A faded piece of Route 66, one arrow at a time
Just off old Route 66 outside Flagstaff, Twin Arrows Trading Post is what's left of a roadside stop that once thrived on pre-interstate traffic and hasn't operated in decades. The building's roof has caved in, the walls are covered floor to ceiling in graffiti, and of the two giant arrows that gave the place its name, only one is still standing. It's an offbeat but genuinely memorable pull-off if you're tracing the Mother Road toward the South Rim.
You can drive right up to the remaining arrow for the classic photo, and reviewers note it's an easy setup for a Forrest Gump "Have a nice day" shot. The ruined interior is walkable but rough, with debris and hazards throughout, so watch your footing if you go inside. There are also old storage tanks nearby, including some painted with protest art and social commentary, sitting in a holding pool that's tricky to climb back out of.
Most visitors treat it as a five-minute pit stop rather than a destination — a quick, slightly eerie glimpse of how Route 66 towns faded once I-40 bypassed them. Worth the short detour if you're already driving between Flagstaff and the canyon.
543 reviews
6 months ago
I loved visiting this historical place! I don’t really understand the bad reviews. Twin Arrows looked and felt as advertised. There’s beautiful graffiti to look into and the ceiling of the building has caved in. You can still walk through it and see the ruins. Great photo opportunity! I felt very safe here and enjoyed my time. This spot is definitely not talked enough about!
2 months ago
It's falling apart. Only one arrow is still standing. It would be nice if it could maintained.
6 months ago
Traveling across the USA we made this a random stop based on google recommendations. It’s a look at much of old historic Route 66 and how many of the places faded away when the highway 40 took over. It’s worth a 5 minute pit stop to see the ruins for some photos and a glimpse of old Route 66 culture.
3 months ago
A must do when cruising Route 66! Once an iconic trading post, now a map dot of "to do" things on essential Route 66 lists everywhere. One of the arrows came down in a wind storms so I found that to be a unique piece of trivia. Still, a great stop and worth it as it's just off the highway.
a month ago
I mean, it's exactly what the name says, 2 arrows in the road, cool to take picture if you're doing Route 66, otherwise, not worth the stop