Marvin4472

Hi. Would be so grateful for some views. Planning a bucket list road trip with my two sons in June 2019. Would like first part of trip to be from San Francisco along the coast to LA (via MASH filming location) and then part of Route 66 en route to Las Vegas. Allowing 3-5 nights for stops. Pros and cons from fellow travellers gratefully received.

Mike
Rochester, England

MmePerdu

Is there something in particular you want to see on the road between Santa Monica and Las Vegas? As roads go the drive from LA to LV, Rt. 66 or no Rt.66, is truly awful, possibly the most boring stretch of road on the planet. Unless there's something, as mentioned, you know you want to see, there are far, far better drives.

For instance, if you'd like to visit Los Angeles, San Francisco and end up in Las Vegas you could start in LA, up the coast, SF to Lake Tahoe or through the mountains to Reno, south on the very beautiful Hwy 395, make a left turn through Death Valley and end in Las Vegas.

Some seasons are better than others for parts of this trip. When do you foresee going, what month or season?

Marvin4472

Thank you for such a prompt reply and your views on LA to LV truly made me chuckle ��. It's very difficult I know to advise on pros and cons without knowing what someone has in mind. I'll try and summarise and again grateful for any views.

* Road trip in June 2019. Me and my two sons who will then be 23 and 21.
* We want to fly From London to San Francisco and after a couple of days there drive along Highway 1 towards LA. I particularly want to see the MASH site at Malibu State Park. Maybe a day in LA to see the usual tourist sights.
* LA to Vegas. Living in the UK the idea of travelling a part of Route 66 sounds a dream but the 2019 reality sounds Not so good. Plan B would therefore be a coach or a plane to Vegas.

From Vegas we fly to Honolulu and back to San Francisco for the flight home to London. The above part forms the road trip part of our vacation of a lifetime.

Kind Regards

Mike
Rochester, England

MmePerdu

I know it's hard to talk people out of Las Vegas, where the most tedious road leads to the tackiest city on the planet. But I suspect you must, so I'll leave it at that. Do keep in mind the heat in LV in June.

Yes, fly to LV from LA (not a coach, there's that road again).

Since I think I'm right that you haven't bought your flights yet, as you search for deals, if you'd like a deal, instead of rt from SF, try various permutations of into 1 city, home from another and everyplace in between into the mix. For your flights to & from home you could fly into LV (sometimes cheaper), home from Honolulu so you're on 1 ticket, book individual flights in between. With 4 destinations the possibilities are endless.

mlgb

It is very hot in Las Vegas in June, usually. For some reason the Brits seem fascinated with it.


If you want to take a bus there are alternatives to Greyhound such as Bolt Bus.

I don't like flying because it requires dealing with airport TSA and the like and takes nearly as long as driving.

There is not much of interest between LA and Las Vegas that connects to Route 66, there are probably more things you can see in and around LA..such as the WigWam Motel in San Bernardino, Ca.

If you have more time you could do some of the stretch of 66 between Kingman and Williams on the way to the Grand Canyon, especially Seligman, the inspiration for Radiator Springs in Cars. But that's a good day's drive each way from LA.

Marvin4472

Thank you for such a prompt response and on Route 66 in particular.

The reason for choosing June is purely to do with when the three of us can get away with work and University times etc !

I visited Vegas and California once before in June 1980 and yes it was hot ��. Lifetime ago!

Kind regards

Mike