Route 66 is home to an iconic side of America that is starting to see a new breath of life. When Interstate 40 was opened, towns and otherwise popular tourist spots saw their lives dwindle to non-existence when the new highway bypassed these places in favor of saving time. This led to many areas becoming underpopulated or completely abandoned ghost towns that can only offer a glimpse of their former lives. The Grand Canyon State actually has the longest stretch of the historic highway still in use. Here are eight Route 66 Arizona ghost towns you may find along the way.

1. Adamana

Founded in 1896, Adamana was a small community that sat at the edge of Petrified Forest National Park, along the railroad line, and just a couple of miles off Route 66. The town was founded to serve the park’s visitors; at one point, the town had a store, hotel, station house, post office, and several other buildings. The post office closed in 1969 and very little remains of the community today (Source: The Route 66 Encyclopedia). It's one of the most desolate ghost towns of Route 66 in Arizona today.

2. Canyon Diablo

Located along the canyon of the same name, Canyon Diablo lived a brief yet tumultuous life just one mile away from Route 66. Although the town operated from 1882 to 1903, years before Route 66 was established, it had a notorious history with large numbers of vice-driven buildings on its "Hell Street" that made other rough and tumble frontier towns look mild. There’s no doubt the town’s old history managed to find its way into the minds of Route 66 travelers especially when a nearby town, Two Guns, operated. After all, it's one of the most fascinating ghost towns on Route 66.

3. Goldroad

Located in Mohave County just outside of Oatman sits the remains of Goldroad, Arizona. The town existed for approximately 45 years (1902 to 1949) and it was a miner’s paradise where, as you probably guessed, gold was mined from the hills. These days, you can still find evidence of the town’s former self with ruins of old homes and other buildings.

4. Hackberry

Hackberry has seen its life come and go as a ghost town but these days it’s managed to stay alive thanks to the eclectic Hackberry General Store and long-time residents who refuse to move elsewhere. The town was founded in 1874 as a silver mining town until it reached ghost town status in 1919 when the mines were depleted. It came alive when Route 66 opened in 1926 but nearly died when Interstate 40 took over. Today, just under 200 people live here.

5. Oatman

We hesitate to say Oatman is a ghost town since it still has a pretty vivid life today and more than 100 residents but many sources claim it has ghost town status, including the town’s chamber of commerce. Located along a winding portion of Route 66, Oatman’s roots extend to the 1863 find of gold in the nearby Black Mountains. Most of the mines shut down in 1924 and the rest in 1941 but it managed to survive off its location on Route 66. This living ghost town is found along a remote portion of Arizona's Historic Route 66 and is a worthwhile place to visit on a day trip.

6. Truxton

Sitting in between Peach Springs and Valentine, Truxton was a little stopping point for weary Route 66 travelers starting in 1951 with a nice collection of businesses. These days, those businesses are closed but it is still home to approximately 100 residents and a few remnants of the bygone days of Route 66. It's one of the best ghost towns in Arizona.

7. Two Guns

Located just off the highway at Exit 230, Two Guns is a relative of the aforementioned Canyon Diablo as it sits just a couple of miles away from the old town. Once an old Route 66 attraction complete with a gas station, camping facilities, and caged mountain lions, Two Guns today exists in tattered, windblown ruins. And it's one of the most incredibly eerie Route 66 Arizona ghost towns to see in person.

8. Valentine

Located along the highway portion that passes the Grand Canyon, Valentine was established in 1898 along with the Hualapai Indian School that acted as both a boarding and a day school. When Interstate 40 was established, the town’s population slowly dwindled to just 36 residents in 2000. The town manages to stay relevant today with the Keepers of the Wild Nature Park, which is a sanctuary for exotic animals that sits outside of town. Keepers of the Wild Nature Park is certainly a hidden gem found in one of the most remote ghost towns of Route 66.

Have you visited any of these Route 66 Arizona ghost towns before? Don't forget to check out some of our previous articles on Route 66 and ghost towns!