The Most Unforgettable Stops Along Route 66

Santa Monica Pier opened in 1909 on the California coast, decades before Route 66 became America’s most famous highway. The Route 66 End Sign on the pier is a modern ceremonial marker, honoring the road’s westward journey toward the Pacific and giving travelers a memorable finishing point.

The sign matters because it turns the end of Route 66 into a celebration. After miles of small towns, deserts, diners, bridges, and neon, the Pacific Ocean feels like a fitting reward. It is worth seeing for that proud final-photo moment, where America’s great road trip meets the sea.