Small California Roadtrip - Advice please
Discussion
Hello wonderful community 
I'm trying to plan a 10 day trip over there at the beginning of next year, Vegas is a must as we have to visit relatives whilst we're there. It'll just be Mrs Adenauer and myself.
I've tried to put something together that doesn't involve driving 10 hours per day, how does this look, any don't bothers, must sees, etc. please?
Flying into and out of LA.
2 nights LA
Fly into LA and the first two nights there
1 night Bakersfield
Day 3 drive to Bakersfield over Santa Barbara and Santa Maria
1 night Death Valley
Day 4 drive to Death Valley (Furnace Creek)?
2 nights Las Vegas
Day 5 drive to Las Vegas
1 night Grand Canyon
Day 7 drive to Grand Canyon
1 night Phoenix
Day 8 drive to Phoenix
1 night San Diego
Day 9 drive to San Diego
Day 10 drive to Los Angeles, return car, fly home.
Leave January 5th – Return January 15th.
Route link.
https://www.google.de/maps/dir/Los+Angeles,+Kalifo...
I'm trying to plan a 10 day trip over there at the beginning of next year, Vegas is a must as we have to visit relatives whilst we're there. It'll just be Mrs Adenauer and myself.
I've tried to put something together that doesn't involve driving 10 hours per day, how does this look, any don't bothers, must sees, etc. please?
Flying into and out of LA.
2 nights LA
Fly into LA and the first two nights there
1 night Bakersfield
Day 3 drive to Bakersfield over Santa Barbara and Santa Maria
1 night Death Valley
Day 4 drive to Death Valley (Furnace Creek)?
2 nights Las Vegas
Day 5 drive to Las Vegas
1 night Grand Canyon
Day 7 drive to Grand Canyon
1 night Phoenix
Day 8 drive to Phoenix
1 night San Diego
Day 9 drive to San Diego
Day 10 drive to Los Angeles, return car, fly home.
Leave January 5th – Return January 15th.
Route link.
https://www.google.de/maps/dir/Los+Angeles,+Kalifo...
12TS said:
That sounds very similar to a route we did 20 odd years ago, so from memory (!)
1. I didn't like Phoenix at all. It was just a hot US city and we ended up driving through places I didn't want to stop. I'd look for an alternative.
2. We did about 200 - 300 miles a day and that felt easy. The day when we had to do 500 (including Death Valley) was HARD work, and you're limited to 75mph max (if you're lucky) so that's 10-12 hours driving.
3. We got a decent big car to do it in - the space and comfort helped ease the distance.
It was easily one of the best and most memorable holidays we've done so far.
Okay thanks, ditch Phoenix - done. 1. I didn't like Phoenix at all. It was just a hot US city and we ended up driving through places I didn't want to stop. I'd look for an alternative.
2. We did about 200 - 300 miles a day and that felt easy. The day when we had to do 500 (including Death Valley) was HARD work, and you're limited to 75mph max (if you're lucky) so that's 10-12 hours driving.
3. We got a decent big car to do it in - the space and comfort helped ease the distance.
It was easily one of the best and most memorable holidays we've done so far.
ETA. So I need to find a halfway stopping point between the Grand Canyon and San Diego that's worth spending the night in?
Edited by Adenauer on Thursday 18th May 14:10
Matt Harper said:
Have you considered Tucson AZ (more specifically Davis-Monthon AFB bone-yard)?
Nope, I really have no idea what they are, Matt, and your suggestions are most welcome. We just want interesting days based around Las Vegas. The thinking now is to maybe base ourselves in Vegas and just do day tours that are either short enough to return there on the same day, or if it warrants it stopping over for the night at whichever place we visit.
We just don't want to spend all day in the car, so around 300 miles in a day is about the limit I reckon.
Matt Harper said:
Not so fast - Phoenix/Scottsdale is a lot more interesting and inspiring than Bakersfield, which is a farm-town filled with undocumented migrant lettuce-pickers.
Have you considered Tucson AZ (more specifically Davis-Monthon AFB bone-yard)?
AFB look interesting - for me. Have you considered Tucson AZ (more specifically Davis-Monthon AFB bone-yard)?
How about this?
LA 2 nights
Hearst Castle 1 night
Lone Pine 1 night
Las Vegas 2 nights (including the hoover dam and saying hello to the relatives in Hendersen.
