Take a relaxed ride through the high desert of northwest Arizona as we follow a quiet yet meaningful stretch of Historic Route 66 from Kingman to Cool Springs. This 15-mile drive offers a gentle climb along the eastern flank of the Black Mountains, connecting the hum of modern life in Kingman with the timeless quiet of Cool Springs—a gem tucked into the rock just before the road begins its famously treacherous ascent toward Sitgreaves Pass and Oatman beyond.
Our journey begins just off Exit 44 of Interstate 40 on the western edge of Kingman. Almost immediately, the pace of life slows as we leave behind the freeway roar and enter a realm where neon signs and old motor lodges speak to decades of cross-country travelers. This eastern portion of Route 66 is wide and forgiving, running nearly straight as it stretches west toward the mountains. While the glamour of Kingman fades quickly in the rearview mirror, the landscape opens up ahead into a broad desert valley framed by distant ridgelines and punctuated by creosote and low desert scrub.
Gradually, the terrain begins to shift. We ease uphill, the slope so mild it’s almost imperceptible, but the change in elevation reveals itself in the cooling air and the slowly changing desert flora. Long, straight stretches give way to gentle bends as we trace the edge of the Black Mountains. There’s no drama here—just the subtle, persistent beauty of the Mojave. Scattered remnants of mid-century America appear here and there: a long-closed gas station, weathered billboards, and the occasional outcropping of rusted metal from forgotten roadside attractions.
Finally, Cool Springs comes into view—its restored stone buildings rising like a mirage against the craggy backdrop. Once a vital fuel and service stop for travelers heading into the hairpin curves of Sitgreaves Pass, Cool Springs now stands as a beautifully preserved reminder of Route 66’s glory days. Surrounded by silence and desert wind, it feels like the end of the line—yet for early drivers, it was just the beginning of one of Route 66’s most harrowing climbs. For us, though, this is where the road levels out, both literally and thematically. It’s a quiet close to a subtle but soulful drive, one that favors reflection over spectacle and reminds us that even the straightest stretches of the Mother Road carry stories worth telling.
🎵 Music:
Piano March by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/
🗺️ Route Map
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