Hidden away in far northeastern Arizona, right along what is now the I-40, is a small, sleepy little town that most folks just blow right past (or stop for gas at, but that’s about it). At first glance, there isn’t much going on there – but once you do a little digging, you’ll be amazed at the majesty of this little town and its awe-inspiring natural wonders that seem to surround it on all sides. Holbrook is a town that serves as a stop on the 40, though back in the day, it was once a hub of activity thanks to its position on old Route 66. Should you find yourself wandering what’s left of Route 66 in Arizona, stop in Holbrook – especially if you have a whole day to kill.

I'm definitely a bit of an explorer myself; after all, I'm a hopelessly obsessed storm chaser and photographer, but this time I decided to do something a little different: a day trip to this quiet, unassuming little Route 66 town.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
Let's get something clear right off the bat: the town of Holbrook itself is the very definition of sleepy. I arrived on a Sunday morning, and the streets and shops were empty (and many were closed). But, nevertheless, I didn't let this discourage me: I was determined to find adventure no matter what. But first, I needed some breakfast.
I made a stop at a little diner called Bienvenidos (which, fun fact, means "welcome" in Spanish - and I definitely felt welcomed). It's the top-rated place to eat in Holbrook, and I can definitely see why.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
The prices are low and the serving sizes are large. The food is delicious and served hot. The folks working here were upbeat and fun, joking with me as I sat and enjoyed my meal. My next stop would be at one of Holbrook's most popular rock, mineral, and souvenir shops, so I bid farewell to my new friends as Bienvenidos and moved on.
Jim Gray's Petrified Wood Co. is a must-stop for anyone in Holbrook, whether you're just passing through or making a day out of it.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
If you're anything like me, you'll leave with two arms full of awesome, shiny new rocks and minerals for your collection - goodness knows there are plenty to be found at Jim Gray's (I got myself some black amethyst, regular amethyst, and, of course, some petrified wood).
To say it's "huge" is to greatly understate things.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
The building itself is more like a well-organized warehouse-shopfront hybrid, offering amazing items and wares to remember your adventures by. You'll find all sorts of goodies here, from ancient fossils to bonafide Arizona petrified wood and everything in between. This is more than just a gift shop; it's a gift emporium.
As soon as you roll up and park out front, you'll notice the enormous hunks of petrified wood situated all over the property.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
Some of the pieces are much too large to pick up with anything other than a forklift, and they're quite interesting to examine up close.
Arizona's famous petrified wood was formed millions of years ago when there was an ancient forest in place of where the (really cool) petrified stuff is now.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
Over time, various silicas and minerals from volcanic ash (Northern Arizona is an extinct-in-most-places volcanic field!) settled into cracks and crevices in the wood of the trees. Slowly but surely, this mineral encroachment filled in the cellular structure of the trees, hardening them and essentially turning them into stone. Looking at petrified wood up close is an intriguing experience, and I definitely recommend that anyone visiting Jim Gray's take a look. It takes anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 years to complete the process, and there's something amazing about being able to physically touch something so ancient.

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...and speaking of things 5,000 to 10,000 or more years old, there's also a small museum tucked inside the shop. Here, you'll see all kinds of amazing rock, mineral, fossil, and wood specimens from Arizona and learn the histories of each.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
Of course, none of the things in the museum are for sale, which is a bummer, because I've always wanted to own a millions-of-years-old alligator fossil.
....his name is Wild Bill, by the way, and there's something amazingly humbling about standing in front of the preserved remains of a critter who was alive during the time of the dinosaurs.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
There are lots of rock shops all over Holbrook; this one, however, is by far the largest (and has the most incredible selection). I'm pretty sure there's nothing you won't find here. Need a piece of a meteorite? Check. Want some genuine Arizona petrified wood to take home? Of course!
And please, don't even get me STARTED on the amazingness of the enormous "rock yard" in the back, where you can dig around for the perfect rocks, minerals, and other things to buy in bulk if you so wish.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
I could wander around this place for hours, and honestly, I did. It cut a bit into my time at my next stop, but that's okay - all the more reason to come back soon. It'll be fun to show my husband all the cool rocks and minerals I got (not that we really have room for more, but I'll figure it out). Ah, the struggles of being a rockhound in a place famous for its geological wonders.
The next attraction in Holbrook I decided to check out was the absolutely legendary Petrified Forest National Park, which offers up some of the most unique landscapes you'll ever see.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
There's a northern and a southern side of the park, both of which are connected by a scenic 28-mile-long drive that winds through the surroundings. The drive is an excellent way to take in the beauty of the park quickly, so if you only have a couple hours, do the drive. You will not regret it for even a moment.
Despite the fact that it was a Sunday, the park was surprisingly quiet -- a lot like Holbrook itself. Turns out, this National Park is one of the least-visited and most underrated.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
There were some visitors at the time I was there, but the park is so incredibly vast that a few other folks being around doesn't seem to affect the overall experience. I hiked the ridiculously mind-blowing Blue Mesa Trail, which is considered one of the top ten best hikes in the United States (interestingly, Arizona's got a few of those). At just one mile long, it's easy enough for even little ones to do.
To describe the landscape on the trails, the drive, and everywhere else within park boundaries as "otherworldly" feels not quite enough.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
Petrified Forest National Park is by far the stunning crown jewel of Holbrook, if not the crown jewel of all of northeastern Arizona. Skip the crowds at the Grand Canyon and experience the cosmic landscape of PFNP instead - you'll be really glad you did. Even as an Arizona native, I vastly underestimated just how much this park would take my breath away.
I drove the aforementioned scenic road south-to-north, and at the northern end of the drive I came upon the intensely colorful (and totally mind-blowing) scenery of the Painted Desert.
Tori Jane/Only In Your State
Once again, words failed me. The color is brilliant and intense, and I can't imagine what riding through this place on horseback millions of years ago would have been like. The hills, canyons, and mesas are striped in shades of tan, red, and even blue. The official National Parks website describes the Painted Desert as resembling mounds of Neapolitan ice cream extending as far as the eye can see, and you know what? I love that descriptor -- I bet the rocks don't taste anything like ice cream, though.

If you’d like to learn more about Holbrook, please visit the official city of Holbrook website. Do not let the small size and overall sleepy nature of the town itself discourage you from exploring – I promise there are many, many sights to be seen, and they are splendid.  Overall, Holbrook is a small town with big natural “oomph”. The town itself is small and quiet, but as I said – don’t let that define it for you. Explore a little, and you’ll discover one of the most geologically (and archaeologically) rich day trip destinations in Arizona.

Have you ever visited Holbrook? Did you hike the Blue Mesa Trail? Send me lots of pictures in the comments – I love reading about your stories of adventure!

To discover more incredible boots-on-the-ground adventures across America from our team of local travel experts, check out all of the articles in OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers series. What destinations would you like to see featured next on OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers? Tell us where we should go on our nominations page.

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Holbrook, AZ 86025, USA