Fort Mohave, Arizona

Terrain // Concrete Pad | Found On // Boondockers Welcome

Unwinding Amongst Burros and Beauty

Making our way north, we stopped in Fort Mohave, Arizona, a little town on the Arizona and California border. Here, the rugged desert landscape is framed by the majestic silhouette of the Black Mountains, which was quite a sight to behold. During our time here, we sampled local food, explored nearby Oatman, Arizona, and cruised around historic Route 66.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at a fantastic Boondockers Welcome site named Livin’ The Dream. Located in an RVer’s community, every house had a floor plan designed specifically for any size RV. It was pretty neat. Our hosts, John and Ann, were incredibly friendly and had a decked-out, gated setup with full hookups. We swapped travel stories and checked out each other’s rigs. Their two mini Dobermans, Peanut and Lexi, were bouncing bundles of excitement whom our cat, Jax, did not enjoy. But that’s just Jax. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and would gladly stay here again. Thanks for having us!

Food & Drink

Megatoppers – Honestly, it was a little disappointing. They just didn’t have a lot of flavor, and where a little overpriced.

Bunker 19 – The chicken sandwich and tots were pretty darn tasty. They added a really good balsamic glaze to the sandwich.

Excursions

One small town on Historic Route 66

For about ten years in the early 1900s, the Oatman mines were among the largest gold producers in the American West. By the 1960s, however, they were all but abandoned due to the shut-down of gold mines and new Route 66 bypassing them completely.

This old gold-mining town turned Wild West tourist attraction is known for the wild burros that wander the streets. These “wild” burros are direct descendants of the Gold Miners who set the animals free when the mines shut down.

Running right through the middle of Oatman is a stretch of the historic Route 66, the famous road that was the main highway route across the United States from the 1920s through the 1950s. Be sure to explore the road in the afternoon, as the Oatman Ghost Rider Gunfighters put on two free shows daily.

Food & Drink

Judy’s Saloon – This was a cool bar with plenty of outdoor seating. We stopped in for a beer and left our very first MOTM sticker in the wild! Be sure to check it out if you’re in the area.

Oatman Hotel – Built in 1902, it remains the oldest two-story adobe structure in Mohave County. It’s famous for its walls covered with dollar bills papered with dollar bills. We got their burro ears (potato chips) and Famous Wild Buffalo Burger.

America Runs on Nostalgia

Route 66 isn't just a road; it's a journey through American history and culture. Stretching 2,400 miles from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean, it connects communities and landscapes, revealing the transformative power of time. From the heartland of Illinois to the rugged beauty of the Southwest, Route 66 is a living testament to America's past and present.

In the early 1900s, Cyrus Avery began acquiring oil leases. He needed to reach the barren lands around him, so the road became a reality. Unlike the straight Lincoln Highway, Route 66 did not follow a linear course. Its diagonal course linked hundreds of rural communities from Chicago to Kansas and on to Los Angeles, enabling farmers to transport grain and produce. Avery is remembered as "The Father of Route 66."

Today, there are more than 250 buildings, bridges, road alignments and other sites along Route 66 that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

BECOME A Boondockers Welcome MEMBER TODAY!

Boondockers Welcome is a subscription service where locals invite RVers to park on their property, share their stories, and get a good night’s rest for free! It’s a perfect way to break up long drives without paying campground fees. Some hosts offer electric hookups and other amenities for a small donation.