California motorhome holiday ?
Discussion
Pondering something like this next easter for the whole family after seeing something similar in a trailfinders brochure. My idea is that it will be a fun way of seeing san fran, yellowstone, vegas, bits of LA etc.. Maybe driving the big sur as well, but havng a sense of adventure and exploration and going at our own pace.
Anyone done something similar and can recommend it or put me off ? Should I get tooled up in anticipation of meeting charles manson in one of the motorhome parks ?
Anyone done something similar and can recommend it or put me off ? Should I get tooled up in anticipation of meeting charles manson in one of the motorhome parks ?
Take a look at www.roadtripamerica.com Yellowstone is also a good few miles away from California!
Lets give him the benefit of doubt and suggest he meant Yosemite 
I toyed with the idea of an RV when I went in May, but decided to go the 4x4 and motel route. Just picking the negatives:
I wouldn't fancy an RV in SF. In fact, I dumped off the hire car as it wasn't needed (SF was at the end of the holiday)
I'm not sure I'd enjoy driving an RV up through The Big Sur. Yes peeps do it, but my 4x4 was far big enough.
I am led to believe Yosemite (assuming that's where you meant) is still very cold (and snowy) at Easter.
Having said all that, the bit between SF & LA (which was the bit of my holiday I enjoyed the most) would be great fun in an RV. Although, I cant remember seeing many RV parks in or near the middle of the towns, so if you wanted a night out/restaurant you'd either have to walk/cab it or pack it all up and try and find a large parking space in town.
I toyed with the idea of an RV when I went in May, but decided to go the 4x4 and motel route. Just picking the negatives:
I wouldn't fancy an RV in SF. In fact, I dumped off the hire car as it wasn't needed (SF was at the end of the holiday)
I'm not sure I'd enjoy driving an RV up through The Big Sur. Yes peeps do it, but my 4x4 was far big enough.
I am led to believe Yosemite (assuming that's where you meant) is still very cold (and snowy) at Easter.
Having said all that, the bit between SF & LA (which was the bit of my holiday I enjoyed the most) would be great fun in an RV. Although, I cant remember seeing many RV parks in or near the middle of the towns, so if you wanted a night out/restaurant you'd either have to walk/cab it or pack it all up and try and find a large parking space in town.
FUBAR said:
Lets give him the benefit of doubt and suggest he meant Yosemite
You're too kind! 
I personally don't see the big attraction with RVs on short roadtrips in high(ish) population areas. It just limits where you can go and what you can do. You might as well stay in motels/hotels, and have a 4x4 or muscle car. If you're going to be stopping in random places (eg. not towns/cities), then yes, an RV might be fun, but if that's not what you're going to do, then it would just be a pain!
If you have 2 weeks, you could do a very quick Cali loop. Eg:
- SF
- Carmel/Monterey
- San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara
- LA
- LV
- Death Valley
- Yosemite
- SF
There are loads of examples on RoadTripAmerica.
thanks guys
there's a lot of good articles in the times and telegraph and they all really recommend it massively although you're right with an RV its definitely very much a camp site holiday
i think the ones that trailfinders and virgin organise let you have 3 nights at say SF in a hotel beforehand which is a good idea ... all the articles also say let someone like trailfinders organise it otherwise its a logistical nightmare
but just getting a 4x4 and then booking some hotels might also be worth looking into esp. as im more interested in the city stop... definitely want to go to SF, big sur, santa cruz, santa barbara. that said, my kids would hate being a 4x4 for 5 hours but in a motorhome theyd probably love it and that has to play a major factor in the decision making.
(and yes, meant yosemite)
there's a lot of good articles in the times and telegraph and they all really recommend it massively although you're right with an RV its definitely very much a camp site holiday
i think the ones that trailfinders and virgin organise let you have 3 nights at say SF in a hotel beforehand which is a good idea ... all the articles also say let someone like trailfinders organise it otherwise its a logistical nightmare
but just getting a 4x4 and then booking some hotels might also be worth looking into esp. as im more interested in the city stop... definitely want to go to SF, big sur, santa cruz, santa barbara. that said, my kids would hate being a 4x4 for 5 hours but in a motorhome theyd probably love it and that has to play a major factor in the decision making.
