Route 66 Day 2 (West to East): San Bernardino to Flagstaff — Epic Self-Guided Driving Tour
Places: 35 POIs
Distance: 476 mi
Duration: 9h:14m
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Tour #2930
About this English self-guided 9h:14m driving tour in Flagstaff
Today’s drive takes you from the pine-covered mountains of Flagstaff through the vast, sun-baked high desert and into the historic heart of Southern California’s Inland Empire — San Bernardino. Along the way, you’ll trace the original Mother Road’s winding path, experiencing iconic Route 66 sights, quirky roadside attractions, and a dramatic shift in landscape.
From the awe-inspiring views of the Mogollon Rim to the remnants of classic motels and neon signs in Kingman, you’ll feel the pulse of Route 66’s golden era. Pass through small towns that tell stories of early American travel, mining booms, and westward dreams.
As you descend from the desert’s vast openness toward the bustling urban sprawl, keep an eye out for classic diners, vintage gas stations, and the unmistakable charm that makes this stretch one of the most celebrated on the entire route.
By the time you arrive in San Bernardino, the official birthplace of Route 66, you’ll have journeyed through a tapestry of history, culture, and landscape — all tied together by the enduring spirit of the Mother Road.
- 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
Cesar Chavez Mem Hwy, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA
Goodbye San Bernardino — The Desert Is Calling
Goodbye San Bernardino — The Desert Is Calling. Our Route 66 journey is about to change dramatically.
San Bernardino historically served as an important gateway between Southern California and the desert beyond. From here, the old road headed toward Cajon Pass, Victorville, Barstow and eventually across the Mojave toward the Colorado River.
Those names may not sound as famous as Hollywood or Beverly Hills, but for Route 66 travelers, this is where things get really interesting.
The cities will begin thinning out. Mountains and desert will take their place. And we'll start encountering the roadside businesses, tiny communities and long abandoned stretches of highway that helped create the Route 66 legend.
So let's get going.
Flagstaff is a long way from here, and we've got a lot to see.
San Bernardino historically served as an important gateway between Southern California and the desert beyond. From here, the old road headed toward Cajon Pass, Victorville, Barstow and eventually across the Mojave toward the Colorado River.
Those names may not sound as famous as Hollywood or Beverly Hills, but for Route 66 travelers, this is where things get really interesting.
The cities will begin thinning out. Mountains and desert will take their place. And we'll start encountering the roadside businesses, tiny communities and long abandoned stretches of highway that helped create the Route 66 legend.
So let's get going.
Flagstaff is a long way from here, and we've got a lot to see.
Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 15.57mi
I-15, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA
Cajon Pass — Gateway to the Mojave
We're now approaching Cajon Pass, one of Southern California's great natural transportation corridors.
For centuries, this gap between the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains has provided a passage between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert.
Long before Route 66, Indigenous peoples traveled through this region. Wagon roads, railroads and eventually highways followed.
And when Route 66 was established in 1926, it came through here too.
Imagine tackling this pass in an early automobile nearly a century ago — without air conditioning, modern brakes, reliable engines or the multilane highways surrounding us today.
For generations of travelers heading west, descending Cajon Pass meant California's great cities were finally getting close.
But we're going the other way.
We're climbing away from Southern California and heading toward the desert.
And once we're through these mountains, you'll see just how quickly the landscape changes.
For centuries, this gap between the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains has provided a passage between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert.
Long before Route 66, Indigenous peoples traveled through this region. Wagon roads, railroads and eventually highways followed.
And when Route 66 was established in 1926, it came through here too.
Imagine tackling this pass in an early automobile nearly a century ago — without air conditioning, modern brakes, reliable engines or the multilane highways surrounding us today.
For generations of travelers heading west, descending Cajon Pass meant California's great cities were finally getting close.
But we're going the other way.
We're climbing away from Southern California and heading toward the desert.
And once we're through these mountains, you'll see just how quickly the landscape changes.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
Goodbye San Bernardino — The Desert Is Calling
Place 2
Cajon Pass — Gateway to the Mojave
Place 3
Victorville — Route 66 Reaches the High Desert
Place 4
California Route 66 Museum — The Mother Road Remembered
Place 5
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch
Place 6
Barstow — Railroads, Route 66 and the Mojave
Place 7
Route 66 Motel — Sleeping on the Mother Road
Place 8
Into the Mojave — Route 66 Gets Lonely
Place 9
Newberry Springs & the Bagdad Café — A Route 66 Movie Star
Place 10
Ludlow — A Town the Highway Left Behind
Place 11
Bagdad — The Route 66 Town That Disappeared
Place 12
Across the Empty Mojave
Place 13
Mojave National Preserve – California
Place 14
Road 40 – Between Mojave National Preserve and Stepladder Mountains Wilderness
Place 15
Welcome to Needles, California
Place 16
Crossing the Colorado River — Welcome to Arizona
Place 17
Historic Route 66 Back Country Byway
Place 18
Oatman Highway Scenic View
Place 19
Entering Oatman’s Mining Country
Place 20
Mohave County Route 66 Sign
Place 21
Welcome to Oatman — Gold, Burros & Route 66
Place 22
Climbing Out of Oatman
Place 23
Pipeline Road Scenic Overlook
Place 24
Sitgreaves Pass Viewpoint
Place 25
The Road Opens Toward Kingman
Place 26
Kingman, Andy Devine Avenue & the Route 66 Museum
Place 27
Life Along the Old Road
Place 28
Peach Springs, Arizona – Heart of the Hualapai Nation on Route 66
Place 29
Burma-Shave Signs
Place 30
Welcome to Seligman — Where Route 66 Made a Comeback
Place 31
Camp Picacho Area – Guns, Ghosts, and Getaways in the Mojave's Forgotten Outpost
Place 32
Bill Williams Mountain
Place 33
Welcome to Williams — The Last Town on Route 66
Place 34
Farewell — On to Flagstaff
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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 8 to 10.5 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 35 stops, covering top attractions such as Goodbye San Bernardino — The Desert Is Calling, Cajon Pass — Gateway to the Mojave, Victorville — Route 66 Reaches the High Desert, California Route 66 Museum — The Mother Road Remembered, Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Goodbye San Bernardino — The Desert Is Calling (Address: Cesar Chavez Mem Hwy, San Bernardino, CA 92407, 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!