SAN Fransisco to Las Vegas

[Parsnip]

We are looking at somehting similar next year, March/April time not sure on the best way to manage logistics though.

Wanting to take in SF, a visit to 6 flags magic mountain and disney (mix of rollercoasters and Disney nonsense is a must I'm told) and LV over 2 weeks. Probably a stop on the coast somewhere and between LV and LA. Say 3 days at SF and LV with 2 at each of the theme parks. Fly in to SF and out of LAX

Initially I was thinking https://www.google.com/maps/dir/San+Francisco,+CA,... as a rough route, but it does miss out Yosemite. Looks like you either miss out on the coastal route if you do it that way - is Yosemite worth losing out on the Big Sur route?

[louiebaby]

We stayed at http://www.cozy-bear.com/cozy-bear-north.htm a few years ago, which has the benefit of being in Yosemite. We loved it, but it's not highly luxurious. More like staying at your Nan's house. And she loves bears. A lot.

There aren't a lot of options in the park, and the main tourist areas are a good few miles from the edges.

[David Beer]

B4rnst4ble said:

Hello all
Doing a road trip next year from sf to lv
Just wondering if anyone has done it and also any good half way points to stay and visit through Yosemite park
Also looking at hiring some nice cars to do it in
Has anyone any experience of good hire companies which hire sports cars
Cheers mike

Have I missed what time of year you are planning? Done that part of the USA maybe 50 times, this summer and will be there in four weeks time., very different.

[Fluffsri]

A bit long winded but we travelled the usual route a few years back. We travelled this route as my mate now lives in the US and owns a brewery. SF to Nevada city, stayed in Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe to Jamestown (Railtown state park is worth a visit if you like old trains). We stayed in Jamestown to visit Yosemite, cheaper and its a nice little town. After leaving Yosemite we headed towards Death valley staying in a town north of Lone Pine. We stayed in Lone pine before and there was a little diner there that does an amazing breakfast. We crossed Death Valley, visited Badwater Basin and went to the Area 51 alien centre (my mate wanted to go) and then on to LV.

[TheRainMaker]

seiben said:

I’d go against the grain and suggest you don’t get the ubiquitous Mustang – they’re bloody everywhere when you get near the coast

Safety in numbers and all that

Safety in Numbers by The Rain Maker, on Flickr

[the tribester]

I wouldn’t worry about the hiring a Mustang thing, it’s your holiday, hire what you like, make sure it’s big enough for your passengers and luggage.

I’d have loved a Mustang, but with 4 adults and 26 days of luggage, we went big and boring.

In October 2016 we did our own road trip, flying into Las Vegas, fun but I wouldn’t do it again.
Hoover Dam, very interesting take the tour. Route 66 to Williams then up to the Grand Canyon, spectacular.
Mammoth Lakes, great scenery and walking but everything closing down ahead of the expected snow. Yosemite, busy, but walk a trail and you’ll be away from the crowds immediately, saw a brown bear too! Accommodation prices are high in the park.
South Lake Tahoe, sure is one big lake, we thought we were on the sea coastline.
San Fran, we didn’t spend long enough here, and parking is $40 a day!
Pacific Coast Highway over 4 days to Los Angeles, Monterey, fantastic Wharf 1, Laguna Seca with a track day in progress, Carmel, Malibu and Santa Monica.

Apart from LA, we didn’t hit a traffic queue anywhere.

All accommodation and car hire was booked online in advance. Don’t overdo the daily mileage.

We had a great time, everywhere was friendly and welcoming.

[seiben]

the tribester said:

I wouldn’t worry about the hiring a Mustang thing, it’s your holiday, hire what you like

Fair point. Particularly if you want a convertible

[marcosgt]

seiben said:

Fair point. Particularly if you want a convertible

I rented a car in LA a couple of years back for a long weekend.

I'd ordered the cheapest thing available and, as often happens, was offered an upgrade when I go there.

The offer was a convertible for $50 a day.

As I was planning to dive over the weekend I declined and was offered it for $30 a day.

I still declined, I was driving to Ventura and back and diving the rest of the time.

Went outside and there were a row of nearly new Mustangs - If it hadn't been for the queues in the rental place I'd have gone back and taken one!

As it turned out, my second day's diving was blown out (happens a couple of times a year apparently!) and I could've cruised in a 'Stang for a day!

The drive back to LA would have been more fun too, but my little Chevy Sonic hatchback (Smallest car on US roads?) did the job!



M

[Adenauer]

I'd only rent a convertible again if I only had hand luggage, never again with a few cases. When you drop the roof the boot space is halved, driving around LA with one of our cases on the back seat wasn't the cleverist thing to do.

In January we have a Challenger R/T for 680 Dollars for 10 days, that's 100 dollars more than a spazzy engined Mustang convertible or similar.

[p1stonhead]

One of the best places we stumbled across in Death Valley is Dantes View. Incredible vistas.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante%27s_View



Plus if you are in something reasonably nice, the road up and down is

Edited by p1stonhead on Friday 23 November 07:45

[Ranger 6]

It's a huge area, there's so many different tweaks you can make to the route.

Ours went like this:

Into SF for two days - IMHO that was enough for us to do the sightseeing
Back to SF airport to pick up a car - drive to Yosemite - stayed at Yosemite Valley Lodge. A great place to be right in the middle gave us excellent access for a look round - dated rooms though without A/C which wasn't the best in the middle of summer
Then to Death Valley, via the Tioga pass, a stunning drive through the park - as mentioned be sure the road is open if you plan to use that route.
Furnace Creek proved to be a good point for looking round - Badwater Basin and Artists drive along with sunrise at Zabrieskie point all come recommended.
We drove out through 20 mule canyon and then Pahrump before getting to LV.
We spent a few days doing the usual Grand Canyon tour and shopping etc. For me the highlight was the Razor trip in the desert https://www.americanadventuretours.com/rzr-tours-....


We then went on to San Diego for a couple of days before finishing with a week in an apartment at Venice Beach and flying home from LA.

The family loved it and travelling with four people meant we chose an SUV, starting with an Explorer and changing to a Jeep Grand Cherokee in LV due to AC issues in Death Valley.

[theplayingmantis]

alcatraz is a must in Cisco imo. evening tour with sunset over the bay as you go out and spooky night tour. id say 3 days should cover all. but when i went it was fleet week so lots to do.

dantes peak is a must as said before, watch out for tarantulas though! tecopa hot springs is ok if you want to see middle aged american boobs...

[mikef]

Cisco is a computer company. If you meant to write Frisco, then no, just no (speaking as an ex resident of The City as the locals call the place)

[p1stonhead]

theplayingmantis said:

alcatraz is a must in Cisco imo. evening tour with sunset over the bay as you go out and spooky night tour. id say 3 days should cover all. but when i went it was fleet week so lots to do.

dantes peak is a must as said before, watch out for tarantulas though! tecopa hot springs is ok if you want to see middle aged american boobs...

Its not that good chap

[theplayingmantis]

mikef said:

Cisco is a computer company. If you meant to write Frisco, then no, just no (speaking as an ex resident of The City as the locals call the place)

[theplayingmantis]

p1stonhead said:

Its not that good chap