20 Amazing Things To Do In Kingman, Arizona

Kingman stands at the crossroads of dust, rail, and legend. Tucked in the high desert of northwestern Arizona, this city of just over 30,000 people has long been more than a rest stop — it’s a point of passage, shaped by movement, built on grit. To understand Kingman is to understand a piece of the American West itself: hard land, big skies, and the long road ahead.

The story begins in the 1880s, when the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad carved its way through Mohave County. The man who surveyed that line, Lewis Kingman, gave the town its name — and gave the region a future. The railroad turned Kingman from barren outpost to vital junction. Mines flourished, freight moved, and workers stayed. It wasn’t gold that built Kingman, but the weight of steel on tracks and the steady rhythm of westbound ambition.

Later came Route 66, the “Mother Road,” cutting right through the center of town. During the Dust Bowl, desperate families rolled west through Kingman with everything they owned tied to the backs of pickups. After World War II, the road brought something else — freedom, romance, the open highway. Elvis Presley even trained nearby at the old Kingman Army Airfield. Route 66 made Kingman more than a city. It made it a symbol.

Let's explore the best things to do in Kingman, Arizona, and why this city has a special place in American history.

1. Route 66 Museum

📍 Location: 120 W Andy Devine Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401

Inside the old Kingman Powerhouse — a brick building once used to generate electricity for the city’s early rail operations — sits one of the most thoughtfully curated tributes to America’s most famous road: the Arizona Route 66 Museum. But this isn’t just a room full of signs and souvenirs. This is a walk through the lives of people who moved across a continent with little more than hope and direction.

The museum tells the layered story of travel through Arizona, starting long before the invention of cars. The journey begins with Native American trade routes that cut through the desert, followed by the arrival of Spanish explorers, and then the heavy wagon wheels of westbound settlers chasing uncertain futures. The exhibit doesn’t rush — it gives each chapter space to breathe.

Then comes the heart of it all: Route 66. Opened in 1926, the highway cut through Kingman like a lifeline. The museum’s second floor captures this era in sharp detail — from Dust Bowl migration to post-war freedom rides, from roadside motels and greasy diners to the changing dreams of middle America. Photographs line the walls, telling quiet stories. There's a fully restored 1950 Studebaker Champion. There’s a display on early service stations. You begin to feel what it meant to drive west with your life packed into the trunk.

What makes this museum different is its honesty. It doesn’t romanticize the road; it respects it. Route 66 was never just about the drive — it was about escape, reinvention, and sometimes survival. The museum makes space for all of that.

2. Kingman Railroad Museum

📍 Location: 402 Andy Devine Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401

In Kingman, the railroad didn’t just bring supplies — it brought life. And nowhere is that legacy more visible than at the Kingman Railroad Museum, housed inside the original Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Depot. The building itself is history in brick and timber — solid, straightforward, and still standing at the edge of live tracks where freight trains rumble past like echoes from a past that never fully left.

Step inside, and you’re met with more than nostalgia. This is a space held together by volunteers and memory. Run by the Whistle Stop Railroad Club, the museum tells the story of the rail lines that stitched Kingman into the fabric of the American West. The exhibits are modest, but they carry weight — lanterns, tools, uniforms, and photographs showing conductors, engineers, and station agents who worked these lines before most highways existed.

In the center of the room, model train displays fill glass-covered tables, running with intricate precision. These aren’t toys — they’re living history in miniature. Each scaled-down track tells a different chapter of Arizona’s rail past, with mountains, tunnels, depots, and towns recreated in detail. Children watch with wide eyes. Adults lean in and remember.

But what gives the museum its pulse is the track just outside. Amtrak still runs through Kingman. Long freight trains pass within yards of the platform. Visitors often step out to the platform just to watch — and feel — the rush of steel and speed that once transformed this dusty town into a vital link between Los Angeles and Chicago.

