Where the Road Ends at the Pacific
There is a moment every serious Route 66 traveler reaches, usually after several days behind the wheel and well over two thousand miles of America behind them, when the Pacific Ocean first appears at the end of the road. The palms lining Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica sway in the sea breeze. The afternoon light off the water hits the white facades of the shops along the Santa Monica Pier at an angle that makes everything look like a postcard. And somewhere on that pier — the most famous pier in California and, for Route 66 travelers, the most significant pier in the country — a sign reads: “End of the Trail.”
This is the western terminus of U.S. Route 66, the 2,448-mile highway that stretches from Adams and Michigan in downtown Chicago, Illinois, across the Midwest, the Great Plains, the Southwest, the Mojave Desert, and finally down through Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean at Santa Monica, California. Route 66 was commissioned on November 11, 1926, and decommissioned in 1985, but it has never stopped being driven. The Santa Monica Pier is where that drive ends — and where, for millions of travelers over nearly a century, the dream of the American road was fulfilled.
Where Is the End of the Trail Sign?
The End of the Trail Route 66 sign is located on the Santa Monica Pier, at the entrance to the pier on Ocean Avenue at Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California 90401. The pier extends into Santa Monica Bay from the foot of Colorado Avenue. The End of the Trail sign stands near the entrance to the pier where Colorado Avenue meets the Pacific Ocean, and is one of the most photographed signs on all of Route 66.
The pier is freely accessible on foot from the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue. Paid parking is available in the Santa Monica Pier Parking Structure at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway, or in surrounding city lots and structures. Metered street parking is available on nearby streets, though competition for spaces is high, particularly on weekends and during summer months. The most efficient approach is to park in the city structure and walk to the pier.
Route 66 and Santa Monica: The History of the Western Terminus
Route 66 is Commissioned: 1926
When the United States Bureau of Public Roads officially commissioned U.S. Route 66 on November 11, 1926, the highway was designated to run from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California — a total distance of approximately 2,448 miles across eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The western terminus was originally specified as Los Angeles, not Santa Monica, with the route ending at various points in the city over the decades that followed.
The highway became the primary overland route for Americans traveling west, carrying Dust Bowl migrants in the 1930s, military personnel during World War II, and vacationing families in the postwar boom years. John Steinbeck famously called it the “Mother Road” in The Grapes of Wrath (1939), and Bobby Troup enshrined it in American popular culture with the song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” in 1946. By mid-century, Route 66 was the most celebrated highway in the country — the road that connected the industrial Midwest to the promise of the Pacific.
The Santa Monica Pier as Symbolic Terminus
Although Route 66’s official western terminus shifted over the years — variously ending at Figueroa Street in Los Angeles, at Lincoln Boulevard, and at other points — the Santa Monica Pier became the symbolic and ceremonial terminus of the highway, the place where travelers completing the full 2,448-mile journey traditionally ended their drive. The pier extends into the Pacific Ocean at the foot of Colorado Avenue, and its position at the literal edge of the continent gave it a natural authority as the end point of the American road.
This symbolic role was formally recognized when the End of the Trail sign was installed on the pier — a sign that appears in countless photographs of Route 66 completions, is shared across social media by thousands of travelers every year, and has become one of the most recognized landmarks on the entire Mother Road. For the Route 66 traveler, reaching this sign is the equivalent of completing a pilgrimage: the moment when 2,448 miles of American highway resolve themselves into a single, definitive point at the edge of the Pacific.
Decommissioning and the Route 66 Revival
Route 66 was officially removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985, supplanted by the Interstate Highway System that the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 had set in motion. Interstates 55, 44, 40, 15, and 10 had absorbed most of the old highway’s traffic, bypassing hundreds of small towns and communities that had depended on Route 66 travelers for their economic survival. But the decommissioning did not end Route 66 — it intensified its cultural significance.
Preservationists, historic highway associations, and a growing community of Route 66 enthusiasts began working immediately to maintain and restore the old alignment. All eight states have designated surviving sections as official historic byways. The Route 66 Centennial in 2026 — the highway’s 100th anniversary — has focused renewed national attention on the road, with celebrations planned across all eight states. Santa Monica and the pier remain the symbolic western terminus of this ongoing story.
The Santa Monica Pier: History and Highlights
A Pier Built for Sewage — and Reimagined for Pleasure
The Santa Monica Pier was not, in its origins, a pleasure destination. The original Municipal Pier was built in 1909 for an entirely utilitarian purpose: to carry sewer pipes far enough offshore that the effluent would be dispersed into the ocean without fouling the Santa Monica beach. The pier extended 1,600 feet into Santa Monica Bay and served this unglamorous function reliably until the sewage infrastructure was eventually updated.
