Santa Monica Pier

Ocean Ave. at Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA
Phone:

East < GO > West

The 1,600 foot long Municipal Pier was built in 1909. In 1916 Looff's Pleasure Pier opened on the pier with a carousel. The pier became a favorite fishing place and in 1941 the pier business community installed the well known sign shown above. Between 1987-1990 the pier was completely restored and in 1996 Pacific Park opened. The pier has always had some kind of amusement rides on it. The main entrance to the pier is at Ocean and Colorado Avenues.

Just past the entrance sign you come to this long steep ramp down to the pier. This is challenging for anyone with mobility issues. There is both general and handicapped parking on the pier, but it is not always open on holidays and possibly other busy periods. It was closed when we visited on Memorial Day in 2013, hence the police car blocking the road in the photo above. There is also handicapped and general parking on the beach level and an elevator up to the pier level from there.

Of course you can get some extra kicks on 66 by riding the the ferris wheel on the pier. As you can see the ferris wheel isn't the only amusement ride on the pier, so have some fun!

I don't know if everyone traveling the Mother Road stops at the 66 to Cali booth on the pier, but we stop there every time. They not only have all kinds of cool Route 66 themed merchandise but they also have some mighty friendly staff too, so stop by and say hi!

Although many think of the Santa Monica Pier as being the western end of Route 66 it is only the symbolic end of the trail. The last official western end of Route 66 was at the intersection of Lincoln Blvd. and Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Photo(s): 2013