US 66
US 66 was a major cross-country (almost) route from Los Angeles to Chicago. It was one of the most popular highways in Arizona during its height. US 66 was mostly replaced by I-40. I-40 was routed around towns, however; so old US 66 segments typically became Business Routes of I-40. In Arizona, US 66 is designated as Historic Route 66.
Length: 385.2 miles at its peak
Existed: 1926-1985
Current Route in Arizona: Replaced mostly by I-40
Historical Route in Arizona: California state line Near Topock to New Mexico state line near Lupton
Historical Route Nationally: Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL
Major Junctions: US 93, US 466, AZ 93, US 89, AZ 64, US 89A, AZ 164, AZ 166, AZ 65, US 260, US 666, AZ 789
Cool Features
The longest remaining continuous stretch of old US 66 travels from Kingman to an interchange with I-40 just west of Ash Fork, in Yavapai County. This segment originally became SR 66 after US 66 was decomissioned, but the state route designation was truncated to the Yavapai/Coconino County line in 1990.
There are several infamous Burma Shave sign chains set up along Yavapai County's portion of Route 66, referencing the original Burma Shave advertisement poems that used to line the original highway.
In order, each chain of signs pictured below says this:
- T'would be more fun / To go by air / If we could put / These signs up there
- The one who drives when / He's been drinking / Depends on you / To do his thinking
- If hugging on highways / Is your sport / Trade in your car / For a davenport
- Listen birds / These signs cost money / So roost a while / But don't get funny
Seligman was the birthplace of the Historic designation for Route 66 and was also a town that inspired the movie "Cars" which they now proudly celebrate, with many painted cars akin to the movie characters lining the streets.
Kingman seems to have created their own route marker design for the portion of Route 66 that runs through their city, since ADOT relinquished the roadway to them.
Related Routes
SR 66
Page last updated: 7/5/2026