The second structure, the Pleasure Pier (later known as the Looff Hippodrome Pier), was built alongside it in 1916 by Charles Looff — the same craftsman who had built the carousel at the original Coney Island amusement park in New York. Looff’s pier was a genuine pleasure destination: it included a carousel, a ballroom, an auditorium, and the rides and concessions that characterized early 20th-century seaside amusement. The two piers were merged in 1921, and Santa Monica’s pier began its evolution into the landmark it is today.
The Looff Hippodrome and Historic Carousel
The most historically significant structure on the Santa Monica Pier is the Looff Hippodrome, a National Historic Landmark built in 1916 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hippodrome houses the 1922 carousel — a hand-carved merry-go-round with 44 horses and two chariots, all crafted by the Looff workshop — which is one of the oldest continuously operating carousels in the United States. The carousel has appeared in numerous films and television productions over the decades, and it remains fully operational for rides by visitors today.
The hippodrome building itself is an architectural gem: a circular wooden structure with a distinctive domed roof that has become one of the most recognized silhouettes on the Santa Monica waterfront. Walking into the hippodrome from the pier — hearing the antique band organ music, watching the horses turn — is one of those rare California experiences that genuinely delivers on its historical promise.
Pacific Park: The Amusement Park on the Pier
The modern centerpiece of the Santa Monica Pier’s recreational offerings is Pacific Park, an amusement park built at the end of the pier in 1996. Pacific Park is most easily identified from the shore by the Pacific Wheel — a solar-powered Ferris wheel that rises above the pier and has become the most photographed element of the contemporary Santa Monica Pier skyline. Pacific Park operates year-round and includes roller coasters, carnival games, food concessions, and a lineup of rides suitable for families and adults.
Admission to the pier itself is free; Pacific Park attractions are individually ticketed or available on a ride wristband. The park is operated privately and maintains its own hours; checking the current schedule before visiting is advisable, as hours vary seasonally and the park closes for maintenance periods.
The Pier’s Role in Film and Television
The Santa Monica Pier has been one of the most filmed locations in the United States for over a century. Its combination of ocean-facing views, the hippodrome, the Ferris wheel, the carnival atmosphere, and its immediate visual recognizability make it irresistible to filmmakers seeking a shorthand for California, the Pacific, or the American road. Productions that have filmed at the pier include Forrest Gump (1994), in which the pier serves as the end point of Tom Hanks’s cross-country run, Iron Man, The Sting, and countless television productions, commercials, and music videos. For Route 66 travelers, the connection to Forrest Gump specifically resonates: Gump’s run across America ends at the Santa Monica Pier, just as Route 66’s own cross-country journey does.
The End of the Trail Sign: Route 66’s Most Important Milestone
The “End of the Trail” sign on the Santa Monica Pier is the most famous landmark associated with the completion of a Route 66 journey. The sign — brown with gold lettering, in the style of a historic highway marker — indicates the western terminus of the Mother Road and has been the backdrop for an enormous number of photographs taken by travelers completing the full Route 66 drive.
It is worth noting that the precise history of the current sign involves some nuance. Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985 before the contemporary sign was installed in its present form. The current End of the Trail sign is a commemorative marker rather than a period-original highway sign, and it reflects the deliberate effort of Route 66 advocates and the City of Santa Monica to formalize the pier’s role as the symbolic terminus of the Mother Road. This context does not diminish the sign’s significance — if anything, it reflects the active, community-driven effort to preserve and celebrate Route 66’s legacy — but travelers should understand that the sign is a tribute rather than a remnant.
For the traveler who has driven the full 2,448 miles from Chicago, standing at this sign is the completion of the journey. The photograph at the End of the Trail sign is the Route 66 equivalent of the summit photograph on a major mountain climb: the record of arrival, the proof of completion, and the moment when the long journey across eight states and nearly a century of American highway history resolves into a single image at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
What to Do at the Santa Monica Pier
Find the End of the Trail Sign
Your first priority as a Route 66 traveler is to find and photograph the End of the Trail sign. The sign is located at the entrance to the pier on the Ocean Avenue side, near the Colorado Avenue intersection. It is well-marked and recognizable; follow the pier entrance walkway from Ocean Avenue and you will encounter it within the first few hundred feet. If you have driven the full route from Chicago, this is the moment. Take your time. Let it settle. The Pacific is right there.
Ride the Historic Carousel
The 1922 Looff carousel in the Hippodrome is a genuine piece of American history and a must-ride for anyone interested in the pier’s heritage. The carved horses are beautiful, the band organ music is authentic, and the experience of riding a carousel that has been turning since the same decade Route 66 was commissioned is one that connects you to the full arc of the highway’s history. Admission is modest; the carousel is suitable for all ages.
Walk the Full Length of the Pier
The pier extends well into Santa Monica Bay, and walking its full length — from the Ocean Avenue entrance past the hippodrome, past Pacific Park, to the railing at the far end — takes about 10–15 minutes at a comfortable stroll. From the end of the pier, the views back toward the Santa Monica coastline, the Santa Monica Mountains, and on clear days the Malibu headlands are exceptional. This is also one of the best vantage points for photographing the Pacific Wheel and the pier’s amusement park layout against the California sky.
