Driving from San Francisco-Las Vegas-San Diego-Los Angeles
Jan 30th, 2014, 11:13 PM
#1
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Driving from San Francisco-Las Vegas-San Diego-Los Angeles
Hi,
I'm from Singapore and would be travelling to the US in June. Our first trip to the US. My tour group would be a group of 6 adults and two children (2 and 5 yr olds). Would be touching down on the 8th of June.
I'm think of doing a California with Las Vegas trip by car. I would be driving a Ford Econoline (or similar).
Initially I was thinking of doing SFO (3 nights)-LV (2 nights)-SD (2 nights)-LA (4 nights) (8-19 June). What do you think? Is it doable?
I'm just worried about the SFO to Las Vegas drive. Is it possible to do it in one day? I'm just interested in getting to LV. Alternatively I was thinking of doing SFO to SD (possible to do it in one day? Also just interested in getting to SD and don't mind not stopping except for toilet breaks) and then to LV and finally to LA.
Help!
Charles
I'm from Singapore and would be travelling to the US in June. Our first trip to the US. My tour group would be a group of 6 adults and two children (2 and 5 yr olds). Would be touching down on the 8th of June.
I'm think of doing a California with Las Vegas trip by car. I would be driving a Ford Econoline (or similar).
Initially I was thinking of doing SFO (3 nights)-LV (2 nights)-SD (2 nights)-LA (4 nights) (8-19 June). What do you think? Is it doable?
I'm just worried about the SFO to Las Vegas drive. Is it possible to do it in one day? I'm just interested in getting to LV. Alternatively I was thinking of doing SFO to SD (possible to do it in one day? Also just interested in getting to SD and don't mind not stopping except for toilet breaks) and then to LV and finally to LA.
Help!
Charles
Jan 31st, 2014, 03:33 AM
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Assuming you are flying back from LA - and are not planning to drive the California Coast - why not fly from SF to Las Vegas - and then from there - either rent a car and drive to SD or LA (4 to 5 hour drive)- or fly to either place and rent a car there.
Short flights from California to LV are not that expensive and would save you driving time (may be a little more of a challenge with two wee ones), and part of the rental car expense as you don't really need a car in San Francisco.
Short flights from California to LV are not that expensive and would save you driving time (may be a little more of a challenge with two wee ones), and part of the rental car expense as you don't really need a car in San Francisco.
Jan 31st, 2014, 03:37 AM
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BTW - SF to Las Vegas is a looong one way drive. We broke it up by spending a night in beautiful Yosemite (4 hours from SF) - and then headed east - out the Tioga Pass/down 395 and over thru Death Valley - and I haul tail when driving - but an Econoline van would take longer than the 8 plus hours it took us on the second leg.
Even going down 5 and over at Bakersfield is a long day - again, especially in a van.
Even going down 5 and over at Bakersfield is a long day - again, especially in a van.
Jan 31st, 2014, 05:47 AM
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I also second the suggestion of flying from SF to Las Vegas. I would also fly from Las Vegas to San Diego and then pick up the rental car. You don't really need a car in SF or Vegas. The drives are pretty long for little ones, gas prices are relatively high in California in the summer and the Southwest flights are frequent and inexpensive. I am not saying that flying will be cheaper but it will be a much better use of time.
Jan 31st, 2014, 08:13 AM
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While SF to Las Vegas is a long drive, it can definitely be done in a day. I've done it several times and typically get into LV in the late afternoon.
Unfortunately, I don't think you'll save enough money on a shorter car rental to pay for the flights, but I do think it's a good option.
A better option would be to avoid LV completely, particularly since you have the little ones. Instead, I think you'd enjoy a few days in Yosemite so much more, doing it as a destination not just a stopover. Alternatively, I think a more leisurely drive down Highway 1 from SF to LA would be great, allowing you to stop over in Big Sur or Santa Barbara or both on the way south.
LA in June is horribly hot (albeit not as bad as July and August) and not at all conducive to kids. Plus, there's little of note to see there except casinos.
Unfortunately, I don't think you'll save enough money on a shorter car rental to pay for the flights, but I do think it's a good option.
