Historic Route 66 in California
Heading for the Pacific Ocean on the final stretch of Route 66 USA
California freeways have paved over much of Historic Route 66, but the spirit of the Mother Road is alive and well in museums, motels and other landmarks along the way.
California is the last of the eight states, east to west, that were crossed by Historic Route 66 in the USA. As the Mother Road winds it way towards its end at the Pacific Ocean, these are the highlights of Route 66 California.
Crossing the state line from Arizona, old Route 66 continues along I-40 between Needles and Barstow. Needles, named for pointed peaks nearby, was once an important stop on the Mother Road. On Front Street, look for the old covered wagon emblazoned with the town's name. Another landmark is the Palms Motel, a motor court from the 1920s.
A Route 66 gem is El Garces, a former Harvey House hotel dating from 1906. The chain, which followed the old Santa Fe Railroad, was famous for its Harvey Girls, who lived on site and were trained in courtesy and customer service. The hotel closed in 1949, but the city is renovating the building with plans to reopen it as a hotel once again.
It's a good idea to fill up your gas tank before leaving Needles, as there are few services on the long stretch ahead through the Mojave desert. I-40 continues to Barstow, but Historic Route 66 weaves north and south of the highway through the ghost towns of Goffs, Essex, Amboy, Baghdad and Ludlow. Back on I-40, Newberry Springs was the setting for the cult movie Baghdad Cafe.
In Barstow, Historic Route 66 becomes Main Street. At the old train station is an unusual McDonald's set in converted railway cars. Further west on Main, the highlight of the old Route 66 motels is the El Rancho, built out of railroad ties in 1943, and its towering neon sign.
There was a Harvey House in Barstow, too, the 1911 Casa del Desierto, one block north on First Avenue across the iron railroad bridge. Now restored, it contains the Route 66 Museum.
Take I-15 southwest towards San Bernardino. At Victorville, the California Route 66 Museum is one of the best on the Mother Road. Housed in a former Route 66 roadhouse, the Red Rooster Cafe, it has a fine collection of photographs, artifacts and exhibitions, such as the legendary Hulaville exhibit.
I-15 brings you to San Bernardino. Follow Cajon Boulevard, which is old Route 66, into the city. At 14th and E streets is the McDonalds Route 66 Museum, the site of the first McDonalds restaurant.
Head west on CA66, also called Foothills Boulevard. It runs parallel to I-10, a faster but less authentic thoroughfare.
In the suburb of Rialto, watch for the famous Wigwam Motel, 2728 W. Foothills Blvd. Built in 1949, this California Route 66 landmark was the last of the seven Wigwam Motels built by Frank Redford across the country. Its former slogan was 'Do it in a Teepee' and it used to rent rooms by the hour.
The teepee-shaped cabins, which have been fully renovated inside, look like a roadside Indian village. Only three of these historic motels remain today, one of which is on Route 66 in Arizona.
Foothills Boulevard continues through the suburbs, becoming Huntington Drive and Colorado Boulevard as it enters Pasadena. From here, take the Pasadena Freeway (SR 110) to the Santa Monica Boulevard exit. Then follow it – or the more winding but aptly named Sunset Boulevard – west to the Pacific Ocean, the end of the line on Historic Route 66.
To read more about Route 66 in the Southwest, click here.
To follow Route 66 in New Mexico, click here.
To follow Route 66 in Arizona, click here.
To contact the California Historic Route 66 Association, click here.
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