Vacaay

Santa Monica

About Santa Monica

Route 66 ends in Santa Monica after crossing eight states from Chicago, making this one of the most important stops on the highway. The historic endpoint is at Lincoln and Olympic Boulevards, while the End of the Trail sign on Santa Monica Pier has become the better-known photo stop. From there, the beach, pier, restaurants and downtown are all within easy reach, so it is easy to spend some time exploring the area before moving on.

When to visit

June through August is Santa Monica’s busiest period, with warm beach weather, long daylight hours and plenty of activity around the Route 66 endpoint.

Most popular: June - August

Spring · Mar, Apr, May

Spring is a comfortable time to reach the end of Route 66, especially if you want pleasant weather without peak summer crowds. March can still bring some rain and cooler mornings, while April and May gradually become sunnier and warmer. The pier, beach and downtown are easy to explore on foot, and spring-break periods bring extra activity. By May, conditions are usually well suited to spending most of the day outside.

Summer · Jun, Jul, Aug

Summer is when Santa Monica feels busiest, particularly around the pier and beach. Days stay warm without the extreme heat found farther inland, and long daylight hours make it easy to spend time around the Route 66 endpoint before sunset. Expect larger crowds, busier restaurants and higher accommodation prices, especially on weekends. Morning cloud can occur near the coast, but afternoons are often clearer, and rain is uncommon during this part of the year.

Autumn · Sep, Oct, Nov

Autumn is a great time to see Santa Monica once the main summer rush starts easing. September often keeps much of the warm weather, but the beach and pier become less crowded as summer holidays end. October remains mild, while November brings cooler evenings and a greater chance of rain. The Route 66 End of the Trail area stays active year-round, so you still get plenty of atmosphere without quite as much summer congestion.

Winter · Dec, Jan, Feb

Autumn is a great time to see Santa Monica once the main summer rush starts easing. September often keeps much of the warm weather, but the beach and pier become less crowded as summer holidays end. October remains mild, while November brings cooler evenings and a greater chance of rain. The Route 66 End of the Trail area stays active year-round, so you still get plenty of atmosphere without quite as much summer congestion.

Weather Highlights

  • Summer high

    21°C / 70°F

  • Winter low

    10°C / 49°F

  • Rain

    34 days

  • Snow

    0 days

Location

Getting There

From downtown Santa Monica, head west along Colorado Avenue toward the ocean, cross Ocean Avenue onto the pier, then walk roughly 200 feet along it to reach the Route 66 End of the Trail sign.

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