Kingman is best known as a Route 66 stop, but the town offers more than a quick roadside break. Its history reaches from Native American communities and nineteenth-century wagon routes to the arrival of the railroad and the development of Route 66, giving visitors several layers of local history to explore.
The town was established as a railroad stop in the 1880s and later became an important point on U.S. Highway 66 after the road was created in 1926. For newcomers, the best things to do in Kingman, Arizona, are concentrated around this history, making it easy to see several attractions in a single day.
1. Start at the Historic Powerhouse
The Historic Powerhouse is the most practical first stop in Kingman because several attractions are located in the same complex. The building originally supplied electrical power to the town and later supported construction related to Hoover Dam before being closed for decades and renovated in 1997.
Today, the building houses the Kingman Visitor Center, the Arizona Route 66 Museum, and the Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum. The visitor center is useful for maps, brochures, and local information, while the gift shop focuses heavily on Route 66 memorabilia.
For first-time visitors, beginning here makes it easier to decide how much time to spend on the rest of Kingman.
2. See the Route 66 Drive-Through Sign
One of the simplest things to do in Kingman Arizona, is also one of its most recognizable photo stops. Outside the Powerhouse parking area stands a large illuminated Route 66 sign designed so cars can drive directly through it. The location works particularly well as a short stop before or after visiting the museums inside the Powerhouse complex. Because the sign is located beside the visitor center, there is no need to build a separate part of the itinerary around it. It can simply be combined with the first stop.
3. Visit the Arizona Route 66 Museum
Travelers following the historic highway should allow time for the Arizona Route 66 Museum, which explains how travel through this part of Arizona developed over several centuries.
The museum traces routes along the 35th parallel from early Native American trade routes through U.S. Army surveying expeditions and the creation of Route 66. Exhibits use murals, photographs, and full-size displays to illustrate different periods.
One section covers Dust Bowl migrants traveling west during the Great Depression, while later displays focus on twentieth-century road travel and the cultural importance of the Mother Road. The museum therefore provides useful context before exploring other Route 66 locations around Kingman.
4. Walk Through Historic Downtown Kingman
After the museums, the Historic Downtown Kingman Walking Trail provides a straightforward way to see more of the town on foot. Kingman has more than 40 buildings and sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Mohave County Courthouse, the former Masonic Temple, and a small historic schoolhouse. Walking tour guides are available from the Powerhouse Visitor Center.
This is one of the better options for travelers who have already spent several hours driving Route 66 and want an activity that does not require another long car journey.
5. Explore the Mohave Museum of History and Arts
The Mohave Museum of History and Arts broadens the story beyond Route 66. Its exhibitions cover the wider heritage of northwestern Arizona, including prehistoric periods, mining, and ranching.
The museum also includes material devoted to Andy Devine, a Kingman native who became a film actor during the 1930s. This makes the museum a useful final stop for visitors who want more regional context after focusing primarily on highway and railroad history.
A Simple Kingman Itinerary
For a first visit, these top five things to do in Kingman, Arizona fit naturally into a compact route:
- Historic Powerhouse.
- Route 66 sign.
- Arizona Route 66 Museum.
- Historic Downtown.
- Mohave Museum of History and Arts.
Most of the attractions focus on different stages of the same story, from early travel routes and railroad development to Route 66 and the growth of modern Kingman. That concentration makes the town particularly easy to explore during a road trip, while still offering enough history to justify spending more than a quick fuel stop.