However, you will not be able to get close to the abandoned site as it is private property. Ed’s Camp was built in 1920 to serve passing motorists. There is also a large population of wild burros, descendants of the beasts of burden brought to the area by long-ago miners, which wander freely through the streets of this magnificent ghost town.Īs you continue towards Kingman, you will enter the most scenic section of Route 66 with its winding curves and desert scenery.Ībout 12 kilometres east of Oatman, you will see Ed’s Camp on your left. Today, the town is rising from its ashes and is home to a hotel, restaurants, gift shops and more. The re-routing of Route 66 in 1953 sealed Oatman's fate, which became a ghost town in the 1960s.

Then the vein dried up and the prospectors left the region. Its current population is around 130, whereas at the peak of the gold rush it supported more than 10,000.īetween 19, the area's mines produced more than $36 million worth of gold. This stretch of highway was officially removed from Route 66 in 1953 in favour of the new Interstate 40 between Kingman and Needles, but it is part of the original, historic Route 66. It is often said that the Oatman Highway is one of the most beautiful sections of Route 66. Travellers too often skip Oatman and start directly in Kingman. This is where your Route 66 road trip begins. On leaving Las Vegas, head south on Route 95 to Oatman (2 hrs 15 mins).

Pick up your Las Vegas rental car and let's go! So here is my guide to the Mother Road, one step at a time. In my opinion, not only is it the most practical part to visit because it nicely fills the drive between these two major destinations, but it is also the most beautiful. However, the most visited portion of this legendary highway, and an integral part of any western USA road trip, is between Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Route 66 is 3670 kilometres long and connects Chicago to Los Angeles.

Route 66 directions north to south