California Travel Guide: A Family-Friendly Trip on Route 66 through Rancho Cucamonga
Historic Route 66 runs straight through Rancho Cucamonga, and it’s tempting to pass through rather than stop. But the Mother Road still has a real presence here, from the restored Cucamonga Service Station and the Sycamore Inn to the remnants of the area’s wine history and its enduring classic-car culture. Dan Latif shows what to see, where to eat, and where to stay along Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga.
Editor’s Note
This article was originally written in French. The English translation is provided for convenience and is edited for clarity. Please consult a professional translator for further assistance.
A Gem of the Inland Empire: Rancho Cucamonga
In Rancho Cucamonga, the temperature reads 39°C, but surprisingly, it feels more bearable than a heatwave day in Paris. Cucamonga means “sandy soil,” and judging by the temperature and the way the sun beats down, yes, we are definitely in the desert. Along Foothill Boulevard, the many signs remind you that you are traveling along a stretch of Route 66.
We took our time in this curious corner in the final stretches of the Historic Route 66, itself celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Rancho Cucamonga is part of the Inland Empire, an area of more than 27,000 square miles stretching east of Los Angeles. Rancho Cucamonga itself is home to roughly 178,000 residents. Closely associated with agriculture, Historic Route 66 offers one of the clearest ways to experience the earlier landscape of Rancho Cucamonga, without the layers of freeways, logistics, and suburban growth.
The Cucamonga Service Station: A Survivor of Route 66
Cucamonga Service Station. Image: Julien Fautrat.
Another essential stop on Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga is the Cucamonga Service Station, which we discovered with Anthony Gonzales, one of the people who knows its history best. With its yellow façade and two old gas pumps, it looks as if it has come straight out of another era.
Built in 1915, it already existed before the official creation of Route 66 in 1926 and served not only the first motorists but also local farmers who grew lemons, oranges and, above all, grapes.
When Route 66 began following Foothill Boulevard, the station found itself at the heart of this new traffic and accompanied life in Rancho Cucamonga for decades. It became a Richfield Oil station in the 1920s and, during its restoration, regained its historic yellow, blue and red colors characteristic of that period.
Cucamonga Service Station. Image: Dan Latif.
Closed in 1971 and then left abandoned, it has since been restored and transformed into a small museum devoted to Route 66 and local history. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2018, it is now recognized for its heritage importance. It is a shame it no longer sells gasoline: with its old prices displayed at around 30 cents a gallon, it would probably be the most popular place in California to fill up today.
Chevrolet Camaro at the Cucamonga Service Station. Image: Julien Fautrat.
The site now lives thanks to an entirely volunteer team of enthusiasts passionate about American cars, mechanics and restoration, who maintain the station and tell its story to passing travelers. And their passion does not stop at the walls of the museum: some also bring along their own treasures, such as a 1956 Bel Air or a ’58 El Camino, perfectly preserved cars that are still roadworthy and suddenly make the place look like a genuine scene from another era.
What you absolutely have to do at the Cucamonga Service Station
Look at the hand-painted map illustrating the different stages of Route 66, then sign the guestbook, already filled with messages left by hundreds of visitors from around the world.
They also sell a few Route 66 souvenirs and organize a car gathering every year on the last Saturday of July, where visitors come to admire the bodywork and vote for the most beautiful cars. Their next major project is to rebuild the former garage behind the station, which was damaged by fire and then lost in 2011, in order to restore part of the site’s former appearance and activity.
Biane Winery: A Glass of History in the Cucamonga Valley
Biane Winery. Image: via Biane Winery.
Speaking of grapes, it is also time for an aperitif. Head to Biane Winery in Rancho Cucamonga, one of the few remaining businesses still active today that bears witness to the Cucamonga Valley’s immense winemaking past. The family history in California dates back to 1832 and continued with the arrival of Marius Biane in 1892, before the family went on to develop the Brookside vineyards throughout the valley.
The current estate occupies the former Pierre Biane Winery and continues this tradition inside a historic stone building. Its location is no coincidence: the Cucamonga Valley developed along a strategic route crossed by Route 66, at a time when trucks came to collect supplies from this major wine-producing region before getting back on the road.
Today, while most of the historic vineyards have disappeared beneath urban development, Biane is one of the last witnesses to this winemaking history in Southern California. You mainly come here to take your time in a picturesque setting, over a tasting, sometimes accompanied by live vintage music. Mark Herring & Patrick Langford, @vintagemusic_mandp on Instagram, notably pay tribute here to the Great American Songbook.
