Did Route 66 go through Victorville?

Yes. Route 66 runs through Old Town Victorville, where the California Route 66 Museum sits right on the old road.

What is there to see on Route 66 in Victorville?

We list 10 stops in and around Victorville, mostly parks and nature areas, landmarks and roadside art and ghost towns. The ones our trip planner rates highest are New Corral Motel, California Route 66 Museum and Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.

How far is Victorville from the next towns on Route 66?

Victorville sits at about mile 2,327 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Barstow, CA, about 36 miles back. Heading west, San Bernardino, CA is about 56 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.

Is Victorville a good place to stay overnight on Route 66?

It works for a night. Our trip planner ends a day in Victorville when the day's miles fit, and otherwise prefers a bigger overnight town nearby.

Route 66 town guide · California

Route 66 in Victorville, California

Victorville is a high-desert town on the Mojave River, about 2,325 miles from Chicago, where Route 66 leaves the open desert and starts its climb toward Cajon Pass and the Los Angeles basin. Most of the stops we group here are natural: desert peaks and canyons around Victorville, Apple Valley and Hesperia.

About mile 2,327 of 2,448 from Chicago
10 stops in and around Victorville
Small-town overnight

Tap a dot to see that stop here.

Tap a dot for the photo and a link to the stop (the fork-and-knife markers are places to eat). Open Victorville on the full map to filter by kind or add stops to your trip.

The Route 66 stop is the California Route 66 Museum, set in a former cafe right on the old road in Old Town Victorville. Across the river in Apple Valley, the Apple Valley Inn is a 1948 desert resort that was built to sell land and became a hideaway for Hollywood stars. History here is older than the highway: Lane's Crossing was a pioneer river ford and travelers' stop on the Mormon Road near Victorville.

For a break outdoors, Deep Creek Hot Springs are natural hot springs where the San Bernardino National Forest meets the edge of the Mojave Desert; plan on a hike to reach them. Horsethief Canyon marks the high end of Summit Valley near Cajon Pass, where two state routes wind through, and the desert peaks around Apple Valley, from bell-shaped Bell Mountain to the 4,170-foot Silver Mountain and the narrow Ord Mountains, frame the drive. They are best enjoyed as views from the road.

Practical note: summer days here are very hot, so do outdoor stops early and carry water. Victorville works as a night before the drive into the Los Angeles area; Barstow is about 44 miles back to the east, and San Bernardino about 58 miles further west, over Cajon Pass.

Top 10 Route 66 attractions in and around Victorville

New Corral MotelA mid-century motor court on Victorville's old Route 66, with a rearing horse atop its neon sign.
California Route 66 MuseumVictorville's Route 66 museum, set in the old Red Rooster Cafe right on D Street in Old Town.
Elmer's Bottle Tree RanchMore than 200 bottle trees on a two-acre desert ranch, created by Elmer Long beside Route 66 in Oro Grande.
Lane's CrossingA pioneer river ford and traveler's stop on the Mormon Road near Victorville.
Apple Valley InnA 1948 desert resort built to sell land, once a hideaway for Hollywood stars.
Deep Creek Hot SpringsNatural hot springs where the San Bernardino National Forest meets the edge of the Mojave Desert.
Horsethief CanyonThe high end of Summit Valley near Cajon Pass, where two state routes wind through.
Silver MountainA 4,170-foot summit east of La Delta, between Victorville and Apple Valley.
Bell MountainA bell-shaped desert peak north of Apple Valley, capped by ancient volcanic rock.
Ord MountainsA small, narrow desert range south of Apple Valley and southeast of Hesperia.

Retro roadside (1)

See all →

New Corral Motel

Victorville, California · 0.1 mi from Route 66

A mid-century motor court on Victorville's old Route 66, with a rearing horse atop its neon sign.

Retro roadsidePhoto credit

Museums (1)

See all →

California Route 66 Museum

Victorville, California · on Route 66

Victorville's Route 66 museum, set in the old Red Rooster Cafe right on D Street in Old Town.

MuseumPhoto credit

Art & landmarks (1)

See all →

Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch

Victorville, California · on Route 66

More than 200 bottle trees on a two-acre desert ranch, created by Elmer Long beside Route 66 in Oro Grande.

Art & landmarksPhoto credit

Ghost towns (1)

See all →

Lane's Crossing

Lane's Crossing, California · 0.2 mi from Route 66

A pioneer river ford and traveler's stop on the Mormon Road near Victorville.

Ghost town

Historic hotels (1)

See all →

Apple Valley Inn

Apple Valley, California · 4.5 mi from Route 66

A 1948 desert resort built to sell land, once a hideaway for Hollywood stars.

Historic hotel

Nature & parks (5)

See all →

Silver Mountain

Victorville, California · 4.3 mi from Route 66

A 4,170-foot summit east of La Delta, between Victorville and Apple Valley.

Nature & parks

Bell Mountain

Apple Valley, California · 5.4 mi from Route 66

A bell-shaped desert peak north of Apple Valley, capped by ancient volcanic rock.

Nature & parks

Ord Mountains

Victorville, California · 10.3 mi from Route 66

A small, narrow desert range south of Apple Valley and southeast of Hesperia.

Nature & parksPhoto credit

Deep Creek Hot Springs

Apple Valley, California · 13.0 mi from Route 66

Natural hot springs where the San Bernardino National Forest meets the edge of the Mojave Desert.

Nature & parksPhoto credit

Horsethief Canyon

Hesperia, California · 7.3 mi from Route 66

The high end of Summit Valley near Cajon Pass, where two state routes wind through.

Nature & parks

Where to eat in and around Victorville

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe
Victorville, California · on Route 66
A family-run diner on old Route 66 since 1947, seen in a Kill Bill film and on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Next towns on Route 66

Route 66 in Victorville: questions

Did Route 66 go through Victorville?: Yes. Route 66 runs through Old Town Victorville, where the California Route 66 Museum sits right on the old road.
What is there to see on Route 66 in Victorville?: We list 10 stops in and around Victorville, mostly parks and nature areas, landmarks and roadside art and ghost towns. The ones our trip planner rates highest are New Corral Motel, California Route 66 Museum and Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.
How far is Victorville from the next towns on Route 66?: Victorville sits at about mile 2,327 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Barstow, CA, about 36 miles back. Heading west, San Bernardino, CA is about 56 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.
Is Victorville a good place to stay overnight on Route 66?: It works for a night. Our trip planner ends a day in Victorville when the day's miles fit, and otherwise prefers a bigger overnight town nearby.