Wine, rum, and Route 66 in one day. This Kingman tour hits the Arizona Route 66 Museum and Powerhouse Visitor Center, then sends you to a family-run desert winery with 4,000 vines and mountain views.

I also like the relaxed pace. You spend real time at each stop, and the day is built around up to seven tastings plus distillery samples and craft beer at Black Bridge Brewery. One consideration: the rum distillery doesn’t operate every day, so you may get a brewery substitute depending on availability.

Key points before you pick a date

• Small group feel (max 13): easier conversations, less rushing, and more time to ask questions.
• Route 66 + drink stops: you’re not just tasting. You also get the Kingman area story at the museum and visitor center.
• Up to seven wine tastings: plan for a full tasting day, not a quick pour-and-go.
• Arizona craft distillery at Kingman Airport: tour access plus samples, with a backup plan if it’s closed.
• Black Bridge Brewery lunch and beer: craft beer variety, and non-drinkers get other options too.
• Start at 8:00 am: you’ll be up early, then done for the afternoon.

Kingman’s Route 66 day trip: easy to plan, fun to repeat

Kingman is a great base for a Route 66 outing because it still feels like a real place, not a themed movie set. You get the best of the “drive-through” vibe without spending your whole day in a car. Starting early helps too—you arrive at stops while things feel calm, and you’re not sprinting from one place to the next.

What makes this particular tour work is the mix. You combine history (the museum and visitor center) with hands-on drink experiences: wine at a desert winery, spirits at a craft distillery, and beer at a downtown microbrewery. If you like making one day cover a lot of ground, this is a clean way to do it.

The small-group size (up to 13) matters. With fewer people, the guide can slow down when a question comes up, and you can actually enjoy tastings instead of watching a line shuffle forward.

Morning logistics: pickup, timing, and how to set yourself up

The tour starts at 8:00 am, and the total time runs about 5 to 6 hours. Pickup is offered, but it’s not automatic for everyone. You need a minimum of 2 travelers for pickup, and you’ll need to share your pickup location when booking. Also, it’s not available from Las Vegas, so plan on Kingman-area pickup options if that’s where you’re staying.

You’ll get a mobile ticket and the tour is offered in English. Bottled water is included, and air-conditioning is part of the ride, which is a big deal if you’re traveling during warm Arizona weather. One small practical note: snacks aren’t included, so if you’re the type who gets hungry mid-tasting, bring a small snack for the ride.

Finally, you’ll be drinking and driving in the “responsible tour group” sense: you’re transported between stops, and you’re tasting on schedule. Still, pace yourself. A tasting day can feel fun right up until you’re too full to enjoy the last pour.

Stop 1: Little Old Wine Drinkers Winery and the Earth-to-Bottle vibe

Your first wine stop is Little Old Wine Drinkers Winery, a family-owned place on six acres with over 4,000 vines. It sits along Winery Row just off historic Route 66, so even when you’re not tasting, you’re getting that sense of place—desert air, grape vines, and real mountain views.

What I like about this stop is how it’s set up like a working winery visit, not just a tasting room. The experience is described as an Earth-to-Bottle journey, with you watching the winemaking path unfold from bare earth to what ends up in your glass. You’ll also meet the owners, and the visit leans into stories and hospitality. That’s the difference between a “sample and leave” stop and something you’ll actually remember.

Expect a lineup that can include their signature Pink Bikini (a grape and strawberry blend), plus Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo, Rosé of Zinfandel, and several red blends. Even if you don’t buy wine, this variety is a smart way to learn what you like without committing to one style.

Practical tip: spend a few minutes just looking at the view from the outdoor seating area before you start tasting. It makes the wine taste better, but more importantly, it helps you slow down so the rest of the day feels enjoyable.

