YOu intend to drive from Vegas to SF in one day?

Can you tell us what time of year this will take place? I assume you are looking for quickest route since you have set aside only the one day?

This trip is more than 550 miles and the quickest route can be found easily on Google maps. So are you requesting any additional information from us?

I've done it in one day, but agree with suzie, that's a long day of just driving, no time to stop for sightseeing. The drive is about 10 hours.

I see from your other threads you were thinking of flying to SF from Vegas which makes sense if you have only the 1 day. But it looks like maybe the cost of the rental car became an issue. I know other travelers who are not from the US use a car rental place called http://www.carhire3000.com/that doesn't have the expensive drop off fees.

I was looking for ticket flights for me and my wife from Vegas to SF, but its a little expensive than rent a car.

I would like to travel trough Death Valley, just pass Yosemite and SF, this is the route that i wanna make, i know that i will spend around 12-14 hours in this route.

I need decide this week, cancel my car reservation and buy ticket flight or choose this option, meanwhile i´m looking for routes.

tnks guys.

Again it would be good to know the time of year.

Vegas to DV is 2.5 hours DV to Yosemite Valley is 6 hours (no stops) Yosemite Valley to SF is 4 hours (no stops)

Review a map cuz this is just rough:


Starting in Vegas to DVNP -take 95 towards Reno to 373 south to 127 south to 190 west into DVNP

DVNP to Yosemite - 190 west to 136 west to 395 north. In Lee Vining turn left onto 12o. This will take you into the park.

Yosemite to SF - take 120 out of the park & across the valley to I 5 north just briefly before you switch to 580. Then at exit 19 take 80 and croass the Bay Bridge into SF.

I wanna depart Vegas early as possible, around 5 a.m at 18 august.

That's a good thing because Death Valley will be really hot in August. Get in early and out early and on your way to Yosemite. Make sure you always have a full tank of gas, snacks and water. There is no gas available in Yosemite so make sure you have a full tank when you leave Lee Vining. You can get gas after you leave Yosemite.

The sun will rise in Vegas at 6:00 AM and set in SF around 8:00 PM on August 18. 12 hours of daylight for your more than 12 hour drive.

You didn't ask but I think your idea to do this drive is not a good one. Nevertheless, I wish you good luck and enjoy.

So, are there some good places to visit in Death Vallet? i wanna just pass and take some pictures, yosemite the same idea.

tnks Suzie...

I thought we had you convinced this was not a realistic drive? There are LOTS of things I'd personally like to do -- doesn't mean I can/should do them.

The drive alone will take then ENTIRE day. That is without any stops. And the detour into Yosemite Valley could easily add 2 more hours since it sometimes gets totally grid locked in summer.

This is not a one day drive in 'real life'. If you are stuck w/just the one day, then unfortunately you'll probably need to go the boring/ugly route via Bakersfield and I-5. This is a nine hour drive - plus rest stops/meals.

Through DV and Yosemite you'd be lucky to do it in 14 hours when you factor in traffic in YNP and meals/rest breaks.

Yosemite is easy - You drive along 120 and you come along Ellery Lake, take some pics, Tuolumne Meadows, take pics, Tenaya Lake, take some pics, Olmsted Point, take some pics,. Drop into the valley see Yosemite Falls take some pics, El Capitan, take some pics -time's running out so head out.

Death Valley? Got nothin for you. Maybe someone else.

If i depart Vegas a day before my plans around 3 p.m and sleep in the route, could be a different idea? can i drive direct to Tioga pass and get 120 route to Yosemite? will i miss something beauty in near Death valley or other routes?

manyy tnks..

Have you done any reseach to sees if there is anythignin Death Valleyin August that would appeal to you? It's hard for us to know what you might like to see. Death Valley is a unique place to be sure but in August it's probablynot a really great tourist destination.

Let's say you skip DV.

If you leave LV around 3 PM and head north on 95 you could stay in Lee Vining overnight. This will be a longish drive of at least 6 hours with pretty repetitive scenery

If you prefer you can head to Bishop on 395 for little better drive - See Mt Whitney - but it'as still 5 hours.

The next day will be long but you'd be able to spend a little more time in Yosemite on your way to SF. Still not ideal but better.

Skip Death Valley as Suzie advises.

You should know that the averages for August are Low of 85 and high of 113. Only hotter month is July. Of course it can always be hotter or cooler than the average. Like last year it was only 104 on August 18.

Manyyy tnks.. now its time to compare cost with car or ticket flight for 2.

tnks again.

