JessieMJ

Hi guys,

For part of a US roadtrip we're doing, we're looking at camping in Yosemite National Park (probably Curry Village) for a couple of days in early November (Nov 1-3) before driving to Las Vegas, hopefully through Death Valley, but we have a few issues.

Firstly, our first night (of three nights, Nov 3-6) in Vegas seems to have fallen on a convention night, making that night alone double the price, so we're thinking of perhaps staying just outside of Vegas for that first night so we can drive into Vegas early the next day and spend 2 nights in a nicer hotel on the Strip.

Can anyone think of a decent town to stay in close to Vegas that's en route from Yosemite (possibly via Death Valley)..?

And is it worth simply driving through Death Valley on the way? (that's all we have time to do)

One more thing: Can anyone comment on camping at Curry Village? We have good sleeping bags, blankets, and a decent tent, and all we really want is a campground inside the park with restrooms, shower facilities and perhaps nice scenery.

Thanks very much!

Jessie and Dion.

Placename

You may find that you have to drive the southern route through Bakersfield in November, as Tioga Pass may be closed.

Chris_Brown

Yosemite will be cold. Try one of the lodges in Yosemite. People book and cancel at the last minute especially in the winter so you can probably get a room. If not there is a hotel in El Portal you can find space in easily for a hundred bucks or so. I am an avid camper and I have no problem camping in the snow. But Nov is the time of year when there may be snow but probably not. Just cold an icy. I don;t like camping in the ice.

Death Valley you can skip or just drive through and get the picture with you at the low point of North America.

As far as a place to stay outside Vegas, try Sam's Town in Henderson. Plenty of cheap rooms out that way. Also Boulder NV is a neat little town and you can find a place there no problem. Vegas proper has plenty of cheap rooms just off the strip a bit. Also you can always drive out into the middle of the desert and camp wherever you feel like. Any BLM land permits camping 200 yards away from the road.

JessieMJ

Thanks very much for your help guys. We've taken in what you've said and we're coming up with a new plan.

UPDATED PLAN: We're still looking at a few nice places just outside of Vegas for the first night, but now we are working on a backup plan just in case Tioga Pass is closed.

We're thinking we'll drive to Yosemite, stay ONE night, then drive back out the west side of the park (towards San Fran), and head south to try and get around the bottom of Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. Now we're looking for a town to spend the night of Nov 2 in, somewhere between Ridgecrest and Death Valley. Any ideas for a good stopover town?

Thanks again!

tomfuller

Not much between Ridgecrest and DV. There are about 8 hotel/motels in Mojave.
Please don't stay in Barstow or Baker. My favorite stop outside LV along I-15 is Buffalo Bill's in Primm, NV (Exit 1).

janisj

"working on a backup plan just in case Tioga Pass is closed."

Probably no "just in case" to concern yourselves w/. Tioga Pass could very well be closed. It is already snowing in the high country and several storms are lining up in the eastern Pacific. This could be an early closure year.

Your plan really doesn't make sense unfortunately. One night in Yosemite Valley will give you less than a full day there. And then the next morning you will face a GAWD awful drive. YNP into Death Valley is at least 10 hours of ugly road -- and there are no places worth stopping enroute. And don't even consider adding Sequoia --the would make the drive at least 3 hours longer.

qwovadis

Congrats on your trip will be pretty chilly dress warm

yosemite.com Curry is ok tents Wawona my fav more of a lodge

$89 shared bath for me last Ahwanee is awesome go for lunch

if you cannot afford to stay there.

Tioga Pass(possibly closed in Nov) to 395.com to

lonepinechamver.org through Death Valley to Vegas for me last

www.395.com/index.php/lodging/252-dow-villa.html

Ghost of John Wayne is reputed to live at the hotel

U can save more than 50% on Vegas S-Th visit

tripres.com priceline.com bidding Venetian for me last $80

Happy Planning,

emalloy

It's only 2 hours from Death Valley to Vegas, have you considered camping there the night before you go to Vegas. It will be cold at night, but the stars should be awesome and the drive out in the morning, spectacular.

Chris_Brown

I live in the Bay Area and use Red Rock Canyon State Park as stop over camp site between here and Vegas or places south. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=631
It is a close to several north-south and east-west interstates.

Placename

Red Rock would be a good option, especially if you are there on a weekday/weeknight.

It can be a zoo with off-roaders/ATV's on weekends.