How Many Days for California?
California's 315-mile stretch of Route 66 runs from Needles at the Arizona border to Santa Monica Pier on the Pacific Ocean. The drive passes through the Mojave Desert, San Bernardino Mountains, Los Angeles sprawl, and ends at the beach. Here's how to plan your time.
1Express Run — 1 Day
The Needles-to-Santa Monica drive takes about 5 hours on I-40 and I-15. Add quick stops at Roy's in Amboy, Emma Jean's in Victorville, and the Santa Monica Pier, and you've got a packed 10-hour day. You'll miss the small towns but you'll hit the iconic endpoints.
2The Sweet Spot — 2–3 Days (Recommended)
Day 1: Needles to Barstow — Cross the Mojave early, stop at Roy's Motel in Amboy, visit Route 66 Mother Road Museum and Calico Ghost Town in Barstow. Stay in Barstow.
Day 2: Barstow to Pasadena — Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande, Emma Jean's in Victorville, Sycamore Inn in Rancho Cucamonga, Fair Oaks Pharmacy in South Pasadena. Stay in Pasadena.
Day 3: Pasadena to Santa Monica — Colorado Boulevard cruise, explore Old Town Pasadena, drive through Hollywood, arrive at Santa Monica Pier for sunset.
3The Deep Dive — 4–5 Days
This allows time to explore the Mojave properly — hike Amboy Crater, spend a full day in the San Bernardino/Rancho Cucamonga wine country area, take a detour to Joshua Tree National Park (90 min from Barstow), explore Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and spend a full day at Santa Monica beach. This is the pace California deserves.
4Overnight Recommendations
Night 1: Barstow — Holiday Inn Express or Idle Spurs area ($80-120) Night 2: Pasadena — Old Town Pasadena has excellent boutique hotels ($150-250) Night 3: Santa Monica — Splurge on an ocean-view hotel to celebrate the end of Route 66 ($200-400)
lightbulbPro Tips
2-3 days is ideal — 1 day feels rushed through the desert, 4+ days is for completists.
Time your Santa Monica arrival for sunset — the End of Trail photo with golden light is iconic.
LA traffic can double your driving time — avoid 7-9 AM and 4-7 PM on weekdays.
Book Santa Monica hotels early — especially for November 2026 Centennial events.