Day 14: Barstow CA to Santa Monica CA
Not too far into the last 155 miles (out of the ~3,291 since I left Chicago) driven today, I started feeling like I was already in a suburb of the City of Angels. Commuters, traffic lights, heavy, slow traffic.
The amount of cars around has been inversely proportional to the number of miles left to arrive in Santa Monica. Such a striking difference from the desolation and never ending spaces of the last few days (Tune: “People so busy, make me feel dizzy…”).
Reaching the end of the road trip has been a bitter sweet moment. Driving the Route 66 was a teenager-me dream. It’s done now. Maybe I just don’t like when things end.
And, in all honesty, I don’t even like driving…
Know what the murals on Sunset boulevard in pic 4 is (or was, damn gentrification) and you’ll get my unconditional eternal respect
Driving from Barstow to Santa Monica Cheat Sheet
Accommodation in Los Angeles, CA
- Air Venice on the Beach, 5 Rose Avenue, Venice, CA, 90291. My favorite place to stay in LA. The studios are basic but they are right on the beach, close to everything Venice Beach has to offer and they boost a killing view of the ocean.
Where to eat and what to see between Barstow, CA and Los Angeles, CA
- Route 66 end of the route sign, 330 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401. You have done all this driving… you got to take a picture of The End of the route sign, don’t you!?!?
- Tocaya Organica, 1715 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291 good and fresh food (I got the fish tacos) with great value for money
- Gjusta, 320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291 One of the best places around here to have breakfast or brunch. An artisanal bakery in warehouselike space with tasty food, fresh bread and great pastries.
- The Rose Venice, 220 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291 a Californian restaurant for tapas style meals with two lovely patios. A bit on the pricey side.
- Hotel Erwin Rooftop, 1697 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291 Great views over Venice with one of the best California sunsets you can get around here.
- Venice Ale House, 2 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291. Friendly, happy place with great tacos and a number of delicious beer. Inside gets busy, staying outside is probably a better option for some good old people watching (which in Venice is a highly recommended activity).
Driving from Barstow to Santa Monica FAQ
The shortest route is 131 miles. I drove for 155 miles trying to stay on the historic Route 66 path as much as possible.
It really depends by the traffic. It can take anything between 2 and 3 and half hours to drive from Barstow to Santa Monica.
It is the last leg of the Route 66. You’ll feel like a cyclist on the Champs-Élysées ending the Tour the France. It is a bitter/sweet feeling: mission accomplished but, well, it’s done.
All the major attractions between Barstow to Santa Monica are in Los Angeles. The route ends on the Santa Monica Pier which is one of the bigger tourist attraction in town.
That’s entirely up to you. Depending on the season the heat might be pretty intense and, likely you are gonna be stuck in traffic in LA at certain point so maybe a convertible is not ideal. That said, how cool would it be to get to Santa Monica with the roof down and the wind in your hair?
Route 66 pictures: photos taken from Barstow to Santa Monica
My itinerary on the Route 66
- Route 66 the ultimate American road trip
- Day 1: Chicago to Springfield
- Day 2: Springfield to Cuba
- Day 3: Cuba to Carthage
- Day 4: Carthage to Oklahoma City
- Day 5: Oklahoma City to Amarillo
- Day 6: Amarillo to Tucumcari
- Day 7: Tucumcari to Santa Fe
- Day 8: Santa Fe to Gallup
- Day 9: Gallup to Bluff
- Day 10: Bluff to Chambers
- Day 11: Chambers to Sedona
- Day 12: Sedona to Kingman
- Day 13: Kingman to Barstow
- Day 14: Barstow to Santa Monica
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