U.S. Route 66 in California

This article is about the section of U.S. Route 66 in California. For the entire length of the highway, see U.S. Route 66.

U.S. Route 66
Route information
Maintained by Caltrans
Length:	316 mi (509 km)
Existed:	1926 – 1964
Major junctions
West end:	US 101 Alt. in Santa Monica
East end:	US 66 at Arizona state line
Highway system
United States Numbered Highways List • Bannered • Divided • Replaced State highways in California(list • pre-1964) History • Unconstructed • Deleted • Freeway • Scenic

In the U.S. state of California, U.S. Route 66 is a former U.S. highway. All the portions were deleted by 1964 during the 1964 renumbering.

History

U.S. Route 66 was assigned by the American Association of State Highway Officials in late 1926 and signed in 1928 by the Automobile Club of Southern California; however historic US 66 shields and even present day US 66 shields remain.

US 66 continued to be signed east of Pasadena until 1974, when it was removed, and the remaining separate section became State Route 66.

The California Historic Route 66 Association is now responsible for the preservation, restoration and promotion of historic Route 66. It is the youngest of the Route 66 Associations.

San Bernardino to the Arizona/California state line

US 66 (1955)

From San Bernardino to the Arizona state line, US 66 followed the old National Old Trails Highway. The old highway veers significantly away from I-15 between Victorville and Barstow passing through Oro Grande, Helendale, and Lenwood. Through Barstow, it is Main Street. A Marine Corps base is on top of the original highway and is impassable. From Daggett, Historic 66 leaves I-40, crossing it three times before winding away through Bagdad, Amboy, and Essex.

From Essex, the original alignment followed Goffs Road through Goffs and joining I-40 at the U.S. Route 95 exit. A later alignment is now I-40 from Goffs. The original highway winds around I-40 in the Needles area, before crossing the Colorado River into Arizona.

Route

Will Rogers Monument at the western terminus of Route 66 in Santa Monica

At the time of the 1964 renumbering, US 66 used the following route (in today's terms):

• State Route 2 — Interstate 10 to U.S. Route 101 (designated SR 2 in 1964, the same number it had before 1936)
• Sunset Boulevard — State Route 2 to State Route 110
• State Route 110 — U.S. Route 101 to Colorado Boulevard (designated State Route 11 in 1964, moved from Figueroa Street)
• • Colorado Boulevard, Colorado Street and Colorado Place — State Route 110 (Arroyo Parkway) to Huntington Drive
  • Huntington Drive and Foothill Boulevard — Colorado Place to Alosta Avenue
  • Alosta Avenue — Foothill Boulevard to Amelia Avenue
  • Foothill Boulevard — Amelia Avenue to State Route 66

(designated State Route 248 west of Mountain Avenue in Duarte from 1964 to 1992, and I-210 (signed as US 66) through Duarte to the west terminus of State Route 66 in La Verne from 1964 to ca. 1970, when I-210 was completed on new alignment).

• State Route 66 — State Route 210 in La Verne to Interstate 215 in San Bernardino.
• Interstate 215 (part of I-15 in 1964) — State Route 66 to I-15
• Interstate 15 — I-215 to I-40
• Interstate 40 — I-15 to Arizona

Route 66 Communities in California

The following past and present communities are located along the Route 66 in California.

• Mojave National Preserve
• Needles
• Goffs
• Essex & Danby
• Summit & Chambless
• Amboy
• Bagdad, California & Siberia, California
• Ludlow
• Newberry Springs
• Daggett
• Barstow
• Lenwood
• Helendale (Silver Lakes)
• Oro Grande
• Victorville
• Cajon Summit
• San Bernardino
• Rialto
• Fontana
• Rancho Cucamonga
• Upland
• Claremont
• Pomona
• La Verne
• San Dimas
• Glendora
• Azusa
• Irwindale
• Duarte
• Monrovia
• Arcadia
• Pasadena
• South Pasadena
• Highland Park
• Los Angeles
• Chinatown
• West Hollywood
• Beverly Hills
• Century City
• Santa Monica

References

U.S. Route 66
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