San Francisco to Palm Springs road trip
 

My husband and I are driving to Palm Springs from San Francisco. Do any of you have suggestions for the most scenic route and where to stop for the night - we'll plan to take 2.5 days staying overnight in 2 places. We are also driving back - PS to SF so what we miss on the way there we can visit on the way back. We are Californians and have already made many many visits to places like Carmel and Monterey - so that route along the coast doesn't appeal.
Thanks for any ideas - places to lay our heads the 2 nights on the road.
Janet
BTW - we leave next week - Feb 6, 2013....winter in the mountains! We do not have chains for snow!

My favorite north/south route, other than down the coast, is Hwy 395 on the eastern side of the Sierras with a stop in either Bridgeport or Bishop. But you'd need to watch the weather. If the weather fails you I also like Hwy 49 in the western foothills and stops in any of the Gold Country towns. This time of year you can play it as it comes without reservations and see how it goes.

"<i>have already made many many visits to places like Carmel and Monterey - so that route along the coast doesn't appeal.</i>"

There is no scenic route between SF and PS at this time of year unless you do go down the coast. Certainly no places worth two overnights. I'd just take the coast and stop a couple of places you haven't stayed before- whether it is Cambria or Santa Barbara or SLO or even LA

Was posting the same time as MmePerdu. Certainly 395 is scenic - but you can't get there w/o going via Tahoe or Reno (or 88).

Hwy 49 is scenic - just depends if you want to go that 'round about'.

Thank you MmePerdu and Janis,

As we do have the time, a round about route is actually what we'd like. Your suggestions look good to us..... Those Gold Country towns are fun...they will be - WEATHER permitting.....