3. Mohave Museum of History and Arts

📍 Location: 400 W Beale St, Kingman, AZ 86401

Kingman, Arizona, and its culturally rich surroundings are best explored at the Mohave Museum of History and Arts. This museum brings the ancient and fascinating past of the area right down to its visitors, from Native American artifacts through pioneer life to the mining boom era which helped form the Southwest. Exhibits packed with historic photographs, detailed dioramas, and artifacts all tell the story of Kingman's journey through time.

At the same time, the museum honors Route 66, making it an essential stop for road trip lovers and history aficionados alike. Anyone wanting to comprehend the heritage of what makes Kingman so unique is encouraged to visit the museum.

4. Hualapai Mountain Park

📍 Location: 6250 Hualapai Mountain Rd, Kingman, AZ 86401

Just thirteen miles southeast of Kingman, the landscape shifts in a way that feels almost abrupt. The heat flattens. The cactus gives way to oak, juniper, and pine. And the city disappears behind bends and slopes. This is Hualapai Mountain Park — 2,300 acres of cool air, high trails, and the kind of stillness that only elevation can offer.

The word Hualapai comes from the people who lived here long before miners and roads: the Hualapai Nation, whose name means “People of the Tall Pines.” And indeed, the trees still stand — tall, broad-shouldered, whispering quietly over campgrounds and cabins. At an elevation that rises to over 8,400 feet, this mountain range holds a kind of defiance. While much of Arizona swelters, the Hualapai Mountains remain a refuge.

For visitors, the park offers more than fresh air. There are over 10 miles of hiking trails, winding through terrain that ranges from forested slopes to rocky outcrops with wide desert views. Wildlife is part of the experience — elk cross open meadows in the early morning, mule deer graze near the edge of campsites, and if you're quiet enough, even bobcats make brief appearances before vanishing into the brush.

The park has cabins available for rent, along with picnic shelters, tent sites, and RV hookups. But comfort isn't the point here. What draws people is the contrast — the ability to stand among evergreens while looking out across the dry basin of the Mojave Desert below. It's the kind of place that reminds you Arizona is not one thing, and Kingman is not just a stop on a map.

5. Metcalfe Park

📍 Location: 315 W Beale St, Kingman, AZ 86401

Metcalfe Park is a beautiful green place in Kingman, Arizona, intended for community events, relaxation, and family fun. Such a charming park features compartments for picnic shade, space for children's playgrounds, spacious green lawns, and other areas where one can stretch on the grass or enjoy outdoor games without a fuss. It is a famous place among locals and tourists to spend some afternoons being surrounded by nature.

Metcalfe Park is busy year-round with concerts and festivals and holds a variety of events for the community right in its locale; so, not only will visitors find the park lively, but also much of Kingman will seep into that experience. Following the two aspects mentioned above, Metcalfe Park will offer the visitor a quiet but delightful transformative setting right in the heart of Kingman.

6. Cerbat Cliffs Golf Course

📍 Location: 1001 Gates Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401

On the edge of Kingman’s dry basin, where the terrain leans toward desert and the sky opens wide, there is a stretch of green that feels both unexpected and entirely fitting. Cerbat Cliffs Golf Course, owned and operated by the City of Kingman, is not about prestige or pretense — it’s about place. It’s about finding focus and quiet under a blue Arizona sky.

The course was first opened in 1973, laid out against the rough contours of the Cerbat Mountains. It offers 18 holes of play that reflect the landscape itself — open, honest, and occasionally unforgiving. Narrow fairways run alongside high desert brush. Elevation changes give you both challenge and view. And the wind, when it comes, makes every stroke a decision.

This isn’t a golf resort. It’s a municipal course, meaning it’s woven into the life of the city. Early mornings see retirees walking the greens with practiced swings. Weekends bring out families, new players, and locals who’ve been hitting here for decades. There are leagues, lessons, and tournaments, but there’s also room to just show up and play.

What sets Cerbat Cliffs apart isn’t just the golf. It’s the setting. From several points on the course, you can look out across the city below, or turn and face the rugged slopes of the Cerbat Mountains that rise to the north. In spring, wildflowers trace the edges. In summer, the course glows against the heat. And in the cooler months, it becomes a kind of sanctuary — quiet, open, stripped of noise.

