We stayed overnight in Williams AZ and checked-in in an overpriced mediocre hotel just 60 miles south of the famous Grand Canyon. The hotel room was clean but was located adjacent to the smoking area. Even though our door was closed we could still smell the cigarette smoke. I noticed a petite elderly lady who looked like she already had COPD but kept lighting one cigarette after another. The hotel offered continental breakfast- toast, cereals, muffins and watered down coffee. I noticed there were tourists from Germany, Ireland and England. I assumed they were going to the Grand Canyon.
Williams holds a unique place on Route 66 as one of the last towns to be bypassed by Interstate 40. Nestled along the western edge of the high country, it has retained much of its historic character while continuing to function as a small but vibrant community. The town’s location made it a natural hub for travelers coming off the long desert stretches from the east, and it served as a gateway to northern Arizona’s forests, mountains, and scenic routes. Route 66 shaped both the town’s growth and its enduring identity.
By the time we loaded our stuff in the car, the parking lot was virtually empty. We attempted to look for Starbucks but it was a futile endeavor – the small town did not have one. The weather was pleasant when we left. We found a gas station to fill up before proceeding and we also bought a much better tasting coffee here.
We passed a graffiti-filled abandoned shack with an arrow stuck on the ground. My Route 66 guide indicated that we were in Twin Arrows (although it’s now a Lone Arrow). One of the arrow was a victim of vandalism. I was disappointed by their senseless actions since these arrows have historical value and supposedly a roadside attraction!
This portion of Route 66 is mostly incorporated with I-40 but you can still experience the drive in some parts of the freeway. The drive was very nice since I mentioned the weather cooperated and there weren’t that many semi trucks on the road. It was interesting to know that this part of Arizona was in a higher elevation – from 3,300 ft in Kingman to 7,300 ft at the Continental Divide.
We drove on to go visit the famous natural formation – the METEOR CRATER! This is a private property and they charge you $27 per person including a group tour. It’s interesting to note that NASA used this crater to train their astronauts in the 60’s including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin who were part of the first humans to set foot on the moon!
Over 50,000 years ago space and earth came together when a huge iron-nickel meteorite 150-feet wide and several hundred thousand tons impacted an area outside of Flagstaff AZ with a force 150 times greater than the atomic bomb! The result if thus enact was devastation for miles and the creation of the giant bow-shaped cavity called Meteor Crater measuring 550 feet deep and almost a mile wide.
The largest discovered fragment of the meteorite that created Meteor Crater
The tour was very organized with a very entertaining guide named Kyle. He was animated and tried to explain scientific facts very plainly and easy to understand. Our group consisted of all ages. We walked a short distance along the crater’s rim in order to admire and visualize the significance of the impact the meteor’s devastating impact!
We drove more than 500 miles this day! We arrived in our hotel, a much better one than that in Williams – Residence Inn by Marriott. A very spacious room with a sitting area and kitchenette. It also had a full-sized refrigerator. Not that all these amenities mattered since we left immediately after breakfast.
