Captain America and Billy didn’t screw around. (click picture for more Info)I’ve had quite a few questions via email about the route that Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda rode in the 1969 Movie Easy Rider, and for the last couple of years I’ve ridden and researched it. The movie cemented me as a rider for life at a young age. Anyway, here it is. Since it’s a movie, it hops around a bit, but here’s the route:
If you’re gonna do this trip, do it right. A couple of tips: First off, Don’t sell coke to finance your trip. If you do, don’t tell anyone. Definitely don’t put coke money in your gas tank, because It’ll lower your gas mileage. If you want to go to Mexico and pretend to buy coke in an old truck, knock yourself out. Put it in 2 motorcycle batteries and go sell it to Someone who looks like Phil Spector in front of the runway at LAX. Phil would probably still buy it from you, but he’s busy now with his murder trial. Don’t be offended if he fails to calls you back. That’s how Phil rolls.
Technically, you could start at LAX, but the real riding started in Death Valley. They we’re caging it in LAX. If you know the whole story of Billy and Wyatt they were headliners, baby (and for top dollar too). They had a stunt riding side show and decided to bust out, make a run for the big cash and go looking for America.
Start out by going to Death Valley. Ballarat, Specifically. Ballarat is a pretty cool place, with it’s own bit of history like the gravestone of Seldom Seen Slim, and the Barker Ranch where Charles Manson family laid low after the nights they made the history books. Tex Watson’s truck is still there.
Be sure to take your watch and chuck it by the side of the road because if you’re going on this ride, You need to disregard time. It’s Easy Rider man, don’t screw this up. Find the house, and you’ll know what to do.
Ok, Watch this. It’s gonna set the tone for this whole run you’re gonna make:
Fire all of your guns at once and explode into space brother. Lets go.
Ride on out of Ballarat and head down through Boron California (Home of 20 Mule Team Borax and the Movie Erin Brockovich). Be sure and stop at the museum there in Boron, it’s actually pretty cool. Then head to Barstow. From Barstow, head east on 1-40, staying on as much of Route 66 as possible, because that would be the route they took since 1-40 wasn’t officially designated until 1984. In 1969, it was all route 66 baby! It’s pretty well marked and If you need more mappage of what the road was like in the route 66 heyday, there’s quite a bit here. I ride it at least 3 to 5 times a year, and it’s pretty well documented on this site. Kick the tires and look around.
Anyway, head toward Amboy. Stop at Roy’s and get gas, because you know they stopped there with 2 gallon Peanut gas tanks. Roy’s is one of the coolest places on the mother road. Take some pictures of the 50’s retro sign and head on down the road. Roy’s is a route 66 original and is in the process of getting resurrected to it’s former glory. Roy’s is the Shit.
Keep riding through Route 66, stay to your right and get back on Interstate 40. head up through downtown Needles and back onto Interstate 40.
If you want to check out a cool scene from the movie get off past needles at Park Moabi. All the old buildings are gone now, but you’ll recognize this scene: Ride it.
Get back on 1-40 (It mostly lines up as Route 66 from 1966 to 1974) and cross the Mighty Colorado river at the state line. You’ll notice the bridges there, even though they’ve changed a bit since 1969. If you don’t, re-watch the credits of the movie again. You should recognize it immediately if you’re paying attention. This was the part of the movie that I knew I was an Easy Rider fan for life. Bust out your Steppenwolf, and dig where you are going. You’re an Easy Rider.
Keep going on 1-40. At Kingman, get off the freeway and follow the signs to ride the longest uninterrupted stretch of Route 66 that still remains today. It ran from the 1920’s until 1979. It’s well marked, just follow the signs.
The place where Billy and Wyatt fixed their bike tire and had lunch was supposedly in Valentine Arizona. I’ve found no evidence of this, but it makes sense, since Valentine is an Indian Reservation (“my wife’s a catholic, ya know” – Remember that scene?) Granted, this was on Day two of the movie, and you still haven’t gotten through the movie credit part of the ride, but that’s how movies go. Valentine is on the Hualapai Indian Reservation and is on route 66. The terrain also looks the same. I’m a bettin’ man, and I bet it was there. I also have hundreds of behind the scenes pictures that a photographer took while they were filming the movie. It’s in there, somewhere, I just haven’t found it yet.
