Located in northwestern Arizona, this Route 66 landmark city leads to the Grand Canyon. Its historic downtown includes the Route 66 Museum and stories from 1880s railroad days.
Kingman sits at a crossroads in northwestern Arizona, where Route 66 meets the roads to Las Vegas and Phoenix. You can walk through the Route 66 Museum's life-size 1950s street scenes, hike the pine-covered trails of the 6,700-foot Hualapai Mountains, or watch wild burros amble down the wooden sidewalks of nearby Oatman. The city's historic downtown includes the Mission Revival train station, restored 1950s diners, and local craft breweries.
Getting Around Kingman
Three I-40 exits connect to different parts of Kingman, 105 miles from Las Vegas and 180 miles from Phoenix. The Amtrak Southwest Chief train stops daily at the downtown station, with its distinctive Spanish-style architecture and red-tiled roof. US Route 93 runs north-south through the city.
Weather and When to Visit
At 3,345 feet elevation, Kingman stays cooler than Phoenix and Las Vegas. Summer temperatures reach 95°F (35°C), while winter nights drop to 30°F (-1°C). Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) bring mild days ideal for hiking. Snow falls occasionally in winter, especially on the Hualapai Mountains' upper slopes.
Route 66 Museums and Attractions
Inside the Powerhouse Visitor Center, climb to the second floor Route 66 Museum to see life-size scenes of early road travel. The exhibits trace the road's evolution from 1920s dirt track through its 1960s heyday. At the historic train depot, the Railroad Museum's detailed model shows Kingman's 1940s downtown, complete with miniature steam engines and period buildings.
Mountain and Desert Activities
Hike the Potato Patch Loop (1 mile) or climb to Aspen Peak (8 miles) through pine and juniper forests in Hualapai Mountain Park. The Cerbat Foothills' 35 miles of trails wind past saguaro cacti and rocky outcrops where desert tortoises and golden eagles live. From Castle Rock Trail's summit, you'll see across the Hualapai Valley to the jagged Cerbat Mountains.
Local Drinks and Food Scene
Black Bridge Brewery crafts IPAs and stouts in a brick-walled downtown taproom. Near the airport, Desert Diamond Distillery makes rum in copper stills. Two wineries, Cella and Stetson, grow Mediterranean grape varieties in the high desert soil. Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner maintains its original 1950s neon signs and serves classic American diner food.
Day Trips from Kingman
Walk 70 feet over the Grand Canyon's edge on the Skywalk glass bridge, 70 miles northeast of Kingman. In Oatman, 28 miles southwest, descendants of mining-era burros wander the streets of this 1900s gold mining town. Rent boats at Lake Mohave, 25 miles west, to fish for striped bass and catfish in the Colorado River-fed reservoir.