Blink And You’ll Miss These 11 Teeny Tiny Towns In Arizona
By Monica Spencer|Published February 15, 2017
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
One of my favorite things to do while traveling through Arizona is to see the tiny communities dotted along the roads, each one a close-knit community surrounded by vast open space. I like to see how each one expresses their hometown pride (some more obvious than others) and the quirks that make each stand out. However, some of these towns are so small, you can easily miss them in the mere seconds it takes to blink or yawn.
Our list starts with this little town west of Flagstaff that can be easy to miss, unless you take the small turnoff from the highway. Ash Fork has a population of about 450 and is quite picturesque, which is probably why it as a major inspiration for the Disney film, Cars.
If you find yourself driving the highway up to Page, you'll actually pass through landscapes that look just like this with houses dotted along the road. Bitter Springs is one of the little communities found sitting in the gorgeous landscape along Highway 89. You won't find much out here other than some houses and maybe some street art on abandoned buildings.
It seems unfair to add a ghost town to this list but Cascabel sits near a creek and offers a pretty view between stray houses and abandoned adobe buildings. The post office here operated from 1916 to 1936.
Another ghost town, Cleator sits along the little forest road that leads into the Bradshaw Mountains towards Crown King. You'll still find a few buildings occupied so a stop here makes for an interesting time.
Here's a place that will definitely be missed if you blink because there are only a few buildings you'll see before driving by! Most people know Clints Well for the campground but people do live nearby and you can grab a bite at the Long Valley Cafe and fill up your gas tank before continuing on your way.
Most people traveling this little forest road come for Crown King so hopefully you don't somehow manage to miss it! Crown King has a population of about 130 and is best know for its historic saloon that sits just off the main road.
If you've ever driven along Interstate 8 between Phoenix and Yuma, then you'll know Dateland for its, well, dates. This shopping center and rows of date palms are some of your only signs that people live out here. Don't forget to stop for a date shake while you're here!
Sitting alone along State Route 188, Jake's Corner has a population of about 70 people living in the area. Here, you'll find two businesses featuring the town's name: Jake's Corner Bar and Jake's Corner General Store.
This itty bitty town sits south of Payson just around the corner from the previous town. Rye has a small population that hasn't quite reached 100 yet but it has a handful of businesses that welcome you to town.
Driving along Interstate 10, this quiet little town is one of the few sights you'll see just before driving into New Mexico. One good yawn might just have you miss seeing the little houses sitting just off the highway.
Home to this strange houses and the Chrysler Proving Grounds, Yucca is a little town sitting along Interstate 10 between Kingman and Needles. Don't sneeze or yawn! You might miss seeing the town.