New York to San Francisco road trip with a wedding!
Dec 18th, 2010, 01:42 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New York to San Francisco road trip with a wedding!
Hi, please help us if you can. Were from England, UK and are trying to plan an exciting holiday combined with a wedding. We are two adults and 3 children, aged 12, 7 & 6, all girls. We are travelling for 3 weeks from New York to San Francisco by RV/camper van. We are planning on getting married in Las Vegas where some family and friends will join us for a couple of days.
Please could you help us with what route to drive along and must see attractions along the way. We would like to stop for a couple of nights in exciting cities along the way to make sightseeing easier.
We definately want to see, the grand canyon, hoover dam, disney land etc, but what other must see's along the way. I also have a wonderful vision of camping in our RV and the kids swimming in lakes etc!!
Thankyou so much for any help you can give x Kaye and family x
Please could you help us with what route to drive along and must see attractions along the way. We would like to stop for a couple of nights in exciting cities along the way to make sightseeing easier.
We definately want to see, the grand canyon, hoover dam, disney land etc, but what other must see's along the way. I also have a wonderful vision of camping in our RV and the kids swimming in lakes etc!!
Thankyou so much for any help you can give x Kaye and family x
Dec 18th, 2010, 03:20 AM
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 12,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
www.cruiseamerica.com
www.roadtripusa.com
www.mapquest.com
Good planning site for you...RV travel can be costly due to
mileage/petrol costs might save you a lot to rent a nice
Van and camp with UMLIMITED miles to save on sites like
www.carrental.com camp www.koa.com cabins and cheap hotels
along your way to save a bunch.
Route for me
NYC to Memphis Ozarks pick up I 40 that parallels
www.historic66.com www.bigtexan.com Amarillo Santa Fe/Taos
www.visitsedona.com Grand Canyon then Vegas www.tripres.com
good lodging prices there then Death Valley Lone Pine
maybe www.yosemite.com if time LA then pacific coast to SF
would make a nice fun route for me have actually done it ..
But anything like that will work fine...Congrats,have fun,
www.roadtripusa.com
www.mapquest.com
Good planning site for you...RV travel can be costly due to
mileage/petrol costs might save you a lot to rent a nice
Van and camp with UMLIMITED miles to save on sites like
www.carrental.com camp www.koa.com cabins and cheap hotels
along your way to save a bunch.
Route for me
NYC to Memphis Ozarks pick up I 40 that parallels
www.historic66.com www.bigtexan.com Amarillo Santa Fe/Taos
www.visitsedona.com Grand Canyon then Vegas www.tripres.com
good lodging prices there then Death Valley Lone Pine
maybe www.yosemite.com if time LA then pacific coast to SF
would make a nice fun route for me have actually done it ..
But anything like that will work fine...Congrats,have fun,
Dec 18th, 2010, 03:24 AM
#4
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 12,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dec 18th, 2010, 05:32 AM
#6
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have you looked into
1) the weather you will encounter - across the desert will be truly horrifying, esp with kids (Or will your vehicle have real AC - I would never consider traveling without in high summer)
2) costs of an RV versus renting a car and staying in inexpensive motels
Lodging in national parks fills up very early (like a year in advance) so you need to plan that now.
RVs are not practical in many major cities - you need to park them far outside the center and then spend quite a bit of time and money on getting yourselves around.
Certainly explore the options - but do understand the potential downsides.
1) the weather you will encounter - across the desert will be truly horrifying, esp with kids (Or will your vehicle have real AC - I would never consider traveling without in high summer)
2) costs of an RV versus renting a car and staying in inexpensive motels
Lodging in national parks fills up very early (like a year in advance) so you need to plan that now.
RVs are not practical in many major cities - you need to park them far outside the center and then spend quite a bit of time and money on getting yourselves around.
Certainly explore the options - but do understand the potential downsides.
Dec 18th, 2010, 09:17 AM
#7
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 11,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As nytraveler said, national park campgrounds fill up quickly, so you might want to consider state parks for some of your stops.
Do make sure you have good air conditioning. Temps in the Southwest will be at least in the 90s - yes, it's dry, but it's still really hot here.
Lee Ann
Do make sure you have good air conditioning. Temps in the Southwest will be at least in the 90s - yes, it's dry, but it's still really hot here.
Lee Ann
Dec 18th, 2010, 10:02 AM
#9
"can easily be over 100."
It can very easily be over 110F and 115 is not the least unusual.
The idea of a campervan may sound like fun. But do consider the option of a car/motels. Unlike in the UK where Travelodge is about it - in the States there are many motel chains (and lots of independently owned properties) that offer terrifically inexpensive accommodations where all 5 of you can sleep in the same room. And most of them even have kitchenettes or at least microwaves and fridges so you can cut down on meal costs just like in an RV.
The cost of one-way RV rental plus drop off fees, extra petrol and campgrounds will probably be higher than just renting a mid-sized car and staying in roadside motels.
And you wouldn't have to worry about leaving your generator running all night for the a/c.
It can very easily be over 110F and 115 is not the least unusual.
The idea of a campervan may sound like fun. But do consider the option of a car/motels. Unlike in the UK where Travelodge is about it - in the States there are many motel chains (and lots of independently owned properties) that offer terrifically inexpensive accommodations where all 5 of you can sleep in the same room. And most of them even have kitchenettes or at least microwaves and fridges so you can cut down on meal costs just like in an RV.
The cost of one-way RV rental plus drop off fees, extra petrol and campgrounds will probably be higher than just renting a mid-sized car and staying in roadside motels.
And you wouldn't have to worry about leaving your generator running all night for the a/c.
Dec 18th, 2010, 12:52 PM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you do not want to tour New York City, Washington, DC, and other Eastern cities (and you probably do not have time in 3 weeks), think about flying from UK to Las Vegas and touring by car from there. RVs are not as popular in US due to vast distances and lack of parking except in rv areas. Three weeks with wedding in LV and national parks ending in SF is a very tight time schedule. Motels are not expensive here and they have swimming pools!
Dec 18th, 2010, 01:33 PM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you go the rental car/motel option then a money saving tip is to pick up the books of coupons at petrol stations and tourist offices to get really good deals on motels. They will often give you a better deal than the AAA rate - if you are a member of the AA or RAC you can get AAA discounts at motels but also at a lot of attractions.
If you plan on visiting a lot of National parks and monuments buy the Interagency pass at the first one you visit.
If you plan on visiting a lot of National parks and monuments buy the Interagency pass at the first one you visit.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
LakesideChick
United States
14
Feb 28th, 2010 09:46 PM
