Best Attractions on a Route 66 Road Trip in California

This post is about the best attractions on a Route 66 Road Trip in Southern California.

Whether you’re completing the entire route all the way from the windy city to the Pacific Ocean as a good old fashioned USA road trip, or just exploring a section of the drive on the old road in California, there’s several famous roadside attractions to see in just a short period of road.

Without stopping this entire section takes about 7 hours of driving. We recommend taking at least a couple of days to explore all the best places along the old route. Its worth checking out all the best stops and small towns.

For this post, we will be starting our journey in Needles and ending in Santa Monica.

Some links on this page are affiliate. 🙂

Follow this table of contents for easy navigation through the blog post.

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Before You Go

• Water, water and more water! Southern California is HOT! Always pack more water than you think you’ll need and don’t rely on always picking some up on the way, as most of the route is ghost towns. In addition, if you’re doing any hiking or exploring, you don’t want to be rationing water.
• Sunscreen. The hot desert sun is no joke. Get at least 50 SPF and some aloe vera while you’re at it in case you get burned.
• Don’t visit in the summer. The spring, fall or even the winter can be a great time to visit southern California. The summer heat gets intense with lots of sun and no shade. Even the spring and fall get hot. Be prepared!
• Keep gas in the tank and snacks on deck. A lot of the driving is through old ghost towns and desert landscape with not much lively activity. Don’t plan on reliably being able to stop at a convenience store. Fuel up before you leave for the day, consider stopping to top off the tank if you pass a gas station, especially if you don’t have over half a tank of gas left, or you’re in a vehicle that doesn’t have the best fuel economy.
• Download maps ahead of time. Also bring a paper map with you. Its common to lose service along the way and you don’t want to be stuck without directions.
• Follow the signs for Route 66. If you want to stay on the main street of Route 66 then keep watch for the road signs as opposed to following GPS. Your phone typically wants to keep you on the fastest route. But we want to stop and smell the flowers here!

Iconic Stops on the Iconic Route

Save the map below for easy access on your trip!

Historic Route 66 California Gateway Site

This is the official entrypoint of Route 66 in California coming from Arizona. Located in Needles, its a nice photo op to begin your trip and a good excuse to check out the town. There’s many different landmarks here that are worth exploring.

Goffs Ghost Town

Goffs is an old railroad mining town on Route 66’s highest point in California. Check out Goffs Schoolhouse, a historic school building that’s been renovated to reflect original plans by the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association (MDHCA). There is also the Dennis G. Casebier Library which holds the Mojave Desert Archives. Its worth the stop to explore all the old history and unique structures.

Amboy

If your a fan of old neon signs like me, then you HAVE to visit Amboy.

Road Runner’s Retreat

As of now, Road Runner’s isn’t open but still worth the photo op. The building and sign is being preserved by the owner and they are currently working on restoring the sign.

Roy’s Motel and Café

Situated in Amboy, Roy’s is a well-preserved relic of Route 66’s heyday, featuring a classic mid-century motel and café. There is a gas station here and gift shop.

Amboy Crater

Located near the town of Amboy, this extinct volcanic crater offers hiking opportunities and stunning desert landscapes. Although pretty far off the route, its a neat experience and worth seeing if you have the time and never seen a meteor crater before. It is 250 feet high and 1,500 feet in diameter. There are picnic tables, restrooms and a hiking trail. Its free!

Bagdad Café

Made famous by the 1987 film of the same name, the Bagdad Café in Newberry Springs is a popular stop for travelers seeking a bite to eat and a taste of Route 66 nostalgia.

Barstow

Barstow is worth its own day of exploration.

There’s lots of things worth checking out here like:

• Route 66 Mother Road Museum
• Route 66 Motel (more info in the hotel recommendations section of this blog post)
• Mojave River Valley Museum
• NASA Goldstone Visitor Center

And plenty more! Consider dedicating a section of your time to this place to get a true route 66 experience.

Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch

Just off Route 66 in Oro Grande, you’ll find this whimsical outdoor art installation featuring hundreds of colorful glass bottles arranged on metal poles. This is a unique roadside attraction worth a few minutes for your time. Elmer Long is the creationist of this fun spot full of recycled bottle sculptures like trees and windmills.

Elmer has passed since opening this fun spot but its being upkept by his family and the community. Its free to access but donations are welcomed.

San Bernardino

We’re starting to get into more civilized territory now! To truly see all the historic sights in San Bernardino, be sure to follow the road signs for Route 66 to stay on the original route as opposed to just driving the main road, 210. Some historic places in this area include:

• The Original McDonald’s
• California Theatre of the Performing Arts
• The Wigwam Motel (more info in the Hotel Recommendations section of this blog post)
• Rancho Cucamonga
• Route 66 overpass in Rancho Cucamonga

Route 66 End of the Trail Sign / Santa Monica Pier

Located near the Santa Monica Pier, this sign marks the end of the historic highway an “official end of route.” Walk to the end of the pier and enjoy a beautiful sunset or spend your time exploring the shops or Palisades Park.

Suggested Stops off Route

If you have the time there are some fun stops off the route that are worth considering checking out.

Anaheim (Disneyland)

There’s a section in Disneyland with some Route 66 nostalgia. I’ve never been a huge Disney fan personally, but I think it’d be fun to visit this section of the park just for history sake.

Mojave National Preserve

Inside this park boasts tons of wildlife and diverse plants. These include but are not limited to joshua trees, lava beds, sand dunes, mountain lions, coyotes, bats, wildflowers, tortoises, cacti, etc.

Be sure to check the main website here for any recent road closures or info to keep in mind before visiting. There are times when conditions become life threatening! Be sure to check before going.

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree is a gorgeous national park with loads of chollas, joshua trees (obviously), dark night skies, unique rock formations, serene desert views and rich cultural history. If you want to spend some time at this park on your trip we recommend coming from Amboy and returning back on Route 66 there or else entering back on to Victorville or San Bernardino, but you’ll miss a lot of the road doing that.

Hotel Recommendations

Your itinerary will determine which towns you need lodging in. Some towns are especially scarce as they’re technically ghost towns. Here’s our recommendations for accomodation.

Needles

• Best Western Colorado River Inn
  • The more luxurious option, this hotel has a pool, hot tub, free breakfast and an onsite restaurant. It is also pet friendly.

• Rio del Sol Inn
  • Rio del Sol is a more budget friendly option with a classic motel style. It is also pet friendly with a pool and hot tub.

Barstow

• Route 66 Motel
  • A classic motel in an iconic town on Route 66. A must stay if you want to stay in one of the OG mother road motels. There’s lots of cool memorabilia here as well as round beds, old cars, and vintage neon. It is also pet friendly.

• Rodeway Inn On Historic Route 66
  • `This is a typical roadside motel offering your basic amenties like a pool, free breakfast, gym, and free wifi. Pet friendly and clean.

San Bernardino

• The Wigwam Motel
  • Located in San Bernardino, this quirky motel features individual teepee-shaped rooms, providing a unique Route 66 lodging experience. This is one of the best historic hotels along the route. I mean, how could you say no to staying in one of these cool teepees?

• Best Western Plus Arrowhead Hotel
  • The Best Western is another option for San Bernardino that is close to the old route. This hotel has a pool, free breakfast, a gym and free wifi.

Santa Monica

• The Pierside Santa Monica
  • For a luxury beachfront option check out the Pierside. There’s a gym, pool, bar, free wifi and restaurant. It is also pet friendly.

• Seaway Motel
  • A more affordable option is the Seaway Motel. Although not right on the beach, this motel has basic amenties and all you could need for a good night’s sleep without extra frills.

Conclusion

Let us know if you visit any of the locations on this list!

Is there any spots missing here that you’ve visited and want to share?

Let us know in the comments!

Happy explorin’!