How to get from LV to Fisherman's Wharf without a car:
Amtrak California bus #3617 leaves the LV bus stop (near Fremont St) at 9:05AM every morning. You arrive in Bakersfield at 3:30PM. Unload your baggage from the bus and haul it onto the #717 San Joaquin train which leaves @ 3:45PM the train takes you all the way to Emeryville (east of SF). You arrive in Emeryville at 9:43PM for a 40 minute bus ride over to Fishermans Wharf at 10:25 PM. The fare is $89 per person. This way you are not driving and worrying about a late night drop off wherever you planned on dropping off.
You don't really want to drop off at SFO and then try for a BART train to downtown San Francisco.

<<<You don't really want to drop off at SFO and then try for a BART train to downtown San Francisco>>>

I really don't know where or in what context this possibility was mentioned, but why not? BART into SF is a breeze.

Fly Southwest on August 18 from LV to Oakland for $72 on a 90 minute flight. Take BART from Oakland to SF for $3.85 (fare after July1).

That's a deal!

My new plan is flight around 7 p.m Vegas to SF, stay 2 days in SF without a car, get the car in 3ht day early as possible and drive Los Angeles getting Route 1. Flight ticket with tax its 100 u$.

i really don't know if travel in just 1 full day will give me a nice trip between Vegas to SF, this new plan let me stay 2 full days in SF.

tnks again..

Flying is the best use of your time between Vegas and SF.

Great decision!

Great plan. Please report back after your trip and let us know how it worked out

I´m using expedia.com to find cheapest ticket and will buy directly in company website. Someone have other idea to get the best price?

Could someone advise me with a good rental car company? i find Hertz, 284 US$ for 4 days, get the car in Mission Street at San Francisco and drop off in Los Angeles Airport.

tnks a lot ...

Southwest on August 18 10:45 AM arrive at 12:00 PM Non-stop from LV to Oakland for $71.80 plus fees & taxes. Take BART from Oakland to SF for $3.85 (fare after July 1). 20 minutes on BART to Embarcadero after you get to the BART station from the aiport.

http://www.southwest.com/


Or

LAS to SFO $99.80 plus taxes and fees plus transportation from SFO to SF. BART $8.25 (35 minutes SFO to Embarcadero)

Uhhh 72u$ total ticket flight, many tnks..

is it easy to go from AOK to Downtowm in SF?

Now i´m looking for good and cheap accomodation for a couple..



tnkssssssss

"is it easy to go from AOK to Downtowm in SF?"

Yes - you take an airport but from OAK to the BART station and BART will then take you into the center of San Francisco.

Now that you won't have a car, I'd definitely consider bidding on PriceLine. Checkout biddingfortrave.com and betterbidding.com to see what sorts of bids are winning.

PL will let you get a nice/upscale hotel for about the same price as a cheap/tacky motel.

I know Janis meant you take the airport bus not but.

Unless they have really cleaned it up - The Oakland Bart station/bus connection from the airport - is NOT the place where you want to be hanging out at night, or for very long at any other time.

Ok, tnks.

Could be better get a flight to SF if i travel at night? if i get a taxi from AOK Airport to my SF hostel?

tnks guys.

Why southwest airlines doesn´t appear in expedia.com or edreams?

i´m using this sites to find the better price and buy directly in company websites.

tnkssss again

Southwest Airlines - for whatever reason - is not picked up by those webpages, and my guess is they probably don't want to pay some type of fee. They are usually my first place to check when flying, as they usually have the best rates/most flights - certainly around the West. http://www.southwest.com/

Check out Jet Blue too. https://www.jetblue.com/wherewejet/?intcmp=hd_wherewejet

You can generally take the bus/bart from San Francisco into SF without too much concern - and if you are close to your hotel when you get to the city - even walk early in the evening - but you might also take a cab once you get into SF if it's a distance, just for convenience sake.

First timers in any city - I don't advocate walking around very late in the evening - even if people say it's safe, which for the most part - SF is.

I always advise - assk around when you arrive and then use common sense.

Taxi from Oakland Airport to downtown SF is very expensive. I agree with Tom, if you're coming in at night, fly to SFO and use BART (which is not cheap -- $8.25 per person one-way)to get to downtown San Francisco.

Can i use BART from OAK to SFO?

i had lived in big cities in Brazil, so i really know this kind of problems,

tnks.

You want to take BART from the Oakland Airport to San Francisco International Airport?