Head through Valentine, stop at the Grand Canyon Caverns (its cool), then go into Seligman. Stop at the Snow Cap at the edge of town and eat the best hamburger with the best service you’ve ever had. The Snow Cap has been there since the 50’s. It’s another route 66 icon. Don’t get on the freeway yet at Seligman, ask any local where Crookton road is and head down that instead to stay on what was route 66 until 1979. You’ll squeeze out another 16 miles of route 66 on a great road if you do it my way, when the signs told you to get back on the interstate. It’s what Captain America and Billy would have done.
Get off the freeway and ride through Williams Arizona when you see the signs. Williams is the last town to be officially bypassed in 1984 by interstate 40, so you gotta see it. It’s still got the flavor of how it was in 1969. You’ll dig it. Get back on Interstate 40 East when you’re done, and head on down the highway…
By the time you hit Bellemont, pull off. Get some free coffee at the Harley dealership, stop at the bar and grille next door and hear the pitch about it being the original No Vacancy Sign hanging as you walk into the bar. Since I’m giving you this information completely free of charge, I think it would be a nice touch for you to order a Guinness in the name of Mr Zip, flirt with the bartender and head a quarter mile up the road to the Pine Breeze Motel to see where billy and Wyatt we’re denied a room their first night. The bartender gal there is a sweetheart, and I’m fairly short and reasonably ugly. You’ll do better than I did.
Ask the bartender if you can pull out a sleeping bag at the Pine Breeze, or ask the current proprietor at the Pine Breeze if he’s there. If you want to be hardcore you’ll sleep a few miles up the road by a campfire; If you want to stay where Dennis and Peter stayed, get back on the freeway and head the 10 miles into flagstaff and stay at the Americana Inn. You have a choice: Stay where Billy and Wyatt camped in the movie, or stay where actors and crew in real life slept. Either way, I don’t care. If you’ve come this far, you’re obviously a biker I’d love to ride with. It’s ALL good. You’re goin’ down to Mardi Gras to get you a Mardi Gras Queen. Start yourself a fire and kick back.
500 biker points if you sleep by the side of the road. If you’re a rich urban biker in your new Harley leathers, playing easy rider for the weekend, stay at the Americana Inn. This is an easy Rider Journey, man up and sleep under the stars. When you get to New Orleans you can get a real room and bust out some of that cash and get a groovy dinner. Right now, you gotta start this out right.
Funny story. Peter Fonda told the story of staying the night at the Americana Inn and his arms we’re so stiff from ape hanging on a hard tail all day, that he couldn’t pull his beer up to his mouth. He’d also put his leathers in the bathtub and soaked them down to give them a more weathered look, so at the end of the day his legs we’re black from the dye.
Route 66 ends where Interstate 40 cuts it off not far past the Pine Breeze inn, so double back and head East on 1-40 towards Flagstaff. Get off at Deer Farm exit and road and ride up through Parks Arizona to get back on old 66 and ride down the main street in Flagstaff a few miles later if you really want to stay true to route. Turn south on highway 89 at Flag. When you see the sign for Sunset Crater, head east there and Ride up through Waputki National Monument, Pick up a hippie (there may be one, I don’t know for sure). Queue “I wasn’t born to follow” on your ipod for the full effect.
That part, may be the best ride of your trip.
You’ll need to ride clear through Waputki, double back and get back on 89 and head south to stop at the Sacred Mountain Gas Station. It used to be a gas station, but now it’s the home of someone. He’s a pretty cool guy. He will more than likely tell you some good stories. He may not. Not many people notice his house nowadays, and you may get shot. I don’t know. Either way, you’re on an adventure. Tell the hippie on your bitch saddle he owes you a tank of gas.
From Sacred Mountain, head north. Hit “the weight” by the band and listen to it as you ride. It’s a great song. Turn at hwy 16o and ride through Monument valley at dusk if you time it right. In the movie, that road ends up at Wupatki, but in real life it’s doesn’t. You’re probably not riding a hard tail chopper, so keep going until you hit Farmington New Mexico and crash for the night. Drink beer, laugh, do whatever. At this point you’re well into your easy rider trip.
If you want to be hardcore and drop off the hippie, you’ll have to swing a bit wide and head into the Malibu hills in California and look for a commune. Mulholland to be exact. Good luck finding one. Dennis Hopper wanted to film at the New Buffalo Commune, but Wavy Gravy and his people weren’t into it, so the re-created the commune in the hills of Malibu. Look for Dan Haggerty. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then you haven’t watched the movie Easy rider and you’re a pussy. Put your Mike’s Hard lemonade down, Turn your bike around, and head back to LA. Go eat sushi and buy yourself a Vespa.
