Finally, Trini and I are back in the Sin City, and there really is “no place like home!” We drove a total of more than 1,500 miles (that’s more than halfway from Los Angeles CA to New York City)! The drive was tiring and frustrating at times but it was all worth it. We’ve had many road trips in the past that were longer than this one but I consider the Route 66 journey as the best cultural and historical experience we’ve ever had! Driving in shifting landscapes, from well-paved to rutted roads, along “ghost” towns to booming cities, gawking at abandoned vehicles and watching faded trading signs that could have been living proof of the disappearing thriving businesses many decades ago allowed us to appreciate the significance of the Mother of Highways.
Route 66 is inseparable from the mythology of the American Dream, and Arizona’s portion of the road tells that story vividly. During the Great Depression, thousands of families traveled west in search of work, opportunity, or a fresh start, with Route 66 serving as a vital conduit. The highway symbolized hope and freedom, a tangible path to a better life across open landscapes and through small towns that offered shelter, food, and services.
The route also represented a democratization of travel. Cars became more accessible to middle-class families, and Arizona’s stretch of the highway offered scenic vistas, manageable terrain, and strategically placed towns. For travelers, Route 66 was a road to personal ambition, adventure, and discovery, embedding the state’s towns and landscapes into the larger cultural imagination of the United States.
Ponce, Mark. Arizona Route 66 Road Trip Guide: Where to Stay, Dine, Stop, and Drive the Mother Road (p. 14). (Function). Kindle Edition.
