This last stretch of the Mother Road—from western Arizona to the coast of California—is pretty lengthy, but there are plenty of detours and attractions to break up the drive.
Whether you call it the starting or ending point of the Mother Road, the Santa Monica Pier is the perfect spot to stretch your legs or snap photos of the ocean before embarking on a 2,000-mile trip east. Sure it’s touristy, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking a ride on the 1922 carousel or grabbing something sweet from the soda fountain. From the roller coaster and Ferris wheel to the arcade and the sign noting that it is the official end of Route 66, there's tons of fun to be had here.
Monrovia’s Aztec Hotel was built in 1925 and remains a curiosity to this day for its distinctive Mayan architectural style. The Aztec, which was located along Route 66 until a 1931 realignment took the official route away from the hotel, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
The Cucamonga Service Station, constructed in 1915, actually predates Route 66. From 1925 until 1944, it operated as a Richfield Oil Service Station; today it’s owned by local non-profit Route 66 Inland Empire California (IECA), and houses a gift shop and museum.
For more than 75 years, this charming cafe has been serving amazing Mexican food. It was one of the first Mexican restaurants in the U.S., and legend says this place actually inspired the founders of Taco Bell.
You don't want to miss your last opportunity to “sleepee in a teepee” on the Mother Road. Once scattered across the country, today only three Wigwam Villages remain.
The Patels, owners of #7, live and breathe Route 66 and do an exceptional job promoting and encouraging its preservation. This is a great place to stay with kids, and it’s the only Wigwam Village that still has its original kidney-shaped pool. Everything you look for in a motel is available here in a whimsical package—each individual teepee includes a refrigerator, bathroom with a shower, cozy bed, and an air conditioner.
Built in 1949, the California Wigwam Motel is technically located within the city limits of San Bernardino, although it has a Rialto postal address. It was the last of the Wigwam Motels to be built, and, thanks to the Patels, its rooms are clean and lovingly maintained.
This is the original McDonald's location, owned and operated by the McDonald brothers (the first franchised location opened by Ray Kroc was located in Des Plaines, Illinois). The brothers forever changed the restaurant industry by firing the car hops, cutting the menu down to the most popular items, and optimizing their successful diner for efficiency, consistency, and value. Even if you're not a fan of the Golden Arches, you have to respect how much they revolutionized the industry—for better or worse. The museum is full of memorabilia, but we’re especially fond of pieces from the McDonaldLand era.
At the Bottle Tree Ranch, you’ll find about 200 “trees” made of colorful bottles. The found art displays shimmer in the sun alongside bird feeders, road signs, gas pumps, bicycles, and cars.
The Western American Railroad Museum showcases outdoor displays, locomotives, and other huge pieces of railroad machinery.
Established in 2000, the Route 66 Mother Road Museum is one of the final museums on the route dedicated to its history. Housed in the historic Casa del Desierto Harvey House, the building makes for a great photo.
Barstow Station is a reliable pit stop for food and people watching. The fourth largest seller of lottery tickets in California is also a good place to stock up on booze or last-minute souvenirs.
If Oatman and its wild burros were a bit too rowdy for your taste, Calico Ghost Town might be a better bet. It's a bit touristy and maintained by the regional park system, but it has a nice campground and several old buildings to explore, including museums, shops, and restaurants.
Built in 1954, Peggy Sue’s is set against the dramatic backdrop of the Calico Mountains. The ambiance will make you feel as if you’ve just stepped into an episode of Happy Days and the food portions are generous.
Although it’s a Route 66 icon, the Bagdad Cafe in Newberry Springs is actually the second incarnation of the original cafe, which was located in Bagdad, a town between Amboy and Ludlow. The Newberry Springs cafe was renamed Bagdad Cafe when a Route 66 film was shot in the area. Filming wrapped, but the name stayed.
Congratulations! You have reached the end of the Mother Road—and by now you know it’s not the destination that matters, it’s the journey. But whether the Santa Monica Pier is your ending or starting point, take some time to celebrate and reflect. With more than 2,000 miles of classic neon, motels, larger-than-life roadside attractions, museums, diners, and countless colorful characters, it should be obvious why the allure of Route 66 is as strong as ever. The road may look different today than it did decades ago—or even yesterday—but that’s all part of the fun.
Banner Photo Credit: Flickr/Grand Canyon National Park