Last updated: April 2025
There’s something magical about driving Route 66 through California. Maybe it’s the desert air shimmering over distant mountains, or those neon signs glowing against the twilight sky. Whatever it is, this legendary stretch of American asphalt has been calling road-trippers for generations—and I’m here to tell you why you should answer that call.
My Unexpected Route 66 Adventure
Let me tell you about last summer. My partner and I had planned a “sensible” vacation to San Diego, but somewhere around Barstow, we looked at each other and made a split-second decision: “What if we just… followed Route 66 instead?”
That impulsive detour turned into the highlight of our entire trip. We stayed in vintage motels with blinking vacancy signs, ate at diners where the same cook had been flipping burgers for 40 years, and met fellow travelers from literally every corner of the world. One night, we shared beers with a retired couple from Australia who’d been dreaming of “doing the Mother Road” for decades.
“We’ve seen it in so many movies,” Margaret told us, her eyes twinkling. “But nothing prepares you for actually being here.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
California’s Route 66: The Final Stretch of America’s Main Street
While Route 66 spans eight states total, the California portion represents the final reward—the culmination of America’s most famous road trip. Starting from the eastern border at Needles and winding 315 miles to Santa Monica, this section of Route 66 takes you through:
- The stark beauty of the Mojave Desert
- Quirky roadside attractions that defy explanation
- Historic small towns frozen in time
- Metropolitan Los Angeles
- And finally, the sparkling Pacific Ocean
For many travelers, reaching the “End of the Trail” sign on Santa Monica Pier represents the achievement of a lifetime—the completion of a journey that’s as much about the American spirit as it is about the actual miles driven.
Getting Started: Needles to Barstow
Your California Route 66 adventure begins in Needles, a small desert town nestled along the Colorado River. Before hitting the road, grab breakfast at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant, a classic Route 66 diner that’s been serving hungry travelers since the 1950s.
El Garces Hotel
Just 20 minutes west, you’ll find the historic El Garces Hotel in Needles. Once a Harvey House hotel and restaurant (part of a famous chain that brought civilization to the Wild West), this beautifully restored building now serves as an events center and museum. Take a quick tour—the architecture alone is worth the stop.
Amboy Crater & Roy’s Motel Café
As you continue west, the landscape transforms into surreal desert terrain. About an hour from Needles, you’ll spot Amboy Crater—a 250-foot high volcanic cinder cone that looks like something from another planet. Nearby sits Roy’s Motel and Café, possibly the most photographed ghost town stop on Route 66.
The giant restored neon sign of Roy’s is iconic, but what really gets me is how this place feels suspended in time. During our trip, we met the caretaker who’s been slowly restoring parts of this historic landmark. His stories about travelers who’ve passed through—from celebrities to everyday folk making cross-country moves—could fill a book.
Barstow: Gateway to the Mojave
Barstow marks your transition into the heart of the Mojave. This railroad town has embraced its Route 66 heritage with gusto. Don’t miss:
- Route 66 Mother Road Museum: Housed in the historic Casa del Desierto (a former Harvey House), this museum celebrates all things Route 66 with exhibits that perfectly capture the road’s unique cultural significance.
- Barstow Station: Yeah, it’s touristy, but this train-car-themed shopping complex is the kind of roadside folly that defines the Route 66 experience. Plus, they make a decent milkshake.
- Desert Discovery Center: If you’ve got kids (or are just curious about desert ecology), this small but engaging center explains the surprisingly complex ecosystem of the Mojave.
Quirky Detours: The Roadside Attractions
One thing you’ll learn quickly on Route 66: sometimes the weirdest stops become your favorite memories. Between Barstow and San Bernardino, you’ll encounter some true California oddities:
Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch
Just outside Oro Grande, you’ll encounter what looks like a forest made of metal trees adorned with thousands of glass bottles. This is Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch, one of the most photographed art installations on Route 66.
