Needles, California - A Day Out - Hoover Dam and Route 66

Probably one of the best day out for us was a drive from Needles, California to Hoover Dam and back through Kingman, Arizona, and Oatman, Arizona, along Route 66.

Big trip ahead so we were up early.  Here is our route:

Needles to Hoover Dam to Kingman to Oatman to Needles

We started by driving mostly on the US95 towards Boulder City.  Searchlight is a good stopping spot for coffee, however, the drive to Hoover Dam is only about 1 hour 30 minutes (95 miles).  When you approach Hoover Dam you will see a new bridge which you can go over later.  The Hoover Dam tour is a must.  There is ample parking and a choice of tours to take.  We stayed there for a couple of hours and did one tour.  (Note:  Have a look in the mirror before you go into the Information Centre.  If you go on a tour, your picture will be taken which is available for purchase after the tour.)

After our visit at Hoover Dam we wanted to go to Kingman which is on Route 66.  Our plan was to have lunch stop there.  The drive is across the desert, over mountains for about 1 hour 30 minutes (80 miles).  Kingman is loaded with fast food restaurants and is a typical stop-over spot between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon.  Actually, Kingman has a lot more to offer than just a quick bite to eat.  There is a Route 66 Museum, City walking tour and loads more.  Click on the link - About Kingman, AZ.

After an hour in Kingman (and we could have stayed longer), we headed back to Needles (about 30 miles)  via Oatman.  This drive along Route 66 is SENSATIONAL.  We can't say enough about how much we enjoyed the views.  The road was a bit narrow - so you need to pay attention to where you are driving.  But, well worth it!!!!!

We stopped in Oatman (see link - Oatman) and had another coffee and enjoyed watching the visitors mixing with the donkeys and enjoying this super former mining town.

Back to Needles for a sit by the pool and dinner!

Tomorrow we are off to LA, California.  

Days 11 - 13 - In and around Needles, California (Route 66, Oatman, Kingman, Hoover Dam, Laughlin)

We would love to say, 'DON'T STAY IN NEEDLES!!!!!!' but that would be selfish to try and preserve this location as it is now for ourselves.  Read on.......!

Where to stay and eat:  There are several motels.  We chose the Best Western, Needles.  You will see from the Trip Adviser Link that it is rated No. 1 at the time of writing.  Do not be deceived by the hotel price.  It includes a first rate breakfast at Juicy's Famous River Cafe.  In fact, we ate most of our meals at Juicy's and believe me it offers delicious food, great staff and a wonderful atmosphere.

What we love to do in Needles - Go to the golf club.  Wow!  When we found this 18 hole course on our first visit it must have been 110F outside and people were golfing.  Rivers Edge Golf Course is along side the Colorado River.  The Clubhouse is good with great food to take with you on the course or just go there for a bite to eat and enjoy the view of the Colorado River.  

  

Great day trips:  

Hoover Dam - Easily reached in a day with plenty of time to take the tour and see the new bridge.

Laughlin, Nevada - A mini Las Vegas.  Big hotels, factory outlet all along the Colorado River.

Oatman, Arizona- A must!  Gold mining town with plenty of shops, shows, places to eat located on Historic Route 66. Plenty of burros which have the right of way.

Kingman, Arizona - Drive between Oatman and Kingman along Route 66 is spectacular.  Kingman hosts the Route 66 Museum.

Lake Havasu City - Home of the London Bridge.  Great boating and outdoor pursuits location.

     

Next Blog will be a day trip we made that you might like doing too.

Day 10 - Henderson (near Las Vegas), NV, to Needles, California (111 miles, about 2 hours drive)

We have given directions from Las Vegas to Needles (for your information).  We were staying in Henderson.

Our plan was to leave Henderson early in the morning and go to Boulder City and then on to Hoover Dam before driving to Needles.  We were delayed and found ourselves in a lot of traffic on Route 93 and decided to turn off at its junction with Route 95 and continue on our way to Needles.  Remember this.  Hoover Dam is a popular tourist site and is easily reached from Las Vegas.  (More about that later on in our trip.) We stopped in Searchlight for lunch and arrived early in the afternoon in Needles.  

Needles, California, is basically a stopover town between the west coast of California and the Grand Canyon.  Some years ago we did just that.  Unexpectedly we were forced to stay a few days because Ace had put his back out.  Talk about every cloud having a silver lining!  What a fantastic location.  The town is situated right on the Colorado River, a short drive away from Laughlin to the north and Lake Havasu to the south.  Best of all it is nice and hot - guaranteed.  We found a great golf course too.  There is plenty to do.  On this trip we stayed for 3 nights.  Our next entry will give more detail about what we did during our visit.  We'll add some photos and video too.

Tomorrow - In and around Needles, California.