Route 66 Day 1 (West to East): Santa Monica to San Bernardino — Epic Self-Guided Driving Tour
Places: 22 POIs
Distance: 79.49 mi
Duration: 3h:32m
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Tour #2929
About this English self-guided 3h:32m driving tour in Santa Monica
Welcome to Route 66!
Today, we're beginning at the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica and heading east toward San Bernardino, following the Mother Road through Los Angeles and the communities along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Now, if you're already east of Los Angeles, you can begin your Route 66 journey with our next tour starting in San Bernardino. But if you're anywhere near Santa Monica, we highly recommend starting right here.
There's a reason.
For travelers historically heading west, this was the final stretch of Route 66 — the last chapter of an incredible journey across America before reaching the Pacific. And that means there's a lot of Route 66 history packed into the road we're about to travel.
We'll begin at the famous western terminus in Santa Monica, travel through Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, follow historic sections of the Mother Road through Pasadena and along Foothill Boulevard, and discover some wonderful pieces of roadside Americana along the way.
We'll see historic motels and service stations, unusual roadside architecture, monuments that actually predate Route 66, and even the place where one of the world's most famous fast-food stories began.
And as we travel east, you'll notice the character of the road beginning to change. The dense streets of Los Angeles gradually give way to the classic Route 66 corridor that will eventually carry us toward the wide-open landscapes of the American Southwest.
This tour ends in San Bernardino, but our Route 66 journey certainly doesn't. From there, simply start the next UCPlaces Route 66 tour and we'll continue heading east together.
So get comfortable, follow the navigation, and let's turn our backs on the Pacific and begin one of the world's great road trips.
Chicago may be a long way from here — but Route 66 starts for us right now.
- 1For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
- 2Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
- 3Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant (
![UCPlaces AI Bot Icon]()
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
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Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place #1
![Map Pin]()
Recommended Starting Point
Distance: 0.00mi
1273 Palisades Beach Rd, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA
Route 66 End of the Trail Sign
Before we begin heading east, there's one Route 66 landmark you may want to visit.
Just a short distance away on the Santa Monica Pier is the famous Route 66 End of the Trail sign.
Now, that might sound a little strange considering we're just beginning our journey. That's because most Route 66 travelers historically travel in the opposite direction, from Chicago toward California, making Santa Monica the celebrated finish line.
The sign has become one of the most popular photo opportunities anywhere along Route 66, with the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Pier providing the perfect backdrop.
So if you haven't already done so, this is your chance to grab that classic Route 66 photo.
For us, however, it's not the end of the trail.
It's the beginning.
We're about to turn our backs on the Pacific and start following the Mother Road east toward San Bernardino — and, if you're continuing with our other Route 66 tours, eventually all the way toward Chicago.
Just a short distance away on the Santa Monica Pier is the famous Route 66 End of the Trail sign.
Now, that might sound a little strange considering we're just beginning our journey. That's because most Route 66 travelers historically travel in the opposite direction, from Chicago toward California, making Santa Monica the celebrated finish line.
The sign has become one of the most popular photo opportunities anywhere along Route 66, with the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Pier providing the perfect backdrop.
So if you haven't already done so, this is your chance to grab that classic Route 66 photo.
For us, however, it's not the end of the trail.
It's the beginning.
We're about to turn our backs on the Pacific and start following the Mother Road east toward San Bernardino — and, if you're continuing with our other Route 66 tours, eventually all the way toward Chicago.
Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 0.90mi
601 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA
Lincoln & Olympic – The True End of Route 66
Get ready to turn left, but first, here at Lincoln Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard, we're passing an important piece of Route 66 history.
While the Santa Monica Pier has become the famous symbolic end of the Mother Road, this intersection is generally recognized as Route 66's historic western terminus after the highway was extended into Santa Monica.
When Route 66 was first commissioned in 1926, it didn't reach all the way to the Pacific. The route was later extended west through Los Angeles to Santa Monica.
Unlike the pier, there was nothing particularly glamorous about this intersection. It was simply the end of the designated highway.
For travelers coming from Chicago, this marked the end of an incredible cross-country journey.
We're doing things the other way around.
From here, we're heading east, retracing the Mother Road through Los Angeles and toward San Bernardino.
So think of this intersection as our symbolic starting line. We've got a lot of Route 66 ahead of us.
While the Santa Monica Pier has become the famous symbolic end of the Mother Road, this intersection is generally recognized as Route 66's historic western terminus after the highway was extended into Santa Monica.
When Route 66 was first commissioned in 1926, it didn't reach all the way to the Pacific. The route was later extended west through Los Angeles to Santa Monica.
Unlike the pier, there was nothing particularly glamorous about this intersection. It was simply the end of the designated highway.
For travelers coming from Chicago, this marked the end of an incredible cross-country journey.
We're doing things the other way around.
From here, we're heading east, retracing the Mother Road through Los Angeles and toward San Bernardino.
So think of this intersection as our symbolic starting line. We've got a lot of Route 66 ahead of us.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
Route 66 End of the Trail Sign
Place 2
Lincoln & Olympic – The True End of Route 66
Place 3
Lincoln Boulevard — The Official End of Route 66
Place 4
Beverly Hills – Glamor on the Mother Road
Place 5
Santa Monica Boulevard – The Final Stretch of Route 66
Place 6
West Sunset Boulevard — Hollywood’s Iconic Artery
Place 7
Ernest E. Debs Regional Park – Wild Beauty in the City
Place 8
Hermon Park – A Community Oasis in Northeast LA
Place 9
Los Angeles / Heading East
Place 10
Arroyo Seco Parkway – America’s First Freeway
Place 11
East Colorado Boulevard - Historic Route 66
Place 12
Aztec Hotel
Place 13
Glendora — Where the Street Is Actually Called Route 66
Place 14
Foothill Boulevard
Place 15
Claremont — College Town on Route 66
Place 16
Madonna of the Trail — Honoring America’s Pioneer Women
Place 17
Magic Lamp Inn — A Route 66 Roadside Classic
Place 18
Cucamonga Service Station
Place 19
Bono's Historic Orange
Place 20
Wigwam Motel (Rialto)
Place 21
Welcome to San Bernardino!
Place 22
The Original McDonald’s — It Started Here
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Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
+ How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 3 to 4 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
+ What does this tour include?
This self-guided driving tour includes 22 stops, covering top attractions such as Route 66 End of the Trail Sign, Lincoln & Olympic – The True End of Route 66, Lincoln Boulevard — The Official End of Route 66, Beverly Hills – Glamor on the Mother Road, Santa Monica Boulevard – The Final Stretch of Route 66.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Route 66 End of the Trail Sign (Address: 1273 Palisades Beach Rd, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
+ What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided driving tour designed to be completed by car, covering scenic routes, city highlights and optional key stops.
+ Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided driving tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you. The only vaiables that might affect your pace are speed limits and traffic congestion.
+ Do I need a car for this tour?
Yes, this is a driving tour, designed to be completed by car, with stops spread across different locations connected by a driving route.
+ Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There are two things that you need - 1. A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour). 2. A car. Here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a charging cable for your car. 2. Connect your phone to the car speaker system via bluetooth or use our CarPlay/Android Auto option for the best experience.
+ How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. This works great either directly from your phone, or while connected to your car's multimedia system and using our CarPlay or Android Auto options. Just follow the route and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
+ Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
+ What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
+ I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
+ What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
+ Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!