jorgemfortunato

Hello,

I'm planning my first trip to California this summer.
The plan is to arrive to San Francisco, going to LA and San Diego, then Grand Canyon and Las Vegas and then back to San Francisco.
Does anyone think it's a good idea to do it in a caravan? Or does anyone know about the rules of driving it in the cities as well as parking it?
I think it would be a nice experience as i wouldn't need to worry about hotels.. Can anyone tell me about his experience in this itinerary (even by car)?

Thank you in advance.

janisj

Since you use the term 'caravan', I assume you are from the UK or some such - right?

Your plan would be very difficult by caravan - they are nest to useless in the major cities - especially SF and LA. Hard to find a place to park one in SF and you'd need to drive it around for sight seeing in LA.

It would be cheaper and MUCH easier to just hire a car and stay in motels along your route. Motorhome rentals are expensive and the extra petrol negates any savings you might get by sleeping on board. Very decent hotels/motels can be had for less than the cost of a night's motorhome rent+the extra insurance you'd probably need.

Also - driving down the CA hwy 1 on the coast would be a chore (and slow) by caravan.

How many days do you plan for the whole trek -- then we can tell you how much is possible.

janisj

oops -- that should be >>next to useless . .

DebitNM

I agree with janis.

Also, have you ever driven vehicles this size and on the right side of the road?? I agree, this won't be very enjoyable for first time RVer nor economical.

nytraveler

The cities don;t really have anyplace you can park a caravan. Yo would have to park on the outskirts and then take public transit ( a real issue since there is very little in much of CA except downtown SF and SD.)

Agree it will be cheaper and much more convenient to just rent a car and stay at inexpensive hotels/motels.

And agree we need to now ow many weeks you have to cover this territory - 3 weeks would be a rush - any less not really doable.

Also, several places you are going are HOT (as in 100 or more) in some of the area you will be covering - so you need to be sure you are always carrying enough water and snacks - as well as being sure your gas tank is always full.

Barbara

"I assume you are from the UK or some such"

Pretty patronising, Janis.

A "caravan" in the UK and Europe is a "travel trailer" in the US, a motorhome is the same on both sides of the Atlantic.

I'd agree that the OP would be wise to rent a car only and to use hotels/motels.

RedRock

You need to ask your questions here: http://www.rv.net/forum/

Rich

FWIW, I had a small ( 18 foot ) Motor Home and one of our trips was the route you mention ( but starting with the Grand Canyon ) I had no problems in traffic or parking.

Travel by motorhome can be very interesting . . you stop where you want to stop, and stay where you want to stay. For me, nothing beats getting up in the mornings in the middle of one of the National Parks.

However, the economics do not favor motor home travel . . rental or ownership. but it is a great way to travel.

sf7307

Rich, I'm really just curious -- where DID you park in San Francisco? Years ago there was a motor home park near the area that is now occupied by the ballpark, but no more.

Also, did you drive it around LA to do your sightseeing?

Rich

It's been a while, but I think we stayed at a KOA on the south side of San Francisco ( we came up from LA ). . we drove in and parked at Fishermans wharf and mostly walked around after that. We went across the bridge and into Napa Valley that evening and stayed at a campground that I do not recall the name of.

We often used SuperMarket parking lots and other businesses that were closed, but had the lights on the lot. Our usual habit was to stay at a commercial campground every other nite or so and at as many parks as possible.

I was much younger then and it was quite the adventure . .

janisj

Barbara: "Pretty patronising, Janis."

What on EARTH was patronizing??? I lived in the UK so I use the term "caravan" quite often. Folks from the States -- hardly ever. So I assumed (right or wrong) that the OP is not from the states.

Many folks from other countries do not understand how easy, comfortable and relatively cheap US motel/hotel chains are. This is a concept nearly unknown in many other countries. Often some will think that a caravan/motorhome is a cheaper way to travel - but it often isn't.

That is why I replied as I did. Not a patronizing word that I can see. Totally helpful IMO.

janisj

"We often used SuperMarket parking lots and other businesses that were closed, but had the lights on the lot."

That must have been several/many years ago. Most cities have laws against overnight parking. Some WalMarts do allow overnight parking- but only if it is legal in that municipality.

jorgemfortunato

=) I'm from Portugal!
Thanks a lot for your advices, i'll probably follow them.

My trip is going to be around 2 weeks and the plans are to stay 3 nights in SF, 1 night in the coast, 2 nights in LA, 3 nights in San Diego, 1 night in grand canyon and 2 nights in Las Vegas. On the way back probably i'll visit Yosemite (i've heard it's a nice place to see as well).
What do you think about the plan?? (knowing that it's only 2weeks!)
The 3 nights in San Diego are for sunbathing!! Where do you think i can find the best beaches in california?

Thanks again.

nytraveler

I think you need to get a map and plot out your route in detail. This is a huge amount of territory to cover in only 2 weeks and really see anything. And you've given yourself only 2 days to get back (including a visit to Yosemite). With your timetable you will be spending most of your time sitting in a car.

nytraveler

Really - have a look. From Las Vegas to Yosemite to San Francisco is about 11 hours of driving - without any stops at all. So - you would have a few hours at most at Yosemite - assuming you overnight there - and then the drive to SF in the afternoon.

Jean

Some parts of Los Angeles have laws against parking motor homes on the street overnight, and driving around Los Angeles in a motor home while sightseeing would be awful IMO.

Barbara

janis,

So that you would know what I thought was patronising, and I still do, I quoted the phrase for you. In fact, I could even narrow it more to "or some such".

I didn't disagree with anything else you wrote, and as I actually come from the UK, I understand it all.

jorgemfortunato

You're right! I'm looking at the map and i'm planning it carefully. Maybe I shouldn't visit San Diego and instead spend more time in Yosemite and in the coast.

Can anyone advice me about a good place to stay in San Francisco as well as in LA?? I'm searching for some bed and breakfast but also don't know the best par of the city to stay.

Thanks.

janisj

If you tell us your budget we can help w/ accommodations anyplace along your route.

However, It is very late to be looking for a place to stay in Yosemite. It usually books up months in advance. Though there are sometimes cancellations.

jamie99

In California, most B&Bs are not inexpensive places to stay, ed(although you might find a few), they are more geared toward romantic couples stays. Go over to Tripadvisor and read reviews of some motel chains. Inexpensive ones are Motel6 and Super8, midrange I have had good luck usually with Best Westerns (often they include a continental breakfast).