The Route 66 UltraRun will always be held the 2 nd weekend of November from Friday through Monday night. For 2024 that means:

Crew, Vehicles and Pacers

At the Route 66 UltraRun, crew members may also pace the runner where allowed. A Crewing Guidance document for the Route 66 UltraRun will be added soon. This document will provide guidance regarding the following, and much more.

Have all of your crew members review this document carefully. You may ask your crew chief to download, print, and bring these guidelines to the race.

See WHERE TO STAY for suggestions about hotels in Peach Springs and/or Kingman to use for exchanging crew members if you will have more than two crew people, which we HIGHLY recommend if you expect to take more than 24 hours to complete the race, and especially if you anticipate a finish time of 40 to 60 hours. Money saved means nothing if everyone doesn’t stay safe out there!

The Race Rules provide detailed information related to crewing.

Vehicles

As noted above, we highly recommend using or renting a minivan for your crew to work out of, and using a smaller shuttle vehicle if you will have your crew work in shifts. There will be a maximum size limit of 20 feet in length due to restrictions on Sitgreaves Pass, and a maximum of approximately 8 feet in width.

The Race Rules provide detailed information about what vehicles are, and are not, allowed.

Pacers

If you want to use pacers, they must already be a part of your crew. Pacers will be allowed after the first mile of the course. Pacers do not need ‘Pacer’ race number/bib, but must abide by all race rules. See the Race Rules for more detailed information regarding pacing.

Getting there and back

Where to Stay

Here are some options for where to stay along the Route.

Seligman

The official race hotel for the Route 66 UltraRun is the Route 66 Canyon Lodge Motel, 22340 Historic Route 66. Before the race start on Nov 11 you can find your Race Directors, medical personnel, race marshals, photographer and videographer, special guests, and volunteers at the Canyon Lodge.

We are happy to recommend the following motels in Seligman for our runners and their crew.

Route 66 Historic Motel, 22750 Historic Route 66, Phone: (928) 422-3204 Be sure to ask about discounts at the Road Kill Cafe

Aztec Motel and Creative Space, 22200 Historic Route 66, Phone: (928) 455-1015

The Supai Motel 22450 Historic Route66, Phone: (928) 422-4153 and Deluxe Inn, 22295 Historic Route 66, Phone: (928) 422-3244 are owned and operated by the same folks, and are good options as well. Note that they do not have their own websites, but you can call them or use your favorite booking site to make reservations.

For great food, please consider West Side Lilo’s Café. They’re working with the race to provide special hours just for you! Please help support this amazing local business. RD Heather Ulrich highly recommends the carrot cake!

No visit to Seligman would be complete without a stop at Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In, built by Angel’s brother Juan and opened in 1953. Be sure to bring your sense of humor.

There are AirBnB options in Seligman, although we have not personally checked them out at this time.

Peach Springs

The Route 66 UltraRun will have a time station near the Hualapai Lodge in Peach Springs. In addition to a room for our time station volunteers, we will have a room at the Lodge for medical staff or urgent runner or crew needs.

Note that this hotel and time station are at race mile (RM 46). We anticipate that the fastest runners may reach this point as early as 2-3PM on Nov 11 so, there is likely no need for faster runners and their crew to get a room at the Lodge.

However, slower runners may not pass through until 2-4AM on Nov 12, which will be 19 to 21 hours after the race start. So, if you are in this group, you may consider getting a room at the Lodge to take a break. Or, if you have more than 2 crew people and a shuttle vehicle, have some of your crew use the shuttle vehicle to drive ahead to stay here on the afternoon/night of Nov 11 to get some rest; then you can exchange crew people at this point.

Kingman

There are numerous options for hotels in Kingman, which will be race miles (RM) 78 to 88.

We anticipate that the fastest runners may travel through Kingman as early as 8:30PM to 10PM on Nov11. So, again, there is likely no need for faster runners and their crew to get a room in Kingman although, if you do have more than 2 crew, we recommend making a shift change here.

