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Victorville is the largest city in California's High Desert, set along the Mojave River in San Bernardino County about 85 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The town grew up in the 1880s around the railroad through the Cajon Pass and was named for Jacob Nash Victor, a construction superintendent of the California Southern Railroad. Ranching, cement plants and the railroad shaped its early years, and in the 1920s and 1930s Route 66 brought a steady stream of travelers through the old town on their way across the desert.
Victorville incorporated in 1962, and its population has grown to well over 130,000 as families moved to the Victor Valley for its open space and lower housing costs. The former George Air Force Base on the north side of town is now the Southern California Logistics Airport, used for cargo, aircraft storage and testing, and Interstate 15 links the city with the Inland Empire and Las Vegas.
For visitors, Victorville's Route 66 heritage is the main attraction. The California Route 66 Museum in Old Town collects signs, photographs and roadside memorabilia, and classic stops such as Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe and the New Corral Motel keep the old highway alive. Mojave Narrows Regional Park offers fishing lakes and shady trails where the river comes to the surface, and the granite boulders and wide desert views around the valley make the area a good stop on a drive between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
The California Route 66 Museum in Old Town Victorville is a free, volunteer-run museum full of memorabilia from the Mother Road, including old signs, photos, a vintage car and displays on the diners, motels and travelers of Route 66 through the Mojave Desert. It takes under an hour; check open days before you go.
Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe is a small family-run diner on old Route 66 that has been serving travelers since 1947. It is known for big breakfasts and hearty sandwiches such as the Brian Burger, and has appeared on food television. It opens early and closes in the early afternoon, so plan breakfast or lunch here.
Old Town Victorville along D Street and Seventh Street is the city's original downtown, on the historic Route 66 alignment near the Mojave River. It has older storefronts, the Route 66 Museum and a few local businesses. It is a short, quiet stroll; combine it with a meal at a classic diner and a Route 66 photo stop.
The New Corral Motel is a classic Route 66 roadside motel in Victorville, known for its vintage neon sign featuring a cowboy on a bucking horse. It is a favorite photo stop for Route 66 travelers. The sign is best photographed at dusk when the neon lights are on; please respect guests' privacy.
Mojave Narrows Regional Park is a San Bernardino County park along the Mojave River, where the river comes to the surface and feeds two small lakes. It offers fishing, a campground, picnic areas, horse trails and paths under cottonwood trees, a green surprise in the desert. Expect a small entry fee per vehicle.
The San Bernardino County Fair is held each year at the fairgrounds in Victorville, usually in late spring, with carnival rides, livestock shows, a rodeo or motorsports events, concerts and classic fair food. It is a big event for High Desert families. Evenings are cooler and busier; check the dates and concert lineup online.
The Mall of Victor Valley is the main shopping mall of the High Desert, with department stores, national chain shops, a food court and a movie theater nearby. It is a convenient place to shop or cool off on hot afternoons. It is next to Interstate 15, and many restaurants surround the mall.
North of Victorville, old Route 66 runs as the National Trails Highway through Oro Grande toward Helendale, passing old buildings, desert views and the colorful Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch, a folk art forest of bottle trees. It is a short, scenic detour for Route 66 fans. Drive slowly and park only where it is safe.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
Photo: Thomas from USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Mlpearc, City of Victorville, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Andrew.olvera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Gabriel Millos from Santa Barbara, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Randy Heinitz from Durham, NC, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Z3lvs, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Pedro Xing, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Andrew.olvera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Sanfel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: LHOON from Mechelen, Belgium, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Gabriel Millos from Santa Barbara, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0