CALIFORNIA

Route 66 

“The Main Street 

of America”

Needles Field Office 

1303 South U.S. Hwy 95 

Needles, CA 92363 

Phone: (760)326-7000 

Fax: (760)326-7099 

www.blm.gov/ca/needles 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Bureau of Land Management 

Historic U.S. Route 66

Officially established on November 11. 

1926, US Route 66 began in Chicago, 

Illinois and terminated in Los Angeles, 

California a distance of 2,448 miles. It 

was one of the original highways in the 

US highway system, and probably the 

most famous. 

Originally, there were no official roads 

crossing America. There were dirt 

trails used by settlers during the 

development of the west and there 

were railroads. Individual towns 

established themselves around these 

transportation routes. When someone 

wanted to travel to another town with 

their vehicle, they either took the 

established trail or used a frontage 

access road for the railroad. Since 

towns were situated on an existing 

railroad line or trail, the primary 

trading businesses were located on 

that route. That led to the term “Main 

Street” for a town’s business. As 

traffic increased between towns, these 

“Main Streets” became connected into 

a continuous road. One of the nicknames of US 66 was “The Main Street 

of America”. Of course, there were 

several other roads running throughout 

the west. Most of these also evolved 

from pre-existing trails or frontage 

service roads for nearby railroad 

routes. 

Establishment of a highway system 

In the early 1920s, there was recognized a need to formally develop, manage and fund a national highway system. Prior to this, individual towns 

maintained the streets within their jurisdictions and perhaps a short distance outside of their boarders, but 

certainly not to the next town. 

What was unique about Route 66 was 

that it traveled diagonally from the 

northern mid-west to southern California thus connecting smaller rural towns

along the route. Many roadside services such as service stations and diners established their business models 

as a result of this road. In fact, it has 

been stated that Route 66 led to the 

invention of the motel. 

In the early 1930s work on the road 

was stopped due to the great depression. During that same period thousands of people from the mid west 

dust bowl region traveled to California 

in search of work and a better life. 

Work resumed on the road as part of 

President Roosevelt’s New Deal using 

WPA resources. The entire distance of 

the road was paved by 1938. 

Over the years there were several upgrades of the road necessitating realignment of certain sections. In any 

given area, it is not uncommon to have

as many as five “original road” sections

Post war highs 

After world war II, Route 66 prospered 

as tourism and motor commerce expanded westward. The US highway system reached its zenith in the early 1950s 

just before the Interstate Highway System was developed. When Interstates 

were completed, they often relegated the 

existing US route to secondary status. In 

the case of Route 66, several Interstate 

Routes –most notably I-40 in the southwest– completely supplanted it. US 

Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985. 

Rebirth of a legend 

Route 66 captures and represents the 

pioneering spirit of pilgrims set on coming west. It played a major role in the 

development of the United States in general ant the southwest in particular. 

Today, it is not possible to drive the 

original route from Chicago to Los Angeles. But several portions of the original 

route have been preserved and can still 

be driven on. Many of the downtown 

sections of towns and frontage roads are 

in fact original alignments. In the Needles area, the original road is known as 

Arizona State Route 66 and runs from 

Saligman, AZ through Kingman AZ (Andy 

Devine Blvd) southwest as a BLM Scenic 

Backcountry Byway to Toppock, AZ at US 

I-40. In California, the original 66 is 

known as The National Old Trails Highway. It runs from west of Needles, CA 

through Goffs, Essex, Amboy, Ludlow, 

Newberry Springs, then through Barstow 

on to L.A. Through numerous clubs, associations, and interested individuals the 

 spirit and grandeur of a pioneer trail that 

helped to settle the west continues to 

live on. 

 BLM Needles Field Office 
OHV Use

Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) provide fun, 

entertainment, and discovery. However, 

many of the desert's most attractive and 

fragile resources can be destroyed if vehicle 

access is not properly controlled. Resources, cultural and natural, can be unintentionally damaged or destroyed by uncontrolled vehicle use. We all have the responsibility for the proper use of vehicles, so 

please remember to TREAD LIGHTLY on 

public and private lands. Stay on open 

routes of travel 

NO CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL

Please Be Advised

Military explosives can be found most anywhere in the desert. Large areas of the 

desert were and still are used for bombing 

ranges and maneuvers by the U.S. Armed 

Forces. There may be unexploded devices 

that can cause serious bodily injury or death 

if handled. Report any such devices to the 

Federal Interagency Communications Center toll free at (888) 233-6518 or call 911. 

The Twenty-nine Palms Marine Corps Air 

Ground Combat Center borders the western 

edge of the Needles Field Office Area of 

responsibility. This is a live bombing range. 

Do NOT enter the bombing range! 

Desert Safety

- Summer temperatures routinely exceed 110° Fahrenheit. Each year people 

are lost, injured, and sometimes die 

while visiting desert areas. Take precautions to prevent finding yourself in an 

emergency situation. 

- Always tell someone your 

plans, or leave a visible note 

on the dash of your vehicle 

with your expected route, 

destination, and time of 

return. Stick to your itinerary. 

- Carry plenty of water. Drink 

at least a gallon per day. 

- Take food or snacks. 

In the heat, you may not feel 

hungry, but your body needs 

nourishment. 

- Never go alone. 

- Take a good map and compass. 

- Carry a first aid kit, signal mirror, 

flashlight and matches. 

- Take a CB radio or cellular phone. 

- Wear sunscreen and sunglasses.

- Dress in light colored, loose fitting clothes. 

Long-sleeves, long pants, a hat, and sturdy 

shoes will help protect you from the sun, 

coarse volcanic 

material, and sharp, 

spiny vegetation. 

- Bring a jacket with you, as 

evening temperatures 

may drop 30 degrees 

or more. 

- Make sure your vehicle 

is in good working 

condition. Check your 

tires, spare tire, jack, 

lug wrench, and fluid levels. 

Always start with a 

full tank of gas and try 

not to let it fall below half 

a tank before filling up again. 

- If you are stranded, stay with 

your vehicle. Don’t panic. 

Your vehicle is easier to 

spot than a person walking. 

Lift your hood. Attempt to 

signal for help using a mirror 

or by using newspapers to 

make an X on the ground. 

- Watch for snakes, spiders, 

and scorpions among the rocks. 

In Case of Emergencies 

Contact the Federal Interagency 

Communications Center (FICC) at 

(888)233-6518 or call 9-1-1.

BLM/CA/GI-2009-018+8300