Have you heard about Oatman, AZ? It is one of the cool little towns on historic Route 66 with a TON of character. For a town this size the number of things to do in Oatman AZ is quite surprising. If I had to describe it in short I would say “It is Old West at its best”.
Oatman, AZ can make a great day trip from Las Vegas or a perfect pitstop for your road trip from California to Northern Arizona. Here is what you need to know about this town before you go.
Things to Do in Oatman AZ
Things to Do in Oatman AZ: #1 Meet Wild Burros
If you have animal lovers in your family then meeting wild burros who are roaming the streets of town should be on top of your list to do in Oatman AZ. These are decedents of the burros the miners used in town during its mining days.
The burros love it here because tourists feed them (you can buy burros treats at Saving Your Ass store for a couple of bucks- yes, you heard me right, I said “ass” 😆 – the whole town is quirky that way, from naming conventions to gunfight shows – see below)
These gentle animals have long become the town’s mascots – there are burros everywhere, from t-shirts to garden statues and everything in between.
And it is a totally FREE wildlife encounter, even if you don’t have treats the burros will let you pet them and take pictures with them. But be on guard – they will nose through your unattended bags.
Things to Do in Oatman AZ: #2 Watch the Oatman Outlaws Shoot Out
Are you a fan of Wild West? Then watching the Outlaws show (FREE of charge) is just what you need – it is one of the most unique things to do in Oatman AZ.
The show starts with a bit of a historic presentation about the town and ends with a bank “robbery” – with guns shooting and all (but all of that, of course, 100% safe to the viewers) It is educational and fun at the same time – DO NOT miss it!
Things to Do in Oatman AZ: #3 Explore Historic Exhibits
Just walking along the streets of Oatman gives you a feeling of time travel, for real. There are many historic exhibits to check our along the main street in town (Oatman Highway). There is an old mine, a jail, a blacksmith exhibit, even a brothel room.
Most of these exhibits you can explore while walking the main drag, some of them are hiding in gift stores, like the brothel room I mentioned above. The exhibits that we saw (the mine, the brothel room and the blacksmith were all FREE of charge).
Things to Do in Oatman AZ: #4 Try Your Hand at Shooting
I would be surprised if watching Oatman Outlaws wouldn’t put you in the mood for doing some shooting yourself, especially if you have boys in your family,
There is a fun shooting gallery right across the street from the mine (described above) where for a couple bucks you can have a load of fun. The guns are Old West type but they shoot with lasers, so this activity is 100% safe and fool proof. When you hit a target the target does something in response. Watch out for a snake! 😉
Things to Do in Oatman AZ: #5 Have Meal at Oatman Hotel, Restaurant & Bar
Why have a I put Oatman Hotel, Restaurant & Bar on my list of things to do in Oatman AZ? It is not so much for the meal, it is for the ambiance.
Have you every seen a place decorated with REAL money from floor to ceiling and then some? If not, come on in! You can grab a drink or an ice cream cone or have a full sit down meal – whichever part of the establishment you will go to you will see what I am talking about.
If you decide to have a sit down meal, definitely order Burros’ Ears. No wild burro suffered in preparation of this dish – these are hand made potato chips. I would say I am quite indifferent to potato chips in general but THESE ones were amazing! I could not stop eating them! They are super thin and crisp and delicious. No wonder they are the signature dish here.
Things to Do in Oatman AZ: #6 Check Out Local Gift Shops
There is a variety memorabilia sold in Oatman: you can find things here related to both Wild West and Route 66 pop culture. The store owners are super sweet and I personally wanted to buy at least something in each shop to support the locals, also because prices are super reasonable compared in other tourist destinations.
For example, we bought a kids Route 66 sweatshirt for $5, and a cacti identifier for $6 and a genuine leather wristlet for $16.
Things to Know Before you Go
- Summers are very hot in Oatman. We visited the town during Christmas break and the weather was perfect
- The town can get crowded, especially during the major holiday breaks and just before the Outlaws show. Build in enough time to find parking.
- Be careful while driving! Wild burros are everywhere, in town and on approach. They often stand right in the middle of the road waiting for a treat so you have to be gentle and slow while driving there.
Conclusion
If you are visiting Oatman because you are a fan of Route 66 then definitely stop by a nearby city of Kingman, AZ too. It is a fantastic destination! I have a detailed guide on Things To Do in Kingman.
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