Road Trip - Las Vegas, NV to Monterey, CA
 

Hi all!

I would love to get some recommendations for a road trip my boyfriend and I have planned for May 30th/31st to June 3rd. We live in Las Vegas and we're planning to head to Monterey, CA for a wedding on June 1st. We were planning on possibly leaving Vegas on that Thursday, May 30th and heading up that way instead of wasting all Friday driving, but we'd like to see as much of the coast/scenery we could (which if that means waiting until VERY early Friday morning to leave, that works too...we're open to breaking up the trip).

Does anyone have any recommendations of which route to take to Monterey? I'm from the midwest originally so I am not as familiar with the west coast at ALL! I was told a little about Big Sur, which I THINK is on the way....but the more places we can stop, the better. We were going to be at the wedding the 1st, then hang around Monterey the 2nd, then head back the 3rd, so we can definitely see stuff on the way back as well. But we HAVE to be in Monterey by that Friday.

Thanks so much for the help!!!

One possibility is to drive to Ventura and then on to Monterey via Highway 1, stopping for the night in Pismo Beach (which has lots of rooms with ocean views). You could return to Las Vegas via Yosemite and Death Valley, or, if you have never been to San Francisco, you could go there and return to Las Vegas via Tioga Pass, 120, 264, 266, and 95.

It would be a lot to do in a few days, but I gather you are young and want to see as much as you can in the short time you have.

HTtY

One possible route would be to head for Cambria, CA from Vegas, continue up the coast road to Monterey. This will put you by some of the most beautiful part of the coast. Then check to see if Tioga Pass is open and if so, take the route suggested by HTTY.

If it suits your plans better the loop could be done in the opposite direction or you could do the coast up to Monterey then back over the same route for part of the trip. Death Valley will be HOT, but if you haven't been there, viewing from an air conditioned car will be interesting too.

I hit submit too soon. If you mapsgoogle it, the trip from Vegas to Cambria will take about 6 -7 hours and there are places to stay in Cambria. The trip from Yosemite to Vegas over Tioga Pass will be about the same, if Tioga is not open it will take longer. If you plan to do mostly driving on May 30th and June 3rd, that gives you the 31st to do the coast road and the 2nd to visit Yosemite.

Go to one of the mapping programs and put in the get directions for Las Vegas to Cambria, CA to Monterey to Yosemite to Las Vegas. They usually give the fastest routes but you can drag to more scenic routes.

Let me get this straight (just trying to wrap my head around your travel times).

You "have" to be in Monterey on Friday, May 31st, for a wedding on Saturday, June 1, and you're starting out from Las Vegas which is at least 8 hours away from Monterey.

What time do you "have" to be in Monterey on Friday?

If you start out on Friday morning you will not get to Monterey until at least 3 or 4pm, unless you're planning on starting out really early but will likely arrive exhausted late Friday.

I would suggest starting out ASAP on Thursday, stay overnight in Bakersfield (~4 hours away) or, if that's not possible, stay in Barstow (~2 hours away). Bakersfield is preferable over Barstow.

What time is the wedding on Saturday?

If the wedding is in afternoon, then it's best to enjoy the coast after the wedding on Sunday and Monday.


Please make sure your tires are in good condition and that your car is in good working order. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat. It's no fun breaking down in the desert, so please be prepared.

Have a great trip and have fun at the wedding!

Please don't stay in either Barstow or Bakersfield. There is at least one motel in Tehachipi (Rt. 58) that would be better than either.
Try to drive the 7 hours to Santa Maria near the coast on Thursday.

Last year we were advised here not to spend a night in Barstow, but that was the only convenient place for us to stop on the itinerary we had planned.

Barstow is not one of California's beauty spots, but that didn't deter us from booking a room at the Comfort Suites--located a few miles west of downtown Barstow. We were pleased with our room, and there were several dining options nearby. Our stay was just what we wanted.

HTtY