laid its route from California to Kansas, it chose the road through Oatman. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving A revitalized interest in historic route 66 saved Oatman from demise, and while it may not be thriving, Oatman has a lot to offer visitors looking for that kitschy slice of Americana. Three million dollars of gold were mined between 1904 and 1907 and in 1909, the town changed its name to Oatman. Or get a full Phoenix to Oatman (Arizona) flight plan. After the burros, the Ghost Riders draw the most tourists. And there still are! 2022 World Adventurists -- All rights reserved -- Site by SDG. Oatman was one of our favorite discoveries on our Route 66 road trip through Arizona last year. Flappy. Oatman P.O. Watch out for the narrow roads with no guard rails and little or no breakdown lanes. Ive los, Explore more. We explored Flagstaff on a day trip and cant wait to go back. $64,000. We help people connect with the world and each other by stepping out their front door and embarking on journeys big and small. Kingman - East >, The 1926-52 alignment of Route 66 at Topock, < Head West It is published by the The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, a non-profit organization, dedicated to the preservation, protection, and promotion of both the surface, and the memories along Arizonas portion of Route 66. Credits. Generally considered an easy route. What is good about Oatman is that it is actually a living village and not just a tourist destination ghost town. Directions 16 year old Olive had her face tatooed with blue ink as was the native's custom. In 1930, it was estimated that 36 million dollars worth of gold had been mined around Oatman. Oatman-Gold Road Chamber of Commerce in Laughlin Tours escorted us there from Harrah's in Laughlin. Youre able to park your vehicle in a dirt parking lot, located on each end of the main street. The Oatman Hotel, full-service restaurant and saloon. Oatman is a village in the Black Mountains of Mohave County, Arizona. OATMAN. 2. Oatman, AZ and Kingman, AZ are in the same time zone (MST). There were over 10,000 people living inOatmanarea. The big motorcycle rally was coming up, so maybe they're just playing to their audience. 9/4/2022 7:08 PM MST. Nine months in Yuma---I headed out as soon as summer hit!---and 18 months in Bowie. By Austin Whittall. Driving West Do not miss the hotels saloon. CreditsClick on thumbnail map to enlarge, Thumbnail of the 1971 Arizona highway map. TheRoute-66.com is reader-supported. Built back in 1902, the two-story adobe structure welcomed many miners and movie stars. @Tiffany, I worked in Arizona twice, further south. People who live in Oatman generally consider the west part of the city to be the safest. She was held captive for five years, and then was sold to a local tribe before being freed to her family in 1855, nearby what became Oatman. next trip! The trip started out great but quickly went downhill. But fortunately Route 66 was aligned along the N.O.T. Try searching for places within 4 hours of Yuma. Oatman miners were then ordered to excavate minerals for use in World War II, instead of mining for gold. Biggest disappointment of my entire Rte 66 trip. Check the "Glory Hole" which despite its saucy name is a venerable site: Main and Oatman Topock Hwy. Although most of the town burned to the ground during the 1921 fire, some buildings survived. The easiest way to get to Oatman is to rent a car and drive yourself. As you approach it climbing the Black Mountains from Kingman, you will pass by the Cool Springs Service Station on the The Historic Route 66 Back Country Byway; with a US66 shield painted on the roadway. All streets and buildings location on the live satellite map of Oatman. Otherwise, try Kingman on Route 66. Home > Your best bet is to spend the night in Kingman or Needles and make a day trip to Oatman. Interstate 40 advancing eastwards from California crossed the Colorado River in 1966 and replaced U.S. 66 in this area. Credits, The resort town of Lake Havasu City on Lake Havasu has beaches along the lake's scenic shoreline, an active nightlife and the original London bridge (you can take a Tour to visit it). Sorry to say that there was never time for just traveling or sightseeing or having fun. Directions to Oatman, Arizona! In 1992 the Addwest Minerals reopened it. I'm sorry this happened to you, Veronica! Located in the Powerhouse is the Arizona Route 66 Museum, at 120 W. Andy Devine Avenue. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. Oatman Gold Road Chamber of Commerce Website is made Heres the plan for a perfect day in Oatman, Arizona, the best place to eat for miles and miles. Sounds very different than our encounters there! However, if you dont have access to a personal vehicle, dont worry there are still options for getting there without breaking the bank. Just as the Vivian mine was about to close, Tom Reed discovered another vein in 1910 and the United Eastern Mining Co. struck gold again in 1915. Driving from Kingman to Oatman, Arizona on Route 66. Notice the white colored tailings on the right. We especially liked looking at the antique farm implements no doubt gathered from the area. Yucca One friendly poltergeist known as Oatie is believed to be the ghost of William Ray Flour, an Irish miner who died behind the hotel. 