I'm heading to the US for a month-long trip with 5 mates in late April and early May. We're hiring a large car for the most part and my job is to plan the Las Vegas - San Francisco leg. We've only got 2 days (1 night stop over) May 6 & 7 but we are all 26 year olds and can handle long stints on the road. I could possibly convince the rest of my party to cut our stay in San Francisco short by one day if absolutely necessary.

My current plan is to go through Death Valley and then up 395 to stay somewhere like Bishop or Mammoth Lakes. From there continue up to Lake Tahoe and then west to San Francisco. Does this sound reasonable? Are we likely to run into any adverse road conditions at this time of year? Any must-see or must-do, accommodation, restaurant, etc suggestions would be much appreciated.

It is about 700 miles and doable, considering you are young and don't mind long days of driving.

The drive up 395 is beautiful that time of year with the Sierra snow covered under usually sunny skies.

There is a good lunch buffet in Death Valley at Furnace Creek Ranch.

The Best Western Creekside Inn is a good place to stay in Bishop.

If Bodie is open, it's on the way and very much worth a visit: http://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=509

(If you haven't included Highway 1 in your itinerary, another option would be to drive from Las Vegas to Cambria (via Paso Robles) and then up the coast on Highway 1 to San Francisco: http://www.google.com/search?q=highw...w=1221&bih=940)

HTTY

If the Tioga Pass is open from 395 over to Yosemite take it and try to find lodging either in the Park or outside in El Portal.
Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places in the US.
Enjoy your time here in the US.

Thanks very much for your tips.

We will be staying in Monterey and doing Highway 1 on the way back to LA, but I'll let one of the other guys organise that bit.

I originally wanted to include Yosemite but our time constraints probably won't allow us to approach from the west. The only way we can is if Tioga pass is open. Fingers crossed!

I really wouldn't plan on Tioga Pass being open by May 6th or 7th. It was 24 years ago that it was last opened early enough for passage that early and before that it was during a prolonged drought in CA that it was opened early enough. Your plan to drive to Tahoe should work but it's an extraordinarily long drive. An overnight in Bishop at Creekside and another in Tahoe would be the best way to go. Try to steal a day from SF or leave a day early from Vegas.

www.395.com
Dow Villa Hotel lonspinechamber.org
historic my fav ghost of John Wayne
has been seen there kind of spooky.

Don't miss Bodie if you have the time and the road is open. Also, a short detour at Carson City will tale you to Virginia City and IMO it's worth the drive.

Suggest you leave very early from Vegas and make it all the way to beautiful Lake Tahoe, which I have done. Much more beautiful to stay there then anyplace along the way and from Tahoe - SF is only about 3 and a half hours - so you could sleep in the next morning.

Actually - whether you go to South Shore (more Casinos/resorts) - or North Shore (Squaw Valley is a great drive) - you might drive from one to the other - and then head to SF from whicever end you wind up at.

Left out: The drive along the Lake is very beautiful, and takes about what - 45 minutes? from South Shore to North Shore.

Shortest route is 15 south out of Vegas to Barstow. Onto 58 to Bakersfield. Pick up 99 north to 46 west. To I-5 straight north to SFO. Per Mapquest its 570 miles and 9 hours. No where near as scenic as other suggestions but if time is important, this is fastest.