There’s a clubhouse, of course, and a restaurant serving food that fits the place: straightforward, filling, no performance.

7. Kingman Visitor Center

📍 Location: 120 W Andy Devine Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401

The Kingman Visitor Center makes for an ideal launch pad for anything one intends to do in Kingman, Arizona, and its surroundings. Housed in the historic Powerhouse Building, the visitor center is stocked with tons of information, brochures, and maps to help you through Kingman. The friendly staff can provide the best recommendations and insights on the hottest attractions in the city, Route 66 landmarks nearby, museums, and eateries.

The visitor center also houses exhibits that display some truly interesting items from Kingman’s history and relationship with Route 66, thus granting visitors an informative overview before they scatter to explore.

8. Monolith Garden Trail

📍 Location: Off US-93, Kingman, AZ 86401

Just northwest of Kingman, off U.S. Highway 93, the landscape opens into a world that feels both ancient and alive. The Monolith Garden Trail is not your typical desert hike. It’s a passage through towering volcanic rock formations, twisted Joshua trees, and silence so complete it becomes part of the experience. This is where the desert speaks — not loudly, but with authority.

The trail is part of the Cerbat Foothills Recreation Area, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It stretches in loops and crossings that form just under 9 miles of hiking and mountain biking routes, with shorter out-and-back options for those wanting a gentler walk. The terrain is manageable but real — dirt paths, loose rock, elevation shifts. It’s not for show. It’s for those who understand that beauty here is shaped by wind, time, and pressure.

What makes Monolith Garden remarkable are the stone formations themselves — jagged pillars, weathered towers, and massive outcrops that rise suddenly from the scrub. Some stand alone, like monuments left behind. Others group together in rough, natural symmetry. They don’t need names to make an impression. They just stand, and have for millennia.

The trail is open year-round, but best explored in the cooler months — from October through April — when the sun is softer and the air carries the sharp scent of creosote and dust. Hikers often come early, just as the light hits the rock faces at an angle, casting long shadows and revealing layers of volcanic history. Wildlife moves quietly through the area — desert hares, lizards, and sometimes even a coyote tracking across the wash.

There are no entry fees. No fences. No crowd control. Just a small dirt parking area off the highway, a few signs, and the open desert beyond.

9. Desert Diamond Distillery

📍 Location: 4875 Olympic Way, Kingman, AZ 86401

Desert Diamond Distillery is a local treasure in Kingman, Arizona, where an artist can taste the art of making fine spirits. The distillery is distinguished for its award-winning rums and super-petite vodka, and guided tours take visitors behind the scenes into the distillation process, from grain to glass. Guests sample rums and vodkas that hint at the delightful subtleness of flavor and skillful craftsmanship, making it a nice experience for both knowledgeable aficionados and casual drinkers.

The ambience is welcoming, and the staff are informed about every spirit produced; they leave the guests with a newfound appreciation for the local spirit. Don't forget to check out their gift shop for exclusive bottles, mixers, and distillery merchandise to remember your time there.

10. Bonelli House

📍 Location: 430 E Spring St, Kingman, AZ 86401

In the heart of Kingman, standing firm among newer buildings and fast-moving traffic, the Bonelli House offers a quiet, architectural pause. Built in 1915 by George A. Bonelli, a rancher, businessman, and local civic figure, the home stands as a rare, intact example of early 20th-century domestic life in northwestern Arizona — simple, practical, and deeply tied to the rhythms of the land.

Constructed from native stone quarried nearby, the house reflects both utility and permanence. Its thick walls keep the heat out during summer and hold warmth in the winter. The design isn’t flashy; it’s functional. Yet there’s something dignified about it — the way the porch wraps the house, the symmetry of its windows, the clear sense that it was built to last, not impress.

