Last Updated: May 2, 2026
Most people driving I-40 through northern Arizona think of Winslow — if they think of it at all — as the town from that Eagles song. And yes, we’ll get to that. But Winslow, Arizona turned out to be a genuinely rewarding base camp for three destinations that couldn’t be more different from each other: the Homolovi State Park ruins of an ancient Hopi village, the extraordinary Meteor Crater, and the luminous Little Painted Desert County Park at sunset. We came for a corner and stayed for all of it.
Winslow was a major stop on U.S. Route 66 — the original Main Street of America that stretched from Chicago to Los Angeles from 1926 until it was decommissioned in 1985 when I-40 replaced it. Today I-40 is a busy trucking corridor and Winslow is a quieter version of its former self, but the bones of a proud Route 66 town are still visible, and there’s more than enough here to justify a several-day stay.
Homolovi State Park: Ancient Hopi Village
Homolovi is Hopi for “Place of the Little Hills” — and the state park that bears the name preserves the ruins of several Hopi ancestral villages along the Little Colorado River. From roughly 600 to 1390 AD, the Hopi people lived and farmed in this area as part of a larger migration route, before eventually settling to the north at the Hopi Mesas where their descendants live today. “Hopi” translates as “The Peaceful People” or “Peaceful Little Ones” — a name that suits the quiet, contemplative character of the ruins they left behind.
At its peak, the largest Homolovi village had an estimated population of 3,000 people and comprised more than 1,200 rooms — a substantial community by any measure. Agriculture was the foundation of Hopi culture here, supported by the reliable water of the Little Colorado River in an otherwise arid landscape.
Walking the trails at Homolovi, you encounter something remarkable: pieces of ancient Hopi pottery scattered directly on the ground along the path. Visitors are not allowed to collect them — they remain where they fell centuries ago — but people sometimes place the larger fragments on rocks to make them easier to see. As a ceramicist and potter, seeing these shards up close was deeply moving. The craftsmanship visible even in broken fragments — the painted geometric designs, the thin walls, the careful surface work — speaks to a tradition of ceramic artistry that was already highly refined a thousand years ago. You don’t need to be a potter to appreciate it, but if you are, these fragments hit differently.
We came across petroglyphs while hiking the trails as well — carved images in the rock that echo what we’d seen earlier at Petrified Forest and would encounter again throughout our Arizona travels. The Ancestral Puebloan and Hopi people left their marks across this entire landscape, and following those marks from site to site gives northeastern Arizona a layered, connected feeling that’s unlike anywhere else.
Not all the trails were entirely hiker-friendly — we encountered a quicksand warning on one route that made the decision to turn back very easy. Stick to designated trails here, especially after rain when the Little Colorado River area can be unpredictable.
We stayed at the campground right within the state park — and it was excellent. Sites were wonderfully spaced with real separation between neighbors, 50-amp electric, water, and a dump station on the way out. No internet, but the peaceful high desert views more than compensated. Waking up surrounded by the same landscape the Hopi people called home for nearly 800 years is not a bad way to start a morning.
Homolovi State Park visitor details: Located at AZ-87 North, Winslow, AZ 86047, approximately 1.5 miles north of Winslow. Open daily. Arizona State Park pass or day-use fee applies. The campground has electric hookups and a dump station. More information at azstateparks.com/homolovi.
Meteor Crater: A Mile-Wide Hole in the Desert
A short drive from Winslow along I-40 brings you to one of the most extraordinary geological features in North America — and one of the best-preserved meteorite impact craters on Earth. Meteor Crater is privately owned by the Barringer family, who have managed it as an attraction since the early 20th century. It was previously known as Canyon Diablo Crater, and for a long time geologists assumed it was volcanic in origin — not unreasonable, given that the surrounding region is dotted with volcanic features.
The real story is more dramatic. In the late 1800s, large iron meteorite fragments began turning up across the surrounding area. In 1903, Daniel Barringer staked a mining claim to the land, convinced — correctly, as it turned out — that the crater was formed by a meteorite impact rather than a volcano. His goal was commercial: he believed a 110-million-pound iron meteorite lay buried beneath the crater floor, and he drilled to 1,375 feet trying to find it. He never did, because impact physics were poorly understood at the time. In reality, most of the meteor vaporized during its passage through the atmosphere and on impact — the kinetic energy released was equivalent to roughly 10 million tons of TNT. It wasn’t until the 1960s, when scientists applied data from nuclear detonation testing in the Nevada desert, that the impact origin was definitively proven.
This 1,400-pound meteorite fragment was found miles from the crater — one of many scattered across the desert by the force of impact. The on-site museum is excellent, walking you through the science of impact cratering with exhibits that are genuinely engaging rather than dry. The rim tour is the highlight: standing on the edge of a crater nearly a mile across and more than 550 feet deep, knowing a rock 150 feet in diameter hit the earth at 26,000 mph here 50,000 years ago, produces a very specific feeling that’s hard to describe. Small and humbled comes close.