Route 66 history stops: museum time that adds meaning to the drive

Before the first drink stop, you also visit the Arizona Route 66 Museum and Powerhouse Visitor Center. This matters because Kingman isn’t just a backdrop. Route 66 is part of how the town’s identity formed, and these stops help you connect the dots between buildings, rail history, and the kinds of travelers the highway used to bring through.

Even if you think you’ll skip the museum part, I’d think twice. A lot of people end up loving it because it turns the drive into something you can picture. You’ll start noticing details on the drive that you would otherwise miss, and the rest of the day clicks better.

You get a better experience when you’re curious, so ask your guide what to look for and where Kingman fits in the larger Route 66 story. That kind of context turns a short day trip into a real memory.

Stop 2: Desert Diamond Distillery at Kingman Airport, plus the rum highlights

Next up is Desert Diamond Distillery, described as Arizona’s oldest craft distillery. It’s family-owned since 2008 and located at Kingman Airport, so it has that industrial-but-intimate feel you don’t always get with bigger tourist distilleries.

One of the big draws here is the award focus. Their 11-year barrel reserve rum scored near-perfect 99 at the 2023 IWSC awards in London, ranking #1 in the rum category. Even if you’re not a rum superfan, awards like that are usually a sign you’re tasting something that takes aging seriously.

The process is also a selling point: it’s described as 100% fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled on-site, using a state-of-the-art German still. You can also tour the production and barrel rooms, around 20 to 30 minutes, which gives you the basics without turning it into a full college lecture.

Tastings are served at a vintage bar said to be rescued from the old Las Vegas strip. That detail alone makes the room feel like more than a standard tasting counter. The lineup you might taste can include their Gold Miner rum collection: white rum, dark rum, and an agave rum sweetened with agave nectar. Whiskey lovers can also try items like corn whiskey moonshine, aged wheat whiskey, and a Rum & Rye collaboration.

Timing consideration (important): the distillery is open daily except Tuesday and Wednesday. If it’s closed for your day, the tour includes a brewery substitute instead of the distillery stop.

Stop 3: Black Bridge Brewery, Route 66 beer, and a good place to unwind

In the afternoon portion of the tour, you head to Black Bridge Brewery (locals often call it B3). It started in August 2013 and sits on historic Route 66’s Beale Street in downtown Kingman.

What makes this stop more than just tasting a flight is the local lore. The brewery is named after a railroad bridge that served as a secret gathering spot for locals since the 1960s. That kind of story gives the place a little heartbeat, especially when you pair it with the beer.

You’ll likely notice the brewery’s personality right away: art, music, and a cozy taproom with an expansive backyard patio. Live music happens most weekends, and the patio setting is where people tend to relax. Since you’re tasting earlier in the day, this can be the “exhale” moment.

Beer options can include year-round favorites such as Evil Red IPA, Wicked Poison, Locomotive Stout, and Scorched Earth, which is described as a ghost pepper-infused specialty. There’s also mention of seasonal options like Prickly Pear Pale Ale. With over 20 craft brews on tap, you won’t feel like you’re stuck with the same few safe choices.

Non-drinkers aren’t left out, either. The brewery offers signature handcrafted ginger beer and cold-brew coffee, so your group can stay part of the fun without forcing anyone into alcohol tasting.

Food: the brewery doesn’t serve food on-site, but neighboring restaurants deliver to your table. On top of that, the tour includes lunch and beer as part of the day experience (with lunch location able to vary on select days).

Stop 4: Siren’s Cafe and the lunch break you’ll actually look forward to

Lunch is built into the day, and one option is Sirens Cafe & Custom Catering in historic downtown Kingman. This is a family-owned spot run by the mother-daughter duo Carmella Hynes and Denise McMillan. It’s also recognized as #85 on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the US 2024, so you’re not just grabbing something quick.

What you’ll find on the menu fits the “simple but done right” style. They serve artisan sandwiches and Euro-style paninis made with fresh-baked Italian bread, homemade ricotta, artichoke spreads, and locally sliced meats. Signature items include Curry Tito (curry chicken salad with green apple, craisins, and cashews) and La Rocco panini.