Slower runners are not likely to run through Kingman until 3:00-6:30PM on Nov 12^., which will be 33 to almost 48 hour (two full days) after the race start. So, if you are in this group, especially if you didn’t change crew folks at Peach Springs, we strongly suggest you get a room in Kingman to exchange your crew to keep everyone safe. To this end, we want to share this ‘public service announcement’

DROWSY DRIVING is as dangerous as drunk driving! In controlled studies where researchers were able to measure the amount of sleep deprivation, drunk and drowsy driving both result in a similar number of crashes.

Do NOT put your crew, other drivers, yourself as a runner, pedestrians, and wildlife along the route at risk! Exchange and refresh your crew.

Please, be smart. No amount of money saved will make a bit of difference if someone gets hurt. As a runner, it is your responsibility to keep your crew rested so they will be safe drivers on the road and functional to meet your needs.

Your Race Directors have personally stayed at the Ramada by Wyndham Kingman, 3100 East Andy Devine Ave, Phone: (928)-377-5391. If you get a remodeled room, we can recommend it as a place stay; although we do not necessarily recommend the in-house restaurant.

Oatman

There are no hotels or short term rentals (STR) homes in Oatman. You should consider hotels or STRs in Kingman during and possibly after the race, and hotels or STRs in Topock/Golden Shores, AZ or Needles, CA for Monday night after the Awards Banquet.

Topock

There are some AirBnB options in and near Topock66 Colorado River, although we have not personally checked them out at this time.

Things To Do

Your Race Directors have truly fallen in love with the Route 66 UltraRun course. As you may know, in late February/early March 2022, we walked the each and every mile – and more – of the course you as a runner will step upon, and your crew will drive and experience, as a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association. We walked from 18 miles east of Seligman to Topock66 Colorado River, which was 158 miles, or 6 Marathons in 6 Days on Route 66. The history, the beauty, the places, and the people that fight to keep it all alive inspired us to put the Route 66 UltraRun together for you!

It is our honor and undeniable (at least to us) responsibility to introduce you to all that we experienced and fell in love with. We don’t want the Route 66 UltraRun to be ‘just another race’ about the runners, and definitely not just about the elite and most competitive runners, although we will always welcome, support, and cheer on the best in athletic competition! We do want this to be “A Race for Everyone.”

‘Everyone’ includes the Hualapai Tribe and their history, and all of the residents, lodging and shop owners and their employees, and attractions along the Route. We want each and every runner and their crew to experience, appreciate, and support it all! So, if you are a runner that might finish as early the morning hours of Nov 12, please, please, please plan on sticking around until the post-race dinner, awards, and 50s and 60s party the evening in Nov 13. Not just to share in the fun with all of the runners and their crew, as well as race staff and volunteers, but to take some time to visit all of the amazing things Route 66 has to offer. Similarly, if you might be one of the runners that will take close or up to the 60 hours to complete the 140 miles, please consider coming out early or staying at least an extra day after the finish to do the same. In addition to the information included here, see the Resources Along the Route document (and section, below) for more information.

We encourage you to bring your family and invite your friends to
learn about and experience this invaluable and unique piece of Americana.

We promise you won’t be disappointed.

Here are just some of the things you can do and
experience before, during, and/or after the race.

Look for special discounts/coupons in your race swag bag at check in!

Seligman

Angel & Vilma Delgadillo’s Original Route 66 Gift Shop is where the movement to recognize Route 66 has Historic all started! When I-40 opened on September 22, 1978, the stream of cars the businesses in Seligman, and all along Route 66, depended on to sustain their businesses and livelihoods, completely stopped. Angel thought that if the State of Arizona made Route 66 a historic highway travelers would be reminded of the option of a slower, nostalgic, and more scenic route that meandered through the small forgotten Arizona towns. Working with other concerned citizens and business owners along the Route, the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona was founded, the first group of its kind. In November of 1987, the State of Arizona christened U.S. 66 from Seligman to Kingman as “Historic Route 66.” More sections followed, and other states along Route 66 copied Angel’s model. It can truly be said that, without Angel, Route 66 would only be a memory, not an iconic piece of Americana, here for you to enjoy. The Route 66 UltraRun will start right in front of Angel & Vilma’s Gift Shop, and Angel himself will be our race starter. What could be more fitting?

