The Final Stretch: Our Last Day on Route 66

As our incredible journey down Route 66 neared its end, we set out on our final day of driving along the historic highway. The morning began in Needles, where we packed up the car and hit the road, eager to experience the last few iconic stops on our itinerary. The Mother Road gave us so much, from sights, experiences to feelings. Unless you drive it yourself you will probably chuckle for me describing it this way. Route 66 is a way of life that has passed and a remnant that still echos to this day.

This post is part of a multi-part travel series from our Southwest USA Road trip
For the other parts click here

 

 

A Desert Drive to Roy’s Motel and Café

Leaving Needles, we cruised through the vast Mojave Desert, with the sun rising over the arid landscape. The road stretched endlessly before us, a ribbon of asphalt winding through the desolate beauty of the Southwest. After some time, we arrived at one of Route 66’s most legendary stops—Roy’s Motel and Café in Amboy, California.

Roy’s is more than just a roadside attraction; it’s a living monument to the golden age of American road trips. Originally opened in the 1930s, Roy’s thrived as a crucial stop for weary travelers crossing the desert. The iconic neon sign, standing tall against the blue sky, felt like a portal back to the heyday of Route 66. While the motel no longer operates, the café serves as a welcome respite for travelers, offering drinks and snacks amid the vintage surroundings. We took our time exploring, snapping photos, and imagining what it must have been like during its peak.

A Nostalgic Stop at Bagdad Café

From Amboy, we continued westward to another famous Route 66 landmark—the Bagdad Café. This small, unassuming diner became internationally famous after the 1987 film Bagdad Café was filmed there. With its quirky charm and rustic appeal, the café embodies the spirit of Route 66’s independent roadside businesses.

Inside, we were greeted by the warm hospitality of the staff and the smell of home-cooked food. The walls were covered with memorabilia from travelers who had stopped in over the years, leaving their marks in the form of photos, stickers, and notes. We enjoyed a quick break, soaking in the atmosphere and chatting with fellow road-trippers before heading off to our next destination.

Exploring the Historic Calico Ghost Town

Next, we veered slightly off Route 66 to visit Calico, a preserved ghost town with deep ties to the Old West. Founded in 1881, Calico was once a booming silver mining town, but as the silver industry declined, so did the town’s prosperity. By the mid-20th century, it had become a ghost town, but thanks to preservation efforts, it now serves as a fascinating historical site.

Walking through Calico felt like stepping into a different era. The wooden buildings, dusty streets, and preserved relics painted a vivid picture of life in the 1800s. While it’s no longer an active Route 66 stop, its connection to the road’s history is undeniable—many early travelers stopped here on their journeys through the Mojave. We explored the old saloons, mines, and even took a ride on the narrow-gauge railway before continuing toward our final stop of the day.

Sunset at Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch

As the day wound down, we made our way to one of the most unique and whimsical stops on Route 66—Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch. This peculiar yet mesmerizing roadside attraction was the perfect way to conclude our journey on the Mother Road.

Created by Elmer Long, the Bottle Tree Ranch is a forest of metal trees adorned with thousands of colorful glass bottles. As the wind blew through the desert, the bottles clinked softly, creating a peaceful and almost magical atmosphere. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the glass, making the entire installation shimmer in the evening light.

The Bottle Tree Ranch encapsulates everything we love about Route 66—the eccentricity, the creativity, and the unwavering spirit of Americana. It was a poignant and beautiful way to say goodbye to the road that had given us so many memories.

The End of the Route 66 Journey

With the sun setting behind us, we reflected on our time traveling down Route 66. From the bustling cities to the quiet desert landscapes, from neon-lit diners to abandoned ghost towns, we had experienced a true slice of American history. Though our Route 66 adventure had come to an end for now, the memories we made along the way would last a lifetime. We would actually arrive at the true end of Route 66 (Santa Monica, California), but that happened actually at the end of our whole road trip.

As the sun set we arrived at coastal South California, for the last third of our Southwest Road Trip. But more about our time by the Pacific Ocean in the next part!

To be continued...