Day Trip: Kingman, Arizona

Location
Kingman, Mohave County, Arizona, on Historic Route 66
Visitor center
Kingman Visitor Center, 120 W. Andy Devine Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401
Visitor center hours
Daily 9am-4pm; closed on ten listed holidays
Museum admission
One ticket, three museums: adults $10, seniors 60+ $6, 12 and under free
Route 66 Museum hours
Daily 9am-4pm, last entry 3pm; closed major holidays
Phone
Visitor center 928-753-6106; toll free 866-427-7866

About

Kingman calls itself the Heart of Historic Route 66, a title it adopted in 1993. The city tourism office says the town sits on the longest remaining continuous stretch of the old highway. Its visitor center is a division of the City of Kingman Office of Tourism.

The Mohave County Historical Society runs three sites on one ticket. The Arizona Route 66 Museum opened in September 2001 on the second floor of the Powerhouse Building. The Mohave Museum of History and Arts, founded in 1961, covers the region's Native peoples, mining, ranching and railroads. The Bonelli House, finished in October 1915 at 5th and Spring Streets, shows how a prominent pioneer family lived.

For the Route 66 centennial in 2026, the city added a drive-through Route 66 shield, a heart-shaped neon sign from a Las Vegas wedding chapel and a renovated Beale Street, one block north of Route 66.

What to expect

Most visits start at the visitor center on Andy Devine Avenue, where staff help plan stops in and around Kingman. The Route 66 Museum is in the same Powerhouse Building. It holds vehicles, photographs and artifacts from the highway's history. Your pass also covers an Electric Car Museum and a small theater that shows an hour-long film about Route 66 in Arizona.

Down the block, the Mohave Museum of History and Arts traces the area from early settlers to miners and railroaders. The Bonelli House is open only for guided tours on weekdays. Downtown, the Kingman Tours Plaza has a bronze statue of local historian Jim Hinckley and is the starting point for self-guided audio tours of the town's history.

Plan the trip

Good to know

  • One admission covers the Route 66 Museum, the Mohave Museum and the Bonelli House. Veterans and first responders get in free.
  • Hours differ by site. The Route 66 Museum opens daily, the Mohave Museum Tuesday to Saturday, and the Bonelli House weekdays 11am-3pm for tours.
  • The historical society asks visitors to call ahead, since museum hours can change. Its office number is (928) 753-3195.
  • The visitor center closes on ten holidays, including Easter, July Fourth, Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
  • The museum theater seats about twenty people, so larger groups should contact the museum first.
  • October 2026 events listed by the city include the Route 66 Street Drags (Oct 9-11) and Kingman Route 66 Fest (Oct 16-17).

Questions about Kingman, Arizona

Why is Kingman called the Heart of Historic Route 66?

The City of Kingman's tourism office says Kingman took the name in 1993, early in the revival of interest in the old highway. It says the town lies on the longest remaining continuous stretch of Route 66. The city has since added Route 66 landmarks, including a drive-through shield in 2021 and a heart-shaped neon sign.

How much does the Route 66 Museum cost?

The Mohave County Historical Society sells one ticket for its three museums. Adults 13 to 59 pay $10, seniors 60 and up pay $6, and children 12 and under get in free. Veterans and first responders are also free. The pass covers the Route 66 Museum, the Mohave Museum of History and Arts and the Bonelli House.

When is the Kingman Visitor Center open?

The Kingman Visitor Center at 120 W. Andy Devine Ave is open seven days a week from 9am to 4pm. It closes on ten holidays, among them New Year's Day, Easter, July Fourth, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You can call 928-753-6106 or the toll-free line.

What is inside the Arizona Route 66 Museum?

The museum sits on the second floor of the Powerhouse Building and opened in 2001. It shows vehicles, photographs and artifacts from Route 66 history. Entry includes an Electric Car Museum with old and new electric vehicles, and a small theater showing an hour-long film about the Kingman and Seligman stretch of the road.

Can I tour the Bonelli House any day?

No. The historical society lists the Bonelli House as open for guided tours Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm, with last entry at 2:30pm. It closes on major holidays. The stone house at 5th and Spring Streets was completed in 1915 after a fire destroyed the family's first home.