Grab a burger, or at least an ice cream cone, at the Snow Cap Drive-In built by Angel’s brother Juan Delgadillo using scrap lumber he gathered while working for the railroad. Opened 1953 and still operated by the family (Juan passed in 2004) it is truly one of the iconic places along the Route.

West Side Lilo’s Café Located on Historic Route 66 in Seligman, enjoy dinner or breakfast at Lilo’s. You’ll enjoy their wonderful atmosphere with your fellow runners, crews, race staff, volunteers, and travelers! Try some pie, or the carrot cake!

Grand Canyon Caverns

The Grand Canyon Caverns were created over 65 million years ago, formed within the limestone that was once the bottom of an ancient inland sea that divided North America. These are the largest dry caverns in the U.S.A. You don’t want to miss seeing the (how many toes?) sloth and other, literally, cool things in the caverns. These caverns are actually right along Route 66 – not at Grand Canyon National Park. If you’re especially daring – at least in Heather’s opinion – think about staying a night in the Cavern Suite.

Hualapai Tribe, Peach Springs and Grand Canyon West

If you need beautiful place to while you and your crew (and maybe your family?) explore Route 66 before and/or after the race, we highly recommend the Hualapai Lodge

You can also use the Lodge as your base to make a trip to Grand Canyon West home to the world-famous Skywalk. While a member of tribe offered to take your RDs to this part of the Hualapai Reservation at the West Rim of the Canyon, Heather has said, “No way could I walk out there.” Will you?

Keepers of the Wild, Valentine

Open to the public Wednesday through Monday, 9 AM to 5 pm , closed Tuesdays, at Keepers of the Wild you can embark on a wild journey through a picturesque 175-acre canyon in in Valentine. You’ll see, in close range, over 130 wild animals such as lions, tigers, wolves, bears, leopards, primates, and various wildlife indigenous to the beautiful Southwest.

Hackberry General Store

In 1926 when Route 66 was aligned in the area, service stations opened along the highway and the Hackberry General Store opened. Business declined when Route 66 between Kingman and Seligman was bypassed by I-40 in late 1978. There’s a lot to see when you visit the store. There are vintage cars outside from the “good old days” of the Mother Road. The place is full of gadgets, signs, mementos, billboards, and artifacts from the 1940s through the 1960s. It is a journey through time to stop at the shop. Stop in: the store has all kinds of Route 66 souvenirs so you can pick your choice!

Antares and Giganticus Headicus

Was the gigantic tiki head placed by aliens? Perhaps! Come check it out for yourself in Antares. Let us know if you would want to battle the Guardian of the Route. The retro signage is groovy! And there’s a small store for supplies and gifts. Keep up with what’s new on their Facebook page.

Kingman Powerhouse Visitor Center and So Much More

A must stop is the Historic Powerhouse that is home to the Kingman Visitor Center headquarters of the Route 66 Historic Association of Arizona and their gift shop, as well as the Route 66 Museum. In the parking lot, be sure to get a photo of your crew van driving through the Kingman Route 66 shield.

There is so much to do and see in Kingman. Check it out including several additional museums, some fun restaurants and breweries on Beale Street, and Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner. What could be better than a burger, fries,and a shake, or a good breakfast, at an old-fashioned diner?!

Cool Springs Camp

Cats have nine lives. Phoenix’ rise from the ashes. Cool Springs Camp gives them both a run for their money! This nifty old rough stone service station was built in the 1920s, flourished in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, only to be abandoned in the early 1960s, and burned down in the mid-60s. It was briefly in brought back to life in 1991 when Hollywood used it as a location for their movie “Universal Soldier”. Then, they blew it up

leaving it in ruins once more. It would stay this way until it was resurrected in 2006 as a gift shop offering Route 66 souvenirs and one of a kind Cool Springs memorabilia, as well as serving as a mini museum. Located on Route 66, also known as the Oatman Highway in this area, Cool Springs is nestled in the shadow of Thimble Butte just before the road climbs into the Black Mountains up Sitgreaves Pass to Oatman. Plan to spend some time in the area exploring.

