Why doesn't Route 66 go through Phoenix?

Why doesn't Route 66 go through Phoenix?

From Valley 101 by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com

April 13, 2026 · 17 min

About this episode

This episode explores why Route 66 does not pass through Phoenix, featuring insights from historians and tour guides.

Route 66, the highway that runs 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica. And a chunk of it runs through Arizona. In Bobby Troup's hit song "Route 66", it mentions "Flagstaff, Arizona/Don't forget Winona/Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino." But what about Phoenix? This week on Valley 101, we talk with historians and tour guides to hear the crazy stories about priests and lumberjacks, but most importantly: Why doesn't Route 66 go through Phoenix? Submit your question⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about Phoenix! Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠The Watchlist⁠⁠⁠, our Friday media newsletter. Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Guests: Bob Boze Bell, Nick Jones, Susan Johnson Host: ⁠⁠⁠Bill Goodykoontz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Producer: Tori Weiss, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amanda Luberto⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Bill Goodykoontz

Guests: Bob Boze Bell, Nick Jones, Susan Johnson

Topics covered

  • Route 66
  • Phoenix
  • Arizona history
  • highway history
  • tourism
  • cultural stories

Keywords

  • Route 66
  • Phoenix
  • Arizona
  • highway
  • history
  • tour guides
  • Bobby Troup
  • cultural stories

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Arizona Republic, azcentral.com

Books & works: Route 66

Places: Phoenix, Flagstaff, Winona, Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino

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