Inside, much has been preserved as it was. The original woodwork, vintage furnishings, kitchen appliances, and textiles tell a story without needing a narrator. Each room reflects a different part of life at the time — not wealthy, not poor, but rooted in hard work and family. The Bonellis raised nine children in the home, running a cattle ranch, a meat market, and a general store while staying deeply involved in Kingman's civic growth.

Today, the house is managed by the Mohave Museum of History and Arts and is open for guided tours. Visitors walk through bedrooms and parlors, view original artifacts, and hear stories about life in Kingman before paved roads and air conditioning. It’s not a grand estate. It’s something more grounded — a window into the values and choices that shaped a desert town into a functioning city.

11. Locomotive Park

📍 Location: 310 W Beale St, Kingman, AZ 86401

Locomotive Park in Kingman, Arizona, is a family-friendly outdoor space that pays homage to the city’s rich railroad history. The centerpiece of the park is an impressive, restored steam locomotive that once chugged across the Southwest, symbolizing Kingman’s important role as a railway hub. Visitors can marvel at this historic train engine up close and learn about its significance through interpretive signs and informative plaques.

The park also features shaded picnic areas and benches, making it a pleasant spot to relax and enjoy the scenery. It’s a perfect stop for families, train enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the history of transportation. With its combination of educational value and outdoor leisure, Locomotive Park is a charming addition to any Kingman itinerary.

12. Lewis Kingman Park

📍 Location: 2201 E Andy Devine Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401

Lewis Kingman Park is an oasis in Kingman, Arizona, for picnics, outdoor activities, and family gatherings. The park is well-kept, having shaded areas, playgrounds, and open green areas for lounging or recreation. It is strategically located off the side of Route 66, making it an excellent break for tired travelers and a scenic rest area.

The park with its many picnic tables and barbecue grill is a great informal get-together place for relaxing afternoons. In addition to this, it serves as a venue for community events enjoyed by both locals and tourists fleeing from civilization to get an earful of nature.

13. Cella Winery

📍 Location: 6927 E Brooks Blvd, Kingman, AZ 86401

Experience the distinct flavors of the Arizona high desert at the boutique Cella Winery, located near Kingman. Cella Winery prides itself on the production of small lots of finely crafted wines and is well known for producing a range of varietals that reflect the unique terroir of the area. Visitors can sample reds, whites, and specialty wines, each bearing subtle aromas and flavors that reflect the essence of Arizona winemaking traditions, all within a relaxed atmosphere.

The well-informed staff at the winery can enlighten you about the finer points of the actual winemaking process and the unique attributes of their wines. Cella Winery is an ideal place to enjoy the outdoors and the wines sought by those in search of a local experience. Take a couple of bottles home as mementos of your visit.

14. Keepers of the Wild Nature Park

📍 Location: 13441 AZ-66, Valentine, AZ 86437

Founded in 1995 by Jonathan Kraft, a former Las Vegas entertainer turned animal advocate, the Keepers of the Wild Nature Park was created to give abused, abandoned, and exploited animals a second chance. The animals here are not bred in captivity or trained to perform. They were rescued — from circuses, private collections, roadside zoos, and illegal owners. Each has a backstory. Some are grim. Some are astonishing. But all have led to this land in the Arizona high desert, where the goal is simple: let them live.

Today, the sanctuary is home to over 150 animals, including lions, tigers, leopards, wolves, bears, primates, birds, reptiles, and more. Each enclosure is built with space, shelter, and the needs of the species in mind. You won’t find concrete pits or tiny cages. You’ll find habitats carved into the natural surroundings, with shade, climbing structures, and room to roam.

Visitors can walk the trails or take guided safari-style tours in covered vehicles. Along the way, guides explain the origin of each animal, how they came to the sanctuary, and what their life is like now. It’s informative, yes, but also intimate. There’s no attempt to turn wildness into entertainment. The animals don’t “perform.” They exist — and are allowed to do so on their own terms.

