Ocean to Desert Route 66 Road Trip: Cruising California and Arizona

With vibrant Los Angeles, California, as the gateway, this itinerary takes you east along Route 66: the legendary “Mother Road.” Once the main thoroughfare linking the U.S. Midwest to the Pacific, Route 66 has long been associated with open-road adventures. And while the West Coast is the historic end of the route, there’s no reason not to start your journey in sunny California. You’ll travel from Pacific Ocean shores to Painted Desert peaks, exploring must-see cities, charming towns and unique roadside attractions. Pack your sunglasses and head for Los Angeles – unforgettable Route 66 experiences await.

Entertainment in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, California

Arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, and pick up a rental car for a breezy 30-minute drive to Santa Monica. Your first Route 66 stop is the historic Santa Monica Pier. Spend time browsing specialty stands, including the on-theme gift shop 66-to-Cali, snap a photo at the iconic “End of the Trail” sign, and enjoy amusement park rides with Pacific Ocean views. Save your appetite for diner fare at a nearby landmark: Mel’s Drive-In. You can’t miss its Googie architecture (a mid-century style with futuristic elements) and penguin-topped neon sign. Stop in for classic burgers and malts before rolling down old Route 66 – now Santa Monica and Sunset boulevards – toward the buzz of downtown Los Angeles. Spend the night or stay for side trips highlighting legendary live music scenes, luxury shopping, global cuisine and glamorous Hollywood culture.

Landmarks in Pasadena and San Bernardino, California

Your next stop is nearby Pasadena, the second-oldest city in the Los Angeles area, where architectural gems and historic sites abound. Cruise by the Beaux Arts arches of the Colorado Street Bridge, a National Historic Landmark, then brake for refreshments at Fair Oaks Pharmacy. Part soda fountain, part compounding pharmacy, this charming spot on Route 66 has served up hand-dipped desserts since 1915. Hop back in the car and drive just over an hour to San Bernardino for more road trip eats and transportation tales. Mitla Cafe on Route 66 is an authentic Mexican restaurant that’s been family-owned since 1937. The San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum is your next destination for more local history. It’s set in the restored 1918 Santa Fe Depot, a National Historic Landmark of Mission Revival architecture. From there, take a quick detour to the Original McDonald’s Site & Museum. Though not original to Route 66, it’s full of nostalgia and memorabilia, which sets the stage for your next leg of travel.

Roadside Gems En Route to Needles, California

Venture beyond San Bernardino to Victorville, at the southwestern edge of the Mojave Desert, where the California Route 66 Museum awaits. Exhibits there include vintage signs, photos and classic cars. A 15-minute detour north will take you to Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch near Oro Grande, a sculpture garden where colorful glass “trees” shimmer in the desert sun. After that, it’s on to Amboy and the unmistakable neon beacon of Roy’s Motel & Café. Stop for fuel and admire more Gооgіе architecture while sipping a cold Route 66 root beer. Get back on the road to Needles, or pull off to nearby points of interest like the Amboy Crater and the surrounding Mojave Trails National Monument. In Needles, check out murals and photo ops, including the wooden Welcome Wagon. Dine and stay in this Colorado River town before crossing into Arizona.

Photo Ops in Kingman, Arizona

Depart Needles and drive an hour west to Kingman, Arizona. Keep your camera ready: Kingman is full of Route 66 signage, colorful murals, retro eateries and inns. Take a self-guided audio tour to discover key places, including the Route 66 Drive Thru Shield and the dazzling Heart of Route 66 neon sign. For a quintessential roadside experience, refuel at Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner, where nostalgic decor complements a classic menu. Feast on burgers, fries and homemade root beer before delving deeper into Mother Road history at the Arizona Route 66 Museum. Its art, memorabilia, dioramas and vintage vehicles portray cross-country travel through the ages, emphasizing the impact of Route 66. Your entry fee includes admission to the Route 66 Electric Vehicle (EV) Museum, which displays more than two dozen vehicles on loan from the Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation. Explore innovations from 1909 to the present, including EVs previously owned by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. To complete your authentic experience, spend the night at the El Trovatore Motel, one of Kingman’s last pre-World War II motels. Wake to stunning views of the Hualapai Mountains and murals along the motel walls. Energized by Kingman’s Mother Road culture, you’ll be ready to see what awaits in Williams.