One practical note: the rim tour is occasionally closed when winds gust above 100 mph — not unusual in this exposed location. Check conditions before you go, and come prepared for wind regardless.
Meteor Crater visitor details: Located off I-40 Exit 233, approximately 18 miles west of Winslow and 35 miles east of Flagstaff. Open daily. Admission fee applies — check current pricing at meteorcrater.com. Dogs are not permitted inside the museum but can wait in temperature-controlled kennels available on site.
Standin’ on a Corner: The Eagles Song That Put Winslow on the Map
We had lunch at Relic Road Brewing on St. Patrick’s Day — the beer and food were both good, the atmosphere relaxed and friendly. We raised a glass celebrating Michael’s brother Mark’s birthday. A fine sight to see, as the song would say.
The famous Standin’ on a Corner Park on historic Route 66 commemorates one of the most recognizable opening lines in American rock music. Take It Easy was recorded by The Eagles in the early 1970s and became one of the defining songs of the era. The song was begun by Jackson Browne in 1971. He had difficulty finishing it, so his friend Glenn Frey helped out — adding the iconic line about the girl in a flatbed Ford. The song’s Winslow reference came from a real experience: Browne’s car broke down in Winslow on his way to Sedona. He wove that moment together with a separate encounter in east Flagstaff, and the result became rock and roll history.
The park itself is a small but charming tribute — a bronze statue of a hitchhiker, a trompe l’oeil mural of the flatbed Ford, and the Route 66 street corner that generations of road trippers have stopped to photograph. It’s unapologetically touristy and completely worth a few minutes of your time.
Little Painted Desert County Park: Sunset Perfection
The last stop of our Winslow stay was the Little Painted Desert County Park — a Navajo County park just north of Winslow that offers sweeping views over a smaller but no less spectacular version of the Painted Desert badlands. We went at sunset, and the colors were extraordinary. The same minerals that paint the big Painted Desert to the east operate here in a more intimate scale — the reds, oranges, lavenders, and golds feel almost close enough to touch as the light drops. There were almost no other visitors. It’s one of those stops that costs nothing, takes thirty minutes, and stays with you for years.
Little Painted Desert County Park visitor details: Located on North Park Drive approximately 14 miles north of Winslow via AZ-87. Free admission. Open during daylight hours. No facilities — come prepared. Best visited at sunrise or sunset for peak color intensity.
Practical Tips for Visiting Winslow, Arizona
Base camp for multiple destinations: Winslow’s location makes it an ideal overnight stop between Canyon de Chelly to the northeast and Petrified Forest to the east, with Sedona and Flagstaff a comfortable drive to the west. Plan two to three days: Homolovi, Meteor Crater, Standin’ on a Corner, and Little Painted Desert together make a genuinely full itinerary. Homolovi campground is the best RV option — well-spaced sites, good hookups, and you’re right at the ruins. Meteor Crater timing: Go in the morning when winds are typically calmer and the light is better for photographs. Little Painted Desert: Sunset only — midday light is too harsh to appreciate the colors. Cell and internet: Limited at Homolovi campground — download maps and entertainment before arriving.
Frequently Asked Questions About Winslow, Arizona
Why is Winslow, Arizona famous? Winslow is best known for the Eagles song Take It Easy and its “Standin’ on a Corner” park on historic Route 66. Beyond the song, it’s also the gateway to Homolovi State Park, one of the most significant Hopi ancestral sites in Arizona, and is within easy driving distance of Meteor Crater and the Little Painted Desert.
Is Meteor Crater worth visiting? Absolutely — it’s one of the best-preserved impact craters on Earth and the museum and rim tour are genuinely excellent. Plan for 1.5–2 hours. The scale of the crater from the rim is something photographs don’t fully convey.
Is Homolovi State Park worth visiting? Yes, especially if you have an interest in Native American history, archaeology, or ceramics and pottery. The ancient Hopi pottery shards visible along the trails are remarkable, and the campground is one of the better RV options in the area.
How far is Winslow from Flagstaff? Winslow is approximately 58 miles east of Flagstaff along I-40 — about a 50-minute drive. It’s an easy day trip from Flagstaff or a natural stop on a Route 66 road trip.
How far is Winslow from the Grand Canyon? The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is approximately 90 miles northwest of Winslow — about a 1.5-hour drive via AZ-87 and AZ-64. Winslow works well as an eastern base for a broader northern Arizona loop.
Have you stood on that corner in Winslow, Arizona? Or explored Meteor Crater or the Homolovi ruins? Drop a comment below — we’d love to hear about your experience!
