West Coast Road Trip
 

Planning a road trip route San Francisco-LA-Vegas-San Francisco (or LA-Vegas/San Fransisco-LA; the start point is flexible). Maximum 9 days. Any route suggestions, must-see places, etc?

So far I've come up with this:

Day1. Arrive to San Fran, tour San Fran.

Day2. Tour San Fran. Muir Woods.

Day3. Driving to LA (South Pacific) (any sites we must stop at?)

Day4. Driving, arriving to LA, tour LA.

Day5. Tour LA (what's there to see? Santa Monica Beach? Venice Beach? Is it worth going to Santa Barbara or San Diego?)

Day6. Driving to Vegas. Tour Vegas.

Day7. Vegas and Grand Canyon.

Day8. Driving back to San Fran. Stop at Death Valley or Yosemite. (any other parks, sites worth stopping at?)

Day9. Driving to San Fran. Flying back to NY.

Any tips would be much appreciated!! I understand that it might seem cramped to those who have tons of time on their hands. But we are here for 9 days only and this is our first and only trip on the East Coast. We are European and care to see as much as possible rather than just chill and relax in one spot. Thanks!

OK - you reposted just as I was posting on your other thread.

NO - that is not a 9 day trip. You'd really need about 2 weeks.

W/ just 9 days you could do 2.5 days in SF, 2 days along the coast, and 3 days in LA area then driving back to SF (It would be much easier if you flew open jaw into one city and home from the other - that would save you having to drive half the length of the state to get back to SFO.

W/ just 9 days you don't have time for Vegas, Grand Canyon, Death Valley Yosemite . . .

I know this trip can be done in 2 weeks, it can also be done in 1 month. But it's going to get done in 9 days. What I would like to learn is what's the best way to make it happen.
Thanks!

What time of year are you traveling? It makes a big difference. Routing is much better when Tioga Pass is open: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm

I believe you will have a much more satisfying experience if you eliminate one of the three cities you name. Also, I do not recommend the Grand Canyon as a day trip from Las Vegas. You will spend five hours driving there, peek over the edge with hundreds or thousands of other day-trippers, and then spend five hours driving back to Las Vegas.

HTtY

>>But it's going to get done in 9 days.<<

If the trip is late October through late May - Vegas to Death Valley to SF is nearly 700 ugly miles and 11-12 hours 'behind the wheel' time.

If the trip is in the next 6 weeks - Vegas > DV > Yosemite > SF is about 625 gorgeous miles and 12-13 hours 'behind the wheel' time.

Either of these options would be preceded by an 11 hour day to the GC and back.

So if you think this is a 9 day trip . . . go for it . . .

I've already done a day trip to Grand Canyon from Vegas. It was long, but amazing, and it was completely doable and I will gladly do it again. Please stop saying things can't be done just because you've never done them or don't know how to do them.

Thank you for the info about Tioga Road. I didn't know that.
Our trip is scheduled for April, so it will be closed. :/

Yosemite is a much better place to visit in April than Death
Valley IMO.
I like rental cars from Las Vegas better than anywhere in California so I favor flying to and from LAS.
The Amtrak option from Las Vegas: Get on the Amtrak California bus shortly after 9AM near Fremont St.
The bus trip to Bakersfield is about 6 hour but at least you're not driving it. The bus connects to a San Joaquin train which you would take to Fresno arriving about 6PM. Take a taxi to the Fresno airport to rent a car to go to Yosemite.
If you spend less than 24 hours seeing Yosemite, there is an earlier San Joaquin train out of Fresno which you would take to Emeryville with a bus connection into San Francisco.
If you don't have a drop off fee, drive the rental car from San Francisco (downtown) to the Los Angeles area flying back from LAX.

>this is our first and only trip on the East Coast.<

California is on the West Coast of the US.

Get a comfortable rental car. You'll need one, with as much time as you'll be spending in it.

On the way south from SF, stop and visit Monterey an Carmel area. Spend the night there before getting on the road to LA and beyond.

Less than one full day in SF? Sorry, your trip, your way, but I have no advice for how to do THAT!

If your objective is to check these destinations off your list "been there, seen that," then this trip is definitely doable in 9 days.

If your objective is to actually explore someplace such as Yosemite, then this itinerary is a few days short of a deck.

Thank you all who actually gave some advise instead of telling me what can't be done.

I posted this thread to get advice and tips about the trip I'm actually planning, not about a possibility of traveling somewhere. I'm baffled as to why people waste their time by posting irrelevant comments over and over again. You need at least 2 days to see San Fran, not everyone. I know CA is on the West Coast. It was a typo. This forum won't allow me to correct it. Get over it.

Our group has traveled all around the world and we are used to fast pace. As I mentioned before this trip is geared to seeing as much as possible, not relaxing. San Fran, LA and Vegas are not Rome, Tokyo or Paris. 1.5 days (each) is plenty of time to briefly experience them.

Once again, I know this trip can be done in 2 weeks, it can also be done in 1 month. But it's going to get done in 9 days (maybe 10, if we push it and say no to 1 extra day in New York). What I would like to learn is what's the best way to make it happen.

