Route 66 RV Road Trip: California
Who doesn’t love a road trip? One of the best things about RV living is taking off on a great American highway. On this trip we’re going to see beautiful places, do fun things, and probably meet new people along the way.
Welcome to Leisure Coachworks’ Route 66 Road Trip!
Buckle up—this trip takes you through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois.
Before You Go
Never set out on a long RV trip without getting your motorhome or travel trailer into its best possible condition. Bring it in for maintenance so you don’t run into trouble on the road. The last thing you need is to lose a part and have to call emergency service.
Make sure your insurance is up to date and that you know what to do in case of an accident. Check out our RV Travel Safety Tips for more advice on getting ready.
Route 66
In 1926, the very first numbered highway in the United States opened to traffic. That historic highway was numbered 66 and ran from Chicago to Los Angeles. It connected urban and rural communities across the country.
Route 66 would become one of the country’s most celebrated thoroughfares. Immortalized in song, film, and novels, the highway became a mythic representation of Americana.
Its 2,448 miles would serve families, truckers, military vehicles, and the communities through which it ran for 60 years. In 1985 it was officially removed from the United States Highway System.
But Route 66 lives on. Much of it is drivable and serves as a gateway to America’s past.
You’ll find historic landmarks and classic diners, tourist attractions and small towns that thrived because of the highway.
On this journey we’ll be connecting with the communities served by this historic roadway and enjoying the scenery and history of what was once known as America’s Main Street and The Mother Road.
Unlike other road trips, where you travel from city to city, riding Route 66 is all about the journey. We’ll be highlighting historic businesses, eateries, attractions, and small towns across the vastness of the central United States.
Left to Right: Starting in L.A.
Though most of the travel on the original Route 66 went from east to west, we’re going to start in Los Angeles. You’ll get the best weather if you start in the early spring. Parts of the route get blisteringly hot, while others are prone to rain in the late summer. And we know nobody wants to pull into an RV park in Chicago in the winter!
Route 66 is, in many places, just two lanes. You’ll be heading into small towns and smaller attractions. The best way to see it is in a small motorhome or a Sprinter van that fits the roads and can pull into the sites. Or consider a travel trailer with a tow vehicle so you can leave your RV at the campground and explore quirky little spots.
The western end of Route 66 is in Santa Monica, home of the Santa Monica Pier. Ride the ferris wheel, play some boardwalk games, take in the beautiful Pacific Ocean scenery and get into the spirit of Route 66 Americana.
Try these other historic L.A. area attractions to get yourself into the Route 66 frame of mind.
• Venice Canals Historic District
• The Famed Whisky a Go Go Nightclub
• The Hollywood Walk of Fame
RV Accommodations
LA traffic is tough, so head north to rest up for your first long day on the road. Try the Malibu Creek State Park Campground. It’s a gorgeous natural area and the perfect balm after a busy day in L.A. You’ll find spots for motorhomes and travel trailers up to 30 feet in length and 13.5 feet tall.
Are you traveling with kids? They’ll love the bike trails, swimming, fishing, and geocaching.
Fun Fact: This area is where much of the filming for the TV series M*A*S*H took place.
Directions
Head northwest on Highway 101 and exit on Las Virgenes Rd. Head south and the park entrance is on the right, just the past Mullholland Drive intersection.
Eastward Ho!
Much of Highway 66 has been renamed, so you’ll need a good map of every state for this road trip. We’ll start with the excellent guide to Route 66 in California provided by the California Historic Route 66 Association.
This website will help you plan your trip, with detailed lists of attractions along the route. Each attraction has a map showing exactly how to get there on the current roads and highways. California also has great signage letting you know about historic Route 66 attractions.
A Wealth of Attractions
If you’re hungry on your way out of L.A, stop at the Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain in South Pasadena. You can get a sandwich to go with your old fashioned soda and even fill a prescription before you get back on the road.
As you travel east, check out the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. This ode to California flora was established in 1927 and moved to the Route 66 town of Claremont in 1951. It is 86 acres dedicated to plant conservation, research, and education with paths for tours or casual strolls.
As you head into San Bernardino, be sure to drive by the Wigwam Motel. This is a classic, well-preserved Route 66 motor lodge featuring wigwam style cabins built in 1949.
After you leave San Bernardino, Route 66 heads north. When you hit Victorville, stop at the Route 66 Museum. Filled with memorabilia from both historic and contemporary Route 66, this 4,500 square foot museum is free to visitors.
You’ll find another museum a little further north, in Barstow. The Route 66 Mother Road Museum is dedicated to both the historic highway and the Mohave community. You’ll find some great history of the pre-pavement days of the area at this free destination.
RV Accommodations
Since the Route 66 road trip doesn’t have a lot of major destination hubs, it’s good to know where there are RV parks along the way. There are several in the Barstow area including Newberry Mountain RV Park. This park has full hook-ups, Wi-Fi, Direct TV, and a couple of stocked lakes for fishing. You can bring your RV up to 45 feet here.
Fun Fact: Newberry Mountain is pet friendly. If you’re traveling with pets, they’ll have lots of company!
Directions
To get to Newberry Mountain, take exit 23 off of I-40, just east of Barstow.
Small Town, Scenic Canyon
No Route 66 journey in California is complete without a stop in a desert town for some gorgeous nature. Ludlow was originally a railroad town that pivoted neatly to a Route 66 town. You’ll find the historic Ludlow Café in town and the amazing Afton Canyon nearby.
Afton Canyon is a hiker’s dream. Sometimes called the Grand Canyon of the East Mohave, it’s one of only a few places where the Mohave River runs year-round. The resulting ecosystem makes the area ripe for photography, birdwatching, hunting, and horseback riding.
After Ludlow, you’ll drive almost 100 miles to the next attractions. Route 66 through the rest of Eastern California is all about the desert scenery. The few towns that were situated here are no more. But eventually you’ll make it to Needles.
Needles
Crank up the air conditioning and get ready for Arizona! Needles sits on the California/Arizona border and it is HOT there. Named for its spiky mountain peaks, this little town has been around since 1883. You’ll find some vintage motels here, including the Route 66 Motel with its refurbished sign.
Attractions in Needles
• The Needles Regional Museum
• Route 66 Murals
• El Garces Harvey House
• Needles Welcome Wagon
You’ll also see the Old Trails Arch Bridge that was used to cross the Colorado River from 1916-1947.
RV Accommodations
If you’d like to stick around in Needles or just stay overnight, try the Desert View RV Resort. Family and pet-friendly with full hookups and free Wi-Fi, this resort has a swimming pool, pull-through sites for big motorhomes with up to 4 slide outs, laundry, a rec room, Colorado River activities, and more.
Directions
Getting to Desert View is right next door to Needles KOA Journey. Take exit 139 from Eastbound I-40, which will loop you back over the highway, then turn right on Route 66 for a little over half a mile.
Welcome to Arizona!
It seems like we didn’t get very far! But a Route 66 road trip is unique, with lots of small attractions instead of a few big ones. Next time we’ll get further, heading into Arizona and New Mexico. Maybe even Texas? See you then!
