Driving Las Vegas to LA to San Francisco, any tips??
Discussion
I did that in reverse with an addition -
SF -> Yosemite -> LA -> LV
Yosemite's great and I really wish I'd had more than half a day there. Plus the views going up the mountains are stunning.
Between LA & LV (well, slight detour to the north, but it's worth it) is Death Valley.
Whilst in LV it's worth popping out to Hoover Dam & Lake Meade too.
SF -> Yosemite -> LA -> LV
Yosemite's great and I really wish I'd had more than half a day there. Plus the views going up the mountains are stunning.
Between LA & LV (well, slight detour to the north, but it's worth it) is Death Valley.
Whilst in LV it's worth popping out to Hoover Dam & Lake Meade too.
I did this 3 years ago.
Stayed a few nights in Anaheim, Los Angeles.
Took the Freeway from LA to Las Vegas, but noticed your going the other way.
The freeway route has some amazing scenery when up in the desert and hills.
We stopped for a break in Baker, small town.
San Francisco is amazing.
Getting into San Francisco is a bit of a nightmare.
We came in from the East, as we came from Las Vegas/Yosemite, via Sacramento.
So not sure about the South, but the East was a nightmare. About 8-10lanes of traffic queuing to get in.
In San Francisco, best thing to do is leave the car, and just walk everywhere. We stayed in the Argonaut hotel in Fisherman's Wharf.
We hired bikes and cycled the Golden Gate Bridge, and i'd recommend a trip across to Alcatraz, although, book asap, it can get really busy and booked up.
If you're going into the centre, best walk, or take the tram. Walking it'll only take about 20mins or so, and it's a fine walk. Union Square has a lot of top of the range shops, including the Adidas outlet.
Las Vegas;
There is some great karting places if you're interested.
We took a helicopter down part of the Grand Canyon, and to a ranch, where we got to do some lassoing, a meal, and other activities.
LA;
Knotts Berry farm theme park.
We also took a tour round Los Angeles, visiting all the major places; Hollywood boulevard, Hollywood sign, Beverly Hills, Venice beach, Downtown/Financial district.
Hope that helps, if there's anything else, just ask.
I know you were asking for more or less driving tips, but that's some more information.
ETA; Also, just seen Graham's post, it's really worth going to Yosemite, go over Tioga pass, great road!
And we took a walk around the area, and saw 3 bears, and a Coyote. Definitely worth visiting Yosemite, and also Death Valley.
Stayed a few nights in Anaheim, Los Angeles.
Took the Freeway from LA to Las Vegas, but noticed your going the other way.
The freeway route has some amazing scenery when up in the desert and hills.
We stopped for a break in Baker, small town.
San Francisco is amazing.
Getting into San Francisco is a bit of a nightmare.
We came in from the East, as we came from Las Vegas/Yosemite, via Sacramento.
So not sure about the South, but the East was a nightmare. About 8-10lanes of traffic queuing to get in.
In San Francisco, best thing to do is leave the car, and just walk everywhere. We stayed in the Argonaut hotel in Fisherman's Wharf.
We hired bikes and cycled the Golden Gate Bridge, and i'd recommend a trip across to Alcatraz, although, book asap, it can get really busy and booked up.
If you're going into the centre, best walk, or take the tram. Walking it'll only take about 20mins or so, and it's a fine walk. Union Square has a lot of top of the range shops, including the Adidas outlet.
Las Vegas;
There is some great karting places if you're interested.
We took a helicopter down part of the Grand Canyon, and to a ranch, where we got to do some lassoing, a meal, and other activities.
LA;
Knotts Berry farm theme park.
We also took a tour round Los Angeles, visiting all the major places; Hollywood boulevard, Hollywood sign, Beverly Hills, Venice beach, Downtown/Financial district.
Hope that helps, if there's anything else, just ask.
I know you were asking for more or less driving tips, but that's some more information.
ETA; Also, just seen Graham's post, it's really worth going to Yosemite, go over Tioga pass, great road!
And we took a walk around the area, and saw 3 bears, and a Coyote. Definitely worth visiting Yosemite, and also Death Valley.
Edited by standfree93 on Friday 18th June 15:42
Good advice above. I will a few other points,
Get sat nav
Give your car back the day you arrive in San Fran parking is 50 dollars a night at the hotels. If you drive over the golden gate remember the toll is 6 dollars.
From LA to SFO take the pacific highway then onto Highway 101 and stop in Monterey and visit Laguna Seca.
Get sat nav
Give your car back the day you arrive in San Fran parking is 50 dollars a night at the hotels. If you drive over the golden gate remember the toll is 6 dollars.
From LA to SFO take the pacific highway then onto Highway 101 and stop in Monterey and visit Laguna Seca.