Grand Canyon 1 night
Phoenix 1 night
LA 1 night
Fly back
https://www.google.de/maps/dir/Los+Angeles,+Kalifo...
Roman Rhodes said:
If you're not wedded to flying in and out of LA, the trip from San Francisco south through Yosemite and Sequoia is brilliant. We did it years back - flew into San Francisco, spent a couple of days there and then meandered down to LA staying a various places in the mountains. The Ahwahnee has a lot of history and was pretty interesting in a 'Shining' kind of way!
Can't really help with your question about Las Vegas/Death Valley as we finished our trip at Laguna Beach.
I've been told that it might not be a good idea to go into the Mountains in January?Can't really help with your question about Las Vegas/Death Valley as we finished our trip at Laguna Beach.
Dave Brand said:
On the drive from Las Vegas to Flagstaff I'd recommend turning off I-40 onto Historic Route 66 just after the Arizona border & going through Oatman &, if you have time, stay on Route 66 until it rejoins I-40 at Seligman. It will add time & distance to your trip, but it's arguably one of the best-preserved sections of Route 66, with some nice twisties around Oatman (donkeys, too!). I-40 is a boring road, with a lot of heavy truck traffic - most east-west Interstates are boring!
You'll need to check road conditions, though - we saw snow ploughs out in Flagstaff on Hallowe'en.
Thanks, that sounds perfect.You'll need to check road conditions, though - we saw snow ploughs out in Flagstaff on Hallowe'en.
RDMcG said:
66 is good no question..I know it well...here is the AZ section of my 66 guide as background.
If on the other hand you decide to go down towards Phoenix then you could take Oak Creek Canyon down to Sedona and see the red rocks...get an offload Jeep tour..amazing countryside.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Also..think about Monument Valley, my favourite scenery in the area...about four hours from GC.
IN LA make sure to catch the Peterson Museum...one of the best car museums on earth
Brilliant, thank you. If on the other hand you decide to go down towards Phoenix then you could take Oak Creek Canyon down to Sedona and see the red rocks...get an offload Jeep tour..amazing countryside.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Also..think about Monument Valley, my favourite scenery in the area...about four hours from GC.
IN LA make sure to catch the Peterson Museum...one of the best car museums on earth
That breakfast place menu looks, err, really odd
We'll only stay in LA for the first night there and the last night before heading back, surely that won't be too bad?
Oh and I've changed it again
Giving Death Valley a miss and stopping in Victorville for the night in between San Simeon and LV.
https://www.google.de/maps/dir/Los+Angeles,+Kalifo...
We'll only stay in LA for the first night there and the last night before heading back, surely that won't be too bad?
Oh and I've changed it again
Giving Death Valley a miss and stopping in Victorville for the night in between San Simeon and LV.
https://www.google.de/maps/dir/Los+Angeles,+Kalifo...
blindswelledrat said:
I did a 14 day trip a few years ago and a couple of things stand out:
For me and my wife LA was the worst bit of it all and I wouldn't want to spend 2 days of a holiday there (but each to their own, perhaps)
Secondly, like you , we drove from Vegas to the Grand Canyon in a day and really regretted it. It is a very slow route so it took us something like 5 hours each way despite not being that far. By the time we arrived we were very conscious of the journey home so spend very little time there.
Other places that we absolutely loved if you an fit them in were Carlsbaad (between San Diego and LA) and Yosemite (although I think Yosemite would break your determination not to drive for many hours)
Hmm, I'm going to have to have another look at our plans / route, thanks everyone. For me and my wife LA was the worst bit of it all and I wouldn't want to spend 2 days of a holiday there (but each to their own, perhaps)
Secondly, like you , we drove from Vegas to the Grand Canyon in a day and really regretted it. It is a very slow route so it took us something like 5 hours each way despite not being that far. By the time we arrived we were very conscious of the journey home so spend very little time there.
Other places that we absolutely loved if you an fit them in were Carlsbaad (between San Diego and LA) and Yosemite (although I think Yosemite would break your determination not to drive for many hours)
p1stonhead said:
AAGR said:
Which airline to choose ? British Airways, Virgin, United and American all cover that itinerary. As an old hand, I'd recommend Virgin over British Airways, and either of them in preference to United or American.