These are answers you can get for yourself if you go to the BART web site. It has a trip planner right on the home page and a fare calculator on the tickets tab.

http://www.bart.gov/

Make sure you enter the actual date of use on the trip planner as weekday and weekend schedules are different. Make sure you click on the "fares after June" since the fares are increasing.

That trip is about an hour at a cost of about $9. On the 18th of August you would have 1 transfer.

Not sure whether you mean SFO (the airport) or San Francisco (the city).

BART goes to OAK (Oakland airport), San Francisco (the city) and SFO (the airport).

To get from OAK to downtown SF, you take a shuttle from the terminal to the BART station, which is NOT in the airport (called AirBART), then BART to San Francisco. The cost is about $3.50 per person one-way.

To get from SFO to downtown SF, you take the airtrain from your terminal to the BART station (which IS in the airport) and then take BART to San Francisco. The cost is $8.25 per person one-way.

The Oakland Colisum BART station is not a place you want to hang around in the dark, unless there's a lot of people leaving an event at the Coliseum itself. That's why we recommend flying to SFO instead of OAK if you're coming at night and want to use BART to get into downtown San Francisco.

i got it, tnks.

understood that if i get AirBart in AOK Airport can go to SFO Downtown, check that has 4 station in SFO.

just print the system_map

SFO is the airport designation for San Francisco International Airport. If you use SFO that's what everyone will think you mean. If you are talking about the city of San Francisco you should use SF or San Francisco. Never use SFO unless you mean the airport.

Sorryyyy ;-(

do you guys know Spirit Airlines? 67 us$ Vegas to AOK.

tnks againnn

Plus their baggage fees, including carryon suitcases, See
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Spirit_Airlines/baggage.php
Watch out!

Many tnks, i had choose Southwest, for me it´s the best choice, arriving around 9 a.m, need check about southwest baggage fee.

do you know something about it?

tnks

Juliano: Southwest doesn't charge baggage fees. Carry ons and up to two checked bags go free.

Just another reason they are so great . . .

And not that it's a big deal where you sit since the flight is short, but do know that it's "open seating" on Southwest. You get a boarding number when you check in, and then you take any available seat when you board the plane. People "in the know" (and who care where they sit) always check in online for their flight exactly 24 hours in advance of the flight.

You can also pay for early bird check in. I think it's $10 and they check you in early so you get a good boarding number. I do this when I won't be near a computer - and I don't have a smart phone. You only have to check in 24 hours before the flight you can still print your pass at the kiosk at teh airport.

Ok, but is there some problem if i do my check in the last minute.? Im travelling with my girl.
Manyyyyy tnksss

Southwest does not assign seats. Boarding Passes issued early board first so if you care where you sit or if you sit together matters you care what boarding pass you get. Youcan use boarding pass kiosks in the hotels in Vegas to check in and print your boarding pass. We did that from Ballys

The advise you received on this board may well have saved your life! Far too many tourists find the meaning of "Death Valley" by attempting to drive through there in July or August. It's not an everyday occurance but if something goes wrong out there things can and do turn deadly quickly! Best to try it in February or March when the flowers are in bloom and the temps are an enjoyable 80f.

You will much more enjoy this trip as now planned.

Happy Travels!

Juliano: Unless you are well versed in Brazilian Jujitsu (love that art) - I would avoid the Bart station/transfer from Oakland Airport.

I can hold my own in any street fight - but I have seen weird things at the Bart station - by the Oakland Alameda Coliseum (Hey - I used to be a season ticket holder for the Raiders - and had teammates who played for them) - and I would not want to be hanging around that Bart station at night.

In fact - bsck in the 70's - I even took a bus - in broad daylight - from the Bart Station by the Oakland Coliseum - to the Oakland airport - and the driver was totally stoned.

Even the brothers/sisters on the bus were yelling at him - You Crazy MFer - etc - and he just about flipped the bus on Hegenberger Road - or whatever the main drag is called.

I later appeared as a witness for one of my law school classmates - who represented East Bay Transit Authority (or whatever it is called now) in a discipline hearing for the driver - (having to walk past a couple dudes who were glaring at moi - I just glared back) - and the guy was fired, a very rare occurrence.

Hey - my friend - the Attorney - even said I was the best witness.

Ugh you do realize that the 70s were 40 years ago? Some things do change. When do you draw the line on when your recommendations are fresh? I'll go out on a limb and say that something that you experienced 40 years ago is a little too long ago to be relevent.

You had teammates who played for the Raiders? Teammates from what team? Your claims are so far fetched.

