Don't miss its score if vintage motels such as the famous "El Trovatore" or the "Hill Top", its vintage cafs and diners. Olive Oatman Restaurant & Saloon: 170 Main St. 928-768-1891. Along the highway is Boundary Cone, a massive lava plug; and further afield is the lakeside resort at Lake Havasu City with beaches, marinas, nightlife and the original London Bridge!. West of the pass,
Built in the 1920's, Route 66 became the famous "Main Street of America.". It's full of original photos and artifacts from the Mother Road, and chronologically-arranged displays tell the fascinating story of the iconic highway. If you make the trip, be sure to tag @wildjoyexperiences or use #thejoyclub on Instagram so we can see your photos!! 66 Things To See & Do on Route 66 - explorekingman.com Now there is ample parking space on both the eastern and western sides of the pass. While not the most hair raising mountain road weve travelled, Rte 66 is sufficiently narrow, winding and steep with some tight switchbacks that we were glad we didnt need to navigate while hauling our trailer. As you follow this road up into the mountains, be aware that there are few if any guardrails along the road. Gorgeous views of the mountains, Laughlin and the desert. Points of Interest & Landmarks Scenic Walking Areas, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Copyright 2014 - 2022 Road Trip Journeys, all rights reserved. Driving time non-stop from Lupton (near Gallup) at the New Mexico border to Oatman is 5:45, less than a day's drive. Kingman is located on Historic Route 66, Interstate 40, U.S. Route 93, and Arizona Highway 68. Kingman is an affordable community, located in the midst of breathtaking natural beauty with the sunbelt lifestyle. Goffs
I was tempted to have an ice cream cone, but it was a little chilly for a cold treat in my opinion! Cruise along the Mother Road, collecting stamps at locations along the way. Map of Route 66 from Kingman to Oatman, Arizona. This section was bypassed in 1951 in one of the many realignments of Route 66. The Oatman family, from Illinois, was attacked in Arizona by the Tolkepayas (Western Yavapai) or Apaches in 1851. I will be traveling Route 66 from Seligman towards Kingman before heading up to the Hoover Dam. Sitgreaves Pass, elevation 3,550 feet, lies between Cool Springs and Oatman. They are a mountain range that was formed some 15 to 20 million years ago when lava flowed thickly over a base of Precambrian granite. From Seligman on Route 66 will take you to Kingman. The burros are descendants of animals used by miners and abandoned when the ore played out. There were some car wrecks over the edge and remains of some building foundations that caught our eye and teased our imagination. Amazon offers a commission on products sold through their affiliate links. 95 will drop you north of the Dam, but only a 15 minute ride. Only 23 more miles through Mohave County to Oatman, Route 66 travel kiosk between Kingman and Oatman, Cool Springs cabins, tasty foods, gift shop and museum between Kingman and Oatman Cool Springs: 928-768-8366, www.coolspringsroute66.com. There are many sources online and in print that document detailed, turn-by-turn tours through various alignments. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The gold mining towns glory days had long faded by the time I-40 passed it by way back in 1952. Stay the course, off the phone, drive it slow. July 20, 2022 6 minutes read. died of hunger- survived. Map of Historic Route 66 from Illinois to California, Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. Read more of his adventures at explorearizona.azcentral.com. The hard basaltic plug remains in place while the softer volcanic ashes that form the cone ae weathered away by erosion. Travel Route 66 Across California Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 across Arizona from Lupton to Topock. Yucca
He decided to save it. Austin Whittall. Most people get on I40 to US 93 that goes to LV. Antares
Route 66: Seligman to Kingman to Las Vegas - FeelingVegas Personally, I would just head back up 93 and save Oatman and the pass for a later trip. Arizona Route 66 road trip: Kingman to Oatman - azcentral.com Take your time and enjoy this part of the historic Route 66. Route 66 Maps at the National Park Service (NPS). In 1851, the U.S. Government commissioned Capt. By Austin Whittall. We were wise to leave our travel trailer at the campground/RV Resort (we highly recommend: Fort Beale in Kingman). In 1936 U.S. 66 was extended from downtown Los Angeles to U.S. 101, at Santa Monica. