The Route 66 from New Mexico to California

Settling at the hotel. Visit of the old town and the western part of Central Avenue.

Taking over the vehicle. Departure to the east of Albuquerque by Central Avenue (Rorom 1930-40) to Tijeras and the beginning of the Turquoise Trail. When you arrive at Sandia Park, make a detour via Sandia Crest (at 3,255 m altitude). Then take the Turquoise Trail through the old mining towns of Golden, Madrid and Los Cerillos. Visit of the {centre of Santa Fe, meals and night in town.

Go to Albuquerque late in the morning for lunch on Central Avenue. Stop close to 4th Street, an ideal place to admire the Kimo Theatre and some other beautiful buildings. Then take the road to Gallup via Laguna, Grants and Church Rock. On the way, you will cross several pueblos and also have the opportunity to take a detour through Sky City. Respect the private properties and the prohibitions to take photos at the Indian reserves. Night at Gallup.

Soon after leaving Gallup, you will reach Lupton and Arizona. Welcome to the Navajo territory! The landscape becomes desert. You should not miss to visit the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest National Park, which are two sites located in the same national park. Lunch in Holbrook. Take the road by stopping in Winslow and then visit Meteor Crater. Before arriving at Flagstaff, stop at Two Guns and Twin Arrows. Night in Flagstaff.

If you didn't have time to go there the day before, go to the town centre of Flagstaff, the time of a short walk. On the road to Barstow, stop at Williams, Ash Fork and Seligman. If you have time, visit the Grand Canyon Caverns. Continue your way to Kingman by stopping at the Hackberry General Store. Night in Kingman.

The Powerhouse is the building to see as a priority in Kingman. From the exit of the city, the road will gradually go up to make you discover the Black Mountains. You need a little while to visit Oatman. You will enjoy its wild donkeys in the street and its pistols. Then go to Topock and the California border. Get ready for the heat between Needles and Newberry Springs. In Newberry Springs, take a break at Baghdad Café before going to Barstow. Night in Barstow.

At the start of the journey, stop at the Bottle Tree Ranch. Once you have crossed Victorville, go to the beautiful Cajon Pass then San Bernardino. Go to the Mc Donald's Museum and the Beehive Motel in Rialto. From San Bernardino, you have approximately miles to reach Pasadena following the guide of Foothill Boulevard. The road traffic is intense with many traffic lights. Certainly, this part of Route 66 is the least interesting of all. One alternative consists in taking the Horn Crest Highway (Highway 2), which bypasses the urban part between San Bernardino and Pasadena. It makes about 10 km more compared to the Route 66 without traffic jams. To take it from Cajon Pass, leave Interstate I-15 at exit 131 (Palendale/Silverwood Lake), turn right onto Highway 138 and then 13,5 km further to the left. 113 km of beautiful mountain roads await you before arriving north of Pasadena. Evening and night in Pasadena.

To reach Santa Monica, several Route 66 tracks are available right north of Downtown Los Angeles. From there, follow Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard, discover Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Go to Palisades Park and Santa Monica Pier. You're at the end of the adventure! Night in Santa Monica.

Getting back the rental vehicle, shopping, last preparation and departure.