Take a high-country cruise across the roof of Arizona as we follow Interstate 40 from Williams to Ash Fork—a 16-mile stretch of highway that brushes against history, forests, and wide-open skies. This leg of our journey begins at the busy interchange with Arizona Highway 64, the gateway to the Grand Canyon. As we merge westbound onto I-40, we find ourselves surrounded by the pines and peaks of the Coconino National Forest, with the hum of passing trucks and the scent of ponderosa in the air. Though Williams is mid-renovation during our drive, its reputation as the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon” and the last town bypassed by I-40 on old Route 66 still shines through the construction cones and lane shifts.
As we leave Williams behind, the terrain begins to open up. To our left, the imposing profile of Bill Williams Mountain dominates the skyline, its summit often catching a dusting of snow in colder months. Named for a 19th-century mountain man, the peak marks a shift in the landscape—from the thick pine stands of the Kaibab Plateau to the more open high desert terrain that characterizes this stretch of Arizona. The descent is subtle but steady, and with it comes a change in vegetation and mood. The tall trees thin out, replaced by scrubby piñon and juniper, and the road starts to feel less hemmed in and more expansive. Occasional clearings reveal wide vistas to the north, where the land ripples toward the distant rim of the Colorado Plateau.
Approaching Ash Fork, we pass over the modest town without ever fully entering it—though its significance is quietly enormous. Known as the “Flagstone Capital of the World,” Ash Fork is steeped in railroad and Route 66 history. Travelers curious about the town can catch a closer look on our dedicated Ash Fork video (watch here). For now, we stay the course on I-40, bypassing the business loop and watching the telltale curve of Route 66 as it diverges just beyond the west edge of town. Not far ahead, we arrive at Crookton Road, where Historic Route 66 splits off once more from the interstate, winding northwest toward Seligman. This is where our ride on I-40 ends and the next chapter of Mother Road exploration begins.
This short segment of I-40 might lack dramatic mountain passes or sweeping desert panoramas, but it’s a transitional corridor—both geographically and historically. It’s the seam where the pine-draped highlands give way to the broad Arizona uplands, and where the rhythm of interstate travel occasionally syncs with the heartbeats of America’s most famous highway. Whether you’re cruising to the Grand Canyon or peeling off toward a Route 66 adventure, the stretch from Williams to Ash Fork is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful drives are the ones that connect the stories, not just the destinations.
🗺️ Route Map
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