Elmer Long created this unusual “forest” as a tribute to his father, who collected bottles during their desert adventures. When the sunlight hits the colored glass, the whole place shimmers like a mirage. It’s the perfect spot for those “only on Route 66” photos.
The World’s Largest Thermometer
In Baker, you can’t miss (literally, it’s 134 feet tall) the World’s Largest Thermometer. Built to commemorate the highest temperature ever recorded in the U.S. (134°F in nearby Death Valley), this giant digital display actually works!
There’s something oddly captivating about watching the temperature climb throughout the day—especially if you’re visiting in summer. We hit 112°F during our July visit, which felt plenty hot enough, thanks.
Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Café
Just west of Barstow in Victorville sits Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Café, a tiny cinderblock diner that’s been slinging burgers since 1947. Featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” this no-frills eatery serves up what might be the best breakfast on the entire route.
The Brian Burger (with ortega chili and swiss cheese) is legendary, but my heart belongs to their biscuits and gravy. Just thinking about them makes me want to jump in the car for another road trip!
Urban Stretches: San Bernardino to Pasadena
As you leave the desert behind, Route 66 takes you into the urban sprawl of the Los Angeles metro area. While this section lacks the wide-open spaces of the eastern portion, it compensates with rich history and cultural landmarks.
The Original McDonald’s Site & Museum
In San Bernardino, you can visit the site where the McDonald brothers opened their first restaurant in 1940. Though the original building is gone, the site now houses an unofficial museum packed with McDonald’s memorabilia from around the world.
It’s fascinating to see how this humble burger stand transformed into a global empire. The volunteer curators are usually longtime McDonald’s employees with fantastic stories about the company’s evolution.
Wigwam Motel
One of only three remaining Wigwam Motels in the country, the Rialto/San Bernardino location lets you “Sleep in a Wigwam!” as the vintage signs proclaim. These concrete teepees might not be luxurious, but they’re incredibly fun.
We splurged on a night here during our trip, and I still smile thinking about how absurd (yet awesome) it felt to sleep in a cement teepee with all the modern amenities. Each unit is small but thoughtfully arranged, and the vintage cars parked outside create perfect photo opportunities.
Foothill Boulevard Corridor
As Route 66 becomes Foothill Boulevard through the communities of Upland, Claremont, and Glendora, you’ll find charming downtown areas with buildings dating back to the early 20th century. Claremont in particular preserves its historic character, with tree-lined streets and buildings from the 1920s and 30s.
The Folk Music Center in Claremont is worth a stop—owned by Ben Harper’s family, this combination shop/museum lets you try out exotic instruments from around the world. We spent an unplanned hour here, with the friendly staff teaching us to play instruments we couldn’t even name.
The Final Stretch: Pasadena to Santa Monica
The last leg of Route 66 takes you through some of LA’s most iconic neighborhoods before delivering you to the Pacific Ocean.
Pasadena: The Colorado Street Bridge
The magnificent Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, with its distinctive Beaux Arts arches, has carried Route 66 travelers since 1913. Stop at the viewing area to appreciate this engineering marvel, nicknamed the “Suicide Bridge” due to its unfortunately high number of jumpers during the Great Depression.
For a happier association, fans of “La La Land” might recognize it as the location where Sebastian and Mia take their moonlit stroll.
Echo Park & Downtown LA
Route 66 slices through Echo Park and downtown Los Angeles, neighborhoods that preserve much of their historic character despite ongoing gentrification. Along this stretch, you’ll find:
- The Chicken Boy: A 22-foot fiberglass statue of a boy with a chicken’s head, formerly a restaurant mascot and now an officially recognized landmark
- Angels Flight Railway: The world’s shortest railway, a funicular that’s been carrying passengers up Bunker Hill since 1901
- Grand Central Market: A historic food hall operating since 1917, now home to both legacy vendors and trendy food concepts
Santa Monica: End of the Trail
After nearly 2,500 miles (if you’ve come all the way from Chicago), Route 66 culminates at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica. Follow the signs to Santa Monica Pier, where an “End of the Trail” marker commemorates the journey’s completion.
