demivandervorst

Hi,

My boyfriend and I have planned a 3 a roadtrip to west coast USA, we have 21 days and we will go in November. We have a wishlist of places we want to see. Although, we are struggling with planning this trip:
- How many days to stay everywhere
- The route we will drive (because of the weather, we don't know if everything is possible because of the roads we need to drive)

We thought the route below would be the best option. Please give us your advice.

LA/Santa Monica/Universal
Las Vegas/Hooverdam
Zion
Bryce
Page/Horseshoe Bend/Antelope Canyon
Las Vegas
(Via) Death Valley/ (Mammoth Lakes/Yosemite (Valley) (we question ourselves if this route would be possible because of the weather in November?)
San Francisco/Alcatraz
Exeter
LA/Santa Monica

Thanks in advance!

jamie99

Why are you staying in Exeter? Friends or relatives? It is a tiny town in the San Joaquin Valley, population about 10,000. Nearby Visalia would have more lodging options if you have to travel that route for some reason.
Why not drive a combination of the Highway 1 and 101? Part of Hwy 1 will be closed due to a mudslide but you can detour over to the Hwy 101 east of Monterey.
Check and see if Tioga Pass eastern entrance into Yosemite is open or not and just have a Plan B.

demivandervorst

In Exeter we will visit family.

janisj

Jamie99 beat me too it . . . Exeter????

>>(Via) Death Valley/ (Mammoth Lakes/Yosemite (Valley) (we question ourselves if this route would be possible because of the weather in November?) YNP > Monterey and down the coast (w/ the detour around Big Sur) LA > Vegas > the Utah/AZ parks, fly home from LV.

janisj

We were posting at the same time -- knew there had to be a reason

janisj

That complicates things a bit -- so now you really do need to drive around through Bakersfield . . .

demivandervorst

We already booked our flight to LA.. Maybe we need to decide either the west coast or the National Parks and las Vegas route..

MichelleY

Click on your name to see responses to your previous post.

janisj

Oh jeeze -- did you read any of the responses on your first thread?


http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...me-i-guess.cfm

demivandervorst

sorry haven't seen it ! Thank you guys!

demivandervorst

Would the route be possible if we do it like this:
Los Angeles -> LasVegas 4h
Las Vegas -> Page 4,5 h
Page -> bryce -> zion
Zion -> Las Vegas
Las Vegas --> Bakersfield (4,5h) or Exeter (5,5 h)
Exeter -> Oakhurst or Yosemite Valley
Yosemite -> San Fran
SF -> LA

janisj

Please clarify -- on this thread you say 21 days but on the other thread it really only looked like 2.5 weeks. What are your actual dates?

Just time for a quick comment right now -- re: >>Las Vegas --> Bakersfield (4,5h) or Exeter (5,5 h)

demivandervorst

We arrive 30 october 14:45 local time LA and we leave 20th of november in the afternoon. So 22 days total.

janisj

>> So 22 days total.

demivandervorst

Okay many thanks! So it would be doable. Great to hear!
Because of the unpredictable weather (which makes our trip hard to plan, we want to book our hotels in advance).. would you recommend us to drive from Las Vegas via Death Valley and via Tioga Pass to Yosemite (take the risk). Or would you recommend us to drive from Las Vegas to Exeter and then to Yosemite. Thanks in advance!

janisj

>>would you recommend us to drive from Las Vegas via Death Valley and via Tioga Pass to Yosemite (take the risk). Or would you recommend us to drive from Las Vegas to Exeter and then to Yosemite. Thanks in advance! Exeter > Yosemite. Yosemite is almost always accessible from the west side - If there is snow the lowest altitude route into the park is 140 in from Merced. So book your time in Yosemite after your stop in Exeter.

Stay in Yosemite Valley if there is availability. If there isn't, then book (cancelable) in El Portal at Yosemite View Lodge or Cedar Lodge (Yosemite View is MUCH better but also costs more). They are both on Hwy 140. Then once you have a room -- keep trying for a cancellation in the Valley.

demivandervorst

Thank you very much!! We will do so.
Any other tips how long to stay in which national parks?

janisj

>>Any other tips how long to stay in which national parks?