A Drive on Route 66 in Needles, California 

I was born in Needles and once lived about 50 yards from Route 66. In fact, our family dog, Yahtzee, was run over on that famous roadway, probably 55 years ago, before I-40 was built. Needles has three major things going for it these days: The Santa Fe RR, the recreational activities on the Colorado River, and a thriving marijuana farming business. Some call it "Weedles" now.

I drove through Needles from Northern IL in Aug. 1966. I had a new job in L.A., and never been but a few miles from my rural farm town on the Illinois/Wisconsin border. I pulled into that old Texaco gas station at midnight. It was 99 degrees. I couldn't believe it. I asked myself, "What am I getting into?" The trip turned out fine. Stayed in the L.A. area for 20 years. Wish I would have kept a journal of that trip on old Highway 66. Still ranks as one of the top 5 events of my life.

Many travelers may not know this: When traveling through Needles if you need gas, drive over the Colorado River into Arizona on Highway 95. After crossing over the river stay on Hwy 95 for about 2 miles, at the intersection of Hwy 95 and Courtwright Rd. you'll see 2 gas stations. Compared to Needles prices you'll save a boat load of cash when filling up your vehicles, you can thank me later...

I stayed at a motel in Needles in 2009. The owner was a pleasant Indian man. Then I drove west across the Mojave desert. Breathtaking panoramas. There's no place like California.

My dad was a railroader from Needles. When I was a kid he worked at that texaco during a layoff from the railroad.

Needles named for the jagged, needle-like mountain peaks in the vicinity.

That exact Texaco we stopped at over ½-Century ago

So much of the architecture is so unique, we miss this. So much of what is built today is cookie cutter. Old Needles is beautiful, thanks for sharing your view.

That old gas station may have been used in the movie, "Two lane blacktop".

I haven't been to needles since the 70s its neat to see on here I miss road trips

Stopped in Needles, CA with my parents in the summer of 1970 on a road trip out west from the Chicago area. Dad was driving his then new 1970 Ford station wagon (that was a big car!). We had breakfast at the Sambo's (much like Denny's today) in Needles which I believe eventually became a Chinese restaurant. Nice look at present day Needles and the "Mother Road." Thanks for sharing!

I've been at that offramp several times and driven by that restored gas station. I have never seen it open. I look forward to your videos each week. Keep up the great work!

We had to stop in Needles when we were moving to Bakersfield from Missouri in 1961. It was summer and the water pump went out in our 1960 Rambler station wagon. Dad drove around for a while and found a car parts business and he changed the water pump in the alley next to the parts store, with the UHaul trailer still hooked up to the Rambler. Quite the adventure. 😉

Was driving my Daughter back home to wisconsin from Orange county california and we drove til needles california that seemed to take days in a huge budget truck my Husband and 2 cats and 2 seats.. I sat the safe way in a lawn chair in the middle.. never again drive those mountains in a budget truck..

I live here, been here since 2015

Every summer my family and I would travel to Arizona and I use to love passing thru needles. There was a restaurant that had phones at the tables it was near a days inn that had an indoor pool. Loved needles! So nostalgic

WeatherNation channel brought me here; it is always interesting to find new cities of the USA.

The museum was closed due to Covid restrictions. Its open now, so please come back. I volunteer there and also do Harvey House tours.

Motel California fire damaged the Theater ...I used to live there Years back and worked at the Needles Truck Plaza where The Wagon Wheel Restaurant is.....

Added to my Slab City, Blythe, Needles playlist.

We all look for different things on 66. Right after you had explained the Claypool building, I was more interested in the liquor store at 6:20 on the left side of the street. Cool architecture that is unique to this area of the country! I don't drink, but I've stopped in just to see what it looked like inside an old building like that. Great video, thanks!

Harry Houdini’s wife, Bess, died in Needles. Needles got it’s name from the rock pinnacles mountain peaks along the Colorado river. Needles caught my attention due to the fact it had the lowest median income of all the cities within the two counties, at $31,843 as of 2020.

