Route 66 in California

Route 66 in California | Barstow, San Bernardino & the Final Miles to Santa Monica
California marks the final chapter of the Route 66 story — the last 315 miles of the Mother Road run from the Colorado River at Needles, through the Mojave Desert, into the sprawling Los Angeles metropolitan area, and end at the iconic Santa Monica Pier on the Pacific Ocean. The California stretch is one of the most varied on the entire highway, shifting from brutal desert heat at Amboy and Ludlow to the cool ocean breeze at the finish line. Key stops include the restored Harvey House in Barstow, the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, the Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, and the classic streetscapes of Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard. Reaching the end-of-trail sign at Santa Monica Pier is a rite of passage for every Route 66 traveler — and this section will help you make the most of the final miles on the Mother Road.