Stopping at I-40 Exit One on Route 66

Most highway stops are forgettable on purpose. You pull off, fill up, use the restroom and merge back into traffic. A stop at Topock, Arizona works differently. Exit One off Interstate 40 puts you on Historic Route 66 at the edge of the Colorado River, at a property where you can eat, drink, stay the night and watch the boats go by.

Where Topock66 sits on the map

Topock66 is at 14999 Historic Route 66, Topock, AZ 86436. It's right at Interstate 40 Exit One, roughly halfway between Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City. If you're driving the old road between California and Arizona, or running I-40 and want a break that isn't a fast food parking lot, this is a short detour with a lot packed into it.

The building announces itself. A neon TOPOCK sign sits on the roofline, a Route US 66 shield hangs on the front, and an EXIT HERE sign helps you find the turn. The exterior is rust-colored corrugated steel with pink barn lamps, and it looks like nothing else on that stretch of road.

What's on the property

Topock66 is a hotel, restaurant, bar and Riverstore with a marina, launch ramp and fuel on the same site. Dining happens on a patio or indoors. There's a gift shop with Topock66 merchandise, a pool for hotel guests, a swim-up bar and a stage by the pool for live shows.

For a traveler, that means you can solve several problems in one stop. Lunch, a cold drink, something to bring home, a walk by the water. If you've got a kid who needs to get out of the car, the river walk is a good place to burn off energy before the next stretch of road.

The Route 66 mural and shield sign

If you're on Route 66 for the photographs, there's a painted Route 66 mural on the property showing a bridge, a motorcycle and vintage trucks. A Route 66 shield sign stands near it, next to a set of barrels marked Marina BAR. It's an easy photo stop, and you don't have to buy anything to take it.

Inside, the bar carries the theme too. There's an arched bridge truss overhead and Route 66 shields on the walls. The bar's menu card reads EST 1950, which fits the place: this stretch of river has been a gathering spot for a long time.

The story of the seawall and river walk

The property has a real backstory, and Topock66 tells it on its own About page. In 2004, owner Chet Hitt got a call that the Topock Marina, where his family had a vacation home, had been sold to a developer planning a private marina and condominiums. He offered to buy it himself if the buyer couldn't close escrow in 30 days. The deal fell through, and he ended up owning a marina and restaurant.

By 2008 the old restaurant and bar was sliding into the river. Replacing it meant a two-year permit process with the Army Corps of Engineers for a new seawall and river walk. In 2010 the old Topock Marina was demolished after 50 years as a tradition on the river. Then FEMA found that part of the site sat in a federal flood plain, which meant two more years of re-engineering.

In 2011 the seawall was approved and construction began on the new Topock66, starting with the restaurant, bar and retail space. On July 19th the first phase opened to the public. The story ends with a line from the owner: "Today we couldn't be prouder of our food, our staff and our customer service." When you walk the river walk, you're walking on the result of all those years of paperwork and engineering.

Planning your visit

The restaurant is open Monday to Thursday 8am to 8pm, Friday 8am to 9pm, Saturday 7am to 9pm and Sunday 7am to 8pm. Breakfast is served from open until 11am, lunch from 11am to close, and dinner from 4pm to close. Call (928) 768-2325 for the restaurant or (928) 768-2166 for the hotel.

A Google reviewer, shelley durazo, stayed one night with her family and wrote this: "Perfect for a little retreat away from crowds with a beautiful view and poolside drinks and food. Stayed one night with the family and kids. Rooms were new, spacious and clean. Thursday night wasn't crowded at all. Definitely recommend a stop if your traveling on i40 and looking for something more fun than a Holiday inn."

On the practical side, bring water and sun protection, because the Arizona desert doesn't care what month it is. Give yourself an hour for a meal and a walk, or the night if you want to stay. The restaurant holds a 4.5 rating from 2,936 Google reviews, so you won't be the first traveler to pull off here on a whim.

Next time Exit One comes up on the sign, take it.