Located on historic Route 66, Williams, Ariz., proclaims itself as the gateway to the Grand Canyon, which is 60 miles to the north. With Flagstaff to the the east and Sonoran Desert in every direction, Williams has one golf course, the Elephant Rocks Golf Course, which is a par-70 course designed by Gary Panks. The town is small with an air museum, the Grand Canyon Railroad and lots of historic hotels and buildings that commemorate the Route 66 experience.
Route 66 Inn
Built in the 1930s, the Route 66 Inn is a piece of living history. Complete with art deco neon signage and a centralized location in downtown Williams, the inn offers family accommodations and is a great place to learn about the historic highway and the history of the area. The rooms are clean and comfortable with a mixture of Americana and modern amenity. All the rooms are non-smoking with two- and three-bedroom suites for spreading out. The motel offers a variety of packages for hotel guests including Grand Canyon tours. There's a gift shop onsite to commemorate your visit and the Elephant Rocks Golf Course is a short, three-mile drive west out of town.
Route 66 Inn
128 E. Route 66
Williams AZ 86046
(928) 635-4791
route66.aaeworldhotels.com
The Lodge on Route 66
The Lodge on Route 66 has the distinction of being the only luxury motel on Route 66. The room amenities include wood floors, wood furnishings and pillowtop mattresses. The sheets are 100 percent cotton; there's designer lighting and the bathrooms boast Turkish travertine countertops. The rooms also come with 20-inch flat-screen televisions. The motel has standard rooms as well as suites with kitchens, sofa sleepers and dining tables along with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs in select rooms. Outside the rooms are gas fireplaces and a cozy sitting area. Guests can enjoy a complementary expanded continental breakfast with juices, fruit, yogurt, cereals and pastries.
The Lodge on Route 66
200 E. Route 66
Williams, AZ 86046
(928) 563-4366
thelodgeonroute66.com
Holiday Inn Williams
If historic accommodations aren't your style, the Holiday Inn Williams offers travelers clean and comfortable surroundings with easy access to Interstate 40 just north of downtown Williams. The hotel is still less than a mile from Elephant Rock Golf Course and has 120 guest rooms on two floors and 11 suites. The lobby area is done up in rustic old west design with wagon wheels, ceiling fans and stuffed buffalo head. The rooms are standard Holiday Inn, with clean bathrooms, crisp sheets, some with mini-fridges and microwaves. There's a nice on-site diner with Old West murals, a swimming pool and Jacuzzi. And, for those wanting to see the Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon Railroad, with daily trips to the canyon is a mere 1/2 mile from the hotel.
Holiday Inn Williams
950 N. Grand Canyon Blvd.
Williams, AZ 86046
(928) 635-4114
holidayinn.com
About The Author
Patrick Cameron is a freelance writer with 10 years of diverse experience in consumer goods branding, promotions and retail communications. He works out of his home in Denver, Colo. He received his Bachelor of Arts in mass communication from the University of Minnesota.