Williams, Arizona, and a Grand Canyon Detour

On the way to Williams, small-town Seligman is a treasure trove of Route 66 kitsch. Find unique souvenirs at roadside shops like The Rusty Bolt and the Original Route 66 Gift Shop, and creative menu items at the Roadkill Café. Next door is the Historic Route 66 Motel and its photo-worthy giant neon shield. A 30-minute side trip from Seligman will take you to Grand Canyon Caverns, the largest dry caverns in the USA, offering a variety of underground experiences. 

Grand Canyon Railway runs daily train trips to the South Rim, complete with Old West entertainment in vintage rail cars. Extend your Grand Canyon adventure by staying at one of the historic lodges on the South Rim, or take the return train to Williams. The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel is just a block from historic Route 66, providing a smooth transition for the next day’s journey to Flagstaff, Arizona.

Stories and Stars in Flagstaff, Arizona

Back on the road, make your way to Flagstaff to experience Route 66 culture along a proudly preserved stretch. Flagstaff’s visitors center sits right on Route 66 in the historic downtown train station, an ideal starting point for self-guided tours. Explore neon signs, nostalgic diners, motels and murals, then have some old-school fun at Starlite Lanes bowling alley. It’s been a fixture on Route 66 since 1957. Keep the good times going with on-theme eats at Mother Road Brewing Company or Galaxy Diner, and country music at the 1930s-era Museum Club. The Americana Motor Hotel has your room for the night on Route 66, promising retro-futuristic vibes and updated amenities.

As night falls, leave the neon signs behind to bask in a different glow. Flagstaff is the world’s first International Dark Sky City, known for incredible night sky views. See stars through state-of-the-art telescopes at the renowned Lowell Observatory, then take a short drive to spot celestial marvels above ancestral Puebloan structures at Wupatki National Monument, one of Arizona’s 13 Dark Sky Parks. After a late night of stargazing in the desert, a leisurely morning is just what you need. Grab breakfast at Galaxy Diner before resuming your Route 66 adventure.

Winslow, Arizona, and Desert Park Drives

Near the end of this Route 66 road trip is a small town you may have heard of in a song. Winslow, Arizona’s Standin’ on the Corner Park features murals and artwork honoring the Eagles tune, “Take It Easy,” which mentions “standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona.” Embrace the town’s slow pace with a stroll through the gardens and galleries at La Posada Hotel (the resting place). If your schedule permits, linger here to admire the locally inspired designs of Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, a pioneering architect also known for buildings around the Grand Canyon. Rest in curated spaces reflecting Arizona cultures and scenery, and dine on contemporary Southwest cuisine. La Posada’s Turquoise Room restaurant is a regional favorite for fine dining.

Thirty minutes southeast, Holbrook has more Route 66 flair in the form of roadside motels and photo-worthy facades. Don’t miss the colorful dinosaur statues outside the Rainbow Rock Shop. Peruse the shop’s impressive array of petrified wood, then drive about an hour to see more at Petrified Forest National Park. Take in Triassic fossils and petroglyphs, and learn about the landscape on self-guided tours. To the north is the breathtaking Painted Desert, colorful badlands extending over 250 kilometers to the Grand Canyon. The main park road leads to the Painted Desert Inn. This National Historic Landmark, formerly Route 66 lodging, is open to visitors year-round. Pause on the patio to soak in sweeping desert views before heading back to Holbrook for the night. Check into your choice of nostalgic motels to rest up for your return trip. The three-hour drive to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is a chance to reflect on your Route 66 road trip through California and Arizona.