15. Kingman Route 66 Drive-Thru Sign

📍 Location: 120 W Andy Devine Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401

Capture that unique photo emblazoned popularly as the Kingman Route 66 Drive-Through sign. Centrally featured in Kingman, Arizona, it boasts a beautiful tale: an attraction that indeed must be invented. Well known as one of the significant stops along Route 66, the 'Mother Road,' this sign that takes on the shape of the classic Route 66 shield has been engineered to take vehicles through it. Snapping a photo at this perfect destination will be memorable. Car riders can also click pictures while posing inside their cars with the impressive structure and place it's print in commemoration of their journey through America's highways.

It is possible to visit this drive-thru sign easily because it is located near Historic Downtown Kingman, and from that time, it became a great attraction for road trippers and Route 66 enthusiasts.

16. Haunted Kingman Ghost Walks

📍 Location: Downtown Kingman (starting point varies)

Try haunted Kingman ghost walks which will take you around the spooky part of Kingman, Arizona. The walk will suit horror fanatics and people who would love to know more about the history of places. This tour takes you to the most haunted places within the city and tells spooky tales of shadowy spirits roaming through the walls and corners of the historic buildings. Knowledgeable guides speak in wonderful stories that chill down the spine and provide first-hand accounts leading the ghost walks as salt to spice up that mix between history and ghostly folklore.

The Haunted Kingman Ghost Walks are very much in demand when Halloween ever comes, but they extend spine-chilling thrill to the experience all year round.

17. Dino's Den Dinosaur Park

📍 Location: 880 W Beale St, Kingman, AZ 86401

Bring the whole family down to Kingman, Arizona. Dino's Den Dinosaur Park is a family-friendly attraction both young and old will find engaging. Interactive Park with full-size dinosaur models that excite the imagination and invite the curiosity of young visitors: kids learn about different dinosaurs, play on themed equipment, and learn about prehistoric life and activities. Such play-and-learn facilities make Dino's Den Dinosaur Park an ideal location for family outings or school trips.

The shaded picnic areas and playground extend the appeal of this park to a nice atmosphere for the day of adventure.

18. Black Bridge Brewery

📍 Location: 421 E Beale St, Kingman, AZ 86401

The Black Bridge Brewery in Kingman, Arizona, is alive with the craft beer scene from local sources... Unconventional and flavorful brews are being enjoyed by its patrons. The brewery specializes in small batches of unique beers with a rotating selection that may include hoppy IPAs, smooth stouts, and inventive seasonal creations. Relaxed and very casual-the right place to chill after a hard day of sightseeing in Kingman, or to just hang out with some friends.

Enjoying brews in their comfy taproom or outside seating area, these patrons are always happy to have a chat with staff that offer suggestions on their newest draft. Those wanting to try various flavors may order flights to sample a bit of the brewery's various offerings. With its local flavor and community feel, Black Bridge Brewery is a must-see for craft beer lovers and anyone wanting a taste of Kingman's craft scene.

19. Boulder Dam Hotel and Museum

📍 Location: 1305 Arizona St, Boulder City, NV 89005 (approx. 1 hr drive)

In the quiet downtown of Boulder City, Nevada, less than an hour’s drive from Kingman, stands a white, two-story structure that once hosted presidents, royalty, and workmen alike. The Boulder Dam Hotel, opened in 1933, is more than a place to sleep — it’s a living document of the bold vision and human cost behind one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century.

Built to accommodate officials and dignitaries visiting the construction of the Hoover Dam (then called Boulder Dam), the hotel once offered the best rooms between Salt Lake and Los Angeles. It was designed in a Colonial Revival style, elegant yet restrained, and perfectly suited to the image the government wanted for Boulder City — a federally planned, alcohol-free town created to house workers and maintain order during the massive dam project.

The hotel welcomed guests like President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Shirley Temple, and Howard Hughes. But it was also where engineers and journalists gathered at the end of long days, trading stories and arguments over coffee and whiskey behind closed doors. In many ways, the Boulder Dam Hotel was a nerve center — a front-row seat to a moment when the American West was being rewritten with concrete, ambition, and the Colorado River.