Head into Taos. There’s several scenes in Taos: Check out the Taos Pueblo and you’ll see some stuff there. They also shot the inside Jail scenes in Taos, even though I’ve never found the location. The opening scene where they bought the drugs was shot here as well (not in Mexico).
From Taos, head into Las Vegas New Mexico. You’ll see the jail if you’re looking. Parade without a license here, because thats where that scene was shot. The outside of the jail, and the spot where Jack Nicholson (George) took his first drink of the day was here as well.
Take some Jim Beam With you, for obvious reasons. Toast to ol’ D.H. Lawrence (the crew supposedly slept on his grave the night before in Taos) NIC NIC NIC FUT FUT FUT!…… INDIANS! That’s right, you know what I’m talking about. Dream of the finest whorehouse in the south at Madam Tinkertoys House of Blue Lights. These are no porkchops, these are Grade A Prime…
The “If you wanna be a bird” sequence by the Holy Modal Rounders was filmed through Coyote New Mexico.
Remember, stop somewhere while listening to “don’t bogart that Joint” and pee on the side of the road. Anyplace will work when you’re riding. Also: You better not be wearing fingerless gloves and assless chaps man, not on this trip.
The rest of the route is a bit Hazy until you hit Morganza Louisiana. In 1969, the film crew was advised against being a long hair in the South, but Dennis Hopper was determined to do whatever he wanted film wise, so they went anyway. Not much is filmed in Texas as far as I can see, so head toward Morganza. If you can find the Cafe in Morganza where the young girls and the sheriff and rednecks we’re, you’re a better man than me, because the locals who knew the place said it got torn down a couple of years ago. In October 2010 they put up a plaque at the site of Melanchon’s Cafe to commemorate the making of the movie and the locals that were involved. Keep riding, it’s pretty easy to get a feel of 1969 Morganza.
The rednecks in Morganza were real locals. Dennis told the crew to tell them that he, Jack and Peter had raped a girl outside of town before they started filming to get a real reaction of hate from them. One thing to remember, is other that a loose premise, Easy Rider wasn’t scripted. They made it up as they went, and most of the cast would tell you that Dennis Hopper was generally insane in those days. Dennis later said when they rode off from the Cafe scene that was the one time they were scared and wondered if they pushed it too far. They’d heard stories of long hairs getting whacked in Texas and Louisiana. You shouldn’t have the same problem, unless you get way out of line. Head south.
Dig:
Head south out of Morganza, Hit the 190 and then west till you hit Opelousas, then south. If you’re ready, you’ll have Jimi Hendrix Queued as you hit Franklin Louisiana. Remember the song? Thats right old-schoolers, if a six became a nine. Find the bridge, stop, and queue that puppy for proper listening.
I want to thank my Cajun Friend Johnny for the modern day pictures of Franklin. You sir, are the man. I owe you a round of beers Man.
One more Shot.
Then head on into New Orleans. Go to where Mardi Gras is. Now its time for Madam Tinkertoy and Groovy Dinners. Its Mecca man! You’ve reached the Glory Hole. Party like a rockstar, do whatever you do, because tomorrow you’re going to get shot by a short redneck with a Goiter on his neck. I’m not trying to be a downer, I’m just sayin’. It could happen. You’re almost there.
The scenes in Mardis Gras we’re filmed a month after Mardis Gras had ended. The parade scenes they shot with friends and some stock footage. Watch the movie again and you’ll notice. They also shot these scenes first. You may have better luck with Mardi Gras then they did if you time it right.
While you’re in Nawlins, pull out your 80’s CD of Tony Basil singing “mickey”. C’mon, you know you have one. In 1969 she played a prostitute in Easy Rider. In the 80’s, she was a one hit wonder with fat cheerleaders. Hey Mickey!
Once you had your fill of New Orleans, Double back and head towards Krotz Springs Louisiana. You’ll notice the Levees on LA 105. Hit your odometer, and the final spot is almost exactly 3 miles up the road. That’s where this great movie ends, only you’ll survive. Now’s the time to bust out a cigar if you have one, because you made it to the end of the movie. Call a loved one and tell em you’re coming home. Queue the ballad of easy rider and head on out of town. You’re gonna retire in Florida Mister! If a man with a goiter shows, get the hell out of there.
This thread is over. Im going to end it all of a sudden, just like my favorite Movie, Easy Rider. Don’t blow it.