(and yes, meant yosemite)
Edited by jackal on Monday 18th July 14:07
I still don't understand why you'd bother with an RV for a short trip down the PCH when you say you're more interested in cities anyway. You'll max out at ~3hrs with driving between places, and stop everywhere anyway. The PCH isn't somewhere i'd really want to drive an RV as it's narrow and can get twisty!
Do something like this:
- SF
> 2hr drive (goes via Santa Cruz)
- Carmel/Monterey
> 3hrs+ (loads of stops as this is the Big Sur bit)
- San Luis Obispo
> 2hrs
- Santa Barbara
> 2hrs+ (depending on where you go)
- LA
You can easily add on places like Las Vegas (+Grand Canyon/Death Valley/Zion/Bryce), and San Diego. Yosemite is possible too.
Do something like this:
- SF
> 2hr drive (goes via Santa Cruz)
- Carmel/Monterey
> 3hrs+ (loads of stops as this is the Big Sur bit)
- San Luis Obispo
> 2hrs
- Santa Barbara
> 2hrs+ (depending on where you go)
- LA
You can easily add on places like Las Vegas (+Grand Canyon/Death Valley/Zion/Bryce), and San Diego. Yosemite is possible too.
Jackal,
My wife and I spent 3 amazing weeks doing just the RV tour you are suggesting. It was in Dec / Jan and we took in San Francisco, Highway 1, Big Sur, Montery, Edwards Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Reno and back.
2 of us in an 8 Berth RV with a 350 hp V10!
Would it have been fun in an open top sports car - absolutely. However, could you have been the only people in the Grand Canyon National Park as the sun was setting, sipping a cold one and refelcting on the awesomeness of the place - no. We also hired a Harley in Las Vegas on Christmas Day - proper job.
Let me know if you want some details - if it helps, we had the whole lot for 27 Euros per day but i did book it in The Netherlands 5 years ago.
My wife and I spent 3 amazing weeks doing just the RV tour you are suggesting. It was in Dec / Jan and we took in San Francisco, Highway 1, Big Sur, Montery, Edwards Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Reno and back.
2 of us in an 8 Berth RV with a 350 hp V10!
Would it have been fun in an open top sports car - absolutely. However, could you have been the only people in the Grand Canyon National Park as the sun was setting, sipping a cold one and refelcting on the awesomeness of the place - no. We also hired a Harley in Las Vegas on Christmas Day - proper job.
Let me know if you want some details - if it helps, we had the whole lot for 27 Euros per day but i did book it in The Netherlands 5 years ago.
We did the East coast 3 years ago and loved every minute of it. Next year is California & Vegas!
Wee booked through www.fetchrvrental.com they do special rates for international visitors. Doing it through the likes of Trailfinders is a waste of money, you get exactly the same thing by doing it yourself, you can book the campgrounds online or just roll up. The campgrounds are very family orientated with fishing lakes, playgrounds, pools, activity areas, games rooms etc etc. Some also offer local discounts or excursions
Yes you can do it in a car and use hotels but half the fun is doing it in something you wouldn't normally drive. Plus a hotel would be typically $50 a night per room whereas 6 people can stay on a campground for less than that
Wee booked through www.fetchrvrental.com they do special rates for international visitors. Doing it through the likes of Trailfinders is a waste of money, you get exactly the same thing by doing it yourself, you can book the campgrounds online or just roll up. The campgrounds are very family orientated with fishing lakes, playgrounds, pools, activity areas, games rooms etc etc. Some also offer local discounts or excursions
Yes you can do it in a car and use hotels but half the fun is doing it in something you wouldn't normally drive. Plus a hotel would be typically $50 a night per room whereas 6 people can stay on a campground for less than that
Maybe you could do both? i.e. pick the RV up on leaving SF and drop it off in LA pick up a car and enjoy highway 1 in a more suitible veichle? I'll be honest I've travelled allot in CA and the RV thing has never appealed but I don't have a family to consider. I can't imagine they're suited at all to urban environments if seeing the some cities is high on your priorities which is why i thought the car and RV combo may work.
You'll probably struggle with roads into Yosemite given the time of year, Tioga pass almost certainly won't be open which is a shame to miss also a pain in the arse getting to DV and Vegas if the roads close which I found first hand once.
