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Oatman Arizona on Route 66

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Burro in the road   If you are driving through Oatman, you should plan on stopping for a while. In Oatman there are lots of burros, and they wander throughout the streets.  There are also lots of tourists, who also wander the streets.  Sometimes they shut down the road for a gunfight too. So, even if you don't want to stop there, you probably will. Here's a burro in the road leading up to Oatman, Arizona. I'd pulled over to take a picture and it walked up to the car looking for a handout.  It lost interest in a hurry when I didn't give her any.  Burros are a type of small donkey, if you are curious.   Oatman main street Route 66 is the main street through Oatman, AZ.  Oatman is primarily a tourist trap. Every store there sells snacks, or souvenirs, or food, often all three.  The whole town is set up for tourists, there's a large, free, parking lot on the south side of town (and a pay parking lot on the north side) as well as public rest rooms. Bur...
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Topock and Golden Shores Arizona on Route 66

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Exit 1 in Arizona  I didn't though. I came in to Arizona from Needles, California. On the right as I crossed the Colorado River I saw the white arch "Old Trails" bridge. This bridge now carries a pipeline but used to Route 66.  After crossing the bridge I got off at the first exit but couldn't find a good spot to take the pictures. There aren't that many Route 66 specific sights in the Topock/Goldon Shores part of Arizona, and somehow I missed taking pictures of one of the important ones, so a few of these photos are from Wikimedia Commons instead of being ones I took.   Historic Old Trails Bridg e built in 1914 in Topock, Az. By Wikimedia user Marine 69-71 CC-BY-SA If I had taken a right off the exit then gone into what looks like a Industrial area, I would have also had a good view of the bridge, similar to this view.   Looking at Google, I see I also could have gotten off of Interstate 40 at the last exit in California (Park Moabi Rd) and made my way to this o...
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Needles California on Route 66

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  Sage Motel As I was driving in to Needles and on my way to my hotel, I saw the Sage Motel.  That looks like a Route 66 era motel I better take a picture. A few minutes later I realized that this is on historic Rt-66, which makes sense. It is no longer a hotel, but it is still in use. 1624 W Broadway St, Needles, CA. ( Learn more ) Needles is a town of around five thousand people in California right across the Colorado River from Arizona. Needles was founded by the Atchison, Topeka and Sata Fe railway. The railroad, now part of the BNSF Railway, is still a major employer in the city.  If you are traveling the path of Route 66, this will be the first city you come to in California.    Route 66 car wash Miranda's Car Wash is just two blocks away from the Sage Motel. This do it yourself car wash has a Route 66 mural on the side.  Looking at google streetview tells me it has been closed for about 10 years. and the mural went up sometime between 2009 and 2011....
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Needles to Amboy, CA on Route 66

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The motel, cafe, and gas station in Amboy, California. The gas station is still operational  April 5, 2026. Just to be clear,  I didn't actually drive from Needles California to Amboy on Rt 66.  That was my plan but it didn't work out.  Actually, that wasn't even my plan.  My plan was to drive on Interstate 40 to Amboy then take Rt 66 back to Needles.  Since I spent the night in Needles I just think of that as the starting point.  The most direct way to Amboy is to take Interstate 40 to Kelbaker Road, Go south on Kelbaker to Rt 66 and hang a right.  So that's what I did.     Route 66 closed east of Kelbaker Rd The first thing I noticed was at Kelbaker and Rt-66, the 66 was closed to the left!  Fortunately Amboy is on the right and it was open that way.  Or, at least, mostly open.  There are three bridges that are being constructed on the road and you have to detour around them by driving on a marked gravel road throug...
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