Gallup NM to Flagstaff AZ drive: Best stops, distance & time
The best road trip stops on the Gallup NM to Flagstaff AZ drive are Petrified Forest National Park, Holbrook AZ and Winslow AZ. The distance from Gallup NM to Flagstaff AZ is 185 miles, with a 2h41m driving time.
Planning a Gallup NM to Flagstaff AZ road trip itinerary
The Gallup to Flagstaff drive takes you along Route 66 from New Mexico to Arizona.
Gallup is the gateway town to the Native American reservations of the Four Corners region.
Flagstaff AZ is largely known as a gateway to the Grand Canyon. You can take a Grand Canyon day tour from here, but you can also do a day trip to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
Other Flagstaff experiences include haunted pub crawls, e-bike tours and an adventure course of wobbly bridges, ropes and ziplines. Stargazing enthusiasts can also take a tour of the Lowell Observatory and the Walnut Canyon National Monument is just to the east of the city. The latter is home to several ancient cliff dwellings.
Good Flagstaff accommodation options include the utterly charming Little America, and the great value Elev8.
Gallup NM to Flagstaff AZ distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Gallup NM to Flagstaff AZ is 185 miles. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and 41 minutes.
The best stops to add to a Gallup NM to Flagstaff AZ road trip are Petrified Forest National Park, Holbrook AZ and Winslow AZ.
Gallup NM to Flagstaff AZ drive: Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park in eastern Arizona gets its name from the vast fossil deposits of petrified wood. Most come from the Late Triassic period, and the short walk to the Giant Logs is arguably the best place to see what it’s all about.
But this national park has much more to it than the petrified wood. It is part of the Painted Desert, and several walking trails show off the multi-coloured Badlands. Try the one mile Blue Mesa Loop or 1.2-mile Tawa Trail from Tawa Point to the Painted Desert Visitor Center for particularly impressive, yet accessible, scenery.
Gallup NM to Flagstaff road trip attractions: Holbrook AZ
Holbrook AZ is a staple stop on the Route 66 drive. It is in Arizona’s Painted Desert, famed for its colourful rock formations. There are several unusual stores selling petrified wood further to the east, but in Holbrook itself, the main attraction is the Navajo County Historical Society. This local history museum tells of the ranchers, settlers and businesspeople who have made a life for themselves in the surrounding area.
You can also stay overnight in a wigwam at the by-now-legendary Wigwam Motel.
Best stops between Gallup NM and Flagstaff AZ: Winslow AZ
Most people know Winslow, Arizona, from the Eagles song Take It Easy. Standin’ On The Corner Park is a classic, kitsch Route 66 attraction.
It’s not the only thing to see in Winslow, however. The Old Trails Museum covers local heritage, including ranching, the Santa Fe Railroad and Route 66.
Homolovi State Park, meanwhile, is home to several archaeological sites relating to the Hopi people. There are also walking trails and wildlife viewing areas.
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