Transcontinental Interstate 40 starts its journey at its junction with Interstate 15 in Barstow, and it crosses the Mojave Desert on its way east to Needles and the Colorado River. Interstate 40 continues to cross Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. If California 58 is upgraded to Interstate standards at least as far west as Interstate 5, it is possible that it might be nominated for inclusion in the Interstate Highway System as an extension of Interstate 40. However, such an upgrade is likely to be decades away.
Interstate 40 East
The first exit on eastbound Interstate 40 is Exit 1, Montara Road, 0.75 mile. This interchange connects to Business Loop I-15 South as well as Historic U.S. 66. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Eastbound Interstate 40 approaching Exit 1, Junction Business Loop I-15 South/U.S. 66/Montara Road west into Barstow and east toward Daggett via old U.S. 66, next right. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Eastbound Interstate 40 mileage sign indicating the distance from this sign, just east of its western terminus in Barstow, to its eastern terminus at Wilmington, North Carolina, on the Atlantic coast. Note the use of a new sign placed in 2003 in the second two photos. First photo taken by Jeff Royston, 08/00; second two photos taken 02/16/04.
Eastbound Interstate 40 at Exit 1, Junction Business Loop I-15 South/U.S. 66/Montara Road. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Historic U.S. 66 Billboard in California facing eastbound Interstate 40 traffic at the Colorado River just west of Topock. Photo taken 11/11/00.
Eastbound Interstate 40 crossing the Colorado River and entering Arizona. Photo taken 11/11/00.
Westbound Interstate 40 approaching Exit 140, Junction Southbound U.S. 95 and Business Loop I-40 in Needles, one mile. Photo taken 01/21/02.
Westbound Interstate 40 approaching southbound U.S. 95 and Business Loop I-40 just east of Needles. Using California standard, this sign indicates that Business Loop I-40 is at the next exit. Rather than only saying "Route 40 Business Next Right," the sign adds the word "Loop," unlike any other business route signage seen in California. Photo taken 01/21/02.
Westbound Interstate 40 approaching southbound U.S. 95 near Needles mileage/distance sign. Photo taken 01/21/02.
Westbound Interstate 40 at the offramp to Southbound U.S. 95 and Junction Business Loop I-40 in Needles. Note the Historic U.S. 66 junction signage in the background. Photo taken 01/21/02.
Interstate 40 west and U.S. 95 north are cosigned on this street light pole after the western business loop interchange west of Needles. They remain joined until reaching Exit 133. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 approaching Exit 133, Junction U.S. 95 North, two miles. Photo taken 02/16/04.
The next exit along westbound is Exit 133, Junction U.S 95 north, one mile. Photo taken 02/16/04.
U.S. 95 leads north into Nevada, where it connects to Nevada 163 (which leads east to Laughlin), then continues north to Cal-Nev-Ari and Searchlight before reaching U.S. 93 northwest of Boulder City. U.S. 93-95 merge for the final miles into Las Vegas. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Exit 133 also provides access to Historic U.S. 66, which follows U.S. 95 north for a distance before turning west en route to Goffs. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 at Exit 133, Junction U.S. 95 North. Note the use of a standalone U.S. 95 shield attached to the green guide sign. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Mileage sign along westbound for Ludlow, 78 miles, and Barstow, 129 miles. Photo taken 02/16/04.
A truck lane begins as the freeway prepares to go up the slope. Photo taken 02/16/04.
View of the truck lane as westbound Interstate 40 ascends to South Pass (elevation 2,630 feet). Photo taken 02/16/04.
The truck lane ends as the freeway reaches the summit and prepares to head down the grade into Ward Valley. Photo taken 02/16/04.
View of westbound Interstate 40 as seen from the descent from South Pass approaching Exit 120, Water Road. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 at Exit 120, Water Road. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Interstate 40 prepares to ascend to Mountain Springs Summit, and a truck lane (third right lane) is added to accommodate the slower traffic. Photo taken 02/16/04.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 40 is Exit 115, Mountain Springs Road/National Trails Highway, 1.50 miles. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 approaching Exit 115, Mountain Springs Road/National Trails Highway, one mile. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Mountain Springs Road/National Trails Highway leads to Amboy via old U.S. 66. From Amboy, motorists may take Amboy Road south from Amboy to Twenty-Nine Palms and Junction California 62. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 at Mountain Springs Road/National Trails Highway, which leads north to meet Old U.S. 66 and south toward Essex. This is an older alignment of U.S. 66 between Essex and Goffs that was replaced by Goffs Road (Exit 107). Photo taken 02/16/04.
Interstate 40 reaches the Mountain Springs Summit of the Piute Mountains, elevation 2,770 feet. Photo taken 02/16/04.