Edited by daz4m on Friday 18th June 18:45
On the way to LA from Vegas pop into Calico Ghost Town.
Venice Beach on a weekend is a must.
Look out for Mullholland Drive - superb views over the city
Find a Ruby's Diner and order a 50/50 shake- post your findings !!!
Garden Grove (Anaheim) on Friday nights has Main Street closed from around 5pm for a car show.
+1 for Knotts Berry Farm
We will be going over again in July.
If you need any more details get in touch or see you there!
Have fun
R
Venice Beach on a weekend is a must.
Look out for Mullholland Drive - superb views over the city
Find a Ruby's Diner and order a 50/50 shake- post your findings !!!
Garden Grove (Anaheim) on Friday nights has Main Street closed from around 5pm for a car show.
+1 for Knotts Berry Farm
We will be going over again in July.
If you need any more details get in touch or see you there!
Have fun
R
From Vegas head north east to Zion National Park. Stunning road running through it!
Also worth and option if going from Vegas to LA is instead of the freeway all the way, head south to Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino mountains. Also heading north from LA to SF go up through the Santa Monica hills some the roads up the valleys are fantastic.
Also worth and option if going from Vegas to LA is instead of the freeway all the way, head south to Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino mountains. Also heading north from LA to SF go up through the Santa Monica hills some the roads up the valleys are fantastic.
Buy a copy of the Bullitt theme tune (Lalo Schifrin) and play it once you enter San Francisco. This was on one of my wife's chill out albums on our honeymoon and I couldn't stop smiling as we drove down a couple of the steep hills with that playing in the background. We were in a Mustang at the time which made it even better 
Shame it was just the V6 though.
Shame it was just the V6 though.we did california on our honeymoon. All great advice there, but you'll soon realise its far too big to do everything. We had to choose between san diego and las vegas, and decided on the former.
Flying within the US isnt as cheap as it once was, and still takes time through the airport.
Oh, one tip: when driving in the desert. US cars have outside temperature guages. If you start in SF, it'll be quite cool. Drive an hour inland. get that temp gauge as high as possible. Then....step outside. The change from cool to very, very hot is amazing- like walking into an oven. its quite an experience.
Fresno is the usual stop-over between SF and LV. Its not a bad place, but dont go down-town. We stayed in the picadilly inn hotel in the centre. The fig gardens has great restaurants and bars, and some good shopping. http://www.shopfiggardenvillage.com I saw a Cobra daytone replica parked there all weekend. Amazing.
Oh, if you can find one, try a "Carls Jr" burger place. the best burgers I have ever tasted. And huge. Simmilar in layout to a Mcdonalds, but far superior to all the others in my opinion
The wine is surprisingly expensive, considering they make the stuff!
Most hotel rooms will have fridges, so you can stock up on wine and beer and these will be kept cold.
Is there a nascar or indy car race on whilst you are over there??
Oh, we found Oz and James's california wine tour programme (see youtube) great for getting in the mood.
Flying within the US isnt as cheap as it once was, and still takes time through the airport.
Oh, one tip: when driving in the desert. US cars have outside temperature guages. If you start in SF, it'll be quite cool. Drive an hour inland. get that temp gauge as high as possible. Then....step outside. The change from cool to very, very hot is amazing- like walking into an oven. its quite an experience.
Fresno is the usual stop-over between SF and LV. Its not a bad place, but dont go down-town. We stayed in the picadilly inn hotel in the centre. The fig gardens has great restaurants and bars, and some good shopping. http://www.shopfiggardenvillage.com I saw a Cobra daytone replica parked there all weekend. Amazing.
Oh, if you can find one, try a "Carls Jr" burger place. the best burgers I have ever tasted. And huge. Simmilar in layout to a Mcdonalds, but far superior to all the others in my opinion
The wine is surprisingly expensive, considering they make the stuff!
Most hotel rooms will have fridges, so you can stock up on wine and beer and these will be kept cold.
Is there a nascar or indy car race on whilst you are over there??
Oh, we found Oz and James's california wine tour programme (see youtube) great for getting in the mood.
Pablo16v said:
Buy a copy of the Bullitt theme tune (Lalo Schifrin) and play it once you enter San Francisco. This was on one of my wife's chill out albums on our honeymoon and I couldn't stop smiling as we drove down a couple of the steep hills with that playing in the background. We were in a Mustang at the time which made it even better Shame it was just the V6 though.
Reminds me of this Shame it was just the V6 though.http://www.rjsmith.com/bullitt-locations.html
http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/b/Bullitt.ht...
Pity I didn't have more time when I was there to check it out more.
On a similar theme we stayed in the York where Vertigo was filmed.
Hi, thats us back. as expected Mustang was pretty rubbish!!
