Port Angelas -Vegas
 

We are driving from Port Angelas to Vegas 5 days in April . Arriving in Port Angelas around 1pm from Vic BC, we'd like to make it to Seaside or Tillamook Oregon that night. Next day, I'd like to get to Bodega Bay, stopping for fuel and stretches only. Next stop is San Fran, for about 4 hours, enough time for a chowder and a trolley ride then back on the road to Pismo Beach for the night. In the AM drive to the Santa Monica area, chill for the night and straight to Vegas in the morning . Very ambitious or crazy, I know I'm just starting this plan so obviously these are just ideas to get started We are camping, hopefully, to be cheap, and driving a lovely old classic convertible that I don't want to push too hard on fast highways or for too long at a time. She's in fair shape but we will stop to rest her to be loving car owners! So, my questions are: First, are we nuts?! I would like the scenic drive as much as possible but open to ideas to save time. Where are cool, cheap, beach side campsites? (tenting, hope we don't freeze in April). Also, is the foggy PCH a bad idea in April. I'm not particularly kean on driving off a cliff. Thank you for your info

About 50 miles south of San Francisco you will be going by the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. It costs a little more than a night in a tent but you have a real bed and a shower.
The kitchen is good too. (Free wifi). http://www.norcalhostels.org/pigeon/rates
Along the Oregon coast there are several Oregon State parks that have yurts since you have the camping equipment.
I like William Tugman SP near the Oregon Dunes for either a yurt or tenting.

That is a totally ridiculous plan.

Just for starters >>Next stop is San Fran, for about 4 hours, enough time for a chowder and a trolley ride then back on the road to Pismo Beach<<

I assume you mean a cable car ride -- right? A trolley is a different animal. But in any case Bodega Bay to Pismo Beach w/ a <u>4 hour stop</u> in SF makes for a 12 to 13 hour day. (just the drive down the coast w/o the SF stop takes about 8 hours.

Port Angeles to Tillamook is a 6+ hour drive and you aren't even starting til after 1PM


>>lovely old classic convertible that I don't want to push too hard on fast highways or for too long at a time.<<

And yet you are pushing he extremely long hours every single day . . .

Oh- and Tillamook to Bodega Bay is a 12 - 13 hour drive w/o a single stop.

If your main purpose is to get to Las Vegas -- it would be a shorter drive I-84 to Twin Falls and then 93 down through Nevada to LV. A total of about 21 hours drive time plus stops.

The place I stay in Seaside Oregon is the hostel.
http://www.seasidehostel.net/
You can get a good cup of chowder at a place called the Bell Buoy at the south end of town.
If you really must, ride a cable car in SF.
Pigeon Point is less than an hour south of Half Moon Bay.
There are big Coast Redwoods in Butano Park near the lighthouse.
I suggested Tugman as a stopping place to shorten the drive to Bodega Bay.
Take some time to play on the Dunes.
Don't miss the cheese factory at the north end of Tillamook.

Thank you tomfuller. I will keep doing my homework. Your response is much appreciated.

Oh, and yes, sorry Tom, I've taken the "cable" car in San Fran before. I'm sure the locals think us tourists are tacky but I loved it! �� I had 5 short hours that time and it was lovely. I'll look up some of the places you mentioned.��

Camping in April is likely to be cold and possibly raining. I think it's a crazy plan to try to cover all that distance, in a vintage car, and in only 5 days. And I really don't understand the San Francisco stop, why interrupt your road trip for a bowl of soup?

suze: yep, it IS a crazy plan - but tom has everything under control ;)

Two words here...

Buena suerte!

What is your plan for getting home?

What is your plan after the first problem with the car? Qualified mechanics and parts for older cars aren't always readily available even in big cities, let alone small towns and the stretch between L.A. and Vegas. And, yes, how are you getting home?

FWIW, we used to own a "lovely old classic convertible." Once the odometer hit about 100,000 miles, we weren't comfortable taking long road trips. Also, if you haven't driven the car much at highway speeds with the top down... well, that gets old fast.

I wonder, what is the objective, to see the route or get to Las Vegas? You've asked the question so I assume you really aren't sure if you should. My feeling is, you shouldn't, drive that is, especially in a car that you feel you must baby but still in a rush. And then the issue of seeing things along the way, you aren't. That leaves getting to LV as an objective and my considered opinion is to fly. Even with lower fuel costs, I suspect flying will cost no more, possibly less taking into account what it'll cost you to park in SF for that cable car ride.

Everything about your plan bodes misadventure.

Book flights between Seattle to Las Vegas, which are as low as $250 round trip in April.

Get off to a leisurely start. Drive from Port Angeles to Seattle down 101 along the west side to Hood Canal.

Book a room at a hotel near the airport which includes free parking while you're in Las Vegas, breakfast, and van service between the hotel and SeaTac.

Treat your vintage auto to a rest in the hotel parking lot.

HTtY

Appears the OP no longer exists. Didn't like the sensible advice?