8 San Francisco Mining District, Oatman, AZ 86433. We took our dog with us and there were at least 8 or 9 other dogs as well. Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation Chocolate, Orion's with no sugar, hard candy, a few T-shirts, soda, Salt water taffy, etc.. 6. Near the summit, the road hugs the mountainside, with no shoulders and few guardrails. Follow the signs for Oatman, 23 miles. Oatman Arizona, little over two hours from Las Vegas in a good hour from Laughlin Arizona. We recently took a couple hours to visit the. Map of Route 66 from Kingman to Oatman, Arizona, Route 66 travel kiosk between Kingman and Oatman, Cool Springs cabins, tasty foods, gift shop and museum between Kingman and Oatman Needles (California) The staff there were completely rude and wouldnt help us with a table for 8, even though they were only a quarter full. Just make sure you keep your cones away from the four-legged scavengers. And it is still standing as you can see in the photograph and in the set of "then & now" photos below. who wants the trip to end? Pick some up for gifts and tell the owners we said hello. Misadventures to stop mining district, you back into the directions to oatman arizona is required. Oatman Ghost Town - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. highway took a more steep and winding rout through the gold-mining area of Oatman, further north. Among them was the Oatman family. 627-3-01-0014, ADMMR Map Collection, Arizona Geological Survey. Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between. Lt. A. W. Whipple visited this area during his expedition in 1854 to find a route for a transcontinental railroad along the 35th parallel. Oatman, Mohave County, Arizona, USA 64; 61%; 0%; 1.9 mi. Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation Proceeds from donations go to charitable causes. Elevation 2,710 ft (826 m). We then left Oatmen after being there only about 35 minutes, It was terrible, uncomfortable and not worth the drive in. Prices have increased to $535.00 and they charge $.15 per killawatt. In the early years, this road was a challenge to navigate. After Goldroad, the road took a winding course westwards. Not much came of the discovery until two lucky prospectors struck it rich in 1915, with a 10 million dollar claim. Easy to get started: Don't worry about car inspections or vehicle restrictions. To get there, you can follow Route 66 from Kingsman or Laughlin. Oatman (Arizona) to Yuma drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. Ben Taddock strcuk gold in Oatman in 1902 and filed a claim. Kruger National Park: A Safari Guide This page contains affiliate links. Oatman is a real "wild west gold mining town" with many Route 66 attractions. You can also find some cool day trips or get away for a weekend. Make sure you check road conditions Postal code search. You can also take a day tour from Vegas to explore Oatman. Let's find some beautiful places to get lost. TheRoute-66.com is the ultimate Travel Guide for planning the road trip of your life driving along Route 66. Via: Where should I stop along the way? Beds. Answer 11 of 11: We are passing through Oatman from Prescott on the way to stay in Laughlin. Choose your own hours: When and where you work is totally up to you. 12.70 miles. from MapQuest! A big feature of this place are the Burros, or donkeys as they may be better known. Date / Time. Oatman Western Mining Village/Museums & Scenic RT66 Experience Small Grp, Arizona Ghost Towns and Wild-West Day Trip from Las Vegas, Small Group Desert Wine, Distillery Tastings, Route 66 with Lunch, Horseback Riding, Joshua Tree Forest/Buffalo and Lunch/Singing Cowboy Tour, Grand Canyon West/Skywalk/Old Western Ranch/Joshua Tree Forest Small Grp Tour, 3-Hour Black Canyon Tour by Motorized Raft with Optional Transport, 2-hour Off Road Desert ATV Adventure in Las Vegas, Hoover Dam Kayak Tour on Colorado River with Optional Pickup in Las Vegas, Emerald Cave Clear-Bottom Kayak Half-Day Guided Tour with Optional Shuttle, Machine Gun Shooting Experience Major Package, Half-Day Kayak Tour in the Black Canyon from Las Vegas, 1.5 Hour Guided Raft Tour at Base of Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon West Helicopter Tour with Boat Ride and Optional Meal. Your email address will not be published. The food at the Hotel was delicious and the service was quick and friendly. Johnny Moss found gold in the Black Mountains near Oatman in 1863 but chose instead to mine silver in the Cerbat Mountains. If you research Oatman you see very quickly about NO DOGS. By Kiararamirez. Oatman, Arizona, 86433 United States 35.0264, -114.3835 View on Google Maps . This town/ village is amazing. Plenty of history and burros. Oatman is a former mining town in the Black Mountains of Mohave County, Arizona where wild donkeys roam the streets having descended from the pack animals associated with the town's early mining history. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. For more Cool Springs information, history, museum gifts and more, visit For aviation fans, be sure to make a stop at the Kingman Airport on the north side of town. 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. I think we paid $250 a week for a subcompact car on our last trip.