When it is time to eat, Pizza Nene occasionally prepares pizzas on site: our favorite was the pepperoni, olive and cheese pizza, accompanied by a glass of Biane’s Heritage Blend 2023, a balanced red that also serves as a reminder that some French prejudices about Californian wines deserve to be seriously reconsidered.
The Sycamore Inn: An Old-School Route 66 Steakhouse
Sycamore Inn in Rancho Cucamonga. Image: Dan Latif.
The Sycamore Inn is one of those Route 66 stops where the interior seems to have retained much of its original character. Built in the early 1920s in the spirit of a European country inn, the building combines dark woodwork, exposed beams, stone fireplaces, subdued lighting and large booths and red leather armchairs that have become emblematic of the place. White tablecloths, old photographs, mirrors, chandeliers and generous furniture reinforce the atmosphere of a classic American steakhouse, somewhere between a historic lodge and Old Hollywood.
Sycamore Inn in Rancho Cucamonga. Image: Dan Latif.
This atmosphere is also shaped by the personalities associated with the address: Marilyn Monroe said to have dined here, while Frank Sinatra and John Wayne are among the celebrities regularly mentioned in the history and folklore of the restaurant. Together, it gives the Sycamore Inn a cinematic and slightly timeless atmosphere, making it a particularly essential stop along Route 66.
Car Culture Beyond Route 66
Chevrolet Bel Air in Rancho Cucamonga. Image: Julien Fautrat.
For a shopping break in Rancho Cucamonga, head to Victoria Gardens, a vast open-air shopping center where you will find stores, restaurants and terraces in an atmosphere that almost feels like a small town center. Its architecture reinforces this impression, with pedestrian streets, carefully designed façades, squares and fountains that give it the feel of a genuine Californian downtown.
But the place sometimes has other surprises in store: while walking through the alleys and especially around the parking lots, you may come across genuine automotive treasures.
1965 Chevrolet Impala SS in Rancho Cucamonga. Image: Dan Latif.
With a little luck, a 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS or another American car from another era will suddenly appear around the corner of a row, a reminder that even far from the Route 66 museums, Californian car culture is never very far away.
The Interior Review Picks: Trusted Finds From This Trip
Where to Stay in Rancho Cucamonga, California
Four Points by Sheraton Rancho Cucamonga — A practical base directly on Foothill Boulevard, following the path of historic Route 66. The outdoor pool overlooking the San Gabriel Mountains makes it particularly appealing at the end of a day on the road. Located at 11960 Foothill Blvd, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739. More information here.
Where to Eat and Drink in Rancho Cucamonga, California
Biane Winery — One of the remaining links to the Cucamonga Valley’s historic wine industry, set inside a historic stone winery. Stop for a tasting, live vintage music when offered, and a glass of the Heritage Blend 2023. Located at 10013 8th Street, Suite T, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. More information here.
Sycamore Inn — A classic Route 66 steakhouse with dark woodwork, fireplaces, red leather seating and an atmosphere somewhere between a historic lodge and Old Hollywood. Try the New York Strip Steak or the Prime Rib, aged for at least 21 days and slowly roasted. Located at 8318 W Foothill Blvd Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. More information here.
What to Do on Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga, California
Cucamonga Service Station — This restored 1915 service station predates Route 66 itself and now operates as a small museum devoted to the road and local history. Look for the restored Richfield colors, vintage pumps, hand-painted Route 66 map and occasional classic cars brought by the volunteers who maintain the site. Located at 9670 Foothill Blvd. Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. More information here.
Drive Foothill Boulevard — Follow the historic Route 66 alignment through Rancho Cucamonga, where roadside signs and surviving businesses still reveal the city’s relationship with the Mother Road.
Where to Shop in Rancho Cucamonga, California
Victoria Gardens — A large open-air shopping center designed around pedestrian streets, plazas, fountains, stores and restaurants. Keep an eye on the parking lots as well: Rancho Cucamonga’s car culture means vintage American cars can appear in the most unexpected places. 12505 N Mainstreet, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 More information here.
Historic Route 66 runs through the heart of Beverly Hills, a city with a constantly evolving vision of luxury. Three of its best-known hotels opened in three very different eras: The Beverly Hills Hotel in 1912, The Beverly Hilton in 1955, and The Peninsula Beverly Hills in 1991. Together, they offer three ways to experience the architecture, rituals, food, and Hollywood history that have shaped the city.