Explore the Pier’s Food and Shops
The Santa Monica Pier has a full complement of dining options, ranging from casual seafood stands and fish-and-chip shops to sit-down restaurants with ocean views. The pier’s concessions are, by seaside amusement park standards, reasonable in quality; Mariasol, a Mexican restaurant on the pier, offers views of Santa Monica Bay from its patio and is particularly popular for lunch and early dinner. Several shops along the pier sell Route 66 and Santa Monica Pier souvenirs — the Route 66 mugs, magnets, and signs available here make appropriate and well-priced mementos of a journey completed.
Watch the Sunset
The Santa Monica Pier is positioned to offer direct views of the Pacific sunset — one of the great California experiences, particularly in summer and fall when the sky is often clear and the light off the water produces colors that range from gold to deep orange to the vivid pink of the afterglow. Arriving at the pier two hours before sunset, completing your exploration of the attractions, and then positioning yourself at the end of the pier for the sunset is the ideal timeline for a Route 66 completion visit. The photograph of the Pacific Wheel silhouetted against the sunset sky is one of the most iconic images of contemporary California travel photography.
Getting to the Santa Monica Pier
Driving Route 66 Into Santa Monica
Travelers arriving via the historic Route 66 alignment will approach Santa Monica from the east via Santa Monica Boulevard, which is the primary historic Route 66 alignment through Los Angeles. Santa Monica Boulevard runs through West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the City of Santa Monica before reaching Ocean Avenue at the waterfront. From Ocean Avenue, turn south (toward the pier) and follow to Colorado Avenue, where the pier entrance is located. Parking is available in the Santa Monica Pier Deck (1550 Pacific Coast Highway) and in several city-operated parking structures within walking distance.
Be aware that traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard and in the Westside of Los Angeles can be extremely heavy, particularly on weekdays during rush hours and on summer weekends. Build significant buffer time into your arrival schedule. Many experienced Route 66 travelers recommend arriving in Santa Monica on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday morning to minimize congestion on the final leg.
By Public Transit
The Santa Monica Pier is served by the Expo Line (E Line) of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system, which connects downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica’s Downtown Station. From the Downtown Santa Monica station (4th St and Colorado Ave), the pier is approximately a 5–10 minute walk west on Colorado Avenue to the waterfront. The Metro E Line provides a practical, traffic-free alternative to driving the final urban miles if you prefer to park elsewhere and complete the journey by rail.
Practical Tips for Visiting
Address: Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California 90401
Pier Access: Free to enter. Attractions individually priced. Pacific Park rides priced separately.
Hours: The pier is open to pedestrians 24 hours a day. Pacific Park and the carousel have seasonal hours — check santamonicapier.org before visiting.
Parking: The Santa Monica Pier Deck at 1550 PCH is the most convenient. City parking structures are available nearby. Arrive early in the morning for the best chance of street parking.
Best Time to Visit: Year-round, but May through September is high season. Weekday mornings are best for avoiding crowds at the End of the Trail sign. Summer weekends are very crowded.
Photography Timing: The End of the Trail sign is best photographed in morning light (eastern facing). The Pacific Wheel and pier are best at sunset from the end of the pier.
Accessibility: The pier is fully accessible by wheelchair. A free parking placard allows access to the nearby accessible spaces.
Weather: Santa Monica maintains mild temperatures year-round, but the coastal “marine layer” (morning fog) is common June through August. Afternoons are typically clear and warm.
Nearby Route 66 Highlights in California
Route 66 in California — Complete Guide — The full overview of California’s 314-mile Route 66 corridor from Needles on the Arizona border to the Santa Monica Pier, including every major attraction, town, and historic site along the way.
The Wigwam Motel, San Bernardino — Sleep in a wigwam! One of only three surviving Wigwam Village motels in the United States, located on Route 66 in San Bernardino, California — a California Historic Place and a Route 66 icon since 1950.
Route 66 in San Bernardino, California — The Original McDonald’s Museum site, the Wigwam Motel, and the full Route 66 heritage of one of California’s most historically significant Route 66 cities.
Roy’s Motel and Café, Amboy, California — The single most photographed landmark on California’s Route 66, located in the Mojave Desert 80 miles west of Needles. The 50-foot neon sign, Googie architecture, and the story of a couple stranded in the desert in 1924 who built a town.
Route 66 — Complete Guide — The definitive guide to all 2,448 miles of the Mother Road, from the Begin sign in Chicago to the End of the Trail at the Santa Monica Pier.
Route 66 Centennial 2026 — The 100th anniversary of Route 66 is November 11, 2026. Events are planned across all eight states. If your Route 66 journey is timed to the centennial year, this page covers the celebrations.
