San Francisco road trip

[Steve Benson]

I am planning a road trip starting and finishing in San Francisco for 15 nights later this year, September ish. I had a route in mind but having looked at other routes it has got me thinking which will be the best.
Ideally, we would do 3-4 nights in San Fran and then get moving. We don't want to be constantly unpacking and packing so if we could have stops of 2, 3 or 4 nights in different places that would be ideal.

We have been to LA before, loved Santa Monica but quite happy not to go to LA there again. Las Vegas has been done but we will be without kids this time so might be worth going back and having a new look with a different agenda.

Different routes outlined below.




We line pretty much anything but the odder the better. Like a beer or two but not mad about silly late nights, apart from that pretty much anything goes.

So, what do you think would be best?

Any help or advice would be great thanks.

[montecristo]

I've done both those road trips, both are good, but I preferred the Utah one. You've been to LA, so I'd go to Utah this time.

If you want unusual, there is an aircraft graveyard you can visit; and depending on your timing, you could catch a rocket launch in California.

Like many people, but to the shock of more people, I found the Grand Canyon underwhelming, going there for a day. Maybe one needs to walk it to appreciate it properly.

Four nights in San Francisco seems quite long. I guess you could use one day to drive north of the bridge to see sea lions on the beach.

[8.4L 154]

I'd do your first trip as

3 Nts San Fran
2 Nts Yosemete
1 Nt Post Yosemete/death valley
2 Nts Las Vegas
2 Nts Grand Canyon
3 nts Brice/Zion. (Do them both from Cedar City)
1 nt somewhere in the middle of NV on the US50
2 nts Tahoe
4h drive back to SFO

that's 16 nts so probably need to shave something else somewhere possibly around Yosemite/death valley and how quick you get out of San Fran, do the valley and Tioga pass etc. The other possible shave point is if you can make it all the way across NV on US50 (the loneliest road in the US but some fantastic scenery)

If your going to go up to moab, then you need two nights there for driving to and from and actually doing arches and canyonlands National parks or rafting MTB'ing while your there. Not sure the worth of Salt lake city but you can then drive across I80 to Tahoe/Reno and San Fran, but its the long way around unless there is immense desire to go to Bonville off the I80

[David Beer]

Steve Benson said:

I am planning a road trip starting and finishing in San Francisco for 15 nights later this year, September ish. I had a route in mind but having looked at other routes it has got me thinking which will be the best.
Ideally, we would do 3-4 nights in San Fran and then get moving. We don't want to be constantly unpacking and packing so if we could have stops of 2, 3 or 4 nights in different places that would be ideal.

We have been to LA before, loved Santa Monica but quite happy not to go to LA there again. Las Vegas has been done but we will be without kids this time so might be worth going back and having a new look with a different agenda.

Different routes outlined below.




We line pretty much anything but the odder the better. Like a beer or two but not mad about silly late nights, apart from that pretty much anything goes.

So, what do you think would be best?

Any help or advice would be great thanks.

This will be my 57 th road trip in 3 weeks time, in and out of SF this time.
For me your second route.
If you can get to Moab, Iam there for four nights, only one in Moab , then national parks. Loads to do .

Edited by David Beer on Saturday 18th May 18:33

[mikef]

I would recommend the first itinerary, have done it all on separate trips when living in San Fran

Although Tahoe is OK, I’d recommend going into Yosemite Valley from the West entrance then back out and over Tuolumne Meadows to the road down to Bishop and Death Valley

Highly recommended book Road Trip USA for interesting and quirky things to see along the way

And visit the Uinta micro-brewery just south of SLC airport...

[Kenty]

i have done a fair few road trips in this area and your first one would be a great trip.
I would leave Yosemite and go Tioga pass, Lake Mono and Death valley - its a great drive with amazing views.
My Brother and Sister in law did Vegas and the Utah parks last year in September and remarked on the huge
numbers of people that are now doing the parks, almost spoiling the visit. You need to be very early in the day
at the car parks for Zion, Arches and Bryce and the accommodation needs booking as early as you can.
They stayed in Springdale for Zion.

[JonChalk]

Kenty said:

i have done a fair few road trips in this area and your first one would be a great trip.
I would leave Yosemite and go Tioga pass, Lake Mono and Death valley - its a great drive with amazing views.

Agree, did this in reverse.

[mikef]

OP - the only thing to watch out for going over Tuolumne is the annual closing date (the pass is snowed in until June then from late September).

Historical dates are at https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/seasonal.ht.... It's at the start of your trip so if you're leaving early to mid-September you should be OK

[Steve Benson]

Thank you all for your help, it's very much appreciated.

We will be going for a modified version of the first route. The book mentioned has been ordered so hopefully that will help with the planning. Good point with the weather and road openings too, I never even thought about it.

Any San Fran hotels or other interesting places to stay on the route? Budget around £200 per night for 2 of us.

