Hey Guys we are going on a driving holiday through California
Las Vegas through the mountains to San Fransisco
Fransisco to LA along the California coast
Just wanting some information on places to stay and what is the best route to travel
We are a family of 5 (2adults 3 kids 9,7,4)

*sigh* This topic is easily one of the most frequently-discussed on this forum (other than the ever-popular "Should I get a hotel in Times Square for our NYC trip?"), so a bit of research will yield DAYS of worthwhile reading. I don't know that I have anything of value to add other than a bit of Tough Love.

First of all: Why oh WHY are you starting this trip in Las Vegas?! That city has essentially NOTHING to offer in the way of "family-oriented entertainment". The drive from Vegas to any point in California isn't especially compelling. And how experienced a driver are you (and your spouse, since you'd best split up the driving duties), particularly on US roads (I presume you're from out of the US given your use of "holiday" and misspelling of "San Francisco")? Some of the trip will involve winding roads with sweeping vistas combined with sheer cliffs (especially if you're driving north-to-south, which puts you on the Pacific Ocean side of CA-1), requiring good nerves. Other parts of the trip will put you on some of California's infamous superhighways, which can try your patience or fray your nerves, depending on traffic.

Second: If you can eliminate Vegas and start in the SOUTHERN part of the state, I'd begin in San Diego, then plan a leisurely trip north, up the coast, past San Francisco to Mendocino County. California is HUGE and very varied-- a whole world in and of itself, really. If you don't have at least two FULL weeks for a trip like this, I'd throw out your plan and reconfigure your visit: Northern California (Mendocino to Cambria, centered in San Francisco) OR Southern California (San Diego to Santa Barbara, centered in the greater LA area), but not both. The state is just too vast to enjoy in a couple of days.

Are you sure you want to start in Las Vegas?
Do you want to go by way of Death Valley NP?
If the Tioga Pass into the east side of Yosemite is open by the time you get there, you can "drive through the mountains".
You do not want to drive through Barstow and Bakersfield.

A lot depends on the time of year as only a few routes are open during the winter. I suggest doing some research here and coming back to ask more specific questions.

Here is a link from an excellent trip report that will give you some ideas for planning your trip.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...lden-state.cfm

WHEN is very important. And How many days? Impossible to give you any sort of useful suggestions w/o those two bits of info . . .

Yes, when is important since the Tioga Pass usually closes from November to sometime in May or June depending on the snow and rain.
Also the 4 year old will need a carseat, and the 7 year old can probably use a booster seat under the law. You can rent these from the car rental place if not bringing them.

Some of the questions raised here are covered in Thorpy's other two threads pertaining to this trip.

The other thread makes it even more confusing!!! That has then in Los Angeles before Las Vegas. And in New York before that.

Seriously, we need to know time of year, number of days for the trip. I guess it would help to know why you've chosen Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles too. Something about them must have interested you???

Two threads from 2 and 3 months ago -- and we are supposed to be mind readers . . .

Not to mention they have a different itinerary proposed each time

Sorry Guys
Wasn't very in depth
we are going away in mid July for 5 weeks
Arriving in LA 3 nights
Anaheim 3 nights
San Diego 4 nights
Vegas 3 nights (grand canyon)
18 days to travel through California

OK - it is still confusing. You just now mention LA, Anaheim, San Diego, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. But your OP includes the mountains, San Francisco and the coast. Hard to help when it is such a moving target.

IF you have the 13 nights planned as in your latest post - that leave only 4 or maybe 5 nights for the mountains (and presumably Yosemite) San Francisco and the coast. Doesn't compute.

5 weeks total for the trip. 18 at the end to see the rest of California after LV?

OH -- yes, it could be interpreted the was MichelleY says. 13 nights for SoCal and Vegas and then 18 additional days for the rest of California, which would total about 4.5 weeks.

So about 5 weeks total just for California (and Las Vegas) - is that it?

Then you are in MUCH better shape. the 'spare' 3 weeks would give you time for Yosemite (book immediately!), Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, maybe even some of the north coast Redwoods and the coast between SF and LA (Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur, etc).

For Yosemite -- try immediately for rooms at Yosemite Valley Lodge (formerly called Yosemite Lodge at the Falls) -- most likely there won't be any availability. If not, then book at Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal. Then you can keep trying for a cancellation at Yosemite Valley Lodge.

hmmm... I interpreted it differently.


I read the post that they have 18 days total to travel thru California (of which 13 days are already spent seeing LA/Aneheim/SD/Vegas)???

Now I am even more confused.

Its an Aussie thing