Route 66 in California, Barstow to Needles: A Stop-by-Stop Guide

by C. V. Wooster · October 5, 2026 · 4 min read

The desert stretch of Route 66 between Barstow and Needles is one of the emptiest, most striking sections of the whole Mother Road. It crosses about 150 miles of Mojave Desert, follows the railroad from one old water stop to the next, and passes towns that range from busy to almost gone. Here is a stop-by-stop guide, west to east, for travelers planning a centennial drive in 2026 or later.

Before you go, read our desert driving safety guide. Some sections of the old road, now signed as the National Trails Highway, have been closed for long periods for bridge and flood repairs. Check current status with San Bernardino County before planning a full run, and use Interstate 40 to skip closed sections.

Barstow

Barstow grew up as a railroad junction, and the railroad still dominates the town. Its best-known landmark is the Casa del Desierto, a Harvey House hotel and depot that opened in 1911. Harvey Houses were the restaurants and hotels Fred Harvey's company ran along the Santa Fe Railway, famous for their service and for the "Harvey Girls" who worked there.

The Casa del Desierto houses the Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum, a good first stop for maps, photographs, and local history. Barstow is also the last place for a while with a full range of services, so fill up here.

Daggett

A few miles east, Daggett is an old mining and railroad town that served the silver mines of the nearby Calico Mountains in the late nineteenth century. Calico Ghost Town, a restored mining town run as a county regional park, is a short drive north of the interstate and makes a good side trip.

Newberry Springs

Next comes Newberry Springs, the setting of Mrs. Orcutt's Driveway. The town was called Newberry until 1967, when the post office name changed. It is best known to travelers for the Bagdad Cafe, the diner where the 1987 film of the same name was shot. Read more in our post on Bagdad Cafe and Newberry Springs.

Here the old road and Interstate 40 run close together. That closeness is the heart of Bonnie Orcutt's story: her dirt driveway met old Route 66, and the interstate survey crossed it. Her house is private and is not a tourist stop. Enjoy the town from the cafe and the public road. Our Newberry Springs page has more.

Ludlow

Ludlow was a railroad town and the junction for the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, which once ran north toward the mining districts of Nevada. Today it is a small stop with a cafe and gas near the interstate exit, and the ruins of older buildings along the old road.

East of Ludlow, the old road and the interstate part ways. Interstate 40 swings north. Route 66 continues southeast with the railroad, toward Amboy. This is where the drive gets truly empty.

Bagdad (site)

Between Ludlow and Amboy is the site of Bagdad, the railroad town whose name the film borrowed. Little is left. Bagdad holds the U.S. record for the longest dry spell, 767 days without measurable rain between 1912 and 1914.

Amboy

Amboy is the most photographed stop on this stretch. Roy's Motel and Café, with its tall mid-century sign, is a classic image of Route 66 in the desert. The town lost its traffic when the interstate opened on its northern line, and it has been through many owners and many plans since.

Just west of town is Amboy Crater, a young volcanic cinder cone rising from a dark lava field. It is a National Natural Landmark, and a trail leads to the crater. Do not attempt the hike in summer heat.

Cadiz, Chambless, and Essex

East of Amboy, the road passes a string of tiny stops: Chambless, the Cadiz area, and Essex. Some have a building or two. Some are just a name and a railroad siding. This part of the corridor now lies within or alongside the Mojave Trails National Monument, created in 2016 to protect a large area of desert between Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve.

Goffs

Goffs was a railroad stop at the top of a long grade. Its restored 1914 schoolhouse is now the home of the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association, which collects artifacts and records from across the eastern Mojave. Check ahead for open days.

From Goffs, the old road descends toward the Colorado River.

Needles

Needles sits on the Colorado River at the Arizona border. Like Barstow, it was a railroad town with a Harvey House: the El Garces, which opened in 1908 and has since been restored. The Needles area takes its name from the sharp peaks across the river in Arizona.

Needles is the last California stop on Route 66. From here, the old road crosses into Arizona toward Oatman and Kingman.

Planning tips

Time. The full drive takes a long day with stops, especially on the old road. Start early.
Fuel. Fill up in Barstow, Ludlow, and Needles. Do not count on services in between.
Season. Spring and fall are the most comfortable. Summer heat is dangerous; winter can bring cold nights and occasional storms.
Passport. Bring our printable Route 66 passport and stamp the famous stops as you go.
Games. For kids in the back seat, try our road trip games.

A road with layers

What makes this stretch special is not just the scenery. It is the layers: the railroad, the National Old Trails Road, Route 66, the interstate, and the small lives lived along each. Bonnie Orcutt's driveway is one of those layers. The book tells her part of the story.

Mojave road trip · Route 66 history · Newberry Springs · Buy the book

Sources

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