The Ultimate Guide to Route 66: California

Established in the 1800s, Amboy, California, was once a popular stop for travelers. In 1938, Roy’s Garage was built in Amboy, giving travelers along the Mother Road a place to refuel and service their vehicles. In the 1940s, it expanded, and a café and motel were added. At the time, it was one of the few places in Amboy where you could gas up your vehicle, enjoy a delicious meal, and spend the night.

When traveling today, you’ll know you are in the right place as the large Roy’s sign comes into view in the vast Mojave Desert. You may also notice the unique arrowhead architecture of the building, which is found on many of the iconic buildings along Route 66. While you cannot currently spend the night at Roy's Motel and Cafe, you can still stop and grab a snack or drink, walk around, and take a step into the past. This is one destination along this historic road where it seems like not a lot has changed.

The Amboy Crater is an almost perfectly symmetrical volcanic cinder cone, standing approximately 250 feet tall and 1,500 feet in diameter. Surrounding this cinder cone is nearly 24 square miles of hardened lava flow, home to collapsed lava tubes, spatter cones, and more. The Amboy Crater is believed to be part of one of the youngest volcanic fields in the U.S., and is one of the most unique landscapes you will encounter along Route 66 in Southern California.

To view the Amboy Crater, lace up your hiking shoes. Located within the Mojave Trails National Monument, the trailhead to this crater is just off Route 66. Come prepared for the trek, as you have a 4-mile, out-and-back trail with some elevation gain ahead of you. Bring plenty of water and sun protection, and be mindful of when you begin your adventure—this is not a hike to tackle on a summer afternoon. However, this is certainly a hike for your bucket list as you’ll feel like you are walking on another planet. In fact, the Amboy Crater and the surrounding lava flow are used as a testing site for Mars Rover technology.

This is one of the most unique and busiest McDonald’s restaurants in the world. Yes, the McDonald’s on Route 66 in Barstow, California, is where you can order a Big Mac and French fries, but it also has much more to offer—something you won’t find in other McDonald’s around the world. This McDonald’s features a unique design to resemble an old railroad terminal. Inside the restaurant, you can eat your meal in repurposed train carriages, and the bathroom is even in a caboose.

Throughout the years, many travelers have stopped at this popular restaurant to order their favorite foods, especially those traveling between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Today, if you stop at this McDonald’s, you definitely won’t want to plan a quick trip through the drive-thru. Make sure to step inside and see why so many people are "lovin’ it."  

The Route 66 Motel in Barstow is not your typical place to stay. This famous hotel has been preserved to give you a glimpse back in time to when Route 66 was a main roadway, a drive people could not wait to experience. Today, the Route 66 Motel impresses with its classic theme and keeps you comfortable with its long list of amenities. As you walk around the property, you'll even find details like vintage cars and Route 66 memorabilia, making this motel feel almost like a living museum.

Route 66 Motel is a great place to rest and set up base camp. The Route 66 Museum and the Harvey House are just a short walk away from this hotel, making you feel like some of the area’s best landmarks are right outside your door. The motel offers several room types, all air-conditioned and equipped with a microwave, refrigerator, and free Wi-Fi—perfect for relaxing after a day of sightseeing.

Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch is a unique attraction off Route 66 in the Mojave Desert, near Oro Grande. This 2-acre ranch is the perfect road trip stop, as it features more than 200 distinctive bottle trees that you can walk around and admire. Established by creator Elmer Long, this destination is designed to be a "celebration of creativity, history, and the spirit of adventure." The bottle trees are designed to honor the desert, agriculture, and area's history. Look at each one closely and try to decipher the stories it shares.

Bottle Tree Ranch is typically open from dawn to dusk each day and is the ultimate quirky gem in the desert. Keep in mind, however, there are no bathroom facilities, and no food or drink to purchase. Bring water as you walk around, and be mindful of traffic if you must cross Route 66 to enter the ranch.

History lovers will not want to pass by the Cucamonga Service Station in Rancho Cucamonga. This Route 66 landmark is small but hard to miss with its bright yellow exterior and small-town charm. Built in 1915, this service station was once a place for motorists to refuel and service their vehicles as they explored Route 66. Today, it is one of the few remaining buildings left on the Mother Road. The station closed in the 1970s, but thanks to the community and a local historical society, they went to work preserving and restoring it. In 2015, the Cucamonga Service Station reopened as a museum where you can learn more about the history of the area and Route 66.

In addition, this small museum is a place where you can gain an even deeper appreciation for the highway, its history, and what it meant to the people in the past and present. The museum has limited hours, so we recommend you visit its website for the most up-to-date hours of operation or to reach out about an upcoming visit.

Tucked away in South Pasadena is a favorite stop for many travelers along Route 66—the Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain. This charming destination first opened its doors in 1915 and is still loved by visitors more than a century later. Today, many people stop in for a sweet treat, as here you can find frozen favorites like an ice cream cone, hand-dipped milkshake, hand-dipped malt, or a float. The ice cream sodas and novelty treats can’t be overlooked as well. The treats are large and delicious, and the vibe is certainly nostalgic. From vintage décor on the wall to a long bar with classic red barstools, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped decades back in time as soon as you walk through the front door.

But Fair Oaks Pharmacy is more than just a place for a sweet, frozen treat. For locals, it has been a place to fill their prescriptions since the early 1900s. For travelers, it's a terrific stop to find unique gifts, nostalgic items, candies, and games—items that take you back to a time when life was a little slower-paced.

Since 1946, locals, travelers, and even celebrities have stopped at this roadside hot dog stand in West Hollywood to take a picture in front of its uniquely shaped design. However, this iconic landmark is more than just a place with cool architecture; the food is exceptional as well. It’s no surprise that Tail O’ the Pup specializes in hot dogs and chili dogs, with popular items like the Chicago Dog that's topped with sweet relish, a dill pickle spear, raw onions, diced tomato, sliced sport peppers, house mustard, and poppy seeds. There’s also the 1946 Pup, a split and grilled hot dog with a toasted bun, grilled onions, and a house mustard. All hot dogs are made with 100 percent beef and do not contain any fillers, hormones, or nitrates.   

While the hot dogs are certainly a favorite at Tail O' the Pup, there are many other items on the menu to satisfy your cravings like a corn dog, hamburger, French fries, chili cheese fries, shakes, and floats. No matter what you order, your taste buds will certainly leave happy. 

Mel’s Drive-In dates back to 1947, when its first restaurant opened its doors in San Francisco. The diner quickly gained popularity, and over the years, it expanded, with establishments popping up all over Northern California. Unfortunately, however, in the 1970s, fast food began to decline, and business slowed. Mel’s closed its doors, but not for long. In 1985, it reopened in San Francisco once again, and in 1989, Mel’s Drive-In expanded to Southern California. Today, at the end of Route 66, in Santa Monica’s well-known Penguin Building, you can visit one of the best diners in California.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the menu at Mel's Drive-In features crowd favorites and menu items you’ll be craving for days to come. Plan a visit during breakfast for old-fashioned buttermilk pancakes or Mel’s thick-slice French toast. For lunch or dinner, try the famous Melburger with a 1/3-pound beef patty, or the R-66 burger complete with shoestring fried onions, sharp cheddar cheese, and Mel’s homemade 1000 Island dressing. Of course, you can’t stop at a classic diner without grabbing a malt or milkshake, and the ones served at this California diner are thick, creamy, and perfectly classic.