I had never seen Easy Rider before, but had always wanted to see it. After reading your blog and the comments I dialed it up on Vuze. Other than all of the drug use, it looks like to me a movie about freedom and tolerance. Back in '69, those commodities were in short supply so the movie I'm sure found a resonance in society or at least in certain groups therein. I would like to ride the stretch simply to experience the countryside and see if the people are still the same as the way that they are depicted in the movie.
A great bit of research! Thanks again!
I've ridden RT-66 and a lot of Louisiana. Every smile was returned and everyone had good things to say. As a bearded, almost bald 64 year old Harley rider, I have it easier than back in 1969 as a long haired, draft dodging, war protester.
Very cool, great memories. I may go and watch it again tonight. Thanks for the work you put into this man.
Very Cool thanx man
I was in 9th grade, a friend and I slipped into the drive in to see it.
I was hooked then, I had to have Harley !
Great job researching, thanks.
Hi Mr Zip66,
From the UK, what can i say but right up my street. Me and my missus have just watched the Easy Rider trip i thank you for your time and effort, i have been given the green light to Ride route66 subject to planning time of work ect.
Would you have any information on Bike hire and advice on this subject also how long on average it take to travel the route.
Thanks for your time and help
Les Carroll
Truely amazing man!!!
Your hardwork is worth a beer anytime.
I rode that same route with my then new wife backin the 70's its something to see.
Even if we didn't know at the time it was the sameroute as easyrider.
Fantastic!! Youv'e done a really great job with researching and setting up your web site. I saw the film in 69 and it 's fair to say it changed my attitude to life and began a lifelong love of old Harley's. Here in the UK they are pretty rare and expensive, though I've managed to own a few. My latest project is a Billybike replica, well in the vein of Billybike because I can't afford a panhead engine and am using a 45 sidevalve. Thanks again for a great site.
Bill Oyston
Great tribute to a classic and lots of good added tidbits Mr. Zip. Enjoy the hell out of it. I've been riding on two wheels (motorized) since I was 8, circa 1962. I paid to see this movie, I was 15 and on my fourth bike by then.
Surely brings back some memories…….. of course I have the DVD, but your site adds a lot of flavor.
I really appreciate your effort !
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Awesome job on the many hours of research and the effort to provide us with so much detail on a classic that lives in the hearts of many. Most of all thank you for sharing with everyone the fruits of your labor. Very well done!
Peace & Blessings,
~ Keith
Sitting here looking at 8" of snow in my yard plotting my "trip of a lifetime" down the west coast across the south and up the east coast, with the climax seeing Johnny Winter play at the Dutch Mason Blues Festival in Nova Scotia. Although I can't travel this entire route I have marked the places where the film and my route cross paths. Thanks for the excellent job! Will make my trip even better! Depature date of May 8……weather permitting. If anyone else has some "must see places" in their neck of the woods I would love to hear about them. Bonita headpumpkin_1@hotmail.com
make sure you don't just do I-40 to Kingman…turn off I 40 toward Bullhead City and go through OATMAN, AZ on route 66..it will rejoin south of Kingman. Ride free, free not to be hassled by the man!
I love that road. Probably a top favorite, but the oatman road was bypassed in 1957 to the current 1-40 alignment basically. I remember when a lot of that road was gravel.
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Came home in 1970, and my first bike was was a 68 Triumph, chopped up, with apes to emulate Caption America. Have ridden many a two lane highway over the years, but this route you have laid out is most definately on my "to do list"! Awesome job, and your way with words takes me back a few years, to when life was simpler. Thank you my friend,..Great work!
i want to do it next year…. Route 66… The mother!
Felipe Bernal.
Best dam movie and theme song( The Pusher) ever done!!
Man the memories flowed. You did one Hell of a job. Easy Rider is another one of those cult classics. It either becomes a part of you and the road or your lost and confused and just don't get it. I'm proud to say you are a friend and brother. GREAT JOB!!!!!!!
Man the memories flowed. You did one Hell of a job. Easy Rider is another one of those cult classics. It either becomes a part of you and the road or your lost and confused and just don't get it. I'm proud to say you are a friend and brother. GREAT JOB!!!!!!!
Great job of getting the route matched w/movie. I had the coke 36 years b-4 my first bike. Finally got the priorties right.Thanks again, knuckleheader
Being about 10 years older than you, this is WAY COOL, Man…my buddy and I are going to do this.
Hey
I’m traveling Route 66, The Pacific Coast Highway and then going to Sturgis on a Captain America replica (made by Paugcho).
I’m going to trade in the Captain for my Buell at the end of the summer and traveling the rest of the country.
I have set aside 18 to 24 months for this trip.
