Oatman Highway in Arizona: winding, with hairpin turns and scenic views

Oatman Highway is a very demanding drive located in Mohave County, in the US state of Arizona. Very few guardrails give you no leeway for error.

Oatman Road

Is the road to Oatman AZ paved?

Part of the Historic U.S. 66 W, the road is not easy. It’s fully paved and tops out at Sitgreaves Pass, at an elevation of 1,096m (3,595ft) above sea level.

Is Oatman Highway dangerous?

Tucked away in the northwestern corner of Arizona, south of Kingman, the road is very narrow and makes a number of hairpin turns. It features some steep climbs. Near the summit, the road hugs the mountainside, with no shoulders and few guardrails. If you are fearful of heights, this is the last place on earth you’ll want to be.

Is Oatman Road scenic?

The views are varied and spectacular. There's not much traffic. There are plenty of pull-offs for you to get out and take pictures, so don't try to take pictures while you are driving. This remarkable setting, combined with the byway's exciting Western history, creates a feeling of the Old West that cannot be ignored. Several movies, including "How the West Was Won" and "Edge of Eternity," were filmed on location in Oatman.

How long is Oatman Highway?

Nestled in the Black Mountains of Arizona, the road is 77km (48 miles) long and runs from McConnico (a town in Mohave County, Arizona on AZ-95 Road) toward the California border, near Catfish Paradise.
Image credit: Depositphotos 

 

 

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.