Picacho Peak travel stop closes after 40 years

Bowlin’s Picacho Peak Travel Center and its adjacent Dairy Queen have closed after four decades serving drivers on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson. The stop had become a familiar place for fuel, food, restrooms and souvenirs for generations of Arizona road-trip families.

A long-running stop on Interstate 10 has shut its doors at the base of Picacho Peak. ABC15 reported that Bowlin’s Picacho Peak Travel Center and the neighboring Dairy Queen officially closed Saturday after 40 years in business.

The site was a regular break point for people driving between Phoenix and Tucson, as well as travelers crossing Arizona on longer I-10 trips. Drivers used it for fuel, restrooms, snacks, souvenirs and Dairy Queen treats, turning the location into part of many families’ travel routines rather than just another highway stop.

ABC15 spoke with customers who described the closure as personal. One visitor said he had been coming to the store since childhood, while another said the place brought back memories of family road trips and made the closing emotional.

For Arizona residents, the closure removes a recognizable stop on one of the state’s busiest intercity drives. The change is especially noticeable because Picacho Peak sits almost midway between the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas, where many drivers plan short breaks.