Suzie - that was for illustrative purposes as to how bad it could get at the BART station by the Oakland Coliseum - and I have been back to that Bart station - as recently as 5 years ago - and it's still not where I would go at night. Have you ever been there? I also used to have season tix for the Warriors and used BART many times, as I lived in SF.

As for knowing Oakland - I practiced law for 6 years with the Feds at the Port of Oakland and know the Oakland area pretty well - even for a time going to the same barber in West Oakland where the Raiders All-Pro guard/later NFL Players Association President - (may he RIP) - Gene Upshaw used to go. Shame - last saw/chatted with Gene at the Safeway in Kings Beach, Tahoe - 4? years ago - less than six months before he passed away - and he was looking very good/trim, decked out in a red turtleneck - and then boom - within a few months - he was gone and hardly anybody really knew how suddenly ill he was. Pancreatic Cancer - very nasty stuff. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Upshaw

As for other Raiders - and your comment - my using "teammates" was meant to include all the teams I played on over the years - as I played all three main sports (football, basketball, baseball) - through high school and two in College - including a little football - but really more baseball. Going waaaay back - our Little League batboy (who was two years behind my class in high school) - played for the Raiders - after he was an All-American Tight End at Stanford and then played with Kenny - Snake - Stabler and the boys in the Raider Glory Years - during the 70's.

And this former TE now practices law in SF (so I am not going to "drop" his name) - but owner Al Davis (may he also rest in peace) used to have the "ole" Raiders back for the home games, and seat them up in his box.

Hey - many others around the League thought Big Al was irascible - which he definitely could be at times - but all his former players loved him, as I did, even though I never met him in person. Just Win Baby!!!!!!

And while I never did hook up with the Snake - met a few of the other Raiders at parties in Oakland, and also down on Union St in SF at a few watering holes (including having a libation with the "Mad Stork" - you know who that was right?- he liked Blackberry Brandy - at The Bus Stop) - and also saw some at the bar where I worked as a bouncer - The Pierce Street Annex - which is no longer there but was quite popular back then. I was making some "travel" money during my third year of law school - and also worked there later that fall after getting back from Europe/post graduation.

Another teammate of mine from College - again - where I played more baseball really than football - but I did play a little Tight End (and even a little as a backup QB - at least in practice/scrimmage - "cannon fodder" we were called - was a D Lineman - who had a cup of coffee with the Raiders but really made his mark elsewhere in the league - with the Dallas Cowboys - and their great "Doomsday" Defense - which made life easier for QB Roger - The Dodger - Staubach.

During that era - yes it was long ago - I also had a couple other guys from my high school play at "Bezerkeley", (one a starting noseguard) - and had a college buddy (a DB) who played/started for the Bears - after transferring there. (Also had high school teammates play at Oregon State and U of Oregon - but that's another story).

That reminds me - one of my law school classmates/"teammates" (we played flag football together - where I was the QB and he was rushing the passer ) - was an All-American O lineman at Cal, and played briefly for a couple of teams in the NFL - but later really made more of his mark with the WFL - playing in Hawaii - where he is a very successful attorney today.

But hey - when I see him - I still kid him (nicely of course - as he's pretty dang big) about how crazy "Bezerkeley" is - and he laughs and agrees with moi.

Heyyy my friends.. i dont need improve my JiuJtsu..

So, my plan it´s to get the first Southwest flight from Vegas, depart around 7:50 a.m and arrive 9 a.m.

is this a good time to get BART?

tnkssss.

If you are talking about going into Oakland - should be OK. A number of other travelers should also be joining you about that time. So you probably won't need any submission holds. Dos

Now it´s time to find good places to listen good music in SF, are there some blues or jazz bar?

tnksssssssss..

Tom you are wasting your time. I'd never read a post that long.

I never read them either. Toooo long . Waste of time.

Juliano, there are many good places to hear music, both inexpensive and expensive, in San Francisco. There are a number of clubs on Fillmore Street (the Independent, the Boom-Boom Room, Yoshi's, among others).

You can find out what's playing by looking on sfgate.com, or in the entertainment section (called "the pink pages") of the Sunday San Francisco Chronicle.

http://www.sfgate.com/music/

tomsd: What ON EARTH are you doing? This thread is from a Brazilian who honestly wants/needs information/advice about her trip to the US . . . and you are posting about Gene Upshaw and Al Davis fer cryin' out loud!!

Get a friggin grip! idjit

Humblebragger pajamaposter must have some brandy in his coffee this morning.

Nothing like a threadhog.

