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As Route 66 turns 100, the ‘Mother Road’ still inspires nostalgia

May 11, 2026

Route 66, the iconic highway dubbed “America’s Main Street” and the “Mother Road” is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, and 315 history-filled miles of the famed highway pass through Southern California.

On Nov. 11, 1926, the American Association of State Highway Officials adopted the U.S. numbered highway system, and thus Route 66 claims 1926 as its birth year.

The numbered highway system was a departure from the myriad of named highways and trails across the country and it literally paved the way for a new federal highway system.

Route 66 stretched about 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica over an existing patchwork of roads, trails, and desert sand traps poorly disguised as roads. It was promoted as a “year-round route” because it took a southerly course around the higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada ranges.

In the subsequent 60 years, the road underwent major route changes, as it was paved, widened, straightened, and generally modernized. Millions of Americans used the route as their path to the West, especially during the Dust Bowl era from about 1930 to 1940.

Now and then view of the Blue Cut Business District on Route 66 in the Cajon Pass. The lower photo was taken by Mark Landis on May 6, 2026, and the upper photo was taken by L.T. Gotchy in 1966. There are still remnants of the Blue Cut Garage foundation at the site today. (Lower photo by Mark Landis, upper photo from the L.T. Gotchy, collection at the San Bernardino Historical & Pioneer Society)

Now and then view of Camp Cajon. The lower photo was taken across from the site of Camp Cajon on May 6, 2026. Upper photo is a colorized image of Camp Cajon, circa 1920. The narrow road passing through the camp at that time was National Old Trails Road, which became Route 66 in 1926. Today, Camp Cajon site has relics from the area, including historic monuments, an informational kiosk, and an original 1919 concrete picnic table. It is located on a section of Route 66 now called Wagon Train Road. (Courtesy by Mark Landis)

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The road was decommissioned in 1985 after modern interstates and highways bypassed major sections of the route. Many of the towns and businesses in the bypassed sections were closed and abandoned.

Nostalgia tourism on Route 66 began to surge in the late 1980s. Tourism on Route 66 has grown into a global phenomenon.

Today, thousands of travelers from all over the world take to the road each year, seeking a glimpse of what early travelers experienced.

This year during the 2026 centennial, this interest is expected to surge.

During the road’s heyday, gas stations, cafés, motels, auto camps, and tourist traps sprung up.

As automobile traffic increased, quirky roadside attractions popped up along the way. Many of those sites and remnants of the attractions can still be seen today.

Between Chicago and Los Angeles, you can see landmarks that include a giant spaceman, a life-sized blue whale, a row of real Cadillac cars planted in the ground, teepee-shaped motels, iconic steel bridges, vintage gas stations and cafes, and many museums.

On the road, you’ll pass through thriving towns and ghost towns, framed by hundreds of miles of stunning scenery.

Many Route 66 tourists today take weeks to explore the route, but Southern Californian’s can see major local sections during a day trip.

Emma Jean's Holland Burger Café, built in 1947 on Route 66. The iconic café located about a half mile north of the 15 Freeway is a favorite stop for nostalgic Route 66 fans. (Courtesy of Mark Landis) — Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Café, built in 1947 on Route 66. The iconic café located about a half mile north of the 15 Freeway is a favorite stop for nostalgic Route 66 fans. (Courtesy of Mark Landis)

Sometimes travelers — especially going east to west — show some signs of burnout upon reaching California. Understandably, many take major side trips to places like the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas.

By the time the Route 66 travelers cross the Colorado River at Needles, many experience “finishers fever” and they begin making a freeway dash for the celebratory end of the road at the Santa Monica Pier.

Finishers fever is unfortunate, because the original desert section of Route 66 between Needles and the Cajon Pass provides some of the most authentic and interesting stretches.

The vast spaces between the nearly abandoned desert town of Essex and the busy crossroad community of Barstow provide broad vistas and fascinating examples of historic businesses, tiny communities, and abandoned buildings.

Drivers should be aware that sections of the old road between Essex and Amboy have been closed for bridge repair and should check GPS and navigation apps before making that drive.

Route 66 from Barstow to San Bernardino provides a nostalgic look into the past, and drivers can easily stay on the old road through much of this section. Barstow has several original Route 66 motels along with historic buildings, murals, and a beautiful railroad depot and museum, about 1 mile off the highway.

After Barstow, the highway passes through the scenic Mojave River Valley. There are several abandoned businesses to see and stops at Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch and the town of Oro Grande are worthwhile. Continuing, you’ll cross over the Mojave River on an original 1931 steel bridge, and you arrive in Victorville. This Route 66 town has an interesting Old Town section, and a great museum on the old road.

Continuing south, the Cajon Pass offers some of the best and most intact sections of Route 66, especially between Highway 138 and Devore. The old four-lane highway winds through the bottom of the canyon and passes by Camp Cajon, and Blue Cut, the narrow gap in the canyon where the railroad was first built in 1885.

There are social media sites dedicated to the experience, and they provide great information on the best sites to see and places to stay.

The California Historic Route 66 Association promotes and preserves Route 66 through California.

“California is probably the most diverse state along the route, with its varied topography and towns,” according to Tere Stamoulis, travel industry liaison for the association.

Stamoulis offers some advice for tourists who plan to take Route 66.

“Be patient, take your time, and get off the freeway,” she said. “Before you explore, figure out what you want to see and learn about the road. If you don’t, you’ll miss so many of the cute, quirky towns and attractions, and you’ll miss out on meeting the great people along the way.”

“Don’t be afraid to take some short side trips as well,” Stamoulis said. “Calico Ghost Town near Barstow is a delightful side trip, and there are hundreds of landmarks in the Los Angeles area alone.”

Stamoulis recommends using navigation help on a Route 66 trip.

“There are two excellent phone apps you can download that are a great help. The Route 66 Ultimate Guide, and Route 66 Navigation are both available on the Apple Store and Google Play,” she said. She also recommends using the “EZ66 Guide for Travelers” by Jerry McClanahan, which is a turn-by-turn written guide to the road.

For information on Route 66 in California: https://route66ca.org/

For information on Route 66 in the Cajon Pass, visit the Camp Cajon Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/campcajonmonument/

Mark Landis is a freelance writer. He can be reached at: Historyinca@yahoo.com

As Route 66 turns 100, the ‘Mother Road’ still inspires nostalgia Orange County Register

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As Route 66 turns 100, the ‘Mother Road’ still inspires nostalgia

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