[gazapc]

Hope this is not a hijack but also looking at a West Coast trip over three weeks in September. We do like being in the move but Im slightly worried things will be rushed and wondered if anyone had any thoughts

Would be:
5 nights in Seattle & Portland
2 on the coast road down to SF
4 nights in SF
1 night Big Sur/Monterey area
1 night Paso Robles for some wine
3 or 4 nights split between Sequoia and Yosemite
1 night vaguely near Death Valley
2 Las Vegas
1 night near grand canyon then fly home from LV.

Any thoughts?
Alternatives would be to cut out Oregon/Washington and fly straight to SF, or do an internal flight from Portland saving 2 days drive or cut out the bit south of SF.

[mikef]

Steve Benson said:

Any San Fran hotels or other interesting places to stay on the route? Budget around £200 per night for 2 of us.

I can’t really help with San Fran as we lived there for 4 years and were the hotel for visiting friends and family. For business I’ve stayed at the Marriott Marquis and Grand Hyatt but to be honest they are overpriced and parking very expensive. As a tourist I’d probably look near Fisherman’s Wharf as parking is more reasonable and you can get around by tram or cable car.

If you can get into the depression-era lodges in the national parks (Majestic aka Ahwahnee in Yosemite or El Tovar at Grand Canyon South rim) they are a real experience and you will probably stay in cheaper motels (can be much better than you expect) along the route outside the major cities

If you leave SF early you can both visit Yosemite Valley and drive over Tioga Pass in the same day and either stay the other side in Lee Vining (unremarkable motels) or Head down south to Bishop, a fishing resort heading towards Death Valley with decent motels - we always stopped off at the Best Western Creekside Inn in the way to Vegas.

There is limited accommodation in Death Valley, but while doing some short walks in 45 ℃ is an experience, staying there with the air-con on full blast has never appealed.

Everyone has their own favorites in Vegas, plenty of threads on that. Mid-week quieter than weekends and the pricing depends what conferences are on in particular hotels.

For Moab I can recommend the Gonzo Inn, partly for the “interesting” decor and partly because there is a bottle shop right opposite, a good thing to have in Utah (take your passport).

In SLC (one of my least favorite places on the planet and possibly the weirdest) I stay at the Holiday Inn Express, not because it’s great but because there is a micro-brewery next door that’s open on Sundays...

[JonChalk]

Steve Benson said:

Thank you all for your help, it's very much appreciated.

Any San Fran hotels or other interesting places to stay on the route? Budget around £200 per night for 2 of us.

We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf, which means you can walk to Embarcadero / Alcatraz trips.

We also walked from here to Coit tower, via Lombard St., (sort of "via", but we don't mind walking miles. Can do the same on the Trams (give or take a bit of walking / transfers).

Can also walk to the seafront restaurants like Alioto's and McCormick & Kuleto's.

[Rollin]

Nob Hill Motor Inn in SF is basic but has free parking and good location. Just round the corner from old school Harris' Steakhouse too.

1 night is not enough time in any of the National Parks mentioned.

[JonChalk]

Rollin said:

1 night is not enough time in any of the National Parks mentioned.

Agreed. We spent 3 days in Yosemite. Not enough. Only place both myself and wife agree we have to revisit before we die / can't afford it anymore.

[David Beer]

gazapc said:

Hope this is not a hijack but also looking at a West Coast trip over three weeks in September. We do like being in the move but Im slightly worried things will be rushed and wondered if anyone had any thoughts

Would be:
5 nights in Seattle & Portland
2 on the coast road down to SF
4 nights in SF
1 night Big Sur/Monterey area
1 night Paso Robles for some wine
3 or 4 nights split between Sequoia and Yosemite
1 night vaguely near Death Valley
2 Las Vegas
1 night near grand canyon then fly home from LV.

Any thoughts?
Alternatives would be to cut out Oregon/Washington and fly straight to SF, or do an internal flight from Portland saving 2 days drive or cut out the bit south of SF.

I did Seattle and Portland last summer, just to complete all the states. Will not plan to go back, really nice to get into CA !

[rfn]

Having just done a 9 day US West Coast trip - mustang convertible - San Fran to LA to Vegas and back to San Fran...

Don't go to Yosemite at the weekend. :-)

[llewop]

Steve Benson said:

Thank you all for your help, it's very much appreciated.

We will be going for a modified version of the first route. The book mentioned has been ordered so hopefully that will help with the planning. Good point with the weather and road openings too, I never even thought about it.

Any San Fran hotels or other interesting places to stay on the route? Budget around £200 per night for 2 of us.

The Westin St Francis on Union Square is fairly central, in your price range and has a lot of history. Plus (in case you don't do heights) - elevators to the tower are glass and external.... but start in the old part of the hotel until they pop out of the roof to continue upwards: real Willy Wonka moment and great views!


we stayed some years ago, so no idea on current quality/standard.

[Vaud]

The Westin St Francis is ok. Deals to be had if you hunt around. Lot of atmosphere, good location for downtown.

Ryoko's for Sushi... short walk, lot of fun. Long time favourite of the locals (and me!). Go early or be prepared to queue on the stairs (or sit at the bar)