Oatman

There’s no place like Oatman. Where else do you have wild donkeys, descendants of the beast of burden used by miners, wondering the streets, looking for handouts? And possibly a bag of roasted nuts or a purse to snatch (be careful!). Plus, covered sidewalks, plank floors, and corrugated tin walls giving it an authentic Old West feel, which is further enhanced by gunfights in the street. When Route 66 abandoned Oatman, mining kept it alive, while tourism is the primary source of revenue today.

There are numerous stores to explore and make your purchases; but be sure to stop by Fast Fanny’s Place and say hello to April Etue, who has been a great ally to your RDs, source of information and connections, and supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of her mom.

Topock66 Colorado River and Topock Area

We are so excited to be allowed to have our finish line at Topock66 Colorado River. Our post-race dinner (no, not cold pizza!), awards ceremony, and party will also be held at Topock66. For some extra Kicks, bring your favorite 1950s or 1960s threads! Vintage or otherwise. Your RDs will definitely be sporting their best . . . maybe even some original Chuck Taylor Converse All Stars that were someone’s first “running” shoes. Enjoy the pool deck, bar, patio, food, beverages, and unique stools.

There are some water sport options in the area to keep you and your crew entertained. Check out Topock Rental for jet skis and boats (928) 750-1262. Or contact Jerkwater in Topock/Golden Shores to plan a paddle trip (928) 768-7753.

Lake Havasu City

Just a 40 minute drive from Topock66, there’s more than just the London Bridge to see in Lake Havasu City. Travel up the Topock Gorge (it’s beautiful!) using  Bluewater Jet Boat Tours or Lake Havasu Boat Tours. Rent a canoe or kayak at Western Arizona Canoe and Kayak Outfitters (WACKO). Learn more about things to do in Havasu at  https://www.golakehavasu.com/

Resources Along The Route

We have put together a detailed document of Resources Along the Route that will be of great help in planning your race, as well as an invaluable resource to your crew during the race. Download and print out this document and bring it with you to the race. At the pre-race meeting we will ask your crew chief to show us a copy of this document. Keep the Resources document it in your crew vehicle for the entire race. In addition to the following, it provides first responder locations and contact information, including law enforcement and fire/emergency medical response (EMR) – think EMTs, paramedics, and/or ambulances – that are critical for you to have out there on the Route. By location, the Resources document provides information about:

There is separate section for Towing and Auto Repair, and an Emergency Resources section with the first responder information mentioned above, as well as numbers for key race staff.

Weather

Volunteer

If you’re interested in working as a volunteer for the race, email race director Heather Ulrich at Heather@MarshallUlrich.com

Note that we need true volunteers: that is, the race budget does not allow for us to cover transportation/flights to/from the race, nor do we have any paid positions. If you fly (to Phoenix or Las Vegas) we may be able to arrange transportation/carpool to/from the airport with our other volunteers and staff, but cannot guarantee it.

We will provide lodging (hotel room or AirBnB house) during the race at or near the time stations and the finish line.

You will need to get your own food/meals during the race, as we simply cannot coordinate food purchases and deliveries, especially given various dietary choices (omnivore, keto, vegetarian, vegan, etc.) and preferences/likes/dislikes.

We have race marshals and medical personnel covered.

We have volunteers for the pre-race meeting and start line pretty well covered, but can always use some backup folks and possible extra hands.

We could use some additional volunteers for time stations along the route, and possibly at the finish. Here’s some general information of the location of those time stations and the finish line, when they need to be set up, hours they need to be staffed, and total hours that need to be covered. Ideally you will have your own transportation to get to/from the start to the time station(s), although we may be able to have you carpool with our other volunteers.

Time Station / Race Mile MP	Set Up	Staffed	Total hours STAFFED
Peach Springs RM 46 MP 94	Before Noon 11/11	1:30PM 11/11 through Appx 4:30AM 11/12	15 hours
Kingman RM 87 MP 53	Before 7PM 11/11	7:30PM 11/11 through Appx 7:30PM 11/12	24 hours
Oatman RM 115 MP 25	Before dark 11/11	2:00AM 11/12 through Appx 11:00 AM 11/13	45 hours
Topock66 RM 140 MP 0	Before dark 11/11	2:00AM 11/12 through 7:00PM AM 11/13	53 hours