Raise your hand if you have heard of Kingman, Arizona! Many of you probably have not, but if I say “Route 66”, I am willing to bet that even if you have never traveled along this epic road, you must have heard about it.
I strongly believe that every person should experience a ride on the historic Route 66, or “The Mother Road” at least once in their lifetime. There is no more iconic road trip in the U.S. – it is not just a scenic road, it is also a cultural phenomenon.
Kingman AZ is one of the small towns located right on the Route 66. But it is not just A TOWN. It gives you an opportunity to explore Route 66 at its best in one spot: the ride, the history, the pop culture and the food.
The Mother Road stretches 2,448 from Illinois to California – to travel the entire length of it will take plenty of planning and lots of time. What Kingman AZ gives you is a “flavor” of Route 66, a preview, if you like, which does not require much effort on your side.
There are several must do things in Kingman AZ that will let you experience Route 66 in all its glory.
Things to Do in Kingman AZ: Arizona Route 66 Museum
Visiting Arizona Route 66 Museum is the best thing to do in Kingman AZ. It is a cool museum that tells you the whole history of Route 66. You walk through this museum as if you are travelling along the Route 66 with the “time” dimension added to you trip, as you can learn about the Mother Road in different decades. It is a true Time Travel experience, for sure.
Route 66 was one of the original highways in the U.S. Highway System. It was as a primary route for those who migrated west, and the road supported the economies of the communities through which it passed. It was recognized in pop culture (songs), TV (“Route 66” TV series), movies (Disney/Pixar “Cars” series) and books ( “Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck, for example). It was a symbol of driving to a better life, to your dream in California.
We have learnt so much about Route 66 in this fantastic museum! But wait, it has another surprise for you – a fascinating exhibition dedicated to the history of electric cars. There are dozens of exhibits of various electric models from a wheelchair to race cars and everything in between. My boys absolutely loved it!
You end your Arizona Route 66 Museum tour with a gift store where you can get some awesome Route 66 memorabilia.
Don’t forget to check out some outdoor exhibits in which you can sit in.
Things to Do in Kingman AZ: Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner
Stopping by Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner is the most delicious thing to do in Kingman AZ. It is not just a diner, it is an institution, a museum of sorts as well, with some amazing memorabilia from Route 66 glory days. When you open the door, you are stepping into 1950s-1960s. May be this is exactly how time machine works!
The whole ambiance is fabulous and the burgers and milk shakes are to die for! These are one of the most delicious gourmet burgers and shakes I have ever tried, hands down. Oh, and get sweet potato fries too! I am not generally a “burgers & fries” type person but, man, Mr. D’s lunch was perfect.
So sit down, relax, listen to the 1960s music (you can select your own from the music box) and definitely browse the photos and posters on the walls for some nostalgia.
Address: 105 E Andy Devine Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401.
Things to Do in Kingman AZ: Locomotive Park
Locomotive Park is a nice little park right across the street from the Route 66 Museum (in fact, all the these 3 attractions are located at the same road intersection: Historic Rout 66 & N 1st St.). It has a couple of rail road exhibits, a steam engine and a couple of train cars that kids like to explore and climb on. It also has cute benches made of train cars’ wheels.
Even though this attraction has nothing to do with Route 66, it is still worth stopping by and let kids run some steam off, especially if you were on the road for a while. This Kingman AZ attraction is FREE of charge – what’s not to like?
Also, if you like trains and have time to spare, stop by Kingman Railroad Museum that is just down the road from the Locomotive Park on Historic Route 66. It is a small museum but it has awesome model train exhibits and an operational train depot.
Kingman AZ: Video Tour
If you would like to have a preview of various things to do in Kingman AZ, check out our short fun video review:
How to best visit Kingman AZ?
The best way to visit Kingman AZ is to add it as a stop to a Southwestern road trip. I have a couple of Arizona itineraries on my blog where it will fit beautifully, for instance: Flagstaff with Kids and Phoenix to Grand Canyon. We stopped in Kingman on our San Francisco to Flagstaff road trip.
Kingman AZ also makes an easy one day road trip from Las Vegas.
When is the best time to visit Kingman AZ?
I think Kingman AZ makes for a great destination any time of year. Yes, summers are hot here but it should not matter much since you are not planning on a long and strenuous outdoor hike.
But if you want to add some really special things to do in Kingman AZ , come visit this town during Kingman 66 Fest festival. It is a 3 day event in November that celebrates the iconic Route 66 with car and motorcycle show, live music, family friendly games, train rides and much more!
Where to stay in Kingman AZ?
We did not stay in Kingman when we visited, it was a day trip, so I cannot personally recommend any specific hotel. But here is a detailed list of various lodging options available in Kingman AZ.
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Helpful resources about Route 66
If you are planning to explore Route 66 beyond Kingman AZ, which I highly recommend, here are some great resources for you about Route 66 attractions, history and everything else you need to know to travel the Mother Road:
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