3lawgirls

Hello -

We are 3 law students planning a post-bar trip in August 2012. Our draft itinerary is below and is not all that flexible because we need to be in Sedona on a certain date for a wedding. We are also purposefully returning to San Francisco to save money on our rental car. We plan on staying in hotels or with friends in the city locations and camping in the national parks. Since we know that many of you have a great deal of experience planning trips like these, we would appreciate any and all advice re good campgrounds/hotels/motels, cool places to eat (nothing too expensive since we won't start working until September!), scenic roads to take, and any other helpful hints you may have.

Thanks in advance!

1 Arrive in San Francisco, CA
2 San Francisco, CA
3 San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA
4 Los Angeles, CA
5 Los Angeles, CA to Las Vegas, NV
6 Las Vegas, NV to Sedona, AZ
7 Sedona, AZ
8 Sedona, AZ to Grand Canyon
9 Grand Canyon
10 Grand Canyon to Zion, UT
11 Zion, UT to Bryce, UT
12 Bryce, UT to Salt Lake, City, UT
13 Salt Lake City, UT to Jackson, WY (Yellowstone & GTNP)
14 Yellowstone & GTNP
15 Yellowstone & GTNP
16 Yellowstone & GTNP to Twin Falls, ID
17 Twin Falls, ID to Lake Tahoe, CA
18 Lake Tahoe, CA
19 Lake Tahoe, CA to San Francisco, CA
20 Fly Home

tracys2cents

Do you already have your air tickets? At $4.50 per gallon, returning to San Francisco might not be the best move. Especially since some fodorite might find you a good one-way car rental deal.

P.S. August and your itinerary = hot, hot, HOT! And I think you're covering too much ground so you need more time. There is a lot to see and do, for instance, on the drive down from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

emalloy

I would suggest you switch the order of Zion and Bryce. If you go GC to Bryce then to Zion, it will give you more time in Zion and then you can go north to SLC.


For Vegas, go on line and look at the calendars with the cost/night for the hotels that interest you, then maybe try Priceline for the lowest rate you can get.

Sounds like a great trip.

Gretchen

Can you really drive from SF to LA in a day. Most of the trip looks like a drive by--and an expensive one at that considering gas prices, etc. As others have said, too much distance and not enough time.
I'm not "getting" the purpose other than the wedding in Sedona because it just isn't enough time anywhere except IN the car getting there. Sorry to sound so negative. Have you really looked at the distances?

tomfuller

If you are planning on driving I-5 to LA, consider flying to Sacramento (SMF) You can still see San Francisco.
The rental car may be cheaper than the one at SFO.
For lodging in Sacramento, I/we always use the HI Hostel at the intersection of 10th & H. It is the second oldest mansion in the city.
How many drivers? What do you want to see in Twin Falls, ID?

spirobulldog

You are in California. No Yosemite or Sequoia National Parks? Are you all adventurous and like to hike. For example, in Zion you really need more than a day if you want to hike The Narrows, Angels Landing, and perhaps do some canyoneering.

I think you are trying to do way to much. I would skip Yellowstone or Skip California. Spend some quality time at each spot instead of just checking off a list. I thought 1 day in Moab, UT would be enough Utah for me on my first visit there about 5 years ago. I have been back every year(usually for 4 or 5 days at a time)since that first trip. There is a lot to do and see.

Tomsd

Congrads ahead of time on taking the Bar Exam and getting that lovely experience over with. Took mine after UC Hastings back in '75 and then my two roomies and I went to Europe for 2 months, sort of like what you are doing. A great time to just take off and forget about the workaday world.

Have to scoot but will come back later and offer my two cents, as I have pretty much been all over the west. Have you thought about buying "roughing it" a bit - and maybe buying an inexpensive tent and some sleeping bags? Check out Big 5 and other places. http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/ You could probably get a tent for $50 or less (one that is fairly easy to assemble - after the first time - and sleeping bags and workout mats/cushions for under $50 apiece. And if you want to do it right - take along a portable stove/burner and you could make pancakes, etc in the morning - and use your charm to get some fresh fish from the fishermen you will probably meet in the rural areas, and fry that for dinner.

Camping a few times would probably save you some denaro - but also take along some pepper spray, flashlights with a stunning beam, etc.

For rental cars, I always start with www.carrentas.com, and go from there. You might price a van even?

Tomsd

Oops. Quckly reread your post - and you are considering camping in some National parks, etc. Good for ye.

3lawgirls

We would definitely love to spend more time in each place if there was a way we could cut out the ride back from Yellowstone to California. The cost of picking up a rental car in one city and returning it to another, though, was exorbitant. Does anyone have any suggestions about cheaper ways to do this?

Also, I don't think any of us would be opposed to cutting out Vegas and adding another day on the journey from SF to LA. Where would you recommend spending a night on that route?

