Chicago to SFO road trip
 

Hello Fodorites,

We are moving from Chicago to SFO and planning to do a road trip for 7-8 days in 3rd week of March.
We wish to cover major sightseeing spots on the way and here is our tentative plan:
Day 1 - Chicago -> Omaha (passing through Iowa)

Day 2 - Omaha -> Denver

Day 3 - Spend time in Denver & surroundings

Day 4 - Denver -> Arches National Park, UT

Day 5 - Bryce Canyon and Zion (Can we cover it in 1 day?)

Day 6 - Zion -> Vegas (spend rest of the day in Vegas)

Day 7 - Vegas -> SFO (open to suggestions and overnight stay)

Please let us know your suggestions. Thanks.

SFO is an airport south of the city of San Francisco.
The city has a very high cost of living compared to the surrounding cities that are served by BART.If you are driving your own car, I would plan on parking somewhere outside the city and taking some form of public transport in to avoid an expensive parking hassle.
Which route were you planning on for Las Vegas to San Francisco? If you could get lodging in the Valley in Yosemite it would be great. If you went up US 395 on the east side of the Sierras you could go to South Tahoe.

Thanks Tom. Still haven't decided on which route to take from Vegas - San Fran. Open to suggestions.

At this time of year you basically have two options for Las Vegas to SF --the notrthern route through Tahoe or the southern route through Bakersfiled and the Central Valley as the passes through the Sierra to Yosemite are closed.

Have you thought of going to LA after Vegas and driving up the Coast? If you are moving to SF you might want to see our neighbor to the south and the lovely coastal drive. It would probably take an extra night however to drive up the coast-or you could do what many of us residents do, just bomb up 5 from LA to SF and then brag about how quick you made it!!!

BTW since the object of your drive is moving to SF, I would ignore the advice about parking outside of the City--it makes no sense!

Is there something you really want to see in Denver?
Even though it means 2 9 hour days in a row, I would plan on day 1 ending in York Nebraska and day 2 ending in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
It is only 3 hours from Glenwood Springs to Moab which leaves you a few hours to actually see Arches National Park.
If you want to really see Capitol Reef, Rt. 12, Bryce and Zion, you have a very long day again coming from Moab.

If going up the coast, rather than going to LA, cut across from Bakersfield to Morro Bay. You'll get the best of the coast without the LA traffic in and out; unless visiting LA tempts you.

You can't do Zion and Bryce in one day.

If you have a car, you could look for lodging in the Avenues (down by the beach). Car parking is usually not a problem in that area. There are several motels at the end of the N Judah and the L Taraval street car lines.

Michael, and other parking in SF adverse people, the OP is MOVING to SF not coming for a visit and not asking for lodging with parking advice.

>> the OP is MOVING to SF << . . . at least there wasn't a recommendation to take Amtrak ;)

>>Day 4 - Denver -> Arches National Park, UT

Day 5 - Bryce Canyon and Zion (Can we cover it in 1 day?)<<

This bit is REALLY difficult. Denver to Arches to Bryce to Zion is 700+ miles and about 12 hours behind the wheel w/o any stops.

IMO the parks would be more important than Denver - I rearrange things to cut time in Denver and add to the three parks.

Thanks all.