Route 66 Ghost Towns Small Group Day Trip from Vegas
🎯 Why People Book This
🗺️ The Experience
🤔 Is It Worth It?
- you'd rather poke around abandoned towns and Mother Road relics than line up for one big scenic viewpoint
- you want the road trip itself to be the point, not just the means of reaching somewhere
- you like a small group and don't mind a full day, 9–11 hours, spent mostly on the ground exploring rather than driving to a single destination and back
- the Grand Canyon or a slot canyon is what you actually came west to see; ghost towns won't scratch that itch, and the $189 Antelope Canyon Horseshoe Bend trip points you at scenery built for it
- you want a shorter outing close to Vegas, in which case the $99 Valley of Fire half-day at 6 hours gets you out and back without committing a full day
- human history and roadside Americana pull you more than red-rock canyons, and you'd take a small group over the longer national-parks haul
Tour at a Glance
| Duration | 9-11 hours |
|---|---|
| Price (from) | $169 per person |
| Departure | Hotel pickup included |
| Ages | Ages 0+ |
| Group size | Up to 13 per booking |
| Physical level | Easy (all fitness levels) |
| Languages | German, Portuguese, English, Italian, French, hu, Spanish |
| Operator | FORVENTURA Tours |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before |
| Rating | 4.9/5 (42 reviews) |
✅ What's Included
- Round-trip transport from select Strip hotels
- Air-conditioned SUV, minivan or van
- Bottled water
- Local driver-guide
❌ Not Included
- Meals and snacks
- Gratuities
- Museum entrance fees
- Personal expenses
🛡️ Practical Info
- Departure / Pickup: Hotel pickup and drop-off included for all travelers
- Best Time to Visit: This is a full-day trip; early morning departures leave more daylight for outdoor stops and desert driving
- What to Bring: Sun protection, comfortable walking shoes, cash for meals and gratuities (not included), and camera gear for ghost town and locomotive stops
- Free Cancellation: Full refund if cancelled at least 24 hours before departure
- Booking Tip: Small groups cap at 13 per booking; book ahead during peak travel periods to secure a spot
- Drive Time: Multi-stop route across Nevada and Arizona; total tour runs 9–11 hours
- Physical Level: Suitable for all fitness levels; not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Minimum Age / Ages: Open to all ages (0–99)
- Accessibility: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
💡 Insider Tip
LasVegasTour Editorial Review
“What you're really buying here is a slow day in three ghost towns, not a sightseeing dash: Nelson's mining buildings, Oatman with its wild burros, and the Route 66 museum in Kingman, strung together by a guide who drives so you don't. The trade-off is time, nine to eleven hours for stops that are genuinely unhurried but spread across a long desert loop. Skip it if old mining towns and a 20-minute locomotive stop don't pull you; the 4.9 across 42 reviews says FORVENTURA runs the long day well. Worth it for the relaxed pacing, not the mileage.”
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Are the ghost towns actual ruins or tourist attractions?▾
Both ghost towns are historic sites you walk through. Nelson Ghost Town is a former gold mining settlement in Eldorado Canyon with preserved historic buildings, vintage vehicles, and old mining equipment. Oatman is a historic mining town in the Black Mountains, now known for the wild burros that roam its streets, plus wooden sidewalks and souvenir shops. At Nelson, you can also optionally visit the Techatticup Mine for a guided underground tour.
Is hotel pickup included in the price?▾
Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for all travelers, from select Las Vegas hotels. Confirm your specific hotel with the operator when booking.
How much walking is involved at each stop?▾
This tour is listed as suitable for all physical fitness levels, and most stops involve walking at a relaxed pace. You spend about 60 minutes walking among buildings and equipment at Nelson, up to 90 minutes on free time in Oatman, about 30 to 45 minutes in the Route 66 Museum, and 15 to 20 minutes outdoors at Locomotive Park. It is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.
Are meals included or do we stop for lunch?▾
Meals are not included. You have up to 90 minutes of free time in Oatman, where you can buy lunch or snacks if you wish. Bottled water is provided.
What's the difference between this and other desert tours from Las Vegas?▾
We don't compare tours here, but the specifics of this one: it's a small-group tour, 1 to 13 people per booking, in an air-conditioned SUV, minivan, or van. It runs 9 to 11 hours and visits Nelson Ghost Town, a stretch of Route 66, Oatman, the Arizona Route 66 Museum in Kingman, and Locomotive Park, with a local guide handling driving and timing.
Can children join this tour?▾
Yes. The booking covers ages 0 to 99, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Note this is a long day of 9 to 11 hours, and the tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.
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