I am working on a website, but have not uploaded anything yet.
Bob
Thank you, Thank you, reminds me of the times I've been to Sturgis with friends and family. Those days will never be replaced or forgotten. Ride on man, Ride on. Stretch
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I finally saw "Easy Rider" for the first time this evening, on TV. Edited for TV, of course. Since I have a B.A. in Geography, I was wondering where all the locations were, aside from the no-brainers like Monument Valley & Sunset Crater. I could swear I saw a glimpse of Chimney Rock of Nebraska off in the distance in a Deep South context, but can't figure it out. Didn't make sense. What did I see and where was it really? R.S.V.P.
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if this blog did not exist it would be necessary to invent it…it's a humdinger!
Lol, Nice reference! Best comment yet. Thanks my friend.
Hi.
great fantastic but were his the junk yard location were they get the stuff.were they arrive on trail bikes..
and were was that lake at back ground when they lean over were his that..
terry
They bought the stuff in Taos New Mexico.
I wish I'd read this before i did route 66 – I went to Las Vegas in New Mexico but didn't know that parade scene had been taken there – I'll have to go back!
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Hi.
can you tell me what was the bridge that at the end of movie the music was american flag flick frames on and off then cuts to they at campfire scene saying we blew it.
terry
sorry my english is poor
The bridge towards the end of the movie is shot down in Amelia, Louisiana on Hwy 182. It is still there and if you notice there is a building in the background with a white sign it J Roy Mcdermott which is now called McDermott International which is still open and the still build oil rigs. I work over in that area and drive over that bridge alot.
The shot where they are riding and then pick up the hitch hiker is on the Sunset Crater National Monument loop just north of Flagstaff off highway 89 that leads to Wupatki National Monument. Look at the movie and you can see the vulcanic rock as they ride before they pick up the hitch hiker. If taken from Flagstaff heading north you loop back to the Wupatki Monument and then back on highway 89. You will have to turn back left on 89 and go a couple of miles back towards Flagstaff to get to the Sacred Mountain gas station. Went there from North Carolina a couple of weeks ago on my Harley. The scenes of picking up the hitch hiker, camping at the indian ruins and the Sacred Mountain gas statipn scenes were all shot within 25 miles of each other.
You have a great website.
Great Site Well Done, and Easy Rider what can I say Just a Classic Film, got me into Bikes will be doing the Mother Road 66 in Sept of this year with 100 of my friends from Ireland
What a great idea to recreate the hippie journey! To tell you the truth, reading this original research made me fly again, at high altitude of memories.
Thanks for such a pleasant recovery of the old days.
This is amazing! This movie has made such a difference in my life. Thanks so much man. Ride hard, Ride free
TOO FUCKIN' COOL, MUDDERFUKKER!!!
Thank you.
What a long strange trip it's been..
Don'tcha agree?
Later.
Steve
This is great re-creation of route of the Easy Rider dudes. I will be going to Ballarat en Bellemont to check the details with my own eyes the next three weeks (from Netherlands with rental car, wife and daughter, but no Easy Rider bike, I am afraid).
Pine Breeze Inn on the 11th of August 2010 (it is for sale):
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/5861/img2195x…. http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/2898/img2196v…. http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/7204/img2197o…. http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/7663/img2198r…. http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/1989/img2199w.jp… http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/9144/img2200j….
This is awesome. Watching the film in one window, I found this. Excellent research and commentary.
I had not seen the film since it opened in 1969. Wow
Awesome page! I took a trip to Louisiana in 2008 and posted a gallery of images including Morganza and the remains of the foundation of the "Redneck Cafe." : http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562899826eZA…
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Dude,,
just got back from Morganza. They placed a plaque there last week. I have a few iphone pics if you want them.
1950 Hydra-Glide.
Jeff
jeffpounds@jeffpounds.com
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Marvelous description, great post. It's wonderful to be such people. Thank you especially since this description has helped me in making a google maps for my exhibition. GREETS My blog http://bartlomiejgorny.blogspot.com/
Bartek Górny from Poland
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Just found your Blog. Wish I would of known about it a few years ago. Rode Route 66 from Joliet, Ill. to Needles, California.
Could kick my self in the ass for not knowing now close I came to the HOLY GRAIL of EASYRIDER.
We will be checking out the spots in Louisiana this summer.
Thanks for the info
Completely Awesome work. And for us Easy Rider lovers, completely necessary!
Great work!!
adios, amoebas. Still love that. I had that poster on my bedroom wall when I was a kid