Needles

Perched on Southern California’s eastern edge—so far east that it hugs the Colorado River —the town of Needles marks Route 66’s arrival in California. Named for the sharp, needle-like peaks that rise to the southeast, Needles was founded when the transcontinental railroad pushed through in 1883. Today the desert city serves as a hub for freight and passenger trains, Colorado River vacationers, and Route 66 road-trippers.

Exploring Route 66 in Needles

From Dust Bowl migrants to 1960s families bound for Disneyland, millions of Americans have road-tripped along Route 66, the famous 2,448-mile route from Chicago to Santa Monica. When drivers crossed over the Colorado River into California, they stopped at Needles to rest, dine, refuel, and prepare for their journey’s final westward leg. (Check out the entire California itinerary in this EV-friendly Route 66 road trip.)

Broadway and Front streets have preserved remnants of this historic road. Look for the white Route 66 “shields” stenciled on the asphalt, and vintage signs and structures dotting the desert landscape. Route 66 murals decorate buildings all over town.

Nostalgia fans should stop for selfies at the Needles Welcome Wagon. This hulking borax wagon was a 1940s movie prop that once stood outside Needles’ El Rancho Motel, a popular Mother Road lodging. Other Route 66 relics include the ruins of Carty’s Camp, a cabin-court lodging featured in the 1940 movie The Grapes of Wrath. Behind it, the 1940s motor inn 66 Motel (now private apartments) still wears its original neon sign and retro architecture.

Needles’ most prized landmark is the El Garces train depot on Front Street, built in 1908. The elegant Classical Revival structure, wrapped on four sides by 20-foot-wide verandas, functioned as a Harvey House, a chain of early 20th-century hotels and restaurants situated along the Southwest’s railway tracks. Known for its high-class service, Needles’ Harvey House served both train passengers and Route 66 travelers. The chain employed traveling waitresses wearing crisp uniforms—their jobs were immortalized in the 1946 Judy Garland musical The Harvey Girls.

The Harvey House closed in 1949, but the grand El Garces building earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places and now serves as Needles’ Amtrak station and bus depot.

More Things to See and Do in Needles

Learn more about Route 66’s glory days at the Needles Regional Museum across the street from the El Garces train depot. Packed with artifacts and photos, the museum has exhibits on the Mother Road, railway legends and lore, and the steamboats that once cruised the Colorado River. One display focuses on a Needles celebrity: Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, lived here during his childhood. That’s where he dreamed up the cartoon dog Spike, Snoopy’s long-lost brother. A colorful mural on the museum’s exterior depicts the mustached, hat-wearing Spike alongside other Needles icons: the Santa Fe Railway, a Route 66 sign, the Old Trails Bridge, a hot rod, and a desert tortoise.    

Much older history—and an archeological mystery—can be seen just a stone’s throw from Interstate 40. A high vantage point near the Colorado River overlooks an ancient geoglyph site known as the Topock Maze. Possibly dating back 600 years, the “maze” consists of intricate parallel lines and furrows raked into 15 acres of Mojave Desert gravel. The site is sacred to the Fort Mojave Tribe, who believe their ancestors carved out the design. Records show that the geoglyph was once much larger; an additional 35 acres were destroyed when the railroad and a gas pipeline were built.

Outdoor Recreation in Needles

The Colorado River offers fantastic opportunities for boating, fishing, and water sports. Rent a speedboat, kayak, or canoe from Pirate Cove Resort at Moabi Regional Park, and set out for a 30-mile stretch of river between Needles and Lake Havasu City. The spectacular Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is punctuated with isolated coves, sandy beaches, and marshes rich with bird life. Many boaters cruise along the spectacular Topock Gorge, one of the last remaining natural stretches of the lower Colorado River. Native American petroglyphs line the cliffs and bighorn sheep clatter across the hillsides.

For a land-based adventure, drive an hour west to Mojave National Preserve, a 1.6-million-acre jumble of sand dunes, Joshua trees, and volcanic formations. Explore the 600-foot-high mountains of sand at Kelso Dunes or hike the thrilling Rings Loop Trail by Hole-in-the-Wall Campground. You’ll follow a path through cactus-studded desert and then climb up Banshee Canyon’s volcanic walls using metal rings as footholds and handholds. On the preserve’s southeast edge, take a tour of Mitchell Caverns, a spectacular limestone cave in Providence Mountains Recreation Area.

Where to Eat in Needles

If you’re driving Route 66, make a stop at Wagon Wheel Restaurant, a 1955 diner serving big portions of American comfort food. Settle into a cozy booth at breakfast and order strawberry waffles, cinnamon roll French toast, or steak and eggs. At dinnertime, pull in for slow-roasted pot roast with mashed potatoes. Even if you’re not hungry, stop by to admire the Wagon Wheel’s quirky decor—vintage license plates and gas station signs, a mine-tunnel mural, and a giant gorilla that guards the front door. A gift shop sells Route 66 souvenirs—t-shirts, coffee mugs, pins, and more.

For a 21st-century meal, Needles Smashed Burgers cooks up bold-flavored burgers with crispy edges and juicy centers. Order one smothered in chili or jalapeños, and tack on a side of fries. River City Pizza Co. offers gooey-cheesy eating in various forms: specialty pizzas, hearty pastas, hot sandwiches, and appetizers.

Before leaving town, pull in at Gus’ Fresh Jerky to pick up crumb-less car snacks—specifically beef jerky in flavors like brisket, teriyaki, and mango habanero. Since 1996, Gus Niepagen and his daughter Nancy have been marinating, seasoning, and vacuum-sealing meats without using preservatives. Their Needles shop also carries dried peaches and dates, jars of stuffed olives, and raw desert honey.

Where to Stay in Needles

When Route 66 was bypassed by speedier Interstate 40, mom-and-pop motels and motor courts along the old route went belly-up. But Needles has plenty of modern accommodations: Book a cabin on the river’s edge at Pirate Cove Resort for a front-row seat on the Colorado River. If you’re traveling in your own RV or campervan, reserve a campsite at Fender’s River Road Resort, then kick back in a lounge chair by the rolling river. (Fender’s rents motel rooms, too.)

Needles offers budget-friendly, mainstream-brand lodgings, too. Spend the night in the newly constructed Hampton Inn Needles, or hang out by the sparkling pool at the Best Western Colorado River Inn.