A detail I appreciate: the chef, Carmella, studied cooking in Florence, Italy, and daily specials include seasonal ingredients plus homemade soups that locals talk about. That matters on a tasting tour day—your lunch should refresh your palate, not reset your stomach with something too heavy.

The dining room has mermaid-themed touches, and there’s patio seating nearby that pairs well with a slow meal. If you’re on a day where lunch shifts to a different stop, the main point stays the same: you’ll get a real lunch, not just a snack.

Value check: how $159 stacks up for a drinks-and-history day

At $159 per person for about 5 to 6 hours, this tour isn’t “cheap,” but it’s also not just paying for transportation. You’re paying for a guided day that bundles:

• A museum + visitor center history block
• Up to seven wine tastings (plus wine and distillery sampling)
• A distillery tour and samples when it’s operating
• A brewery tasting atmosphere, with craft beer options and non-alcohol choices
• Lunch (and the beer experience connected to the brewery stop on the day)

For comparison, it can cost a similar amount if you try to piece this together yourself and you end up paying admission, handling driving, and losing the guided context. The tour structure also reduces your planning stress. You’re not figuring out who’s open when, where to park, or how to keep a group moving.

One place you should think ahead: if you’re someone who gets hangry, you’ll want that snack you bring, because snacks aren’t listed as included. Also, alcohol tastings add up. Pace yourself so you can enjoy lunch and the last beer stop without rushing.

Who this Kingman tour suits best (and who might want a different plan)

This is a great fit if you want a one-day trip that mixes history and tastings with a small group. It’s also a good choice if you like guides who provide local context while still leaving you time to taste and look around.

You’ll likely enjoy it most if:

• you like wine, rum, and craft beer (or at least two of the three)
• you want something more interesting than a standard scenic drive
• you prefer small-group pacing over large bus tours
• you’re okay starting at 8:00 am

You might choose differently if:

• you’re only interested in one type of drink and want a super focused route
• you’re sensitive to early starts, since the schedule begins in the morning
• you’re visiting during Tuesday or Wednesday and really want the distillery stop every time (it can be swapped for a brewery alternative)

If you’re going with a mixed group, non-drinkers have options at the brewery, and lunch keeps everyone fed.

Should you book it? My practical take

If you want a day that feels like a real Route 66 experience—history in the morning, then desert drinks and a downtown craft brewery later—this is a smart booking. The value comes from the combination: you’re not just buying tastings, you’re buying context, pacing, and a sequence that keeps the day fun.

I’d book it if your travel style is small-group and you like variety. I’d pause if you’re laser-focused on only one stop type or if your dates line up with distillery downtime and that stop is your top priority.

If you do book, come hungry enough for lunch, sip slowly during tastings, and leave room to enjoy the outdoor settings. That’s where the day stops feeling like a schedule and starts feeling like Kingman.

FAQ

How long is the Kingman Route 66 wine and distillery tour?

The tour runs about 5 to 6 hours.

What does the tour cost?

It costs $159.00 per person.

What time does the tour start, and is the tour in English?

The start time is 8:00 am, and the tour is offered in English.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is offered, with a minimum required of 2 travelers. You’ll need to tell them your pickup location at the time of booking. Pickup is not available from Las Vegas.

How many people are in the group?

The maximum group size is 13 travelers.

What tastings are included, and what happens if the distillery can’t be visited?

The tour includes wine tastings and distillery samples. When the distillery isn’t available, the tour uses a brewery substitute.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is included on select days. The lunch location may vary to ensure a good dining experience.

Are non-drinkers accommodated at the brewery stop?

Yes. Non-drinkers can enjoy handcrafted ginger beer or cold-brew coffee at the brewery stop.

Can I cancel, and what if weather is bad?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. The tour requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of travelers isn’t met, you’ll also be offered a different option or a full refund.

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