20. Historic Downtown Kingman

📍 Location: Beale St & Andy Devine Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401

Historic Downtown Kingman is the heart of this charming city, offering a blend of history, culture, and local flavor that’s perfect for visitors looking to experience the authentic spirit of Route 66. Stroll through streets lined with vintage buildings, unique shops, and locally-owned cafes that exude small-town charm. Highlights of downtown include classic neon signs, antique stores, and murals that celebrate the legacy of Route 66 and Kingman’s place in American road trip history.

Downtown Kingman is also home to a variety of events throughout the year, such as car shows, festivals, and farmers markets that bring the community together. Stop by local eateries for a taste of regional cuisine or grab a souvenir at one of the specialty shops. With its mix of historic landmarks and modern attractions, Historic Downtown Kingman invites visitors to step back in time while enjoying the vibrant energy of today.

Conclusion

Kingman is the kind of place that doesn’t sell itself. It doesn’t need to. Its history runs deeper than brochures, and its landmarks speak for themselves. This is not a city built for tourists. It’s a place that holds its ground and offers something real to those who take the time to look.

Here, the past is not staged. It lives in the tracks that still carry freight through downtown, in the restored homes and quiet museums, in trails that cut through stone shaped by time rather than tools. It lives in the voices of those who’ve stayed; people who remember when the roads were rougher, but the stories sharper.

Surrounding Kingman are pieces of the American experiment, from the raw wilderness of the Hualapai Mountains to the grace of rescued tigers in Valentine, from the resilience of the Bonelli family to the workers who poured their lives into the Hoover Dam. Each stop along the way doesn’t just fill a travel itinerary of things to do in Kingman. It fills in what the map doesn’t show.

And through it all runs Route 66, not just as a road, but as a reminder. That America was never built in straight lines. It was built in places like this.

Planning to visit? Karta has some amazing deals on Kingman vacation rentals for you.

FAQ

1. What is Kingman, Arizona, known for?

Kingman is best known for its central location on Historic Route 66, earning it the nickname “Heart of Historic Route 66.” The city is rich in history, with attractions like the Route 66 Museum and Mohave Museum of History and Arts showcasing its legacy.

2. Is Kingman worth visiting for history enthusiasts?

Absolutely. Kingman offers a variety of historical attractions, including the Kingman Railroad Museum, Bonelli House, and Locomotive Park, which provide insight into the city's development and importance in the rail and road history of the American Southwest.

3. What are some family-friendly activities in Kingman?

Families will enjoy exploring Dino’s Den Dinosaur Park, visiting the Kingman Railroad Museum, or having a picnic at Lewis Kingman Park. These attractions offer fun and educational experiences for visitors of all ages.

4. What outdoor activities can visitors do in Kingman?

Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking trails at Hualapai Mountain Park and the Monolith Garden Trail. These parks offer beautiful landscapes, wildlife spotting, and scenic views ideal for hiking and picnicking.

5. Can I find unique photo opportunities in Kingman?

Yes, Kingman has several iconic spots for photos, including the Kingman Route 66 Drive-Thru Sign and Historic Downtown Kingman with its vintage architecture and murals celebrating Route 66.

6. What is the best time of year to visit Kingman, Arizona?

The best time to visit Kingman is during the spring and fall when temperatures are mild and perfect for outdoor activities. Summers can be hot, but higher-elevation parks like Hualapai Mountain Park offer cooler weather.

7. Are there any unique food or drink experiences in Kingman?

Yes, visitors can experience local flavors at Desert Diamond Distillery, which offers tastings and tours, or enjoy craft beer at Black Bridge Brewery. For a wine experience, Cella Winery provides tastings that highlight Arizona’s unique terroir.

8. What is there to do in Historic Downtown Kingman?

Historic Downtown Kingman is filled with eclectic shops, local dining, and historical landmarks like the Kingman Railroad Depot. Visitors can explore antique stores, enjoy local art, and attend seasonal events or community festivals.

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