Suzie - you make accusations I didn't know any Raider players and then don't read the response. So typical.

As for janis - same Q as for others. Have you ever been to BART staton by the Oakland Alameda Colesium.

"As for janis - same Q as for others. Have you ever been to BART staton by the Oakland Alameda Colesium."

Almost certainly more times than you have

idjit!

At night?

And btw - where did you get that potty mouth?

Just so you are not confused - I am talking about the BART station where the transfer bus from the Oakland airport arrives/leaves.

Tom, you don't know me well enough to say "how typical" I've only started to comment on threads you hijack with your bad information. Just trying to help out travelers which I have been doing here on Fodors since 2000.

Su - My "bad" information. Specifically - as I have asked before - what bad info - and hey - what about your false claims?

"You had teammates who played for the Raiders? Teammates from what team? Your claims are so far fetched."

That's why I provided the answer in depth!

And as for the Oakland BART station - the one at the back/South side of the Coliseum - the transfer point to buses to get to/from the Oakland Airport - I was there about 5 years ago - even though when I/we fly into Oakland - we usually rent a car at the airport. (Normally we try to fly into SFO but have flown into Oakland many times).

Anyhow - this was about 3 PM in the afternoon - and I was on the upper platform of the BART station - and a good sized undercover black cop (about my size - over 6 feet and well over 200 lbs) was literally fighting with a husky teenager (almost the same size) - and finally had him in a full nelson and was taking him into the elevator.

I asked if he needed any help - and he said no - but they were really in a struggle, and I an not exaggerating.

My concern was that the young brother might have a knife tucked away somewhere - or even a gun.

The cop told me this guy was part of a gang who had been robbing people and snatching purses at that station.

When I am at that station - I am always looking over my shoulder - and never feel comfortable there - and I usually try to avoid it - but more significantly - I think that a proper warning about that station is important information for someone who was being advised to take BART from the Oakland airport.

"Just so you are not confused - I am talking about the BART station where the transfer bus from the Oakland airport arrives/leaves.

Not the least bit confused. (and there was no 'potty mouth' in that post . . . not like what I wanted to say.)

Not that you deserve ANY response (idjit) I have probably been to that BART station more than 250 times. At one time I had season tickets to the Warriors (and 95% of their games are at night, I've been to more than 30 A's games, and 10 or 15 Raiders games. On top of that, for 5 years I co-managed two field offices - one off Hegenberger and one off Van Ness and had to visit each one once a week . . . and used BART to get to the City.

Humblebragger pajamaposter - perfect

JulianoMelao: Please accept our apology, We have this person who insists on hijacking threads (he does it to everybody, not just you). Unfortunately, that means you have to wade through his stream-of-consciousness/silly rants.

Some of us eventually give up and he takes over. Hopefully you have enough information now. Have a GREAT trip!

Well jas - if your persona matches your blogs - you probably scared the heck out of any possible muggers.

The OP has now stated that he will be traveling in the morning when he will have plenty of other travelers around. But way to make this about you, Tom. Throw in the kitchen sink next time and get totally off track by blathering on about night vistis and your experience 5 years ago. blah blah blah. The OP has moved on. Now looking for music to enjoy in SF. Maybe you could move on as well.

>>Now it´s time to find good places to listen good music in SF, are there some blues or jazz bar?

tnksssssssss<<

Biscuits & Blues 401 Mason St
(between Derby St & Geary St) There is a cover charge.

If you are near Fisherman's Wharf then you could check out Lou's Pier 47 Restaurant and Blues Club recently changed its name to Lous Fish Shack. No cover http://lousfishshacksf.com/music.html

Yes, after voicing my concerns - our visitor is now going to be arriving in the early morning - 9 AM - when there are usually other travelers also going to the BART station by the Oakland Coliseum.

And sure - during sporting events - the police are out in force - but it's the other times, if you happen to be the only one - or one of very few - on the platform - that things can get dicey.

Juliano - if you go to Trip Advisor to ask about taking BART from Oakland to SF you will never get a reply like Tom's. The people there actually live in the area and are frequent users of BART. Never have I read anything on TA that remotely resembles what has been written.

So Su: Have you used that BART station?

And you might check this thread:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2115543

Tom, is this thread about our use of BART stations and your boring stories of the past or is it about providing accurate information to the OP? Pick one, because right now you have become quite tedious. You need to stop making this thread about you. Let it go and get one with answering the OP's next question. You hijack every thread you post on. It's so tiresome. Get over yourself.