I have stopped at the wagon wheel restaurant back in the early 90’s when I was doing east coast to west coast trucking. Was a good place to eat.

Needles is a nice town.

I really like the low key informative delivery style. I have travelled Utah and Nevada and Arizona so I am familiar with some of the places you visit but I certainly know the harsh conditions and long distances involved in desert 🌵 travel 👍

I watch your videos to look at the scenery . Needles is a town I have many memories of when I was 19 years old. When you speed up the film I can't see much scenery.

Worked out of Needles surveying the Colorado River and Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. Mild Winters and very hot Summers.

Often the hottest point in the country.

Last passed through Needles on a cross country road trip from Boston in 2010. There was a stretch of old motels along 66 that I didn't see in this video. Perhaps they're gone. I stayed in one for $22/night at a time when every motel I stayed at in Texas and northern New Mexico and Arizona cost at least twice that, a pleasant surprise. A few nights later I camped in Big Sur for $35, the most expensive state park camp ground I had ever seen up to that point.

I was just recently on a part of 66, on my way to BHC. I exited Palmdale rd in Victorville and drove 66 to the Barstow station. And when I got to the Needles area, I got off on Broadway and drove up to K st, to get on the 95. And then I drove to Oatman, so I spent a few moments on 66.

In the 90s, I actually lived on Route 66 in San Bernardino, California. Dangerous place.

Just passed through Needles en route to Flagstaff, AZ watching this!

I am a train addict - one of my very first Christmas presents back in the mid 50s was a train and I've loved them every since - I'd choose to stay in that motel looking out at the trains going by - i prefer the older ones of course - fantastic whistle sounds throughout day & night - thank you for showing them

7:15 park the car and hop that train. It will take you on a cool ride through the Tehachapi Loop with lots of cool scenery if you play your cards right. 8:15 great place for hoppin em, too

I've been back and forth to needles countless times to visit family since 99 and never knew about these gems(minus the wagon wheel). definitely checking them out on the next visit.

Only California town I've been to. In my photo of the Needles sign, those letters were light blue. We went back over the river the next day, toward Vegas and the flight back home.

Nicely detailed vid on Needles and Route 66. It reminds me of how many times I’ve actually stayed and stopped in Needles dating back to 1994 when I stayed at the vintage Palms motel across the street from the Welcome to Needles wagon (no longer open) to the first time I got to tour the empty El Garces in 2001 as part of the Route 66 75th anniversary Poker Run. Now I usually stay at Plasser’s RV park and motel on the Colorado River at western edge of town. It reminds me of the scene in the movie The Grapes of Wrath where the Joad family takes a dip in the River. Thanks for describing several buildings I’ve never noticed including the Texaco station and the Masonic building. Finally, no visit to Needles is complete without a stop at the Topock bridge crossed by the Joads on their way into California (now a pipeline bridge).

So sorry that you neglected the Colorado River which makes the town much more livable than many desert towns. I encourage you to add a piece in the narration about that.

Needles, like Blythe, are towns I have just drove through but never spent any time visiting. I’m most interested in visiting the El Graces Harvey House. Fascinated with the Harvey House history. Have you been to Barstow and visited the Harvey House that’s located there? That’s a beautiful restoration they did to the building. Been loving your videos thank you so much.

Thanks for the sidetrip, love the info.

I get a lot of enjoyment from your channel. Good job, and greetings from Sydney

I haven't been to Needles in several years. Thanks for sharing!

Nice quick view of Needles. Route 66 has a few great sections remaining where the Interstate bypassed the old road. A bit west on Hwy 66, I rode in a 1915 Model T in 2015 by Goffs, where the pusher locomotives helping loaded freights up out of the river valley dropped off and turned back to Needles. More great history preserved at the Goffs Schoolhouse.

Looks like another town who’s best days are behind it.

I hope they make that Texaco gas station restored and back in business with the original vintage Texaco gas pumps.