The next exit along westbound is Exit 107, Junction U.S. 66/Goffs Road, one mile. This exit features the last services along westbound for 55 miles. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Exit 107 features the last services until reaching Exit 50, National Trails Highway/U.S. 66 to Ludlow. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Much of the area north of Interstate 40 between Exits 107 and 78 is part of the Mojave National Preserve, which extends north all the way to the Nevada State Line and Interstate 15 as it heads northeast from Baker. Each of the next three exits along westbound serve the preserve. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 at Exit 107, Junction U.S. 66/Goffs Road, which leads southwest to Essex and Chambless and northeast to Goffs and Bannock. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 approaching Exit 106, Rest Area. Since this rest area is closed for repairs in early 2004, the next rest area is located at Exit 28, some 79 miles west of here. Photo taken 02/16/04.
At the time this picture was taken, the rest area at Exit 106 was closed for repairs, perhaps in conjunction with the bridge deck replacement at the Goffs Road interchange. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 approaching Exit 100, Essex Road, which leads northwest to Mitchell Canyon and southeast to Essex (Junction U.S. 66). The next exit is Exit 78, a distance of 22 miles. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Mitchell Caverns and Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is located northwest of Interstate 40 within the Mojave National Preserve via Essex Road, with a connection to Hole in the Wall via Black Canyon Road. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 approaching Exit 78, Kelbaker Road, one mile. The next exit is Exit 50, a distance of 28 miles. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Kelbaker Road leads north to Kelso and south to Amboy. But if you're going to Amboy, you should just take Historic U.S. 66. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 at Exit 78, Kelbaker Road. Kelbaker Road leads north to Kelso and Baker (as the name of the road implies), then transitions into California 127 upon reaching Interstate 15. California 127 in turn leads north to Shoshone and Death Valley National Park. Southbound Kelbaker Road leads to U.S. 66 between Amboy and Chambless. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Mileage sign along westbound for Ludlow, 26 miles, and Barstow, 77 miles. Even though most signs indicate the control city as Los Angeles, Interstate 40 ends far short of that city, as its terminus is in Barstow. Photo taken 02/16/04.
These scenes are located along westbound east of Ludlow. Photo taken 02/16/04.
This exit connects to one of the longest extant stretches of U.S. 66. The National Trails Highway heads east from here via Amboy, Chambless, and Essex before returning to the Interstate at Exit 107/Goffs Road. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 at Exit 50, Junction Historic U.S. 66/National Trails Highway to Ludlow. The next services, as indicated by the sign, are at Exit 23, Newberry Springs. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Mileage sign along westbound Interstate 40 for Newberry Springs, 21 miles and Barstow, 45 miles. Photo taken 02/16/04.
View of Interstate 40 west as it approaches several electricity transmission lines west of Pisgah. Photo taken 02/16/04.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 40 is Exit 33, Hector Road, one mile. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 at Exit 33, Hector Road. Hector Road leads north to Hector and south to meet Old U.S. 66/National Trails Highway, which closely parallels the Interstate on the south side. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 approaching Exit 28, Rest Area, two miles. Photo taken 02/16/04.
View of the hardened lava field located north of the freeway as seen along westbound. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 at Exit 28, Rest Area. This is the final rest area along westbound before reaching Barstow and Interstate 15. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Westbound Interstate 40 mileage sign approaching Barstow. This is one of the few remaining mileage signs that also feature kilometer distances to various destinations. Photo taken 01/21/02.
Continuing west, Interstate 40 reaches Daggett here at Exit 7. The control city for westbound remains Barstow. Interstate 40 will merge into Interstate 15 about seven miles west of here. Photo taken 03/20/06 by Dave Billeci.
Other Interstate 40 Pictures
In the Mojave Desert, snakes and other wild animals are common, and they have been sighted even on the freeway. Signs such as this remind motorists who stopped at the westbound rest area to be wary of such animals, especially rattlesnakes. Photo taken 02/16/04.
View of the hardened lava field located north of the westbound rest area on the north side. Photo taken 02/16/04.
Freeway Entrance signage for Interstate 40 along Historic U.S. 66 east of Needles. Photos taken 01/21/02.
Interstate 40 freeway entrance signage near Daggett. Photos taken 01/21/02.
Interstate 40 and U.S. 95 freeway entrance signage in Needles at the eastern end of Business Loop I-40. Photos taken 01/21/02.
Interstate 40 directional signage for Barstow and Needles as seen near Daggett. Note how the button copy reflects against the camera flash (since this picture was taken into the sun). Photos taken 01/21/02.
Views of the Interstate 40 crossing over the Colorado River looking northeast from the foot of the long-since-demolished U.S. 66 bridge in California. The railroad bridge is located just beyond the highway bridge. Photos taken 11/11/00.
Natural gas pipeline bridge spanning the Colorado River south of the freeway and railroad bridges. Photo taken 11/11/00.
