The Mother Road is a name given to U.S. Route 66 by John Steinbeck in his Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Grapes of Wrath.  Before it was replaced by the Interstate Highway System, Route 66 had become an icon in the character, commerce, and culture of America.  Stretching more than 2,400 miles from Illinois to California, Route 66 enabled westward migration by all manner of motor vehicle.

Heading to Las Vegas from Sedona, we exited Interstate 40 to experience a few miles of the Mother Road.  The Arizona towns of Williams and Kingman have preserved their pieces of the historic highway.  Williams was the very last to be bypassed by the interstate.  Both towns retain the spirit of 66 in their historic business district motels, diners, soda fountains, restaurants, souvenir shops and classic cars.