Distance covered by motorcycle: ~429 km
Route: Albuquerque, NM → Grants → Petrified Forest → Holbrook → Flagstaff, AZ

🎈 Up, Up, and Away! A Sunrise to Remember

We rolled out before 5:00 a.m. to make it to Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Co. for a once-in-a-lifetime experience: a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Albuquerque. Watching the landscape below us slowly light up with golden tones while floating peacefully in the air was unforgettable. No engine sounds, just the occasional roar of the burner and the sweeping view of the Rio Grande Valley, Sandia Mountains, and endless desert. It was pure magic and a welcome change from the rumble of the road.

🛣️ Back to Two Wheels

With our feet back on solid ground and our spirits sky-high, we grabbed quick fuel and supplies and headed west toward Grants, NM. A quick stop at Grants Farm to You offered a break, a stretch, and a few fresh snacks. It’s a cute, down-to-earth local spot that reminded us how much variety there is on Route 66 beyond gas stations and diners.

⛽ The Continental Divide & Painted Cliffs

Fueling up at Phillips 66 in Continental Divide gave us a fun geography milestone moment — we officially crossed the Continental Divide, where water either flows to the Pacific or Atlantic depending on which side of the line you’re standing on.

From there, we rode through increasingly scenic stretches of highway before pulling off at the Painted Cliffs Rest Area, just before the Arizona state line. Big skies, layered desert stone, and that “we’re really out here” feeling were all setting in hard.

🪨 Petrified Forest National Park

Once we crossed into Arizona, the highlight of the afternoon was a visit to the Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert Visitor Center. The colors and rock formations here are straight out of a sci-fi movie. Millions of years old, the petrified logs scattered across the landscape were once tall trees — now stone. It’s a surreal, must-see stop on Route 66.

🏜️ Last Push to Flagstaff

After soaking in the otherworldly beauty of the desert, we made a stop at Hopi Travel Plaza to cool off and then powered through the last 150 km to Flagstaff, arriving in time for dinner.

We capped the night off with flavorful dishes at Swaad Stop, an Indian restaurant that gave our tastebuds something totally different. After a day filled with flight, fossils, and fiery skies, it was the perfect finish.

🗺️ Highlights of the Day:

• Total motorcycle distance: ~429 km
• Time riding: 9 hr 14 min
• Top experiences:
  • Hot Air Balloon ride with Rainbow Ryders
  • Grants Farm to You (local farm stand)
  • Crossing the Continental Divide
  • Exploring Petrified Forest National Park
  • Indian dinner at Swaad Stop, Flagstaff

✍️ Quote of the Day:

“Today we soared above the desert and touched stone trees — Route 66 always finds a way to surprise you.”