The Coolest Visitor Center In Arizona Has A Route 66 Museum And Gift Shop
By Melissa Mahoney|Updated on May 02, 2024(Originally published July 26, 2023)
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
A trip down the Mother Road always feels like time traveling — at least that’s how I feel. With so many roadside stops belonging to a bygone era, there’s never a dull moment along Arizona’s Historic Route 66. And stops along this road are a must. One must-visit place on Route 66 just so happens to be the coolest visitor center in Arizona. Welcome to Kingman and while you’re here, check out the visitor with its very own Route 66 museum and gift shop!
No visit or drive through Kingman is complete without stopping at the Kingman Visitor Center. Hard to miss with its massive neon sign, the center occupies the historic Powerhouse building that helped power several mines as well as the town of Kingman in the early 1900s.
Located on the Powerhouse's second floor is the Route 66 Museum. Here visitors can learn the history of The Mother Road while viewing photographs and artifacts. It's a fascinating museum to spend some time!
Don't forget to check out the Electric Vehicle Museum as well. Open since 2014, you can view a wide collection of electric vehicles from over the past century.
And if you have your own electric vehicle, there are 16 Tesla Superchargers located at the Visitor Center.
After visiting the museums, peruse the gift shop and pick up some Route 66 souvenirs and other American-made products. Why not buy yourself or someone else a gift?
Not only is this visitor center the coolest one in the state but you really have to appreciate the awesome and welcoming vintage signs as well! This is always one of my favorite parts of driving along Route 66.
For more nostalgia, how about a bite to eat at Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner? Open since 1939, this classic roadside diner is a throwback to simpler times and located across the street from the Kingman Visitor Center. Be sure to try a burger, a shake, or a root beer float while you're here!
Have you ever stopped at the Kingman Visitor Center to enjoy all it has to offer? What are some of your favorite stops along Arizona’s Historic Route 66? Let us know in the comments! To learn more about all the coolest visitor center in Arizona has to offer, check out the Explore Kingman website.
Need a place to spend the night in Kingman? Check out TripAdvisor for options.
Love exploring Arizona? Check out this stunning footage of Sedona:
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