To save you hours at immigration, I recommend flying in to San Jose (about 50 miles south of San Francisco International) where there is MUCH less queueing. British Airways now fly daily/non-stop, using Dreamliners - I used the service just weeks ago, and it is very successful.
Oh and yes - don't ignore San Francisco and the surrounding area. Choosing between there and - say - Las Vegas. No Contest.
Dreamliner is incredible!To save you hours at immigration, I recommend flying in to San Jose (about 50 miles south of San Francisco International) where there is MUCH less queueing. British Airways now fly daily/non-stop, using Dreamliners - I used the service just weeks ago, and it is very successful.
Oh and yes - don't ignore San Francisco and the surrounding area. Choosing between there and - say - Las Vegas. No Contest.
This is our latest route.
https://www.google.de/maps/dir/San+Francisco,+Kali...
Edited by Adenauer on Friday 2nd June 08:39
Dal3D said:
200 miles a day? So that'll be 3-4 hours driving a day without seeing anything other than the view at 60mph.
Personally I'd scale that down a bit. By comparison this is basically what we're doing in September over 15 days:
https://goo.gl/maps/pCkjM3V5WsH2
650 odd miles with plenty of time to see the sights. But then again it depends how much you want to see I guess.
Thing is we have to go to Vegas as we have relatives living in Henderson and I'll be mince if we don't pay them a visit. We'd also like to see the Grand Canyon and San Francisco.Personally I'd scale that down a bit. By comparison this is basically what we're doing in September over 15 days:
https://goo.gl/maps/pCkjM3V5WsH2
650 odd miles with plenty of time to see the sights. But then again it depends how much you want to see I guess.
How about this?
https://www.google.de/maps/dir/San+Francisco,+Kali...
Dal3D said:
Ah, OK.
If it were me, I'd go up to the Sierra or Yosemite NP route then over to the coast at Monterey rather than the LA route as that doesn't interest me at all. That coupled with the Monterey > SLO road closure doesn't make that way attractive.
Don't suppose I could trouble you to post a quick Google link of the route could I? #flutters eyelashes#If it were me, I'd go up to the Sierra or Yosemite NP route then over to the coast at Monterey rather than the LA route as that doesn't interest me at all. That coupled with the Monterey > SLO road closure doesn't make that way attractive.
Bearing in mind that it will be in January.
Dal3D said:
Just seen you're going in January - that scrubs out some of the parks as the roads will be closed.
Big Sur route might be back open by then perhaps?
There's so much to see and do that you'll never fit it all in really. My first plan ended up near Eureka north of SF but that turned into a cannonball run of driving when working out the mileage. lol
Big Sur route might be back open by then perhaps?
There's so much to see and do that you'll never fit it all in really. My first plan ended up near Eureka north of SF but that turned into a cannonball run of driving when working out the mileage. lol
Dal3D said:
Maybe something like this?
https://goo.gl/maps/vhpiPJhVZ8w
Into SF and fly home from LV - that way there's no need to go all the way back to SF for no real gain and more time to stop appreciate?
That's assuming you want to see the Grand Canyon as previously mentioned in the thread. I know some of the roads near Yosemite close over winter, I think the Sierra NP doesn't close as much - need to check.
Thank you.https://goo.gl/maps/vhpiPJhVZ8w
Into SF and fly home from LV - that way there's no need to go all the way back to SF for no real gain and more time to stop appreciate?
That's assuming you want to see the Grand Canyon as previously mentioned in the thread. I know some of the roads near Yosemite close over winter, I think the Sierra NP doesn't close as much - need to check.
There's a problem with flying back from Vegas which I have yet to understand, for some reason I can easily get direct flights to and from Germany to SF or LA, but not LV?
Dal3D said:
That's annoying!
Looks like Condor fly direct from Las Vegas to Frankfurt in January '18 on Thursdays and Sundays?
https://www.condor.com/tcibe/eu/flight/flights
I appreciate your efforts, really, and you found a flight that I couldn't. Looks like Condor fly direct from Las Vegas to Frankfurt in January '18 on Thursdays and Sundays?
https://www.condor.com/tcibe/eu/flight/flights
Problem is, that is give or take a few pennies exactly double the fair of Air Berlin from Düsseldorf to SF or LA, and they are also direct flights
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