Anyhow, whatever you do it's an awesome place. I shot myself in the foot on my last visit getting a speeding ticket so I won't be back for a while! The Monterey Penisula is well worth a visit, I also like Lake Tahoe, and would recommend it particulary if you and your family like to ski.
You'll probably struggle with roads into Yosemite given the time of year, Tioga pass almost certainly won't be open which is a shame to miss also a pain in the arse getting to DV and Vegas if the roads close which I found first hand once.
Anyhow, whatever you do it's an awesome place. I shot myself in the foot on my last visit getting a speeding ticket so I won't be back for a while! The Monterey Penisula is well worth a visit, I also like Lake Tahoe, and would recommend it particulary if you and your family like to ski.
andrew311 said:
I shot myself in the foot on my last visit getting a speeding ticket so I won't be back for a while!
I was following a local at a decent, but not silly, pace up the 101 (Big Sur was closed at Bixby Bridge), scanning the road ahead for CHiPs and the like, completely forgot my brothers word of warning (as he got done a few years back) to keep an eye on the sky too. Police chopper came out of nowhere and I spent the next 30 minutes pooping myself, expecting a roadblock to be waiting round every corner.Thankfully I got away with that one
Screw the RV, if there's 2 of you then get a convertible Mustang and do it properly. You don't need a silly big bus. The Stang can get you anywhere you need in comfort, you can enjoy the trip with the roof down (best bit!!!) and you can stay over at hotels easily enough. But for a family the 4x4 would be a sad requirement but still good enough. PLus you could get some camping stuff in if you want to have some stop overs in say DV or Yosemite.
Also at Easter Highway 160 through Yosemite will be closed. Search for Tioga Pass weather online and you can find the opening and closing times for the last 10 years. Normally it's mid-May to the very start of Nov.
Santa Barbara = WIN, stunning place and Sandbar down the main street is amazing for Mexican food and a huge array of amazing Margharita combinations with prices you cannot get a Coke for over here!
Also at Easter Highway 160 through Yosemite will be closed. Search for Tioga Pass weather online and you can find the opening and closing times for the last 10 years. Normally it's mid-May to the very start of Nov.
Santa Barbara = WIN, stunning place and Sandbar down the main street is amazing for Mexican food and a huge array of amazing Margharita combinations with prices you cannot get a Coke for over here!
-Ad- said:
Screw the RV, if there's 2 of you then get a convertible Mustang and do it properly.
OP is coming with his family so a normal car + luggage won't cut it. You can get tour packages where a courier will transport you're cases on to your accomdation so it's not impossible but expensive.johnfm said:
What is the deal with hotels? What would a decent, clean room cost on the road between LA and Sf? $120/ night?
I dont like the idea of pre booking - as it means you have to be somewhere by a certain day and I would just want go where I want, when I want.
Your average motel or cheap hotel is $40-$60 a night, Holiday Inn etc can be as little as $80 or as much as $150. I dont like the idea of pre booking - as it means you have to be somewhere by a certain day and I would just want go where I want, when I want.
That's about all you'll find outside of the cities
johnfm said:
I dont like the idea of pre booking - as it means you have to be somewhere by a certain day and I would just want go where I want, when I want.
I did exactly that (apart from the last 3 nights in SF). The problem I found was looking at the cheaper ones and then spying the nice, more luxurious one next door and thinking "ah stuff it, I'm on holiday". Having said that, I don't regret it one bit
johnfm said:
What is the deal with hotels? What would a decent, clean room cost on the road between LA and Sf? $120/ night?
I dont like the idea of pre booking - as it means you have to be somewhere by a certain day and I would just want go where I want, when I want.
There are cheap options, especially out on the road e.g. Motel 6, Travel Lodge, Super 8 etc. I like booking in advance and direct, you can always cancel up to the day of arrival with most places with no fee. Also a good way of getting a bargain book ahead at a price you're happy with then if a deal comes up you can move on it.I dont like the idea of pre booking - as it means you have to be somewhere by a certain day and I would just want go where I want, when I want.
I don't see the hugh disadvantage of having at least a loose itinary as you can plan ahead what you want to see and make the most of the time you have. I'd imagine having kids makes it a bit more difficult to have less structure too.
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