Holbrook (Arizona) - city in Navajo County, Arizona, United States

Holbrook is a town on Route 66 in Eastern Arizona, once known as the "town too rough for women and churches." The town makes a convenient base for visiting Petrified Forest National Park.

Understand

As the nearest town to Petrified Forest National Park, and often gateway to Meteor Crater, Holbrook is small city focused on travelers - there are at least 10-20 hotels/restaurants/gas stations to choose among respectively. Excellent for travelers, but mostly for services and proximity to attractions, rather than as an attraction itself, though visitors following Route 66 will find it interesting.

• Holbrook Visitor's Center, 100 E Arizona St, 34.90302°, -110.15773°, +1 928-524-6558, holbrookazchamberofcommerce@gmail.com. Housed within the Navajo County Courthouse and Museum (see listing below); offers a free self-guided walking tour map.

Get in

Holbrook can be accessed via Route 66, or Interstate 40.

By car

Most traffic in and out of Holbrook is via I-40.

By bus

• Greyhound Bus Lines, 101 Mission Ln (by the Circle K), 34.924579°, -110.146499°, +1 928-524-3832.

Get around

See

• Navajo County Historical Society, 100 E Arizona St (Navajo County Courthouse), 34.903223°, -110.1577°, +1 968-524-6558, contact@holbrookmuseum.org. Daily 8AM-5PM. Self-guided tours. Contact the Holbrook Visitor's Center (nextdoor) for a brochure. 2016-05-09

Do

• Navajo County Fair, 404 E Hopi Dr, 34.901357°, -110.153734°, +1 928-524-4757, navajocountyfair@yahoo.com. A 3-day event held annually in mid-September, includes exhibits and a rodeo.
• Wild West Days, +1 928-524-6558. An annual event held in July, features reenactments, Native American dancers and Mexican dancers, as well as food and a parade.
• Hashknife Pony Express. Held annually in mid-February, the highlight is a reenactment ride from Holbrook through Payson and on to Scottsdale, delivering specially-stamped mail.

Buy

• Hopi Travel Plaza, 1851 State Hwy 77 (I-40 Exit 292), 34.973997°, -110.090111°, +1 928-524-6243, rscheuerman@hopifuel.com. Primarily known as a truck stop owned and operated by the Hopi Tribe, this facility hosts a monthly Native Market with jewelry and art. There is also a gift shop open daily.

Eat

Numerous restaurants, though mostly within the categories of fast food, Mexican, or Steak/American.

• Butterfield Stage Co. Steak House, 609 W Hopi Dr, 34.902235°, -110.166076°, +1 928-524-3447. Daily 4PM-10PM. $10-30

Groceries

• Safeway, 702 W Hopi Dr (next to Wigwam Motel), 34.901872°, -110.16686°, +1 928-524-3313. Daily 6AM-10PM. Hot and cold deli, pharmacy onsite.

Drink

• Empty Pockets Saloon, 2210 Navajo Blvd, 34.927161°, -110.141934°, +1 928-524-6059, dna1@cableone.net.

Sleep

Lodging

• Heward House, 108 Crestview Dr, 34.912553°, -110.159656°, +1 928-524-3411, hewardhouse@frontiernet.net. Check-in: 1PM-6PM, check-out: 11AM. $75/night
• Lexington Inn Holbrook, 1308 Navajo Blvd, +1 928-524-1466. Breakfast, indoor pool. $62 (Mar 2022)
• Wigwam Motel, 811 W Hopi Dr, 34.9027°, -110.1689°, +1 928-524-3048, reservations@sleepinawigwam.com. Sleep in a giant tepee (as the natives did, although they did it without air conditioning or cable TV). Various historic vehicles on-site. This motel's novelty architecture is the basis for the Route 66 'Cosy Cone Motel' in Pixar's 'Cars'. 15 units, non-smoking, listed US National Register of Historic Places. $56-62

Camping

• Holbrook / Petrified Forest KOA, 102 Hermosa Dr, 34.923216°, -110.14343°, +1 928-524-6689, holbrookkoa@gmail.com. Spots for tents and RVs, cabins available. Hookups and water at each site, showers and pool on the grounds. Wi-fi extra, pets accepted.

Connect

• Holbrook Public Library, 403 S Park St, 34.906819°, -110.154299°, +1 928-524-3732, holbrookpl@gmail.com. Tu 8AM-3PM, W-Th noon-7PM, F noon-5PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. Public computers available, and there is free wi-fi access throughout the building.

Go next

• Winslow is about 30 minutes west.
• Flagstaff is about an hour west.
• Phoenix is about 3½ hours southwest
• Albuquerque is about 3½ hours to the east.