Standing there, watching the Pacific waves crash while families laugh on the carousel and tourists snap photos, I felt a curious mixture of accomplishment and melancholy. There’s something bittersweet about reaching the end of any great journey.
Where to Stay: Historic Hotels & Motels Along the Route
Part of the Route 66 experience is staying in historic accommodations that capture the spirit of mid-century road trips. Consider these options:
- Wigwam Motel (San Bernardino): As mentioned above, sleep in a concrete teepee for the ultimate Route 66 experience. Book on Booking.com
- Route 66 Motel (Barstow): Simple, clean rooms with retro theming at reasonable prices
- Hotel Lexen (San Gabriel): A boutique hotel in a historic building, offering modern amenities with vintage charm
- The Georgian Hotel (Santa Monica): A restored Art Deco gem overlooking the Pacific, providing a luxurious end to your journey
For road trip essentials, I swear by this Portable Car Refrigerator on Amazon that kept our drinks cold throughout the hot desert stretches.
Best Time to Travel
The ideal time to drive Route 66 through California is spring (March-May) or fall (September-November). Summer brings intense desert heat (often exceeding 110°F), while winter can be surprisingly cold at night in the high desert sections.
We made the mistake of traveling in July, and while manageable, there were moments when stepping out of our air-conditioned car felt like walking into a furnace. Next time, I’m shooting for April when the desert wildflowers might be blooming.
A Personal Story: Unexpected Connection at the Baghdad Café
One moment from our trip stands out above all others. On our second day, we stopped at the Baghdad Café in Newberry Springs—a dusty roadside joint made famous by the 1987 film of the same name.
The café looked almost abandoned when we pulled up, with just one other car parked outside. Inside, we found the owner, Andrea, chatting with a German couple. When she learned we were exploring Route 66, her eyes lit up, and she disappeared into the back, returning with a massive guestbook.
“Sign this, then look through it,” she instructed us. “Find your people.”
Flipping through the pages, we discovered signatures and messages from travelers from over 50 countries. Amazingly, I found an entry from my childhood neighbor who had visited just three months earlier! I hadn’t seen him in 15 years, but there was his distinctive handwriting, noting that the Baghdad Café’s coffee was “strong enough to raise the dead.”
We laughed so hard we cried, then added our own entry: “Followed James here by accident. The coffee is still resurrection-strength.”
That’s the magic of Route 66—it connects people across time and space in ways you’d never expect.
Practical Tips for Your Route 66 California Adventure
Before hitting the road, keep these tips in mind:
- Download offline maps: Cell service is spotty in desert sections
- Carry extra water: Even in cooler months, the desert air is extremely dry
- Plan gas stops strategically: Some stretches have limited services
- Be flexible with your itinerary: The best Route 66 experiences often happen when you follow a spontaneous detour
- Bring cash: Some smaller establishments don’t accept cards
- Pack a good camera: The light in the Mojave Desert creates stunning photo opportunities
The Call of the Open Road
There’s a reason Route 66 continues to capture our collective imagination nearly a century after its creation. In our increasingly homogenized world, this historic highway offers a glimpse into an America that’s rapidly disappearing—a place where mom-and-pop businesses still thrive, where strangers become friends over pie at a roadside diner, and where the journey truly matters more than the destination.
California’s section of Route 66 distills this experience into 315 unforgettable miles. From the stark majesty of the Mojave to the neon-lit diners of small-town America to the sparkling Pacific at journey’s end, this drive delivers something that no modern interstate can—a feeling that you’re not just traveling across a state, but through the very heart of American culture.
So what are you waiting for? The Mother Road is calling.
Have you driven any section of Route 66? What was your favorite stop? Share your experiences in the comments below!
About the Author: Jamie Rodriguez is a travel writer and photographer with a particular fascination for America’s historic highways. When not on the road, Jamie can be found planning the next adventure from a small apartment overlooking the California coastline.
Leave a Reply