Santa Monica Pier, California
- Art & landmarks
- In Santa Monica, California
- 0.8 mi from Route 66
Santa Monica Pier, at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, CA, is where many Route 66 road trips end. Since November 2009 a replica Santa Monica 66 End of the Trail sign has stood on the pier, the classic finish-line photo. The highway's official end was never here: from 1936 Route 66 ended at Lincoln and Olympic Boulevards, about 0.8 mile inland. The pier adds rides, food, fishing and an aquarium below.
What is Santa Monica Pier?
Two piers joined together make up the site: the long Municipal Pier and the short, wide pleasure pier on its south side. Up top are the Pacific Park amusement area with its Ferris wheel and roller coaster, food stands, and rails where people fish. The 1916 Looff Hippodrome near the entrance houses a working 1922 carousel and is a National Historic Landmark. Beneath the carousel, at beach level, the small Heal the Bay Aquarium shows local sea life and has a touch pool.
The pier is a Santa Monica city landmark.
History of Santa Monica Pier
The Municipal Pier opened in 1909, built mainly to carry the city's wastewater pipe out past the surf, but it soon drew anglers. In 1916 carousel builder Charles Looff and his son Arthur added the pleasure pier and the Hippodrome.
Route 66 first ended in downtown Los Angeles in 1926 and was extended to Santa Monica in 1936. An End of the Trail sign stood near the pier in the 1930s and later vanished. The present sign, a replica, was dedicated on November 11, 2009, the highway's 83rd birthday, when the pier was named the symbolic western end of Route 66.
Visiting Santa Monica Pier: tips
Travelers who want the true end can stop at Lincoln and Olympic first, then finish at the pier for the sign photo and a look at the Pacific. Allow an hour or two; restrooms are on site. A Will Rogers Highway plaque, from a 1952 promotion of the road under that name, stands nearby at Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. The Heal the Bay Aquarium is at beach level under the pier, at 1600 Ocean Front Walk.
Practical info
- Website
- santamonicapier.org
- Hours
- We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
Where to eat near Santa Monica Pier
All diners on Route 66 →
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On the map
Full mapSanta Monica Pier with the 6 closest stops and places to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.
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Stops near Santa Monica Pier
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Questions about Santa Monica Pier
Where does Route 66 end?
The official western end, from 1936, was the corner of Lincoln and Olympic Boulevards in Santa Monica. Before that the road ended in downtown Los Angeles. Many travelers finish about 0.8 mile farther west at Santa Monica Pier, named the road's symbolic end in 2009.
Where is the Route 66 End of the Trail sign?
The Santa Monica 66 End of the Trail sign stands on Santa Monica Pier, at the foot of Colorado Avenue. It is a replica of a 1930s sign and was dedicated on November 11, 2009, the 83rd anniversary of Route 66. It is the usual finish-line photo of the trip.
Is there an aquarium at Santa Monica Pier?
Yes. The Heal the Bay Aquarium, once called the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, sits at beach level under the pier, beneath the carousel. It is a small nonprofit aquarium with over 100 local species on exhibit and a touch pool; check its opening days before you go.
Own or run Santa Monica Pier? Send us a photo or a correction.