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Out on a lonely stretch of Highway 89 in northern Arizona, there is a stop that has been feeding travelers for more than a century. The fry bread here is soft, generous, and served with honey or piled high as a Navajo taco.
People plan whole road trips around this lunch. Keep reading to learn its history, what to order, what to shop for, and how to make the most of your visit.
A Century-Old Stop on Highway 89
Some roadside stops are just a gas pump and a snack aisle. Cameron Trading Post, at 466 US-89, Cameron, AZ 86020, is a whole lot more than that.
The property sits off Route 89 and overlooks the Little Colorado River Gorge. It is about 21 miles from Grand Canyon National Park, which makes it a natural pause for anyone headed north toward Page or south toward Flagstaff and Phoenix.
Cameron itself is out in open country. The trading post is a few miles north of the road that leads to the Grand Canyon and a few miles south of the turn to Tuba City.
Today, the complex holds a motel, a restaurant, a large trading post shop, an art gallery, a garden, an RV park, and an attached gas station. That is a lot of reasons to stop in one place.
Many Arizonans know it as the halfway point on drives between Page and Phoenix or Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon. Once you have eaten here, though, the stop starts to feel like the destination.
Wool, Blankets, and a 1916 Beginning
History runs deep here. The trading post has been operating since 1916, which is older than Arizona’s own Grand Canyon National Park designation.
In its early days, it was a trade post used by Navajo and Hopi locals. They brought wool, blankets, and livestock to trade for dry goods.
Over the decades, the role changed. The post now sells Native American goods and antiques, and it also runs as a hotel and dining room for travelers.
That long timeline gives the place a feeling of authenticity that many folks point out. The atmosphere carries Navajo history and culture, and it does not feel like a stop that was built last year for highway traffic.
For Arizona locals, this is a chance to connect with a part of the state’s story that sits right on a familiar road. The past here is not behind glass.
It is still open for lunch.
The Fry Bread Everyone Talks About
Here is the reason for the long drives. The fry bread at Cameron Trading Post has a loyal following across the state.
It is made with Blue Bird Flour, a finely milled, high-gluten flour widely celebrated in Native American cooking. Many cooks credit it as the secret to soft, tender, chewy fry bread.
Diners often describe the bread as fluffy and less greasy than they expected. It comes alongside many dishes, and it can also be ordered on its own as a side for about $4.50.
Plenty of people suggest a simple order of fry bread with honey. It is an easy way to see why this kitchen has built such a reputation.
A Navajo fry bread dessert also appears on the menu. One wish that comes up is for powdered sugar or cinnamon options, but honey seems to keep most guests happy.
Simple food, done well for generations, tends to earn its fans.
The Navajo Taco Challenge
Bring an appetite or bring a friend. The Navajo taco is the signature dish, and it is big.
It starts with fry bread and gets topped with chili beans, ground beef, lettuce, cheese, tomato, and mild green chile. The price lands around $14.99.
Many diners say they could barely finish it, and couples often decide they could have split one. A smart tip is to ask for onions and salsa, which add extra kick to the toppings.
Not every plate wins over every person. Some find the taco a bit mild and wish for more meat, while others call it the highlight of their trip.
The green chile stew is another favorite, with cubed pork, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and green chile, served with fry bread for about $11.85. A roast beef plate on Navajo bread with a whole grilled green chile also has fans.
Choose wisely, then loosen your belt.
Lunch With a Gorge View
Lunch comes with a view you will not find at a chain diner. The dining room looks out over the rocky desert and the gorge.
The restaurant is described as airy, with a fireplace and decor often called elegant Navajo. Tables are arranged to take in the landscape outside the windows.
The menu covers Mexican and American food, so a family with mixed tastes can find something. Sandwiches, quesadillas, soups, and a sampling appetizer plate all appear alongside the Navajo specialties.
Service gets plenty of praise for being friendly, prompt, and knowledgeable. Some meals run slow on certain days, so a little patience helps.
One house rule to know: groups are seated once everyone in the party is present. Takeout is popular too, with waits often around 15 minutes.
Either way, the scenery is included at no extra charge.
Rugs, Pottery, and Artist Stories
Shoppers, consider yourselves warned. The trading post gift shop is huge, and it is easy to lose track of time.
Shelves hold Navajo rugs, pottery, jewelry, and handmade crafts, plus standard road trip souvenirs. Many items are made by Navajo or Hopi artists.
A nice detail is the artist bios placed with some pieces. Small history signs around the shop add context about the craft.
Prices run the full range. Inexpensive keepsakes and t-shirts sit near higher-end jewelry and antiques, and some shoppers find the fine pieces pricey.
It helps to ask staff directly if you want authentic Navajo-made work, since a few decor items in the store come from elsewhere. Employees are known for being patient and helpful.
The staff has even helped shoppers replace lost purchases by phone and ship them home. That kind of care keeps people coming back.
A Garden Oasis in the High Desert
Nobody expects a flower garden out here. That is exactly what makes the courtyard such a fun surprise.
The grounds include a garden with fountains, shade trees, and many varieties of flowers. Birdwatchers have even been spotted enjoying it.
Some guests say it rivals botanical gardens they have toured. It is worth a short stroll even if you only stopped for gas.
Travelers often carry their lunch out to sit under the trees. A small picnic area behind the shops offers shelter from the sun.
The grounds are often described as well kept and spotless. After hours of highway, a few quiet minutes here feel like a reset button.
Rooms, RVs, and Road Trip Basics
Staying the night is an option. The rustic motel offers relaxed rooms with southwestern art and hand-carved furnishings.
Rooms include en suite bathrooms, balconies, free Wi-Fi, cable TV, and coffeemakers. Many have gorge views, and suites add sitting areas and kitchenettes.
Listed amenities include a pool, air conditioning, a fitness centre, and an airport shuttle. The property is pet-friendly, child friendly, accessible, and smoke-free.
Parking is free, and there is an RV park on site. The attached gas station makes it easy to top off the tank.
An overnight here puts you about 21 miles from the Grand Canyon. That means an early start for park views without the busiest gateway towns.
Worth the Detour
So, is the drive worth it? For a huge share of Arizona road trippers, the answer is yes.
With about 4,900 opinions behind a 4.4-star average on Google, the trading post holds strong goodwill. Meals, shopping, and the garden all get steady praise.
It is not perfect. Service can lag at times, a few dishes divide opinions, and the nicer goods carry real price tags.
Still, the mix of history, Navajo culture, scenery, and that famous fry bread is hard to match on Highway 89. Plan it as a lunch stop on any trip to Page, Tuba City, Monument Valley, or the Grand Canyon.
Check hours and details on the official website before heading out. Then save room for a second round of fry bread with honey for the road.
