Winslow

Take It Easy

Winslow is a small town on Route 66 in Northern Arizona. While the town itself is of limited interest, it is a convenient gateway to a number of regional attractions.

Understand

• 1 Winslow Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 523 W 2nd St, ☏ +1 928-289-2434, fax: +1 928-289-5660, info@winslowarizona.org. 

Get in

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.

• 1 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.  

Get around

• Winslow Public Transit, ☏ +1 928-289-1462. Limited to within city limits. 
• 2 Dollar Rent A Car, 1001 N Minnatonka (I-40 Exit 257, NE corner), ☏ +1 928-289-1993. Daily 8AM-6PM. 

See

Barringer Meteor Crater

Little Painted Desert County Park

Petroglyph at Rock Art Ranch

• 1 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, although not the largest in the world as sometimes claimed. 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 itself vaporized upon impact, large chunks of nickel-iron remnants have been found in the surrounding area. It is historically important, as this was the site that informed much of the early theoretical work on the nature of meteorite impacts. Apollo astronauts trained here due to its similarity to lunar topography. The site is privately owned and includes a well-done visitor center with a number of interpretive exhibits and an on-site restaurant called Blasted Bistro. There short trails to viewpoints as well as a guided tour that goes around the rim. $16 (adults), $15 (seniors), $8 (juniors 8-17); no passes accepted.  
• 2 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 archeological sites. The park hosts interpretive programs throughout the year, and has a number of hiking trails as well as a year-round campground. $7/vehicle (1-4 adults), $3 (individual/bicycle).  
• 3 Take It Easy (corner of N Kinsley Ave and E 2nd St). Winslow owes much of its fame to the Eagles' hit song of the 1970s, "Take It Easy," with lyrics that talk about "standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona." If you want to relive the song, 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. 
• 4 Old Trails Museum, 212 N Kinsley Ave, ☏ +1 928-289-5861, info@oldtrailsmuseum.org. 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. 
• 5 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.  
• 6 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. 
• 7 Rock Art Ranch House and Museum (Chevelon Steps Petroglyphs), Territorial Rd (15 miles SE of Winslow), ☏ +1 928-386-5047. By appointment only. Over 3000 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 6000 years produced by several Native American cultures. Personal guided tours are offered by the ranch owner Brantley Baird and his ranch hand Clem Rogers. $15. 

Do

• 1 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. It is possible to camp here; see listing below. Free.  

Buy

• 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. Free. 

Eat

• 1 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. A different opinion says this is one of the great bargain foodie road warrior stops if you want AzMex home cooking. Outstanding sopapillas, huevos rancheros and homemade salsa. Local dining at its finest. Kid friendly, family oriented, mobbed by locals. Dinners $4-10. 
• 2 Turquoise Room, 303 E 2nd St (La Posada Inn), ☏ +1 928-289-2888. High-end drinking in the desert with a competent and capable barman. Perfect, a bit pricey, to wash that road dirt from your throat. Very classy and original. 

Groceries

• 3 Safeway, 1601 N Park Dr, ☏ +1 928-289-3126. Daily 5AM-10PM. Has a hot and cold full-service deli for self-catering options, as well as a pharmacy onsite. 
• 4 Walmart Supercenter, 700 Mikes Pike, ☏ +1 928-289-4641. Daily 7AM-11PM. Has a full grocery store, deli and pharmacy. 

Drink

• 1 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. 

Sleep

Lodging in Winslow can charitably be described as "functional" – geared to the thousands of travelers 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 flavor of the old town and Route 66, try the La Posada Hotel.

Interior of the historic La Posada Hotel

• 1 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. 
• 2 La Posada Hotel, 303 E 2nd St (Old Rte 66), ☏ +1 928-289-4366, info@laposada.org. One of the legendary Fred Harvey stations, designed by architect Mary Colter, is 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. Pretentious and prissy staff can ruin the experience. Complete disconnect from the surrounding native populace. $89-169. 
• 3 Motel 6, 520 W Desmond St, ☏ +1 928-289-9581, fax: +1 520-289-5642. $47+/night. 
• 4 Clarion Pointe Winslow I-40, 1701 N Park Dr, ☏ +1 928-289-4638, fax: +1 928-289-5514. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Free wi-fi and breakfast, laundromat, pets accepted. $69-$109/night. 

Camping

• 5 McHood Park / Clear Creek Reservoir, Hwy 99, ☏ +1 928-289-4792. Grills and restrooms available, but no hookups or water connections. For park description, see listing above. Free. 
• 6 Homolovi State Park Campground (I-40 Exit 257, 1.5 miles north on Hwy 87), ☏ +1 928-289-4106 (reservations). Open year-round, showers and toilets available. For park description see listing above. $25 (electric site), $15-$18 (non-electric site). (updated Jun 2014)

Connect

• 2 Winslow Public Library, 420 W Gilmore St, ☏ +1 928-289-4982. Su 10AM-2PM, T 10AM-5PM, W 10AM-7PM, Th-F 10AM-5PM. Has public access computers, and wi-fi throughout the building 24 hrs/day. 

Cope

• 3 Little Colorado Medical Center, 1501 N Williamson Ave, ☏ +1 928-289-4691, fax: +1 928-289-3855. 

Go next

Nearby destinations include:

• Petrified Forest National Park The nearest major attraction, at ~90 minutes away.
• Flagstaff
• Grand Canyon
• Navajo Nation
• Riordan Mansion State Historic Park

Routes through Winslow

Los Angeles ← Flagstaff ←	W  E	→ Gallup → Albuquerque
Kingman/Grand Canyon ← Flagstaff ←	W  E	→ Joseph City → Albuquerque/Holbrook
Kingman ← Flagstaff ←	W  E	→ Joseph City → Albuquerque