Lancaster, CA to Long Beach, CA The End of Historic Route 6

Lancaster, CA to Long Beach, CA

The End of Historic Route 6

So, I’ve come to the very end of my cross-country, US Route 6 adventure.  Almost.  Time to negotiate the quagmire that is greater Los Angeles.

These are the directions I received, and I tried, I really did.  I started out and ended well.  But the middle was problematic.  I’ll inject my own notations in caps:

Sierra Highway through Lancaster and Palmdale to Santa Clarita.

THE SIERRA HIGHWAY SHOULD BE A PREFERED ALTERNATE TO HIGHWAY 14.  IT IS GORGEOUS, TOOK ME THROUGH HILLSIDE RANCHES, CANYONS AND AWAY FROM A SLEW OF FAST-MOVING CARS.

I STOPPED FOR LUNCH AT AN ICONIC LOCAL RESTAURANT IN SANTA CLARITA, THE BACKWOOD INN.  LOW LIGHTING, SAWDUST ON THE FLOOR, STEAKS AND BURGERS, A FUN PLACE WITH HEARTY FARE.

South of Santa Clarita you get (TAKE A LEFT ONTO) on San Fernando Rd./Blvd. This will take you through the Cities of San Fernando, Burbank and Glendale to LA.

AND THUS BEGINS THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND COMMERCIAL PORTION OF THE DRIVE.

In Burbank you will go around the Burbank Town Center. The original alignment once went through what is now the Burbank Town Center (shopping mall).

I WENT TO THE LEFT AND WENT AROUND THE MALL THAT WAY, BUT YOU CAN ALSO GO RIGHT AND AROUND THAT WAY- SAN FERANDO RD. CONTINUES ON AS IT WOULD HAVE HAD THE MALL NOT BEEN THERE.

From North San Fernando Blvd. to North Broadway through China Town.

THIS IS WHERE IT GOT CONFUSING FOR ME.  THERE WAS SAN FERNANDO BLVD. THEN SOUTH SF BLVD, THEN NORTH SF BLVD, THEN IT WAS JUST SF BLVD THEN BACK TO NORTH SF BLVD.  I SAW AN ARROW TO BROADWAY, TOOK THE LEFT AND FOUND MYSELF ON WEST BROADWAY. 

I GAVE UP HERE AND RELIED ON MY GPS UNTIL I GOT TO LOND BEACH BLVD.

Turn right onto Alpine Street. Turn left onto N. Figueroa St. Now go south on Figueroa to the Pacific Coast Hwy.  Go east on the PCH to Long Beach.  Turn right on Long Beach Blvd.

I CAUGHT UP HERE.  IT’s 20 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN LA.

 Long Beach Blvd. ends at East Ocean Blvd. This is the westerly end of the Grand Old Highway. Congratulations!!

Across from you is the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. On the wall to the left of the entry is a plaque fronting the sidewalk. The plaque will note that this is the westerly end of 3,652 miles of the Grand Army of the Republic (Memorial) Highway.

FOUND IT!!!  THE PLAQUE WAS DATED MAY 1953 – 11 YEARS BEFORE ROUTE 6 WOULD NO LONGER COME ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE COAST. 

I’m at the end of my trip – but my work has only begun.  Stay tuned for LOTS more ROUTE 6 information – based on all the material and stories I’ve collected over the last 6 weeks!  


I fly home this morning; my car has been shipped.  It's been a great trip and I thank all who met me, helped me and guided me along the way!!!