Phoenix to Kingman to GCanyon
 

Driving from Phoenix to Kingman, spending the night in the Hotel Brunswick. Driving the next day on old Route 66 (to site see) to Williams, then up to the south rim of the GC to ElTovar for registration 4o'clock. Is this too ambitious? Has anyone made this drive?

I've never done the drive from Phoenix to Kingman via Hwy 93, which would be the fastest route.

I have done the Route 66 from Kingman to Ash Fork and then I-40 to Williams and up to the Grand Canyon. There isn't that much out there between Kingman and Ash Fork. Kingman has a good route 66 museum. In Hackberry we didn't realize the store was full of Route 66 stuff and passed it so make sure you stop there. The next real stop will be Seligman and watch out for Elvis in a pink car!

The best part of Route 66 I've ever done is from Kingman to Oatman. It's a beautiful drive and lots of fun. You really get a fell for what the road was like and Oatman is a kick! They have burros that walk the street sticking their heads into the shops. In the late afternoon the have all the tourist stand in the middle of the street to stop the traffic on Route 66 (all two or three cars) and have a gunfight. If would recommend trying to make it to Oatman on the you drive to Kingman!

http://www.route66usa.com/arizona.html

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/oatman.html

Utahtea

This itinerary is not too ambitious - PHX to Kingman is only about 3-4 hours (Depending on whether you are starting from the west or east side of town) via a much improved Hwy 93. The Oatman recommendation is a good one, and I would recommend visiting it on the 1st day of your trip (Since Oatman is in the opposite direction on rte 66 from your day 2 itinerary). As long as you get a reasonably early start, you should have no problem making it to the S. Rim by 4:00 on day 2.

Oatman would be great. How long is the round-trip from Kingman to there and back? If we get to Oatman late in the day is there still anything to do? Is it still worth it if the town is closed?

Oatman is 30-40 mins each way from Kingman. Not much going on there after dark, but you might check out the nearby town of Laughlin, NV for nightlife. Laughlin is about 40 mins from Kingman, so you could go to Oatman first, then Laughlin for dinner and casinos if you're into that type of thing (Just don't expect Las Vegas, it is much smaller). There's not much going on in Kingman at night so it's just a recommendation. Have a good trip.