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com. From the intersection of Interstate 40 and Andy Devine Avenue in Kingman, go south on Andy Devine Avenue for 4 miles to where Route 66 splits off. Empowering people to seek and find adventure in Arizona, Youve successfully subscribed to Wildjoy. guide mentioned that it had "Stores, hotels, garages and camp grounds the largest undeveloped gold mining field in the U.S.". The town hung on, as the post office wasnt discontinued until October 15, 1942. Traffic is thin, a whisper of engine noise that barely dents the expanse and is gone as soon as the vehicle rounds the next bend. Show Times may vary due to weather or special events. All the information you will need on the best travel destinations, attractions, hotels, motels and restaurants on U.S. Route 66. Be careful to pay attention to your driving. The Historic Route 66 National Back Country Byway begins five miles south of Kingman at the McConnico exit off Interstate 40. Our first stop was the Oatman Hotel which was covered in dollar bills from the floor to ceiling! With its geographical location, it provides access to the gambling destinations of Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada, as well as the Grand Canyon, California, the Colorado River, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Lake Mohave, and Lake Havasu. A beautiful desert stretch of Historic Route 66, Oatman Road begins at the town of Kingman, a winding two-lane road that passes through 42 miles of Arizona's gorgeous desert terrain. You'll have to exit the highway to drive on the Dam. If you do take the road, the pass is really a beautiful place to see the beauty of the AZ desert. I have driving the road 3 times always from Cool Springs towards California and was in awe of the views each time. This section of Route 66 between Kingman and Topock has been designated a Back Country Byway, within the BLM (Bureau of Land Management). My husband will be driving but I hate heights. A tent city sprung up to cater to the prospectors who rushed in. Burros (mare and foal) roaming free on Main St. 1951 photo showing Arizona Hotel and soda fountain. Is any way to go through the Pass, from Kingman and arrive at Airport by 1 pm, or is somewhere else could stay overnight between Kingman and Vegas in order to go via the pass? If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. If you read some of Steinbeck's book the Grapes of Wrath. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Kingman: A Strategic Stop along Route 66 in Arizona - Travel in USA In the early years many sections connected only one small town to the next, and had no official federal route number. Alignment changed over the years, as highway engineering improved. Travellers too often skip Oatman and start directly in Kingman. Ben Taddock strcuk gold in Oatman in 1902 and filed a claim. For more Cool Springs information, history, museum gifts and more, visit But, if you take your time, which you will want to ayway, it is absoulety drivable and enjoyable. The other eatery is in the Oatman Hotel, built in 1902 and wallpapered with dollar bills, a tradition dating to the boom-town era. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Great photos of how to find Oatman Highway, Tell A Friend About ArizonaHighwayGuides.com. To get to it, you do have to drive through a fairly long and straight flat part of Route 66 where you'll pass a lot of Uncle Eddie's (think Vegas Vacation). In this day trip guide, you'll learn about all of the unique stops along Route 66 between Kingman and Oatman, Arizona, including the Fish Bowl Springs! 98% of travelers recommend this experience. Below are two old maps of the area close to Oatman between Topock and Kingman: Thumbnail of the 1935 Arizona highway map. Rainfall is scarce, only 7 in. Many burros consider the family pooch nothing more than a coyote with connections. 99% of travelers recommend this experience. Location: 34.718, -114.483 (Topock) 35.225, -112.490 (Ash Fork) Seasons: All year. Map. This is the remains of a gas station and ice-cream parlor that once stood here, where you can gaze into California and Nevada. As we continued our stroll through the ghost town, we encountered over a dozen burros! A classic since 1902. Here's my plan: I'll drive to a town that shouldn't exist. Copyright 2023 Route66RoadTrip.com All Rights Reserved. The town's burros and those living in the mountains as wild herds, were brought to the area by the gold miners to use them as pack animals to move out the ore. I Loved the motels along the way!! The stone structure sits on a hard slant of cactus slopes. As Route 66 left Joplin, Missouri westbound, it was only a short distance to Kansas, and then to the Oklahoma border. This will allow you to feel less rushed about making it home in time before dark, and this way you can enjoy more of Kingman! Joe, the instructor, was the kindest man and gave us great tips on how to throw an axe. Right at the top of the pass there is a pull off that you can stop. No fog or rain please. Location of Cool Springs Station: 8275 W Oatman Rd, Kingman, AZ 86413. The architecture is what I would call desert rat rustic. 