Duration: 3 day stay
Best For: Families, outdoor adventurers
Start & End: Kingman, Arizona & Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Get your kicks on the longest uninterrupted stretch of Historic Route 66! This 158-mile adventure across Mohave County, Arizona, takes you back in time to America’s golden age of road travel. From quirky roadside attractions to ghost towns, diners, and desert scenery, the journey from Topock, Arizona, to Peach Springs, Arizona, is filled with iconic Americana and timeless charm.
Entering Arizona at Exit 1 off I-40, Topock welcomes you to the start of your Route 66 journey through Mohave County. Your first stop is the Topock66 Resort, a lively riverside venue perfect for a relaxing meal or drink before heading out into the desert. Just a short 40-minute drive will bring you to the historic wild west town of Oatman.
Oatman is famous for its free-roaming burros, descendants of miners’ pack animals, and for its Wild West ambiance. With daily staged gunfights, wooden sidewalks, and old-time saloons, Oatman is a favorite among families and photographers alike. The old Durlin Hotel (now known as the Oatman Hotel) was frequented by Clark Gable and Carole Lombard on their honeymoon in 1939. Travel tip: do not bring trailers on the east side of Oatman on Oatman Highway – the road is narrow at parts and has several switch backs that can make larger vehicles hard to maneuver.
The next stop you won’t want to miss is Cool Springs, home to a fully restored 1926 Mobil gas station and gift shop. The Rolling Stones once performed, “Get Your Kicks, on Route 66” in the amphitheater. This picturesque stop was also a filming location for the movie Universal Soldier and the inspiration for Radiator Springs in the Pixar movie, Cars. Depart Cool Springs and continue your journey westward to Kingman, the next stop along historic Route 66.
Kingman is widely recognized as the “Heart of Historic Route 66.” This vibrant city features the longest remaining preserved stretch of the highway, running directly through its historic downtown.
Make sure to stop at the Powerhouse Visitor Center, which houses the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. Grab your Arizona Route 66 Passport as a collectible guide and souvenir to get stamped along your trip. As you exit the parking lot, drive through the Route 66 shield for a perfect photo opportunity. Kingman also offers a variety of museums, including the Historic Route 66 Museum, the Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum, the Kingman Railroad Museum, and the Mohave Museum of History and Arts.
Downtown Kingman includes more than 40 historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A stop at Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner will transport you back to the 1950s with its classic chrome, neon, milkshakes, and homemade root beer. On your way out of town, swing by Lewis Kingman Park for a final Kingman photo op at the iconic Route 66 stand-up shield.
Continuing along Route 66, you’ll come to Antares, a classic roadside stop known for its quirky “Giganticus Headicus” statue. The site was once home to the Ranchero Motel, and its triangular sign remains, creating a fun retro photo opportunity.
Just a short drive from Antares, the Hackberry General Store is a legendary Route 66 stop that’s been welcoming travelers since 1934. Brimming with vintage memorabilia, classic gas pumps, and retro cars, this iconic roadside gem even inspired the Radiator Springs Curio Shop in Pixar’s Cars. It’s a must-visit destination for fans of nostalgia and unique souvenirs alike.
As you approach Valentine, you’ll pass the old brick Training School, built in 1901 and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places (though it is closed to the public). Valentine is home to Keepers of the Wild, a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary that provides guided safari tours and is home to over 150 rescued animals, including big cats, monkeys, and reptiles.
Continuing to Truxton, you’ll find remnants of Route 66’s golden age in the form of roadside signs and structures. Though the town has quieted down, it offers a glimpse into the past when this road was the pulse of American travel.
The final stop on this unforgettable Mohave County road trip is Peach Springs, the administrative center of the Hualapai Nation. This community offers more than just a cultural stop; it’s the perfect place to wrap up your journey with a stay at the Hualapai Lodge. If you’re up for more adventure, be sure to book a whitewater rafting trip on the Colorado River—a thrilling way to end your Route 66 journey.
As the Mother Road approaches its 100th anniversary in 2026, now is the perfect time to discover this legendary stretch of Americana in Mohave County.