Gretchen

Why are you going to LA? For one day. Why not go to Yosemite instead of Yellowstone. You are just going too far.
You could go to Yosemite, camp and drive through it, and then drop south to Sedona on the Nevada side. Tioga Pass is really spectacular also.
Make your loop backwards (clockwise) from what you have it now--leaving out the outlier of Yellowstone. I think you will have more time and REALLY see things and enjoy them. The american west is a true wonder of the world. You are young--you'll come back to yellowstone sometime.
Camping DOES require some advance planning. Where are you getting your equipment. It may also impact the

Tomsd

Just read Gretchen's post and I had some similiar thoughts while compiling this:

Here goes: First of all - you might want to get some air mattresses for sleeping on and suggest you buy a battery powered air pump - which can be found for around $20.

There are so many great places to stay between SF and LA, including some reasonably priced B & B's in addition to camping.

Check out this Cal Park page - which would include several by Big Sur - such as Julia Pfeiffer - and also - a bit further south - by Cambria/San Simeon/Hearst Castle.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=578 and http://www.campingwithaview.com/Z_Ca...eonSP_Home.htm

Years ago - during Christmas break - undergrad - I visited a young lass whose father was stationed at Vandenberg AFB - north of Santa Barbara - and as I recall - the beach there or at Lompoc has sparkly sand? http://tinyurl.com/7987o69

And don't forget the Federal Parks - although where you are headed - at least in California - the State and County may be your best bets. http://traveltips.usatoday.com/feder...rnia-2727.html

So much depends on where you get a particular campsite, and how nice (read - quiet) your neighbors are.

Actually - one could spend weeks alone just enjoying the beautiful California coast.

And while it doesn't sound like you are going that way - we also love the Grover Hot Springs at Markleyville - by Kirkwood/near Lake Tahoe - and they have a nice campground there. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=508

You might also consider getting over to Yosemite - from say Cambria/Paso Robles (skipping LA?) - and from there - driving out the beautiful Tioga Pass (maybe camping in Touloumne Meadows?) - and through Death Valley on the way to Las Vegas. There is good camping in Yosemite - along the river, wherever. http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/camping.htm

Or - if you decide to make it all the way down here in San Diego - you can camp next to the Ocean in places such as South Carlsbad or Leucadia - http://www.san-diego-beaches-and-adv...y-beaches.html or there is a beautiful SD county park up by Julian (Apple Country) - William Heise. http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/parks/...heise_map.html Nearby - at Lake Cuyamaca - they also have campsites I believe. http://www.totalescape.com/destin/lakes/cuyamaca.html

If you do get to Las Vegas - I have always wanted to camp in the Valley of Fire, about an hour east of Vegas on the way toward Brice/Zion. Yes, it's out in the middle of nowhere - but very unique/beautiful. http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire-state-park/

And about that time, if you are feeling in the need of a long, warm shower, or Jacuzzi soak - there are very inexpensive (cheap really) hotels/resorts in Vegas. Just be sure to check the extra fees - such as resort fees, etc, that some of them try to load up on visitors. And you might enjoy taking in a show - such as the Cirque du Soleil offerings. Check out the Tix4less kiosks along the Strip for possible discounts. http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/des...egas/home.aspx

And in Utah, Wyoming, Idaho - etc - the choices are virtually unlimited. Haven't really camped there lately but saw a lot of beautiful possibilities while driving around.

So many many choices - just google and google, and see what meets your schedule - and what the reservation/cancellation requirements are.

Keep posting Q's and this lively group will try to help.

Tomsd

BTW - outside of Salt Lake - about 45 minutes away - Park City is great - and I have a friend who lives there who might even let you camp on one of his properties for free. He's a real character, and in the summer - is hiking all over the place with some of the other locals (and visitors too) from Park City and Deer Valley. Email me if you are interested. I think one of his daughters practices law or is married to an attorney - so he knows what you have just accomplished/been through.

One of our other friends from there also used to practice law - (he wound up in Commercial Real Estate as I did) - and we had some crazy ski times together. He claims he taught ski school while attending U of Michigan Law school - and he well may have as he was an absolutely beautiful skier - (Stein Erikson style and Stein is also a great guy - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stein_Eriksen - and our fun times included skiing with Cheech Marin and other celebs he used to give free ski lessons to.

Unfortunately - my skiing friend had an accident (non-skiing) and has gone onto the great ski resort in the sky.

Tom @ [email protected]

tomfuller

Another option to consider: Fly to Las Vegas which has cheaper rental cars. See Grand Canyon south Rim, head to the wedding in Sedona. From Sedona head for Los Angeles (I-10). See whatever you want in the LA Basin. Return the car to Las Vegas and fly to either San Francisco, Oakland or Sacramento and rent a car for the northern half of your trip. If you are going into SF anyway rent a car downtown to save on airport taxes.
You don't need a rental car for any night you are staying in San Francisco.
I would skip Bryce/Zion in favor of Yosemite anytime.

spirobulldog

I just think you have way to much here and you are missing a ton of other option. Like if you do go from San Fran to LA, you could easily spend 2-3 days just along the coast doing Monterey, Hearst Castle, Big Sur, etc.

