If you take the route suggest above, you will also be in the Route 66 corridor from Barstow all the way to Kingman and the stretch across the Mojave from Barstow to Needles is another good one. A very old Route 66 alignment takes you from Topock, AZ to Kingman via Oatman, Arizona. Oatman is a favorite of most Route 66ers but I'm not sure how active it would be at the time of year you'll be traveling.
Along California 58 west of Tehachapi, you will pass very close to the Tehachipi Loop where trains actually cross over themselves. It is a great little detour that would not require a lot of time.
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Murray Family Farms just east of Bakersfield is also a fun stop and a good place to get a bite to eat.
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