66 becomes a mountain pass of 100 years ago from an old stone gas station to Oatman. Best to check your gas gauge, it is a long, long way to the next gas station! The largest city on the route is Flagstaff, with only about 65,000 residents. Listed below are two of the more popular apps but there are more! Saloons and T-shirt shops line the rest of Main Street, where Wild West enthusiasts act out the shootouts that took place here only in the movies. A beautiful desert stretch of Historic Route 66, Oatman Road begins south of the town of Kingman. More information about the Arizona Route 66 Passport, Order the Arizona Route 66 Passport online. Boundary Cone (3,432 ft- 1,046 m) pictured below, is a plug of white colored rhyolite (a type of volcanic rock). 181 Main Street. Click for St. view. Looking east, to the right of the old Soda Fountain, along the ridge that runs with a north to south course beyond Oatman is an unusual rock formation with a white tint, the Elephant's Tooth Mountain (3,666 ft). The highest point is Mount
Bearded roughnecks (and a few burros) wander the streets. At Sitgreaves Pass you might notice an old stone foundation. 2023 www.azcentral.com. Length: 57.5 miles one way Directions: The entire drive is designated as Historic Route 66, but it follows several modern-day roads. 66 will go through Kingman and the Oatman Highway signs will continue you on 66 and over the pass to Oatman. The Historic Route 66 National Back Country Byway begins five miles south of Kingman at the McConnico exit off Interstate 40. However, today, anyone with even moderate mountain driving experience shouldn't have any problems. The backside of the pass is covered with Cross at each opportunity point. Take U.S. 93 to Kingman, then go southwest on Historic Route 66 to Oatman. Map showing cities and towns along an early alignment of U.S. Route 66 across New Mexico, from Glenrio to Gallup, Route 66alignment in central New Mexico in 1926 and post-1937. However if you just pass through Oatman and go down to 95 business through Bullhead to 163 up 163 to to 95 and then through Searchlight and on to Vegas you are going to be rolling hard. Wide vehicles and vehicles over 30 feet in length should use extreme caution when driving this road. This is part of the legendary Route 66 road, and is located between the modern city of Kingman and the old mining town of Oatman. By 1952 mining had dwindled so the Route 66 alignment through Sitgreaves Pass and Oatman was no longer needed. In 1940 the first freeway in Los Angeles was included as part of U.S. 66, the Arroyo Seco Parkway, later known as the Pasadena Freeway. Thankfully, there are pullouts . Although mining is still going on in Goldroad, it is private property so please don't trespass. Olive later wrote her memoir telling her story. Towns >
But fortunately Route 66 was aligned along the N.O.T. Planning a Road Trip on Route 66? 6927 E Brooks Blvd. See all 1 Sitgreaves Pass tours on Tripadvisor, Donkey Trails Scenic Mountain House, sleeps 4, View all hotels near Sitgreaves Pass on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Sitgreaves Pass on Tripadvisor, Hotels near Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Motels near Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Full Day Premium Five Islands Tour in Cartagena, Morning Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Tucson, Best Seller! After a massive cleanup, he used old photos and blueprints to re-create the station in strikingly precise detail. MORE AZCENTRAL ON SOCIAL:Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|Pinterest. Historic Route 66 at its hairpin turn best. The Honolulu Club and Shell garage