I was there with my parents in 2002. My father and I watched the contrails and looked at the mountains. I miss a shot of the mountains that I believe give the town its name

On RTE 66 in needles, they even have 2 old 4 face stop lights! Seen at 6:17 and 3:19

Love the the stage coach and old gas station.

You should do some research on when General Patten with his tanks was in Needles.

Just started to watch your videos - they are very interesting! I'd wondered what that line of 'blocks' was early in the video - so many freight trains!!!

What a wonderful video!! Also, I’m glad to see that Needles & Rte 66 played a role in The Peanuts Gang 👍 ❤️

I’m watching because I’m working here from out of town and you can probably guess what am I here for…that’s right building more railroads lol

Great video of this section of Route 66 ~ Looks like great fun ~ you are certainly knowledgeable of everything along the way ~ awesome ! Thank you for sharing your road trip adventures ~ The sage Motel looked like it would Have been a cool place to stay back in the day ~ Will def check and see your next adventure ! 🚙🚂 Love the trains !

You make it so interesting

Your channel is so cool!

Great video thanks.

Awesome video!

Very very nice 👍🤔

Have stayed in needles traveling from Ft Bliss back in the day .

The pioneer cemetary is on the other side of I-40 on the eastern end of this video. Just continue past the freeway entrance for half a mile or so and it is on the right. The last leg of 66 before crossing the river (old bridge is gone now) is the last exit on the freeway before entering AZ. On this road is a mobile home park and the Pirates Cove resort.

this looks ideal, small and away from big city b.s. but also well accommodated with businesses and services.

My mom and sister were born there until they moved to Blythe in the early 60's. My great grandmother used to work at the El Garces when she came here from Poland. I still have a lot of family that lives in the area. I remember when we lived in Blythe we always came up to Needles on the 95 (Cali side). Since there was only one restroom stop in Vidal Jct sometimes we stopped alongside the highway and do our business right there. Have you done a video of Blythe (I-10) and/or the 95 between Needles and Blythe. Thanks for the videos.

Oh no way man; the prices of fuel was already high in the West Coast of the US .... here in the East Coast we didn't get a price increase until the end 2021 CE or even beginning of 2022 CE.

Also, one of the hottest places in the US and famous for having the highest gas prices in the country!

I had to do a “double take” at the part with garages built into the hill

I worked in the SW area for a year and never saw anyone at the Texaco in Needles. It's an odd town with abnormally high fuel prices. Nice people but that odd vibe. Approx 100 trains a day travel the SW Trans Con. From Needles the line travels SW then back up to Ludlow before Dagget and Barstow. The Wagon Wheel Cafe has great food, especially breakfast.

Snoopy’s brother Spike lives in Needles, California.

The Brown family got Snoopy in Needles and moved to Ohio. (correct me if I’m wrong) Charlie Browns father was a barber!

You found my home Depot. I was in Montana for 10years now im back home. #ImaRiverRat

back when lots of stick shift cars and trucks

Gateway to Laughlin, NV.

💪👍🏼🤠🌵

If you were drag racing in the summer in around 1963 you almost killed my mom and I. You never turned around to see if we were ok. You ran us off the road. We stayed at the first hotel on the right for the night. That’s my memory of Needles. I was 13 years old.

Burger hut and Pizza Hut who would think?

Seemed pretty dumpy when I had to stop for gas coming back from LV. Nicer than Barstow tho, I'll say that for it.

At 3:06 just passed my house.

🙂

That's on hill have eyes bro

I like what I 👁👁

its not the same no more , the charisma was different

Nothing will happen. . Teflon Joe . . . Nothing Sticks

The name itself sounds terrible. If somebody was naming a town even a genius could never scramble up something as off kilter as Needles. A torrid place where heatstroke becomes a marathon. But Yuma and 29 Stumps could even be worse.

THE REAL ROUTE 66 ENDED IN LOS ANGELES... AT 7TH AND BROADWAY. FACT!!!!😎