13 nights to drive from San francisco to vegas

Ems!

I know there are a few threads on variations of driving through California and I have had a read through but I hope you don't mind me asking for a few personal recommendations on my planned trip.

I will have 13 nights to get from San Francisco to Las Vegas (this doesn't include time to spend in either of those places - I've factored in that time separately.) It will be in October and we're a couple in late 20's /30's.

I definitely want to go to Yosemite National park ( at least 2, preferably 3 nights), and definitely San Diego for at least 3 nights but am pretty flexible to the bits in between. Kind of think I "should" go to LA - but really not sure if its my kinda place ( not being a stick thin super model! lol), apart from that was thinking of somewhere to relax for a few days (does palm springs fit this bill?! will it be warm enough in october?!)

Can anyone suggest any good places you have been, and why you enjoyed them> And even possibly suggest a route for these 13 nights? I don't want to be in 1 place for any less than 2 nights, preferably 3, so would really rather go to probably 4 places over these 13 nights. I'm unsure about where abouts on the trip to fit in Yosemite, I think from the maps it should be my first stop but not sure.

Thanks for any suggestions guys!:D

sturll

Ems! wrote: »

I know there are a few threads on variations of driving through California and I have had a read through but I hope you don't mind me asking for a few personal recommendations on my planned trip.

I will have 13 nights to get from San Francisco to Las Vegas (this doesn't include time to spend in either of those places - I've factored in that time separately.)

I definitely want to go to Yosemite National park ( at least 2, preferably 3 nights), and definitely San Diego for at least 3 nights but am pretty flexible to the bits in between. Kind of think I "should" go to LA - but really not sure if its my kinda place ( not being a stick thin super model! lol), apart from that was thinking of somewhere to relax for a few days (does palm springs fit this bill?! will it be warm enough in october?!)

Can anyone suggest any good places you have been, and why you enjoyed them> And even possibly suggest a route for these 13 nights? I don't want to be in 1 place for any less than 2 nights, preferably 3, so would really rather go to probably 4 places over these 13 nights. I'm unsure about where abouts on the trip to fit in Yosemite, I think from the maps it should be my first stop but not sure.

Thanks for any suggestions guys!:D

First of all its important to know what month your going in. For example, you wont get into Yosemite from (i think) OCT - APR but it will be perfect to head up to Lake Tahoe - where is not worth visiting unless you are going OCT - APR.

So if you tell me about what month at the least ill see if i can help out.

Ems!

sturll wrote: »

First of all its important to know what month your going in. For example, you wont get into Yosemite from (i think) OCT - APR but it will be perfect to head up to Lake Tahoe - where is not worth visiting unless you are going OCT - APR.

So if you tell me about what month at the least ill see if i can help out.

hi Sturll, looks like you read it just before I edited! It'll be Oct ( leaving san fran on either 30/9 or 1/10)

ETA:- The Yosemite national park website appears to let me book accom inside the park for the dates starting 1/10 so I assume its OK at that time of year)

sturll

Ems! wrote: »

hi Sturll, looks like you read it just before I edited! It'll be Oct ( leaving san fran on either 30/9 or 1/10)

Ok well the Tioga pass (what gets you from one side to the other) will probably be open. However be prepared that it may not. Here is a list of the last few years:

http://www.monobasinresearch.org/data/tiogapass.htm

However, since your going in Oct id start at San Francisco then make your way to Yosemite assuming you can pass through id head up to Lake Tahoe/Reno.
Then head down to Death Valley via Beatty. From Death Valley make your way to Vegas. Since Vegas is expensive at weekends head down to Laughlin and then onto Santa Monica (LA) From there up the pacific coast to SF.

edit: Dont assume that re your accomodation. iirc it is before the pass.

Ems!

sturll wrote: »

Ok well the Tioga pass (what gets you from one side to the other) will probably be open. However be prepared that it may not. Here is a list of the last few years:

http://www.monobasinresearch.org/data/tiogapass.htm

However, since your going in Oct id start at San Francisco then make your way to Yosemite assuming you can pass through id head up to Lake Tahoe/Reno.
Then head down to Death Valley via Beatty. From Death Valley make your way to Vegas. Since Vegas is expensive at weekends head down to Laughlin and then onto Santa Monica (LA) From there up the pacific coast to SF.

edit: Dont assume that re your accomodation. iirc it is before the pass.

Thanks, didn't know we might not be able to get through!

We actually don't want to go back to San Fran, we were planning on flying home from Vegas, though I guess that could be changed, I'll look at the driving times for the route you said. if we did that, we'd have an extra 5 nights to play with anyway (that we are planning to spend in vegas at the end).

sturll

Ems! wrote: »

Thanks, didn't know we might not be able to get through!

We actually don't want to go back to San Fran, we were planning on flying home from Vegas, though I guess that could be changed, I'll look at the driving times for the route you said. if we did that, we'd have an extra 5 nights to play with anyway (that we are planning to spend in vegas at the end).

Ah right, i assumed you were looking at flying from SF. You could very easily go as far as Vegas (from what i said earlier) Then just factor in the Grand Canyon and some of the many other things to be seen around Veags and en route.

In terms of cost its usually cheaper to fly out of LAX than Vegas. And whilst LA is a dive there is enough to keep you occupied for a day or two.

hyperh

Hi Ems.

We did this trip at xmas, but starting from LA and ending in Vegas for new year. We did it on a budget choosing cheap hotels where possible, but would not have changed a single stop! BF and I are late twenties and had the best time.

