Seligman is where the Route 66 revival started; the town is mostly old motels, gift shops and diners along one street. Williams (next morning, on the way to the canyon) is bigger and also full of 66 nostalgia — either works for the night.
What I’m after
- Old-school independent motel: drive-up room, neon sign, a bit worn but clean. Check recent reviews — quality varies a lot.
- Dinner and the sign lights at dusk.
- Breakfast at a diner next morning.
Route
Las Vegas → Hoover Dam → Kingman, then leave I‑40 for the longest surviving stretch of old 66 via Hackberry General Store to Seligman (~3.5 h with stops). Next morning → Williams (lunch, walk the main street) → Grand Canyon.
Alternative
The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook (sleep in a concrete teepee) is the most famous 66 motel in Arizona, but it’s east, off this route. Would fit only with a detour Grand Canyon → Holbrook → Petrified Forest → Monument Valley.