Is there anything worth seeing between the South Rim and Vegas?

My college buddy trip will again happen over Labor Day weekend. Coincidentally, a group of high school friends are meeting up in Flagstaff, AZ the previous week. Two of us are doing both trips, so on August 31 we'll drive north from Flagstaff to see the Grand Canyon South Rim. Once we leave the South Rim, we'll have three days until we're due in Vegas.

I know about Laughlin, and we'll likely stay there one night. What else should we see? Are there any great places to stay along the way.

Thanks.

1 night in laughlin will all you will ever want to stay. It is hotter than Vegas

If I remember you can do a float trip on the river

There's not much on the drive from Flagstaff to Laughlin, . . . but DonDiego would recommend a detour off of Interstate 40 onto Route 10 to drop by Oatman, AZ.
[Turn off I-40 just past Crazy Fred's Truck Stop at Exit 44 (if Boilerman sees the Arizona State Prison - Kingman, he has gone too far ), . . . then take a right onto Shinarump Road, . . . then a left onto Route 10.)

The ride through the desert is scenic, . . . and quite safe so long as one remains on the blacktop.


And shortly after entering town Boilerman and his pals will undoubtedly be welcomed by the town's primary residents. Most of the tourist shops, . . . and the town primarily comprises tourist shops, . . . offer bunches of carrots at reasonable prices if one chooses to feed the locals.


Example of Tourist Shop in Oatman:


There is a significant likelihood that Boilerman will observe the local human residents participating in the custom of settling arguments with lead.


teechur and poor old DonDiego heartily recommend a visit to the Oatman Hotel, especially the bar. The kindly bartender there introduced teechur and DonDiego to a local drink called a "snakebite", the Canadian version, not the European variant.
Oh, and Boilerman can tour the hotel and view the room where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon night.


Tell them DonDiego sent you!

My poor old mother bought (conned into buying) some property somewhere along I40 between Flagstaff and Kingman. I still own it but have never seen it. You could check it out and maybe make me an offer.

As part of our excellent grand canyon south rim tour from Vegas with grand adventures, we stopped in Seligman and got to meet the savior of route 66 Angel Delgadillo. It was neat little "tourist" town with some historic implications. I hope Angel is still there. That was almost 5 years ago and he was well into his 80's. He was on American Restoration a few years ago, Rick restored an old juke box for Angel's gift shop. He was still riding his bicycle to work!

I was driving an 18 wheeler in 1971, traveling I40 and Rt. 66 (the interstate was not complete), to California and back to the Midwest almost on a weekly basis I do remember the abundance of billboards between Flagstaff and Kingman advertising Grand Canyon estates properties.

It was probably around 1970 that my mother bought the property, 5 lots at a little over an acre total. I don't know where she came across the deal but she always claimed it was going to be a boom area for retirees. As an investment, it's only lost about 50% in 45 years.

Well, if you have three days, I would suggest driving to see the North rim of the Grand Canyon. The area is quite different from the south rim and the lodge and cabins at the North rim are very nice. You could also continue on to check out Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks as you make your way to Las Vegas. The scenery at both of these parks is outstanding. If you stay at the North rim be sure to grab a cocktail and find a seat on the lodge's patio area to enjoy the spectacular sunsets that the Grand Canyon provides. Been there, done that, with no regrets.

DonDiego in Oatman, Arizona

Are you the brunette or blond?