All the best!

Hi FLYY. Welcome to Fodors.

Yes, of course your trip is possible. It's just that you'll be spending all of your time in the car without seeing much. But you seem to already know that so I won't discourage you except for the suggestion to give up Death Valley/Yosemite and fly into San Francisco and out of LA. That'll give you a little flexibility to spend more time out of the car and maybe even sneaking in Death Valley after all.

I've done almost your exact trip over the last couple of years but I did it in 2 trips broken up into northern and southern California. My point in telling you this is that I've done it recently so it's all fairly fresh in my mind.

The problem with trying to see Yosemite in April is that a lot of the roads will be closed due to snow. Certainly Tioga Pass will be closed and I believe a few other roads are closed as well. Is it still worth the LONG, mostly boring drive from Las Vegas? Your call. If this is truly your only trip to the West Coast then maybe. Just be prepared for disappointment in not being able to see the full majesty of the park and maybe running into bad weather, too. Plus did I mention the long, boring drive to get there? Actually we did drive through Death Valley on our way to Yosemite. But it was literally a drive-through as we didn't have time to stop other than short photo-ops and to say "I've been in 120 degree temperatures." Death Valley was interesting. I'm glad we drove through but I probably don't need to go back.

I agree with MichelleY's suggestion of stopping in Monterey and Carmel. We visited the Monterey Aquarium. It's nice and smaller than I was anticipating so you can easily visit without taking up too much time.

You asked if you should make a trip to Santa Barbara. You can stop on the drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Santa Barbara is about 2 hours north of LA. It's a beautiful town so I would definitely make the stop.

You do NOT have time to squeeze in a trip to San Diego. With traffic it can easily be 3+ hours each way from LA.

Even though you'll have a rental car I would look into a one-day tour from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. You have a LOT of driving scheduled and many of those trips are not short. Maybe letting someone else do the driving while you relax on a big comfortable bus will be a welcome change. Something to think about. Plus it's another 4.5 hour (each way) rather boring trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon.

Don't miss Hoover Dam. Even if you stay for only 30 minutes don't miss this engineering marvel. It's on the way from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon.

Thank you, Sharona! We will have 3 drivers, so driving won't be a problem. On another forum travelers were advising me to go to Yosemite in April because the waterfalls will be spectacular. And yes, Tioga Pass, unfortunately, will be closed. I think driving through the Death Valley and stopping for a quick break is all we want. So what you guys did sounds about perfect. And we don't really care about aquariums, we've seen tons of them throughout the world. We like exploring areas and seeing sights. So I think two days to drive from SF to LA will be plenty for us.
Thank you!

Yes, I can imagine that the waterfalls in Yosemite will be just about at their best in April. Here's an informative website on Yosemite in April. Weather is iffy. Just be aware.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/april.htm

Check with your rental car company to make sure you can have 3 drivers.

I'm sure you already know that LA is sprawling and spread out over a great distance. What you want to see and do should determine where you stay.

San Francisco is more compact with more of a city feel. I know many people poo-poo the Fisherman's Wharf area as being too touristy. Well, we were tourists with 2 young teens so that's where we stayed. I was happy with our choice.

<i>So I think two days to drive from SF to LA will be plenty for us.</i>

You are right. It is.

<i>We like exploring areas and seeing sights.</i>

Then when you drive between SF and LA you will want to drive on Highway 1. Other top sights are the ones you have identified. You will also be delighted by Valley of Fire near Las Vegas and Zion National Park, which is about 160 miles from Las Vegas.

It's too bad Tioga Pass won't be open. That makes the drive from Las Vegas to Yosemite unpleasant and even worse when it is via Death Valley.

As I said earlier, this nine-day trip will be more satisfactory if you drop one of the major cities from your itinerary. Consider this routing:

Los Angeles, Carmel or Monterey via Highway 1, Yosemite National Park, Death Valley via Fresno (spending the night at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley), Las Vegas, Valley of Fire and Grand Canyon (spending a night at the Grand Canyon), Los Angeles.

If you don't spend a night at the Grand Canyon, you might be able to squeeze in Sedona and Williams (which has a colorful stretch of Route 66 running through town).

HTtY

<I'm baffled as to why people waste their time by posting irrelevant comments over and over again. >
So when you ask people IRL for advice, and get some you don't like, do you say "irrelevant!"? I say back to you, FLYY, I don't understand why people post on a public forum, ask for help, and then get hostile when the advice given doesn't suit them. You could have expressed yourself better, surely.

I am very glad you are receiving the kind of assistance you value.

<I'm baffled as to why people waste their time by posting irrelevant comments over and over again. >

I was going to respond to this, but NewbE pretty much said what I was thinking.

My suggestions, FLYY, is to stick to your original itinerary, and stop asking for "tips and advice" you have no intention of taking.

Hey NewbE,

I'm very grateful to all of those who took their time and responded to my thread offering assistance. I did learn some new things and will do more re-search and plan my trip in more detail next.

