hiring private motorhome

freddemot

We hope to go to California this Summer for 3 - 4 weeks and are thinking of hiring a smallish RV in San Francisco area to do the coast road to LA and then inland to the grand canyon,has anyone any experience of doing this.
All tips,ideas and costs,compared to car hire and motels would be welcome.
Many thanks

C_Mababejive

I've done that route and more but by car. I stopped about half way overnight in a seaside motel so the SFO >Santa monica trip was two days with various stops. Hotels are cheap as is car hire and petrol. Never done the RV thing..sounds appealing though.

Nobjocki

Personally, for that sort of journey, I think you'd be better off hiring a car and staying in motels.
RV's can be great fun, especially if you have a young family and you're planning a long trip but they can also be quite restrictive in terms of travelling and overnighting.
The recession has also helped drive down motel prices.
This website may help you.

www.roadtripamerica.com/

freddemot

thank you both,

we are travelling only 2 persons,advice is very good, so it will be a car and motels

t0ne00

probably off topic, but I've stayed a couple of times in the Madonna Inn - Google it, if you like quirky, it defines the word! It's a good days drive from SF.

Clowance

for anyone still thinking of it: we hired a 30 foot RV from EL Monte from las vegas and drove 2000 miles in 11 days to san francisco up the coast road and then across to Lake tahoe, down to yosemite and then an enforced change of route (snow on mountain pass in mid June) due south to Bakersfield and via Lake Isabella to death valley, night in Pahrump (amazing rv park for $50 per night) and back to Las Vegas.
What we have learned: I agree for 2 people car and motels cheaper. For larger group RV great - no restaurant costs which can be quite a lot. In LV it was $60 for breakfast for 4 and $100 for dinner. Can stay on the strip in Circus Circus in RV.
Second, we did too many miles leaving little time for sightseeing - although we stayed 5 nights in SF we only had 3 days sightseeing. We stayed in Marin RV park across the bay in marin county - a parking lot with a pool - but SAFE unlike many and 10 minute walk to the Larkspur ferry terminal where a ferry takes 45 minutes to pier 1 in the centre of SF by trams and streetcars.
I wouldn't I think attempt more than an average of 100 miles a day in future as some days you do none.
Was great for fussy eaters - just cook what you want. HTH