California road trip - oneway or round trip

Old Nov 22nd, 2015, 06:11 PM
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California road trip - oneway or round trip

Hi,

My husband and I have decided on a California road trip in August/September 2016. We will have our 2 kids with us, ages 3 and 1.
I have made a tentative itinerary which starts and ends in LA and we will be hiring a car for the entire time to get around. We would prefer to keep the same arrival and departure dates but everything else is flexible:

20/8/16 - day 1: Arrive LAX in morning - pick up car - explore LA- stay the night in LA area
21/8/16 - day 2: DRIVING DAY: drive LA to Yosemite NP (stop overs in Bakersfield and Fresno) - NIGHT: stay Yosemite NP
sun 22/8/16 - day 3: DAY: yosemite NP
mon 23/8/16 - day 4: DAY: yosemite NP. in late afternoon: drive yosemite to sacramento (2 hour 40 min drive)
24/8/16 - day 5: MORNING: sacramento. Afternoon: drive sacramento to San Fran (1 hour 40 min drive) stop at jelly belly factory along the way? - stay San fran at night
25/8/16 - day 6: san fran
26/8/16 - day 7: san fran
27/8/16 - day 8: san fran in day, late afternoon: drive san francisco to san jose (1 hour 15 min drive)
28/8/16 - day 9: morning: explore san jose, late afternoon drive san jose to monterey/big sur (2 hour 10 min drive) - stay night monterey/big sur?
29/8/16 - day 10: morning: monterey/big sur, afternoon: drive monterey to pismo beach (3 hour 30 min drive)
30/8/16 - day 11: morning: pismo beach, late afternoon drive pismo beach to santa barbara (1 hour 30 min drive)
31/8/16 - day 12: morning: santa barbara, late afternoon drive santa barbara to santa monica (1 hour 40 min drive)
1/9/16 - day 13: morning: santa monica, afternoon drive santa monica to san diego (3 hour drive)
2/9/16 - day 14: san diego (sea world)
3/9/16 - day 15: san diego zoo
4/9/16 - day 16: san diego area or legoland (45min drive) - stay san diego
5/9/16 - day 17: san diego
6/9/16 - day 18: drive san diego to Anaheim
7/9/16 - day 19: disneyland - stay anaheim
8/9/16 - day 20: disneyland - stay anaheim
9/9/16 - day 21: drive anaheim to LA - stay LA (what are?) this night
10/9/16 - day 22: LA day (where?)
11/9/16 - day 23: Hollywood day
12/9/16 - day 24: LA in morning - return car - fly home from LAX at night

One of my main concerns is our visit to San Fransisco - everything I have read says to NOT take a car into San Fran as the parking fees are very high. I have briefly looked at doing the trip one way, starting at San Fran and working our way down to San Diego and then back to LA to fly out but the one way car hire fees are also high.
Can anyone suggest the best way?

Also, do you think I've included anything we don't need to see or missed out anything we should see?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Michelle
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Old Nov 22nd, 2015, 06:53 PM
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I think a 3-week, round trip itinerary is fine. I can't help with the SF parking question, but I have some comments and a few questions of my own.

I think most, if not all, of your driving estimates are too optimistic for summer. During the period from Thursday, Sept. 1, through Tuesday, Sept. 6, traffic will be very heavy as Monday the 5th is a national holiday and the last holiday period before most kids go back to school. It's a huge family getaway period.

Do you have your Yosemite reservations yet? If not, work on this immediately.

Other than a stop for lunch on the way to Yosemite, I don't think there's any reason to specifically target Bakersfield or Fresno.

Unless you have a specific reason to go to Sacramento, I'd skip it. Ditto San Jose.

I would spend more than one night in Monterey. Definitely see the Aquarium and perhaps take a short walk in the Pt. Lobos reserve. For a little California history, you could also make a short visit to the Carmel Mission.

I would stay two nights in Santa Barbara and skip the one night in Santa Monica. But that's me. I would not enjoy so many one-night stays, I'm not a big Santa Monica fan, and I think it will already be crazy-crowded because of the holiday.
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Old Nov 22nd, 2015, 07:30 PM
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Book the Columbus Motor Inn for SF, parking included in the rate. Several fodorites have been touting the motel for years.
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Old Nov 22nd, 2015, 08:49 PM
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Couldn't you fly in and out of SF instead of LA? Then you don't need a car in SF.
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Old Nov 22nd, 2015, 09:30 PM
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A round trip makes sense unless one wants to zig-zag across the Central Valley to see the coast and the mountains.

You do not need to stop in Sacramento on your way to San Francisco.

Forget San Jose unless you have an unstated specific reason for staying there. You might want to visit Big Basin or Henry Cowell State Park on your way to Monterey. Just leave SF in the morning.

The Stockton Street garage uses dynamic parking; expensive during the day ($4.50 per hour) but cheap during the night (https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around...tockton-garage ). For the few days that you are there, you could sacrifice a couple of hours to park the car on the street on the Great Highway near the N-Judah or the L-Taraval MUNI line.
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Old Nov 22nd, 2015, 11:30 PM
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Your basic plan is OK but nine of your drive times are realistic. Especially on weekdays. Sac to SF can easily take 3 hours.


If it was me though I'd rearrange things a bit. I'd fly open jaw into SF and home from LA or San Diego Then you wouldn't need a car til you leave the city and it would eliminate that GOD awful drive from LA to Yosemite.

YNP is much MUCH easier to access from northern CA than down south. I'd also eliminate sacramento unless you want to visit the Capitol or the Crocker museum (i live in sacramento and live it but there is no reason for you to visit the city) You can also safely eliminate San Jose.

Fly into SFO, then drive to YNP, then cross over to Monterey / Carmel and continue down the coast. IMO this is a much better use of your time.
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 04:02 AM
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This trip sounds like pure hell with 2 toddlers.

If I were you I would start in SF, where you don;t need a car, and after a few days rent one and head south, returning from SD.

I can't imagine that you can possibly keep to that driving schedule given the local conditions and how your driving will be limited by 2 little ones - who will need to get out of the car every couple of hours for some exercise and fun/running around - or you will have 2 incredibly cranky little kids for the whole time. After all, they'r not luggage but living beings and you really do need to take their needs and interests (very different from yours) into account.

And your idea to travel from LA to Yosemite in one day is just a disaster - can easily be an 18 hour drive - and with stops in 2 places that are just really not very pleasant (remember much of CA is a desert). Strongly suggest that you look at a mapping site to get realistic driving times.
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 06:11 AM
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Oops - my post should have said NONE of your drive times are realistic. One little letter makes a huge difference
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 06:28 AM
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Echoing those that are encouraging you to reevaluate your drive times. The drive from Carmel to Pismo Beach is only three hours if you zip down the 101. is that the route you plan to take or are you thinking of the scenic drive down Highway 1 through Big Sur? You will wish to add some time to the drive if that is the case.

I'd also spend more time in Monterey/Carmel and skip the night in Pismo Beach. Monterey has the Dennis the Menaace Park. Point Lobos and beautiful Carmel Beach for your ittle ones.

I'm interested to know if your kids are used to being in their car seats for more than an hour at a time. If not, you may need to plan more stops and we can help you with that. For example, its an hour from King City to Paso Robles and an hour to Santa Maria and an hour to Santa Barbara etc...
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 07:02 AM
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Couldn't you fly in and out of SF instead of LA? Then you don't need a car in SF.

Good suggestion. However, you might want a car for one day in SF to take the 49-Mile Scenic Drive: http://www.sanfrancisco.travel/artic...e-scenic-drive

HTtY
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 07:06 AM
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I don't see where you have included time to explore incredibly scenic Highway 1 between Monterey and Pismo Beach or where you have included a stop at the Hearst Castle which is likely to fascinate your 3-year-old.

HTtY
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 08:01 AM
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L.A. to Yosemite cannot "easily be an 18 hour drive" unless the kids are following on their tricycles.
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 08:09 AM
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I think nyt probably meant "8" not "18" but either way....

Skip Fresno and Bakersfield (and probably San Jose too - although there's more to see there, none of it is really for 1 and 3 year olds) - there's nothing to see there.

I agree - fly into San Francisco and spend a few days, then rent a car to go to YNP and make your way back from YNP to Monterey/Carmel, then down the coast. Fly out of either LA or San Diego.

Are you from the USA - the reason I ask is that foreigners often get one-way car rentals for a much better price (no dropoff fee).
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 08:29 AM
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It's also not 8 hours from L.A. to Yosemite unless you're counting lunch and comfort stops. We've left home around 6:00a and arrived in time for lunch. The OP will be able to use the carpool lanes all the way out of L.A.

IMO, toddlers would get nothing out of Hearst Castle, although I think there is no charge for kids under 5. It's more likely they'd like watching the elephant seals on the beach nearby, and that's free to all.
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 08:50 AM
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I guess it depends on the children..have you tried taking them on an 8 hour drive near home? OTOH flying anywhere is a hassle these days, especially through LAX. Depending on where you are coming from, can you find good airfares into one of the smaller airports...Long Beach or Burbank?

Or, what about roundtrip air out of San Francisco instead of LAX? Then you can pick up the car after a few days of being carless. I would recommend doing Yosemite at the end of your trip (when some children should be back in school) rather than the beginning when it will be full on summer chaos.

So if you have not yet booked anything you could start with San Francisco on one leg, down the coast (unless it is foggy, which it can be in August) to end in Yosemite and fly out of SF instead.

In terms of scheduling within the 3 weeks, you will find it less expensive/crowded to spend weekends in the large cities and weekdays on the coast and National parks.
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 10:20 AM
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LA to YNP could very easily take 8 hours. Sure one can jump in the car and be there in about 6 hours without a break. But you you honestly think a straight shot like that is possible with two toddlers strapped in car seats w/o any attention?

Driving in the afternoon from San Jose to Big Sur (as posted) and back to Monterey, exploring Monterey in the morning and heading down 101 is just not a good plan. All the places you want to visit are great (except Bakersfield and Fresno ) but you need to slow down in several areas.
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 11:27 AM
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If you can push your dates out into early September after Labor Day, you can likely get a rental car from an overseas broker that will waive the oneway drop fee such as rentalcars.com
From your use of the word "hire" and the way you write your dates I am guessing you are from overseas.
rentalcars.com and other similar companies just this year started to charge the oneway drop fee for July and August which is why I mentioned if date change is possible. Also rates will be lower for motels and less crowds on the road as most US schools will be back in session.
Your drive times I agree are unrealistic for example from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica is closer to 2-3 hours and you want to leave at midday, otherwise you can run into LA rush hour traffic. You cannot trust Google maps drive times on Highway 1. Add 30% or more.
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 12:37 PM
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At the height of the summer season August/September, we almost inevitably make it from LA to Yosemite Valley in 6 hours, including the stop for gas, toilet trip and fast food stop. Mind, we only had one kid, and had been taking him on this trip since he was 3, but it's very doable. Keep in mind that Bakersfield and Fresno at that time of year are furnaces. Although the "average" high in August in Fresno is 96 degrees f., I cannot recall a time I passed through there in August or even early September when it wasn't over a 100 degrees. So, please keep that in mind, and pack plenty of cold water for the drive up.

The one reason I would do this route to Yosemite rather than the shorter trek from SF to Yosemite is the tunnel entrance off the 41, which is worth the price of admission! It never ceases to take my breath away! The Yosemite rock arch entrance from the 140 absolutely pales in comparison, and I've done that route as well.

Clarkgriswold's rec in SF for hotel is a good one. We stay at the sister property, Cow Hollow Motel, on Lombard Street & Steiner, and there are a few more located nearby. Parking is indeed included in the rate, which is a very reasonable rate.

You can certainly leave out Sacramento and go on directly to SF, but I am one of those who really loves our capitol town, and it has lots of stuff for kids to do, like the Railway Museum, an evening of baseball with the Sacramento River Cats. Now that I think of it, maybe your kids are a little young for this, or maybe not. Again, at that time of year, the weather is kind of stifling hot.

Now, if it were me, after San Francisco (with lots of great kid activities and parks), I'd drive down to Monterey, and base myself there for a few days. There's more than enough really great stuff there to keep the kids of all ages completely occupied. Dennis the Menace Park and El Estero Park right there is one of the best child-friendly playgrounds/parks I've seen in California. Our son, from 1 years old through his early teens, had the time of his life there (we go there every year). And the aquarium? Oh my, so much fun! And there's little kiddie beaches around the area, one in particular in Pacific Grove.
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 02:28 PM
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To save the extra hours of driving one can exit Yosemite through the tunnel and get the view. There is a scenic overlook so you don't have to miss that. Driving to Yosemite is just so much less a hassle from NorCal.

I agree w/surfergirl that there is a lot to recommend sacramento, but NOT in August. It will likely be a teensy bit cooler than Fresno or Bakersfield but still easily could be 105+F.
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Old Nov 23rd, 2015, 03:32 PM
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Yes - typo - meant 8 not 18. And while it may take 6 hours if you start at 6 am - the OP is flying in that day so are likely to be starting more around 10 am or later so much more traffic in the LA area. Also can't imagine you can stop less than every 2 hours when traveling with 2 toddlers - esp after they'e been confined in a plane for who knows how many areas.
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