtown Flagstaff, offers a seasonal menu serving mouth-watering house-made pastas, seafood and steaks in a fine dining atmosphere. Order the eight-course tasting menu to try the best dishes of Chef Rochelle Daniel, a multi-award-winning chef recognised in the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame. Afterwards, visit Flagstaff’s New Astronomy Discovery Centre at Lowell Observatory to experience the city’s famous dark skies. During the day, go on the self-guided Walk this Talk Tour to see the sights and history of the original alignment of Route 66.

The Turquoise Room in Winslow 
Embrace the charm of the famous Turquoise Room in the historic La Posada Hotel in Winslow, which recreates the experience of enjoying dinner in the Turquoise Room dining car on the Santa Fe Railway’s Super Chief. Considered by many to be the finest restaurant in the entire Four Corners region, the Turquoise Room offers new Southwestern dishes inspired by Navajo and Hopi cuisine, with a contemporary flair. Stay at the La Posada Hotel, the last Harvey House built in the US that fell into disrepair before being restored into a hotel, to uncover the stories of this train town’s past and learn how artists continue to revive Winslow. On the way to the restaurant, make a stop at Standin’ on the Corner Park, which commemorates the Winslow reference in the Eagles hit song, “Take it Easy,” before visiting the Affeldt Mion Museum to see the world’s largest single loom Navajo (Diné) rug.

Studio 66 Cafe in Holbrook 
Swing by for a latte paired with a pastry or grab a loaded hot dog with a side of fries at Studio 66 Cafe in Holbrook. This locally-owned Route 66-themed cafe is an anytime culinary pitstop serving cinnamon buns, sandwiches and french fries topped with a wide variety of ingredients. Enjoy an ice cream cone at a table that sits on top of a vintage pickup truck before heading out to explore. Stay inside a teepee at the Wigwam Motel and awake ready to visit Petrified Forest National Park, the only National Park along Route 66, where one can hike along the world’s largest concentration of petrified wood and spot colorful badlands in the Painted Desert.