We started in L.A at the Celebrity Hotel. Sounds a bit rubbish in the review, but the location, brekkie and room was brilliant. A two min walk to Manns Theatre!

We drove up the big sur, stopping in Morro Bay which has gorgeous fish restaurants over looking the bay. Sunset was gorgeous. Stayed in Tradewinds, which is a bestwestern. Not the best hotel, but it was only for a night and perfect location for the bay.

Then we arrived in Frisco. Hotel Carlton here. Boutique hotel, and v.nice. They arranged a coach tour that we went on, as it was christmas day and we thought we would be stuck for things to do. It was excellent.

Then on to Yosemite. Stayed about 2 miles outside of park. Will look up the name as i cannot remember it, but it overlooked river and mountains with a spa bath for two. Good times :rotfl:

We then just made a stop in Bakersfield. Stayed in a knightinn, and it was fine. It is basically a stop over, nothing pretty to see tho from my point of view! We also took a detour drive to make sure we did not miss driving through Death Valley

Then to Vegas. Can go on forever about Vegas as been there loads, but realise i have nattered on, and sorry if not useful, just really nice reminising.
It took us weeks and week of hotel/route searching because we had to cram it all into two weeks.

Just let me know if I can help anymore :T

wdyw

Sounds like a straightforward trip from Frisco, across to Yosemite, back across to Monterrey and down Highway 1 as leisurely as you want. We also stop at Morro Bay, rather than the more usual spots ....(If only they relocated the power station!). The only place that that route wouldn't cater for is Sequoia National Park.

Then on down to La - San diego and across to Vegas. Personally I'd do 2 nights in Yosemite, 2 in monterrey/Carmel area, 1 in Morro Bay and 1 in somewhere like Snata Barbara.

Only downside to the route is many people would say that its all downhill after Yosemite.

Ems!

hyperh wrote: »

Hi Ems.

We did this trip at xmas, but starting from LA and ending in Vegas for new year. We did it on a budget choosing cheap hotels where possible, but would not have changed a single stop! BF and I are late twenties and had the best time.

We started in L.A at the Celebrity Hotel. Sounds a bit rubbish in the review, but the location, brekkie and room was brilliant. A two min walk to Manns Theatre!

We drove up the big sur, stopping in Morro Bay which has gorgeous fish restaurants over looking the bay. Sunset was gorgeous. Stayed in Tradewinds, which is a bestwestern. Not the best hotel, but it was only for a night and perfect location for the bay.

Then we arrived in Frisco. Hotel Carlton here. Boutique hotel, and v.nice. They arranged a coach tour that we went on, as it was christmas day and we thought we would be stuck for things to do. It was excellent.

Then on to Yosemite. Stayed about 2 miles outside of park. Will look up the name as i cannot remember it, but it overlooked river and mountains with a spa bath for two. Good times :rotfl:

We then just made a stop in Bakersfield. Stayed in a knightinn, and it was fine. It is basically a stop over, nothing pretty to see tho from my point of view! We also took a detour drive to make sure we did not miss driving through Death Valley

Then to Vegas. Can go on forever about Vegas as been there loads, but realise i have nattered on, and sorry if not useful, just really nice reminising.
It took us weeks and week of hotel/route searching because we had to cram it all into two weeks.

Just let me know if I can help anymore :T

sounds like a good trip! do you mind telling me roughly how much you spent on accom for the 2 weeks? At the moment the rough figure I have in my head is $100 a night on average by doing a lot of searching/ using priceline etc, then we thought on top of that we'd splurge on more expensive accom in vegas. As you will have gathered , the trip is in the very early pla nning stages! As soon as i have a route, will book the flights then spend some time doing hotel research.

hyperh

We did a mix, spending more in the places we would be longer. LA/San Fran/Vegas were more but still not vast.

El Portal, CA
HOTEL : Yosemite View Lodge
$117

Best Western Tradewinds
225 Beach Street
Morro Bay , California
93442-2001,United States
$70
Rodeway Inn & Suites Bakersfield3400 Chester LaneBAKERSFIELD 93309 United States
£38

Hotel Carlton, a Joie de Vivre Boutique Hotel
San Fran
£171 for 3 nights

Hollywood Celebrity Hotel1775 Orchid Ave
Hollywood, CA 90028
USA
3 nights £240

Just to give you an idea. We booked through Hotel.com, expedia, gtahotel, but only once we had searched out the favs, and they had the best deals.

We also flew LA return. The drive from Vegas to LA was about 3hrs, but traffic is a breeze. our flight was a night flight, so we got up had brekkie and then left.

Stayed in Escalibur in Vegas as it is really cheap, but it great location for getting around. It is however cheesy and full of people who are there because it was cheap, so if we could have afforded to spend a little more probs would have, however we were only there to sleep, so was fine for us.

So excited for you, just looked at my pics to reminise!
H x

bergeroo

I want to put a shout out there for San Luis Obispo! It's about half way from SF to LA and it's an amazing little city. Very compact and in the shadow of these great hills. A big university so quite lively in term time - less so in holidays. Really close to the coast and loads of great beaches. Hiking too if you are into that kind of stuff. Spanish style architecture - I loved it there - I stayed for three days - though you don't need to stay that long.

Likewise north of San Diego - which is pretty great itself - there are lots of little places like Oceanside, La Jolla and other nice beach towns.

I wasn't into Santa Barbara myself but you might like it.

Santa Cruz of course is pretty damn cool.

LA is well LA - it needs a whole thread really.

Great choice for a trip!