Day 12: The grand finale of our Route 66 journey!

By Admin On

Distance covered: ~473 km
Time riding: 6 hr 8 min
Stops: 14 visits, 1 big finish
Route: Las Vegas, NV ➝ Jean, NV ➝ Baker, CA ➝ Yermo, CA ➝ Victorville, CA ➝ San Bernardino, CA ➝ Los Angeles, CA

💡 Early Start with Purpose

We left Fremont Hotel & Casino in Vegas just before 8:00 a.m., and the day began with something personal and peaceful — a stop at Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash (Sikh Temple). A moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks before the last push to the coast.

📸 Classic Stops on the Way Out

Before leaving Vegas completely, we made a tourist pit stop at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign — the iconic selfie we couldn’t skip.

Then we hit the road southbound, passing:

  • Terrible’s Road House in Jean — part gas station, part souvenir circus
  • Baker, CA for a leg stretch and lunch at Los Dos Toritos Restaurant
  • EddieWorld — the gas station of all gas stations. Giant ice cream sculpture, clean washrooms, and more snacks than a Costco aisle.

🏍️ Final Route 66 Memories

The deeper into California we went, the heavier the nostalgia hit.

  • California Route 66 Museum in Victorville — full of roadside artifacts and Mother Road history
  • First Original McDonald’s Museum in San Bernardino — yep, the very first one from 1940, now a quirky little shrine to fast food beginnings
  • Rode through Barstow, Victorville, and San Bernardino, linking the final dots of Route 66.

🌇 Los Angeles Arrival

By early evening, we were finally in Los Angeles. We passed 4275 Grand View Blvd and then headed to 310 Laundromat (sometimes, you just need fresh socks at the end of a 12-day ride!).

We eventually pulled into our LA stay at 4275 Grand View Blvd for the night. Not flashy. Not loud. Just that quiet exhale that says: We did it.

🏆 Highlights of the Day:

  • Spiritual moment: Morning stop at the Sikh Temple
  • Best pit stop: EddieWorld — quirky, clean, and fully loaded
  • Most Route 66 feeling: California Route 66 Museum
  • Most underrated gem: First McDonald’s Museum
  • Arrival emotion: Pride, nostalgia, and sore shoulders

✍️ Final Thought:

“From Chicago to LA, Route 66 isn’t just a road — it’s every mile of sweat, sunburn, laughter, and legends we rode through.”