Oatman, Arizona and Old Route 66

Oatman sits in a fold of the Black Mountains in Mohave County, Arizona, at an elevation of a little over 2,700 feet. It was once a booming gold camp, then a busy stop on Route 66, then very nearly a ghost town. Today it's a small, slightly eccentric place that draws road-trippers, history buffs and, above all, people who want to meet the wild burros that wander its main street.

This guide covers where Oatman's story comes from, what there is to see, how to get there from Laughlin and how to make the most of a visit.

A short history

The town's name goes back to a frontier story. In 1851, a family traveling west was attacked, and a girl named Olive Oatman was taken captive. She later lived among the Mohave people before being released in 1856 at Fort Yuma. When a prospector named John Moss found gold in the Black Mountains in 1863, one of the claims he staked carried her name.

Mining in the area came and went for decades. Then, in 1915, a major strike set off one of the last gold rushes in the American desert. The camp grew to more than 3,500 people within about a year, and mines such as the Tom Reed and the United Eastern made the district one of the most productive gold areas in the West for roughly a decade.

The boom didn't last. A fire in 1921 destroyed many of the town's smaller buildings. The United Eastern, the main employer, closed in 1924. Mining carried on at a smaller scale until 1941, when the remaining gold mining was shut down for the war effort.

Oatman and Route 66

Even as mining faded, the road kept Oatman alive. U.S. Route 66 ran right through town on its way between Kingman, Arizona and Needles, California, and travelers stopped for fuel, food and rest before or after the climb over the mountains.

That climb is famous. Northeast of town, the old highway winds up to Sitgreaves Pass at about 3,586 feet, with hairpin curves and steep grades. The road through the pass is now part of the Route 66 Historic Back Country Byway, a 42-mile stretch managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

The road kept Oatman alive long after the gold ran out, and then the road moved on too.

In 1953 a new route between Kingman and Needles bypassed Oatman, and through-traffic dried up. By the 1960s the town was nearly abandoned. Its revival came slowly, driven by Route 66 nostalgia and the burros that had never left.

What to see and do

Oatman is small enough to see on foot in an hour or two, though most people linger longer. Highlights include:

• The main street. Old Route 66 doubles as the town's main street, lined with false-front buildings, wooden boardwalks and shops selling souvenirs and local crafts.
• The burros. Wild burros wander through town, often right down the middle of the road. Read our guide to the Oatman burros before you go.
• Western street shows. Staged shootouts are part of the town's Wild West atmosphere on many days.
• Mining history. Look up at the hillsides around town and you'll see the scars and remains of old mine workings.
• The drive itself. The mountains around Oatman are dramatic, with volcanic spires and rugged ridgelines, especially in early morning or late afternoon light.

Shops and services in town keep their own hours, which can vary by season and day of the week. If there's something specific you want to see, check ahead.

Getting there from Laughlin

From Laughlin, you cross the river into Arizona, head south on Arizona State Route 95, then turn east onto Boundary Cone Road. That road climbs about ten miles toward the Black Mountains and meets the old Route 66, known locally as the Oatman Highway, just below town.

On the way you'll pass Boundary Cone, a volcanic neck that rises above the valley to about 3,432 feet. Several tribes regard it as sacred. It makes a striking landmark, so admire it from the road.

The roads are paved, but the final stretches into the mountains are narrow and winding, and burros may be standing in the road. Drive slowly, keep an eye out for animals and pedestrians, and park only in designated spots. Some visitors continue past Oatman over Sitgreaves Pass toward Kingman. It's a memorable drive, but take the curves slowly and avoid it if you're uncomfortable with steep, unguarded edges.

Prefer not to drive? A guided trip takes care of the driving and the timing, so you can watch the scenery instead of the road.

Oatman today

Today Oatman is home to only around a hundred residents, according to recent census counts, a tiny fraction of its gold-rush peak. Yet on a busy day the main street can feel lively, filled with road-trippers, families, motorcyclists and travelers following old Route 66 across the country.

Much of the town's character comes from what it has kept rather than what it has added. The buildings are weathered, the boardwalks creak, and the hillsides still carry the marks of the mines. There's no polished visitor center or theme-park gloss here. That's a big part of the appeal: Oatman feels like a real place that happened to survive, rather than a re-creation.

Oatman feels like a real place that happened to survive, rather than a re-creation.

It also means visitors should keep expectations simple. Services are limited, opening hours vary, and the town can feel very different on a quiet weekday morning than on a busy holiday afternoon.

When to go

Fall, winter and spring are the most comfortable seasons in Oatman. Summer days are very hot, and there is little shade on the main street. If you visit in summer, go early in the day, carry plenty of water and plan to be back somewhere cool by early afternoon.

Weekends and holidays tend to be busier, with more visitors and more traffic on the main street. A weekday morning is usually quieter, which also tends to be easier for photos.

Making a day of it

Oatman pairs well with other sights in the area. Many visitors combine it with a drive over Sitgreaves Pass on the old highway, or with a stop to admire Boundary Cone on the way up. Those with a full day sometimes cross back over the river in the afternoon to drive Christmas Tree Pass in Nevada, though that makes for a long day with a fair amount of driving.

A relaxed rhythm is to arrive in Oatman in the cooler morning, walk the main street while it's calm, then head back toward the river for lunch and an afternoon somewhere shady. Our day trips from Laughlin page has more ideas.

Visitor tips

• Bring water and sun protection. Shade is limited and the desert air is dry.
• Wear comfortable, closed shoes. The street is dusty, and you'll be stepping around whatever the burros leave behind.
• Respect the burros. They're wild animals. Give them space, especially mothers with foals, and follow posted guidance about feeding.
• Watch the road. Cars, pedestrians and burros all share the main street.
• Be patient with parking. Spaces fill up on busy days, so arrive early.
• Look up. Some of the finest views are of the cliffs and spires above the town.

For a full packing list, see what to bring.

Questions