I speak 5 languages fluently. English is my 3rd language. I think I express myself pretty well and am very proud of it. All I asked was how to make my route work. I didn't ask if it was doable, I didn't ask if you thought it needed more time. Here's the route- how can I make it work with the amount of time I have. You don't think it's workable, you have no input to offer, move on to the next thread. Why is it so hard? What's the purpose in saying "that's not gonna work"?

Here we ago again. Tenthumbsup, what purpose does your comment serve? It gives no info about the road trip, it's just a waste of words. I hope that's not what the West Coast culture is all about. :/

I'm going to sign off of this thread, since it got lost somewhere in between "you can't" and "listen to people who tell you you can't". Thanks all and namaste.

On the drive down the coast hwy, stop at some of the elephant seal sites and at least do a drive into Monterey for lunch/dinner. Check out Big Sur and stay somewhere between SF and LA (Monterey, Big Sur, Cambria would be my choices)

I also did a day to Yosemite in April and only the valley was open that year, snow prevented travel to the upper areas. Mariposa woods had nice big trees (but not necessary if you've been to Muir woods), half dome and friends were impressive, the waterfalls were lovely (but not as spectacular as ones i've been to in Hawaii or Niagra). The valley was pretty but VERY crowded and I would not go back in April.

Death Valley is awesome, and worth a drive through. Do a few stops, Badwater, Artist Pallet Drive, Devil's Golf course at least, right off the main road NS through the park.

Grand Canyon is wonderful that time of year and is worth a long drive, kick everyone out of bed early.

Pick up an inexpensive cooler and fill it with snacks, lunch fixings, drinks etc. so you can have quick food choices when you're doing the long drives. Switch drivers every 2 or 3 hours and have a fantastic trip.

Now comes the namaste? Would have been nice earlier...
My remark regarding how you express yourself had nothing to do with your grammar, which is perfect.
<it got lost somewhere in between "you can't" and "listen to people who tell you you can't". >
Well, actually, that sums it up perfectly, you're right! Bon voyage!

Person has a real attitude problem and does not want to listen to helpful advice from the nice posters here.

You post a difficult/impractical itinerary, many folks pop on to say you are trying to do too much, and offer real advice, suggestions, and reasons why . . . and your response is essentially "bugger off -- I KNOW I can do what I want to do and if I had needed your advice I would have asked for it!!"

'nuff said. . . .

>>I'm going to sign off of this thread, << probably a good idea.

This reminds me of the poster who wanted to take her small child to Las Vegas. We all warned her and she got all huffy. Then she posted a trip report and whined about how LV was not child friendly, yada, yada. Several Fodorites posted: "we told you so"....

AS others have suggested, on Highway 1 South of Carmel, ( I would stop at Point Lobos to stretch your legs and see some of our iconic California coastline and then when you are just south of Cambria... turn east to Paso Robles and continue down the 101 to Santa Barbara.

You will have to play it by ear as to when and where you wish to stop during the drive for meals. Big Sur, Cambria, Pismo, any of those will work for a quick meal.

As others have suggested, on Highway 1 South of Carmel, ( I would stop at Point Lobos to stretch your legs and see some of our iconic California coastline and then when you are just south of Cambria... turn east to Paso Robles and continue down the 101 to Santa Barbara.

You will have to play it by ear as to when and where you wish to stop during the drive for meals. Big Sur, Cambria, Pismo, any of those will work for a quick meal.

FLLY,

I understand your frustration. Every now and then some Fodorites are not as charitable as they might be.

To clarify: It is true, you can see something of SF, LA, and LV in 1.5 days each. However, the only scenic drive between those places is Highway 1 between LA and SF. The other drives (including the one from LV to the Grand Canyon) are long, and they pass through towns you don't want to visit and landscapes you don't want to see.

The USA is huge in a way Japan and European countries are not, and points of interest are often separated my hundreds of miles of country with nothing that appeals to a traveler who is in a hurry. If you had more time, you could explore the area around Palm Springs, Joshua Tree NP, and the Mojave Desert on your way from LA and LV. But you don't have the necessary time. Distance is the culprit that makes it impossible for us to put the stamp of approval on your travel plans.

HTtY

Dear FLLY,
I just wanted to let you know that if I ever get the chance to tour Europe, I'm coming to you for advice!

I understand that you have 9 days of vacation and want to see as much as possible. If I got up the money to make my way across the ocean for 9 days, I would be pissed if someone told me I needed to spend at least 3 days in each place to enjoy it and the drive from place to place is nuts...why bother.

I would be trying to fit in every tourist spot in Europe in my 9 days. We would take turns driving and we would make it to as many of those places as possible. We would be exhausted flying home but there would be lots of memories and pictures and good times had by all. I mean, when would I get another chance to visit Europe?

One doesn't go on a "roadtrip" without liking being on the road. To some here, it seems the scenery along the roadways is a torture you are forced to endure. I'm from the city and I find the "lonely" and "boring" drives wonderful. The drive is part of my vacation. Someone from Ireland might tell you that spending hours driving across a green field to get to a small town is nuts, but someone from the desert in Utah might find it the highlight of their trip.

I hope you make your trip to our West Coast a memorable one.