We came to Winslow, Arizona not really expecting much.
Honestly… this felt like one of those stops where you check the box, take a picture, and move on.
And for a little while… that’s kind of what it was.
But this stop ended up surprising us more than we thought it would.
Heading North (and a Great Harvest Hosts Stop)
We were actually coming up from Yuma trying to get out of the heat.
It had gotten way warmer than we expected, so we decided to start heading north and just see what we found along the way.
One of our first stops was a Harvest Hosts location — Pierre’s Prime Beef.
And this is exactly why we love Harvest Hosts.
It was a quiet farm setting with animals all around, wide open space, and just a really cool change of pace from a campground.
If you’ve never used Harvest Hosts before, it’s honestly one of our favorite ways to travel.
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It opens up a ton of unique overnight stays you just wouldn’t find otherwise.
Winslow… and Waiting Out the Wind
When we got into Winslow, the wind was ripping.
Like… not fun outside kind of wind.
So we ended up staying one night at the Winslow Elks just to wait it out.
That’s another one of those great fallback options when you’re traveling — nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.
By the next day, things had settled down enough for us to actually get out and explore.
Of Course… We Went to “The Corner”
If you’re in Winslow, you’re going to the corner.
There’s really no way around it 😄
And honestly… it’s actually pretty fun.
It’s one of those places you’ve heard about forever, and once you’re there, it just has that classic Route 66 feel.
We’ll be honest — the town itself is pretty small. There’s not a ton going on.
But the corner? It’s worth the stop.
Take the picture. Walk around a bit. Then go see what else is out there.
Homolovi State Park (This Was the Right Move)
After the wind and a night in town, we decided to move over to Homolovi State Park.
And this ended up being a really good call.
It’s just outside Winslow, easy to get to, and way more peaceful.
The sites are spread out, it’s quiet, and you’ve got a mix of electric hookups and dry camping depending on what you want.
One thing to be aware of — depending on the time of year, you may not have water at the site, so plan ahead for that.
But overall, this was a solid base for exploring the area.
Then We Found Something We Didn’t Expect…
This is where things changed.
Before we even got to Winslow, Darlene had been doing her usual deep dive — not just “things to do,” but digging into blogs and smaller sites looking for places people don’t really talk about.
And she found something.
A spot just outside of town that almost nobody was mentioning.
So we decided to go check it out.
Little Painted Desert County Park
And wow…
We were not ready for this.
You drive out on this rough, pothole-filled road… and honestly, at first you’re thinking:
“Is this even worth it?”
Then you get to the edge.
And everything opens up.
Huge views.
Layered desert hills.
Colors that look like something out of a national park.
But this isn’t a national park.
👉 It’s completely free.
No entrance gate.
No fees.
No crowds.
Just one of those places that makes you stop and go…
“Wait… how is this not packed?”
Can You Camp There?
Short answer: yes… people do.
We saw signs of it, and even another RV out there.
But for us, we chose not to stay overnight.
It’s pretty exposed, the road is rough, and with a bigger rig, you definitely want to be careful about where you go (and making sure you can turn around).
If you’ve got a smaller setup, this could be an incredible overnight.
For bigger rigs like ours… it’s doable, but you just need to take your time and be smart about it.
How We’re Able to Do Trips Like This
One thing we didn’t really talk about in the video… but it’s a big reason this whole trip works…
Every place you saw us stay — the Harvest Host, the Elks, Homolovi State Park, even scouting spots like that overlook — we were basically set up to boondock the entire time.
And that used to be a lot harder.
When we first started, we dropped a lot of money trying to build out a full solar setup just to make this lifestyle work.
Now… it’s a completely different story.
The Bluetti system we’re running has made this so much simpler. It’s one main system, easy to use, and it just works without all the complicated pieces we used to deal with.
And what’s cool is — you don’t even have to go all-in like that anymore.
If you’re just getting started, something like the Elite 200 or Elite 300 can get you out there way faster than you probably think.
Charge it at home or at a campground, plug in when you need it, and you’re good.
That’s honestly what makes trips like this possible now — being able to stop wherever looks interesting without worrying about hookups.
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More Things To Do Around Winslow
If you’re passing through Winslow, there are actually a few other spots nearby that are worth checking out — especially if you’ve got a little extra time.
Meteor Crater
This is probably the biggest “attraction” in the area.
It’s about 30 minutes west of Winslow and it’s exactly what it sounds like — a massive crater from a meteor impact.
And when we say massive… it’s hard to understand how big it is until you’re standing there looking at it.
A couple quick things to know:
- It’s not free (admission is on the higher side)
- It’s very developed (visitor center, viewing areas, etc.)
- Easy access for big rigs (parking is simple)
If you’ve never seen something like this before, it’s definitely a cool stop.
Petrified Forest National Park (and the Painted Desert)
This one is about an hour east of Winslow and it’s one of the more unique national parks out there.
You’ve got:
- Petrified wood (literally ancient trees turned to stone)
- Painted Desert views
- Scenic drives that are super easy for RVs
If you’re already heading east from Winslow, this is a no-brainer add-on.
And here’s the cool part…
The views we saw at Little Painted Desert County Park?
They honestly reminded us a lot of what you see here — just without the crowds or the entrance fee.
Little Painted Desert County Park (Again… it’s that good)
We already talked about this one, but it’s worth repeating.
If you only do one thing outside of Winslow…
This should be it.
It’s rough.
It’s not maintained.
But the views are incredible.
And the fact that it’s free just makes it that much better.
Quick Tip If You’re Planning a Stop
If we were doing this again, here’s how we’d probably structure it:
- Stay at Homolovi State Park
- Hit the corner in Winslow
- Drive out to Little Painted Desert County Park
- Then decide:
- Head west to Meteor Crater
- Or east to Petrified Forest National Park
That gives you a really solid mix of:
- Quick stops
- Unique experiences
- And at least one “wow” moment
This Is Why We Love RV Life
This is exactly why we do this.
You can go into a place like Winslow thinking it’s just going to be a quick stop…
And end up finding something like this.
Something most people drive right past.
And those are usually the places that stick with you the most.
Final Thoughts
Winslow itself?
Yeah… it’s a quick stop.
But just outside of it…
There’s something pretty incredible.
And if you take the time to go find it, it completely changes the experience.
Your Turn
Have you been to Winslow?
Or would you have driven right past this spot too?
Let us know — we always love hearing about places that surprised you.
