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Cajon Summit
Elevation 4,300 ft (1.311 m).
Cajon Summit, California, was a small roadside community at the top of Cajon Pass, right around where today’s Interstate 15 crests at Cajon Summit. It grew up in the early 20th century as auto travel became more common, especially along the National Old Trails Road and later Route 66.
Because it sat at about 4,260 feet, Cajon Summit was the last stop before dropping into the San Bernardino Valley heading south, or the first stop after a long climb from the Mojave Desert heading north. This made it a perfect spot for gas stations, repair shops, cafes, and a few motels. Some businesses advertised “last gas before San Bernardino” or “cool mountain air,” aiming to catch overheated cars and tired drivers.
Summit was never a railroad town—the Santa Fe and Union Pacific tracks stayed lower through the pass—but for highway travelers it was a real landmark. During the height of Route 66 in the 1940s–1960s, it bustled with travelers, truckers, and tourists.
With the completion of Interstate 15 in the 1970s, traffic sped up and bypassed many of the old roadside stops. Gradually, Summit’s businesses disappeared, leaving little trace beyond a few foundations and access roads. Today, most people pass through without realizing a town once stood there, though the name survives in maps and local history.