A better option would be to avoid LV completely, particularly since you have the little ones. Instead, I think you'd enjoy a few days in Yosemite so much more, doing it as a destination not just a stopover. Alternatively, I think a more leisurely drive down Highway 1 from SF to LA would be great, allowing you to stop over in Big Sur or Santa Barbara or both on the way south.
LA in June is horribly hot (albeit not as bad as July and August) and not at all conducive to kids. Plus, there's little of note to see there except casinos.
Jan 31st, 2014, 12:49 PM
#10
That was my idea too. Don't design your trip around Vegas. Do SF, the coast/Yosemite and SoCal . . . And IF you then decide you want to pop over to LV, it is a much easier drive (or very short flight) and thousands of rooms will be sitting there empty so you can get last minute bargains. . . . Though I'd personally skip Vegas in the summer, and especially with two very young children.
There really is very little you can do in Vegas with toddlers.
There really is very little you can do in Vegas with toddlers.
Jan 31st, 2014, 07:58 PM
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Dear All,
Thank you all for the suggestions! It has definitely given me a better idea of what to expect on this trip.
Firstly I must clarify the reason for going to LV. We're going there because I thought we could have a view of the Grand Canyon/Hover Dam and etc while we are in Cali. Is it possible to still do so from Cali. or a shorter drive to the desired destination from Cali instead of the long one from SFO?
If it's not possible then we might just stick to Cali. I've dedicated as mentioned in my first post some days for SFO/LA/SD. I wonder if there are noteworthy places where we could stop for a day before hitting the big three.
The tentative plan is to drive from SFO to SD and go to LA last. So I wonder instead of driving all the way through from SFO to SD, is there a place where the family could stay? Doug_Stallings mentioned Big Sur and Santa Babara. Which would be better?
Finally I read somewhere in the forum that it would take nerves of steel to drive through the coast (HWY 1). Is that true? Is it dangerous for a van, bearing in mind that I'm from the part of the world where the driver sits on the right side of the car. Thank you all again in advance for all your help!
Thank you all for the suggestions! It has definitely given me a better idea of what to expect on this trip.
Firstly I must clarify the reason for going to LV. We're going there because I thought we could have a view of the Grand Canyon/Hover Dam and etc while we are in Cali. Is it possible to still do so from Cali. or a shorter drive to the desired destination from Cali instead of the long one from SFO?
If it's not possible then we might just stick to Cali. I've dedicated as mentioned in my first post some days for SFO/LA/SD. I wonder if there are noteworthy places where we could stop for a day before hitting the big three.
The tentative plan is to drive from SFO to SD and go to LA last. So I wonder instead of driving all the way through from SFO to SD, is there a place where the family could stay? Doug_Stallings mentioned Big Sur and Santa Babara. Which would be better?
Finally I read somewhere in the forum that it would take nerves of steel to drive through the coast (HWY 1). Is that true? Is it dangerous for a van, bearing in mind that I'm from the part of the world where the driver sits on the right side of the car. Thank you all again in advance for all your help!
Feb 2nd, 2014, 01:44 PM
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>>Doug_Stallings mentioned Big Sur and Santa Babara. Which would be better?>Finally I read somewhere in the forum that it would take nerves of steel to drive through the coast (HWY 1). Is that true? Is it dangerous for a van, bearing in mind that I'm from the part of the world where the driver sits on the right side of the car.
Feb 3rd, 2014, 11:27 PM
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I, personally, hate the drive from North to South on the coast drive. On the right you have the steep drop off to the ocean for a good part of it and on the left you have oncoming traffic.
I prefer and will now only do the South to North drive. I prefer to be on the inland side and am much more comfortable and nerves aren't frayed.
I just met a couple from Germany sitting in a cafe. They made the drive from North to South and said it was scary and and wished they had known before they had done it.
I prefer and will now only do the South to North drive. I prefer to be on the inland side and am much more comfortable and nerves aren't frayed.
I just met a couple from Germany sitting in a cafe. They made the drive from North to South and said it was scary and and wished they had known before they had done it.
Feb 4th, 2014, 08:08 AM
#15
>>Finally I read somewhere in the forum that it would take nerves of steel to drive through the coast (HWY 1). Is that true? Is it dangerous for a van, bearing in mind that I'm from the part of the world where the driver sits on the right side of the car.might be a problem . . . or it might not. Just being honest.
