Flagstaff Route 66 Festival RV Rental Guide

Flagstaff sits directly on Historic Route 66 — the Mother Road runs straight through the heart of downtown — and the city's annual Route 66 Days festival is one of the most authentic celebrations on the entire 2,400-mile highway. The event draws classic car owners and road trip enthusiasts from across the Southwest for car shows, live music, and a cruise down the original alignment through town. For RV travelers, the appeal goes beyond the festival itself: Flagstaff at 7,000 feet means summer temperatures in the low 80s, ponderosa pine forest camping, and proximity to the Grand Canyon (80 miles north) and Sedona (30 miles south). The Route 66 festival is a natural anchor event for a high-country Arizona loop.

VenueHistoric Route 66 / Santa Fe Avenue, Downtown Flagstaff, AZ 86001 — multiple venues along the original alignment
DatesTypically mid-September, 3-day weekend. Verify current dates at the City of Flagstaff Special Events calendar.
Book Your RV6–8 weeks out. Flagstaff is a four-season RV destination and September is still peak — book campground before you book the RV.

RV Tips for Flagstaff Route 66 Festival

  1. Flagstaff KOA Holiday is 2 miles from downtown with pull-throughs for big rigs and full hookups — top choice for Route 66 festival
  2. Fort Tuthill County Park (Coconino County) has large sites, partial hookups, and direct trail access to downtown via the Urban Trail system
  3. The actual Route 66 alignment through Flagstaff is navigable in a Class C motorhome — park in the designated lot and walk the cruise route
  4. Combine with Grand Canyon: book Mather Campground or Trailer Village one day before or after the festival
  5. Coconino National Forest dispersed camping is free with a 14-day limit — excellent options east and south of town
  6. September is ideal: monsoon season ends, temperatures drop, and summer crowds thin before fall leaf season

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Route 66 still exist in Flagstaff?

Yes. Historic Route 66 runs directly through downtown Flagstaff as Santa Fe Avenue, largely intact and navigable. Flagstaff was a major stop on the original Mother Road, and the historic alignment through town still has classic motels, diners, and neon signs from the Route 66 era. The Route 66 Days festival celebrates this heritage with a car cruise on the original alignment.

Can I drive an RV on Route 66 through Flagstaff?

Yes. The Route 66 alignment through downtown Flagstaff (Santa Fe Avenue/Old Route 66) is passable in a Class C motorhome. The road is a standard urban street with traffic signals and on-street parking — it's not the wide-open highway of the rural segments, but it's easily navigable. During the festival, drive it once for the experience and then park at a lot and explore on foot.

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