LV was incredible, has to be seen to be believed, helicopter over GC was incredible. Best car seen was Lambo, bright green with black wheels with green rims and a Carlson S63 was amazing!
Drove from LV to LA, incredibly boring long straight roads!!
LA was excellent, better than expected, quite cold though each day until about 3pm even had heating on in car one day!! Venice Beach was fantastically bizarre!! Hollywood was ok to. Best car was a Spyker, first one I've seen.
Drove LA to SF, alot longer than expected but they drove alot quicker than what i expected which was good, but still quite boring. SF was ok, to be honest got a bit bored, Alcatraz was fantastic, done the night tour. Also hired the Go Cars, really fun and recommended. SF was really cold though and like someone else said the drink was very expensive in all locations.
Great time was had though and if anyone is thinking of it let me know and I'll give some recommendations etc.
Thanks again.
LV was incredible, has to be seen to be believed, helicopter over GC was incredible. Best car seen was Lambo, bright green with black wheels with green rims and a Carlson S63 was amazing!
Drove from LV to LA, incredibly boring long straight roads!!
LA was excellent, better than expected, quite cold though each day until about 3pm even had heating on in car one day!! Venice Beach was fantastically bizarre!! Hollywood was ok to. Best car was a Spyker, first one I've seen.
Drove LA to SF, alot longer than expected but they drove alot quicker than what i expected which was good, but still quite boring. SF was ok, to be honest got a bit bored, Alcatraz was fantastic, done the night tour. Also hired the Go Cars, really fun and recommended. SF was really cold though and like someone else said the drink was very expensive in all locations.
Great time was had though and if anyone is thinking of it let me know and I'll give some recommendations etc.
Thanks again.
Stop here on the way: http://www.peggysuesdiner.com/ The Cherry Pie and shakes are awesome!
Stay here in LA: http://www.westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com/hyatt/hot... Lovely place and The Who, The Doors and The Rolling Stones all stayed there!
Stinking Rose in LA is garlic-tastic! http://www.thestinkingrose.com/
Nepenthe in Big Sur is quite lovely: http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/
This place in SF is a very fun way of getting plastered: http://www.bourbonandbranch.com/
Good luck, we had a ball doing that trip!
Stay here in LA: http://www.westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com/hyatt/hot... Lovely place and The Who, The Doors and The Rolling Stones all stayed there!
Stinking Rose in LA is garlic-tastic! http://www.thestinkingrose.com/
Nepenthe in Big Sur is quite lovely: http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/
This place in SF is a very fun way of getting plastered: http://www.bourbonandbranch.com/
Good luck, we had a ball doing that trip!
Stay in the Grand Canyon National Park. Been a few times and the best by far was staying in one of the lodges overnight. Never seen so many stars in my entire life - + shooting stars. Pitch black and peaceful. Take a torch as there are very few lights at night to keep the atmosphere just right.
We just came back from our honeymoon where we did a road trip from LA up CA-1 to Monterey, up to Sacramento (where I used to live), across to Yosemite, over Tioga pass to CA-395, south to Lone Pine and then through Death Valley to Vegas. A fantastic trip! CA-395 is such a great road and the highlights were stopping off at Travertine hot springs near Bridgeport and visiting the ghost town of Bodie. See the pics attached!
williamp said:
Oh, if you can find one, try a "Carls Jr" burger place. the best burgers I have ever tasted. And huge. Simmilar in layout to a Mcdonalds, but far superior to all the others in my opinion
I would recommend 'In 'n Out' burgers instead - by far the best burger chain - simple, basic but delicious. There are'nt many around - but if you see one, it will be full and you will have to wait at leat 5-10 mins to get your burger.Also south down the stip in Las Vegas is an outlet mall, on the outside of that is a very good pit barbeque fast food place called 'Dickey's' http://www.dickeys.com - well worth a fill up and a take away bag for when you leave LV - The deep fried okra was lovely!
In and around LA there is a chain called 'Wood Ranch' This is more a restaurant, not snooty at all nor too expensive - but nice BBQ and very comfortable environment - great Nachos while you wait for your meal!
http://www.woodranch.com We went to the ones in 'The Grove' shopping centre by Beverly Hills (Very nice place to shop - saw a couple of famous faces) and in Ventura, when we were on our way down from Monteray to LA via MJ's Neveraland Ranch last Decemeber (my daughter was a huge fan).
I did SF->LA->LV->San Diego(don't bother)->LA in December with the family and been to SF many many times for work (was there again a few weeks ago) - happy to help if you have any SF questions in particular.
edit: oops - just seen you are back - these recommendations are therefore for the next group about to go
Edited by jazzybee on Sunday 18th July 11:08
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