Founded soon after the Santa Fe Railroad came through in 1883, and named for the group of sharp stone spires that stand near where I-40 crosses the Colorado River from Arizona, Needles (pop. 4,830) is one of the hottest places in the country, with summertime highs hovering between 100° and 120°F for months on end. Though unbearable in summer, Needles is a popular place with winter snowbirds escaping colder climes; it also has a very rich Route 66 heritage. The magnificent El Garces Hotel is undergoing long-term renovation into a historical museum, while the stretch of old Route 66 through Needles runs along Broadway, alternating along both sides of the freeway.