Yellowstone,Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Sequoia--these are all absolutely spectacular places(some might be more spectacular a certain season of the year though). However they really do require more time than you have alloted. Really, just pick any of them you can't go wrong. But, I do think you need to cut out more than half of what you have planned. You would need the full 20 days to just do California(and you would love it- and not spend near as much time in the car).

tracys2cents

You could play with your car rentals a bit...for instance, San Fran to Las Vegas, then return the car, pick up another rental Vegas to Salt Lake....something like that often comes out cheaper if you can find the two cities along your path that it works.

Tomsd

Decisions, decisions, decisions. I say Go For It - and hey - you can always modify/cut short plans along the way if you think it's too far/taxing, whatnot.

You could cut out the day in San Francisco and get started down the Coast - perhaps as far as Big Sur.

From there - you could enjoy a couple more days on/along the Coast and hit a few sights in LA for a day/night, or even truck on down here to San Diego.

It's about a 4? hour drive from LA to Vegas (it's 5 from here in SD - assuming you don't hit rush hour traffic leaving either place - and don't go on a Friday unless you leave early) - and from Vegas to Sedona is a fairly easy what - 5 hours? http://www.travelmath.com/drive-dist.../to/Sedona,+AZ

From Sedona - after your obligatory wedding appearance - it's only a couple hours to the Grand Canyon - and then you could take your energy pulse and decide - whatever else you want to see/how you want to spend the 2nd part of your adventure. Other than Yellowstone - and don't hold me to this - I think you could probably find places to stay without making firm reservations way ahead of time. Again - just Google away and also contact places via the old telephone - to get a better idea of availability/costs, etc.

Tomsd

And if you do make it down here to San Diego - you could drive a straight shot to Sedona via Arizona (not going through Vegas) - in under 8 hours if you needed to book to get there in time.

http://www.mapquest.com/mq/4-mXkH

Tomsd

Uno Mas: If you haven't seen San Francisco before (BTW - where are you coming from?) - then it's certainly worth a day and you can drive down to Big Sur the next day in 4 hours straight through - but you might want to stop in Monterrey to see Cannery Row and tour the Aquarium - take 17 mile drive if you want to pay the $10, drive through Carmel and then wind up where you are staying in Big Sur.

The Nepenthene is a great place to have a cup of coffee/snack perhaps and admire the view. http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/

And here is a Big Sur guide (there are others) - which is the most dramatic/scenic part of the drive from SF to LA. http://jrabold.net/bigsur/

Tomsd

While I think about it - you might want to consider staying two nights at the same place in Big Sur - be it a campground or some other lodging. That would give you a bit of R & R while also allowing you more time to explore the most scenic/beautiful part of the drive from SF to LA. Below is a list of the campgrounds - and if you need to buy equipment when you arrive in SF - again - I suggest you start with Big 5 when pricing the gear, and there are several stores in the SF Bay area. http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/

All told - you could do it for around $300 I would think. $50 tent, (3) $30 sleeping bags - if you don't bring yours (my Suisse - 5 degree rated - was on sale was $29), (3) $20 for an air mattress, $20 for a battery air/inflate pump, $40-60 if you want to buy a camp type stove, $10-$20 for a good cooler - and $10-20 for a good battery powered camp lantern, $5 each for flashlights, and what else? Oh yes - Pepper Spray - $5-$10 each. http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/outdoors.html Oh yes, $10 to $20 for an inexpensive pair of Binos if you didn't bring your own.

If you can't find what you want in Big Sur,
you could also try to find lodging for two nights in say Monterrey - the Marina area just north of town has some relatively inexpensive places - http://tinyurl.com/6njj3xx and use that as a base to explore the Big Sur area

Campgrounds: http://jrabold.net/bigsur/activ-camp.htm

Placename

Your road trip portion has too many driving days as compared to non-driving days. You will miss out on some great parts of the National Parks because you have to break camp and drive the same day to something else 400 mile away. It gets tiresome and you start to forget what you saw.

I think you have two choices on your route: Salt Lake/Yellowstone/Twin Falls vs. Death Valley/Yosemite/Lake Tahoe/Sierras.

In most of the major national parks, you MUST have reservations for camping during a busy time like August. You need permits to camp anywhere else and you generally have to backback in at least a mile off the road. Parks where reservations are essential are Yosemite/Grand Canyon/Yellowstone and near-essential are Bryce and Zion. There will be campsites outside the parks on BLW land, but it is always more convenient to stay in the parks. Right now, there are no campsite reservations available in Yosemite for the entire month of August, to give you an idea of how busy this is going to be. There are some same-day sites reserved, but you have to physically be there in line at 8 am to get them.

I would get ahold of a good guide- I like Lonely Planet USA guide because it does a good job with small towns, out of the way places, and budget traveling.