From the capitol city, it ran southwest thru Albuquerque and Grants to Gallup near the Arizona border. Historic U.S. Route 66 from Seligman to Kingman, Arizona, with road trip travel guide, trip planner, photos, roadside attractions, hotel availability, and popular things to see The Mother Road Rt66 states Popular Today Rt66 Maps Facts & FAQs Drive Time Rt66 Store More Rt66 Site Map Agree & Close This opened the way for settlers who used these trails to reach California. Go west on Shinarump Drive about 1/8 the mile, then turn left on Oatman Highway. Take I-40 south to exit 44, also know as Shinarump Drive. About two and a half hours later, you'll find yourself on the iconic Route 66. You can follow Rte. You will need to bring your own bag of carrots to feed the burros. A Gunfighter organization has daily shootouts in the streets daily (1:30 and 3:30 PM). We spent some time in the ghost town of Oatman and then traveled to Kingman on Route 66. At Cool Springs Station, we met Hornfeather, who is a jeweler that specializes in carving horns into earrings and braceletes. His jewelry starts at $5 and increases in price with the technicallity - so worth it! We decided to join in on the fun, and purchased a bag of feed pellets for one dollar. I like to hunker here and as unlikely as it seems while sitting in the Mojave Desert watch goldfish swim. Several movies, including "How the West Was Won" and "Edge of Eternity," were filmed on location in Oatman, taking advantage of the town's picturesque street scene. The sights, sounds, and flavors of America come alive on this old highway and bring you closer to the country's small town living. Also, it's best to leave your dog at home. 3. at the point where the Gold Hill Grade climb begins, the climb to Sitgreaves Pass, which Rittenhouse calls "Gold Hill Grade". Big mistake! Westbound drivers have it the easiestsimply follow the well-signed Historic Route 66 west from Kingman, exit 44 off I-40. 1952 US 66 in Arizona < West - Topock
The route was later extended to the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic boulevards in Santa Monica, about one mile from the Pacific Ocean. This is a sparely populated area. The Best Indoor Activities in the Summer in Arizona, Top 10 Ways to Stay Cool this Summer in Arizona, Affordable Wedding Venues in Arizona under $1,000. 16 year old Olive had her face tatooed with blue ink as was the native's custom. The road writhes down through lava-capped hills for another 3 miles past the Gold Road Mine, which reopened a few years ago, into Oatman. Route 66 was built across the Black Mountains instead of following the route adopted by the railroad, which had easier gradients because it followed the National Old Trails
It traveled through Galena, Riverton and Baxter Springs. They were sold to the Mohave Indian band of Chief Espaniol, for two horses, beans, and three blankets. Route 66, between Chicago and Los Angeles, was named in 1926 but largely replaced by the more efficient interstate system during the 60s and 70s. TheRoute-66.com is reader-supported. Later the road features numerous switchbacks, but is paved, albeit a bit narrow. The Arizona Hotel has also been lost. There's not much traffic. It mentions the
Oatman
This stretch of old Route 66 runs between Kingman, AZ through Oatman to Topcock, AZ. Boulder City and the Hoover Dam are along 93. Not towing also allowed for some relaxed viewing of the scenery. Actually have driven 66 from Albuquerque to Calif as well. Proceeds from the sale of Passports benefit this cooperative marketing initiative. Planning to come back down to stay overnight at Kingman, then up early am on 4-4 back to Vegas, to arrive at McCarren Airport by 1pm for flight back to Texas. Once a gold-mining boomtown, Oatman hunkers in a craggy gulch of the Black Mountains, 28 miles southwest of Kingman. Midway between Kingman and Oatman, set against the angular Black Mountains high above the desert plain, Cool Springs is a nifty old rough stone service station resurrected as a Route 66 gift shop and mini museum. There are also the wild burrows that still wander through the streets of the town. Folks start to roll out of town in late afternoon. The map above shows the basic route from Seligman to Kingman to Las Vegas via Route 66 with no stops. 66 and head west. Will be starting route 66 from Santa Monica and going eastwards. Jack DeVere Rittenhouse, (1946). You'll find a comfortable collection of gift shops, modest galleries and casual restaurants. Oatman Road from Kingman, Arizona, by Kathy Alexander. Once in Oatman we stopped for a visit and returned to Kingman the same way. Wide vehicles and vehicles over 30 feet in length should use extreme caution when driving this road. The conservative libertarian bent of most of the local population ensures that nothing is likely to change Oatmans crusty charms. They run with a north-south alignment and measure 75 miles long (121 km) and some 10 mi. The Route 66 stretch from Kingman to Oatman starts out flat and fairly straight. 66 across the top of AZ. The Arizona Route 66 Passport is your guide into the heart of America. Like Elephant's Tooth, it is a "Volcanic plug" also known as a volcanic neck. Arizona is one of our favorite Route 66 destinations, with many miles of original roadbeds still open, and minimal congestion on most segments. Needles Via The Oatman Highway On A Route 66 Road Trip