LA to Carlsbad, 7 days, December
 

Hi,
I'm flying to LA from UK mid December and will book a Best Western near airport. Before spending Christmas with my son and grandsons in Carlsbad I'm hiring a car and prepared to drive about 200 to 300 miles per day to cover a clockwise route ending up in Carlsbad.

I'd appreciate advice about the feasibility (and desirability, although that's naturally subject to personal preferences) of my suggested destinations:

Death Valley.
Last visited Furnace Creek about 20 years ago, would like to return to the hotel there. Expect that to be my first stop, 270 miles from LA. I plan to bring my walking boots and have a 5-8 mile solo hike in mind. Weather? (A question that arises for many of my other destinations.) With only one day, any particularly scenic/interesting location recommended please?

Grand Canyon.
Been twice but would love to see it again, even if I don't hike down to Phantom Lodge this time! But gather there's a risk it may be inaccessible due to snow? How far ahead would I know that? At this time, can I confidently expect to get a room without reservation? Are both North and South Rims equally accessible?

Alternative to Grand Canyon
If I had to decide on an alternative before leaving Death Valley, because of weather, any recommendations please, heading in roughly that direction? (Not Vegas, as spent three enjoyable days in and around there couple of years ago.) Zion perhaps? Or Bryce Canyon? Or lesser known similarly scenic locations?

That's about as far as I've got! With two nights in each place (apart from LA with one night) I'll only be able to visit three. (Unless I significantly reduce the area covered. But I went to Havasu Lake, Anza Borrego Desert Park, Joshua Tree National Park two years ago, so...)

All suggestions and advice would be warmly appreciated please.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

If you want to visit the Grand Canyon, I think flying to Las Vegas and renting a car from there is a better use of your time. It may indeed be snowing, both there and other National Parks as well. Carlsbad isn't that far from LAX. Why not take a shuttle to your son's home, or at least a bit closer so he can pick you up rather than staying at a hotel near the airport? I think most UK flights come in before 2 pm, so you would have time to drive it as well. With all the traffic, it moves very slowly, so you would not have to worry about driving on the "wrong" side right off the plane.
You might want to check if any smaller airlines fly from the Death Valley area to Vegas or an airport near the Grand Canyon, but you'll have car rental drop charges then. Driving it will take a long time when you don't have that much time. From G.C. I think visiting Monument Valley is an amazing site, but the weather might really be a problem in December. Maybe just stick to Southern California, and north a bit to Carmel and Monterrey?

I am confused about how many days you actually have for this road trip.

You say 7 days initially, then at the end mention you have 2 nights in each of 3 locations (plus the first night near LAX). However, you only mention Death Valley and Grand Canyon (or a Grand Canyon alternative), so that's just 2 locations.

Do you actually have 6 nights to do this road trip?

Death Valley should be suitably warm in December. Highs in the mid 60s F, lows in the upper 30s F.

Grand Canyon could get snow but it's unlikely to shut the road down. You would hear about any major winter snow in advance. North Rim is closed down for the winter by mid-December so South Rim is your only option.

A good alternative to Grand Canyon is Sedona - it could also serve as your 3rd destination. Zion is a good alternative. Bryce is higher elevation and would have winter weather as well so not really the ideal alternative.

Thanks both, and sorry for delay in getting back to you.

The flight has been booked for a couple of months, the only part of the trip in place! I've revised the plan so that I now have 10 days not 7 for the motoring part of the holiday, including the first drive and the return drive to Carlsbad. So it looks like this:

Mon 12 Dec: London (LHR) to LA (LAX), arrive 13:50
Check into hotel, chill, walk/bus somewhere, dinner.

Tue 13 Dec: Collect car. Drive to destination #1
Wed 14 Dec: Destination #1, 2 nights.
Thu 15 Dec: Drive to destination #2.
Fri 16 Dec: Destination #2, 2 nights.
Sat 17 Dec: Drive to destination #3.
Sun 18 Dec: Destination #3, 2 nights
Mon 19 Dec: Drive to destination #4.
Tue 20 Dec: Destination #4, 2 nights.
Wed 21 Dec: Drive to destination #5, 1 night.
Thu 22 Dec: Final drive to Carlsbad, return car.

That's just my first draft. Depending on the distances, weather, sight-seeing opportunities, etc, I could spend one instead of two nights at some destinations.
(Or even three; last time I extended my single night in Vegas to three, visiting Hoover Dam and Valley of Fire etc.)

I'm having second thoughts about Death Valley, even with the extra days. The weather records for that time of year dashed my expectation of warmth, with 14C highs typical. And significant snow risks. Still not dismissed entirely, but now open to any other more southerly or lower altitude tours please, with warmer potential.

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK

We've been to Death Valley a couple of times in December and it was very nice for hiking with sunshine and temps in the 60F range.

We've also done a loop Vegas, Grand Canyon, Page (Antelope Canyon), Bryce, Zion, Vegas. This was a dry year and there was no snow on any of the roads and only a bit on the ground at Bryce. Hiking in GC and Zion was on dry trails and a light jacket was all that was needed.

That said, you never know what the weather will be until just before you arrive. I would make reservations that can be cancelled and hope for the best. Then keep a plan B. Maybe look farther south or consider a drive up or down the coast.

Thanks emalloy, that makes sense. I'll work up two routes and check out hotels with cancellation options.

Is there an attractive destination you can recommend between LA and DV, apart from Vegas?

And ditto DV to GC?

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK