Help with California Itinerary
 

We are travelling from Toronto to California leaving April 3 and will spend 3 weeks (21) days in California State. We have a trailer and love hiking, National Parks, sightseeing urban and natural. Here is our plan arriving around April 8:

- 3 nights (Joshua Tree National Park/Palm Springs)
- 3 nights San Diego area
- 4 nights Los Angeles
- 3 nights Monterey/Big Sur area
- 4 nights San Francisco
- 3 nights Yosemite

Not sure if San Diego area is worth 3 nights or if we'd be better to tack on more time in another area or substitute another area altogether. Not going north of San Francisco this trip - that will be another. Any suggestions?

Your plan sounds fine, depending on what you are interested in doing. If you don't have lodging in Yosemite you should try for that asap. If you are flexible, Yosemite could be after Monterey/Big Sur, and San Francisco at the end.

Are you planning on flying to the Palm Springs area and renting a car then flying out of San Francisco or are you driving from Toronto and then driving back? If you are renting a car, expect a hefty drop off fee.

>>Are you planning on flying to the Palm Springs area and renting a car then flying out of San Francisco or are you driving from Toronto and then driving back? If you are renting a car, expect a hefty drop off fee.<<

It sounds like they are driving down from Canada . . . >>We have a trailer <<. They are starting out April 3 and plan on being in California by the 8th.

This will be a fairly hectic itinerary towing a trailer. April can still be wintery in Yosemite. Plus there are not hookups/water/electricity in Yosemite.

Joshua Tree would be great, as would San Diego. San Francisco is better then it used to be since the Candlestick Park RV site opened.

We would arrive in Yosemite - very end of April. Hmm - don't like the sound of "wintery". I'll check out elevations, etc. and weather. Is San Diego worth a visit or would we be better to add more time in Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur area?

The weather in April in Yosemite is always a crapshoot. You could stick with your original plan for Yosemite at the end of the trip, but have a back up plan if the weather is foul.

Have you looked into where you would stay in the trailer in LA and SF? I would stick with nature and forget the cities since you're camping. Also, Candlestick RV Park is in an isolated location, in a bad neighborhood, and gets horrible reviews. I would never stay there.

You asked if 3 days in San Diego is worthwhile. I would say yes, definitely. Much better than 3 (or 4) days in LA, in my opinion. You have a nice plan. If Yosemite falls through because of the weather, take a look at some of the California state parks--https://www.parks.ca.gov/

There aren't many options in San Francisco. There is a residential park w/ a few short stay spaces in South San Francisco. Neither location is 'camping' - but basically parking spaces in a MAJOR metropolitan area. Candlestick is a lousy park in a marvelous location. What ya gonna do??

Then places like Yosemite Pines RV resort are nearly 90 minutes from Yosemite Valley

Truth is - this sort of trip is much easier car/hotels than car/trailer.

Very much agree, so much easier, which is why I suggested more nature than cities. We have a small RV van but never take it when we visit SF.

Thanks everyone. I will stick with San Diego. Can't change the trailer - that's our accommodation. We'll do the best we can with the urban areas. I have some good reference camping books and RV sites to get recommendations. We may have to camp outskirts or small town and drive to public transportation. We'll watch the weather for Yosemite - and have a backup plan. We've roughed it many times in the past with a tent so a trailer will seem luxurious although somewhat cumbersome. We're older now so we'll just take it slow and easy and enjoy.

I've not stayed in RV parks in the City, but Marin appears to have some decent ones. I can't vouch for any of them as I've never stayed in an RV/trailer, but you might check these out and see if they work for you.

https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=rvp...n+County%2C+CA

Thanks so much - Marin County - hmmm - looks good. I'm still struggling with the reservations "down south" but will get to SF eventually.

Just a heads up that if you're planning on camping in Joshua Tree Nat'l Park, I'm not sure that you'll be able to secure a site unless you've already done so. People book months in advance.

However I'm sure there are other campgrounds around that area if JT is booked up. Either way, a trip into the park is a must do.

Boots

I would recommend San Diego. Check out Torrey Pines State Park near Del Mar. Also the underwater reserve in La Jolla (you can do a kayak tour and see the sea life such as sea lions, seals, leopard sharks (harmless) and on rare occasion a whale or dolphin up close.
I would do one day less in San Francisco and Los Angeles and that way you could add in Carmel, Monterey, or some other towns.

Well this time around we're not camping in a tent so with our new trailer we want full hook-ups, etc. So we've booked outside the park.

All sounds good - I'll check these out.

Most state parks in Oregon have hook-ups and showers and are dirt cheap. California state parks usually don't have hook-ups. If your trip takes you to Morro Bay, there are some sites at Morro Bay State Park that do have hook-ups. The state parks are always a better place to stay (IMO) than privately-owned RV parks. When you have your itinerary set, let us know and we can recommend campgrounds.

For the Bay Area--we know about two independent parks in Half Moon Bay. It would be on your way up from Monterey. A bit of a trek to get into the city, but not undoable. We stayed at the property next to the Ritz. I am afraid I forgot the name as I wasn't the one who rented it. Not a particularly scenic park but right outside the campground is the lovely walking path and views of the beach.

In addition to state parks, also look at the private chains--KOA and Thousand Trails. Thousand Trails is not as strong by the Bay Area. They have a couple near San Diego though.

Regarding San Diego, yes — you could easily justify spending 9 days there (never mind 3) depending on your interest. I was there for 9 days and filled them with stuff to see and do.

And you’ll have no trouble finding things to do in LA and San Francisco. I spent almost two weeks visiting the former and a little over a week visiting the latter when I did so.

Following up on 5alive’s post, if you enter “RV parks near half moon bay, ca” in google maps, 5 come up. Maybe one of them is the one 5alive referred to.