Should we drive?

Traincrashing

I was dead set on just flying to the next destination when we go to California in November but now I'm wondering whether we should drive to one of the destinations.

We're doing LA to Las Vegas and then Las Vegas to San Diego and I was considering maybe driving to one of these places. Does this sound like it would be a good idea, and if so, which one should we do? Also, is it easy just to rent a car and then drop it off at the next destination?

ffotogirl

My boyfriend and I recently came back from a driving holiday around the same sort of area you're looking at going. We drove from LA to Death Valley, through the Mojave desert to Joshua Tree, back to the coast then up the Pacific Highway to Malibu with a few stops here and there along the way.

Will you be going back to LA for your flight home or flying direct from San Diego? It's cheaper to rent and return a car to the same place and if you can spare the time to drive the whole thing I totally would... it's an amazing experience. If we can do it, anyone can! But you can still have a one way rental no problem.

It's really easy to drive from LA to Las Vegas. You can either go the boring way on the I-15 (it's a bit scary getting out of LA but the rest of the way is just like our motorways, only bigger!). Or you can go the way we went which is here - http://living-las-vegas.com/2010/03/the-other-road-to-vegas/. It takes longer (you'd want at least one overnight stay during the trip to make the most of it) but the scenery is breathtaking, the roads are mostly deserted and you pass through Death Valley which is incredible!

To get from Las Vegas to San Diego you can either hop back on the I-15 and go right back the boring way or you can easily take the scenic route down through the Mojave Desert, through Joshua Tree national park (you'll feel like you're on another planet!) before picking the I-10 up in Palm Springs and joining the I-15 for the last leg of the journey.

I hope that's helpful. Let me know if you have any questions I recommend using the Road Trip America message boards for help with route planning and general driving advice.

Traincrashing

Thanks a lot for your help I'll have a look at these and see which one we should do. Do you know roughly how much it was for you to rent your car, and to pay for gas? I'm not really sure how it all works.

jackieblack

Traincrashing wrote: »

I was dead set on just flying to the next destination when we go to California in November but now I'm wondering whether we should drive to one of the destinations.

We're doing LA to Las Vegas and then Las Vegas to San Diego and I was considering maybe driving to one of these places. Does this sound like it would be a good idea, and if so, which one should we do? Also, is it easy just to rent a car and then drop it off at the next destination?

There are several companies that do not charge any one-way drop off fees between California/Nevada, we got ours from Dollar a few years ago, picked up in LV and dropped in LA but check around as policies do change.

The driving is mainly easy (possible exception of LA:D) and personally I would rather drive than sit around airports. You won't need a car in LV but LA and San Diego are both easier to get around with a car, and of course the car gives you the freedom to explore a little further afield.

Traincrashing

I think we're going to do LA to Las Vegas, I don't think I fancy the drive after being in Las Vegas haha. We won't need a car in San Diego either as we're staying with my family so we'll be okay without one. I'm getting rather excited now. This is so distracting! I'm supposed to be doing my dissertation haha.

SimbaSimon

Traincrashing wrote: »

I was dead set on just flying to the next destination when we go to California in November but now I'm wondering whether we should drive to one of the destinations.

We're doing LA to Las Vegas and then Las Vegas to San Diego and I was considering maybe driving to one of these places. Does this sound like it would be a good idea, and if so, which one should we do? Also, is it easy just to rent a car and then drop it off at the next destination?

Absolutely! Driving is easy in the states just have a quick read of the rules before you depart, i.e. always stop when there is a school bus with flashing lights and you must come to complete stop at stop signs.

Rental cars are really cheap and book online with a decent company and you shouldn't be charged any drop off fees should you want to drive the car from one place to another and then dump it at your destination.

As for either LA/Vegas or Las Vegas/San Diego, have a look whats around each bit for a few stops and pick whatever you fancy. By personal preference would be Las Vegas to San Diego, as theres probably more room for stops then LA to Vegas which I believe is just a pretty straight road.

ffotogirl

Traincrashing wrote: »

Thanks a lot for your help I'll have a look at these and see which one we should do. Do you know roughly how much it was for you to rent your car, and to pay for gas? I'm not really sure how it all works.

It cost us about £240 for 8 days car hire but we did hire a giant SUV as we slept in the back of it most nights! It would have been much cheaper if we'd booked further in advance but we ummed & ahhed for ages and ended up paying the extra. We booked with Alamo and got cashback with QuidCo (Alamo also do Nectar points but Quidco seems to be the better deal). Booking well in advance, getting a smaller car and using one of the cashback sites will be much cheaper than flying. Petrol is so super cheap over there you will barely even know you're paying for it! We had a really tight spending money budget of $50 a day and managed to eat, drink, buy firewood & other essentials AND keep the tank topped up all within that limit. I think it's about 50p a litre so compared to the prices we pay here it's fantastic value.

LillythePink

We are paying £700 for an SUV and it's the upgraded package and have it for 22 days - don't know if that is good or bad but at the time it was the cheapest we could find.

FreeBee00

I think that could be a smart idea since you are going to a few locations. You might want to try and guestimate what the gas prices will add up to though. Gas prices are on the rise, so you want to be careful that you won't end up spending a lot more money doing this along with prices to rent a car and such. Otherwise, I think for travel purposes, that would be a great idea! Usually it is pretty easy to drop off the rental in a different location.

dzug1

Between the places you mention I would not even consider flying unless in a real hurry (and I'd arrange not to be if I could). Even in LA driving as such isn't really a problem or scary - just the route finding.

Voyager2002

LA and San Diego are close to each other, so you could certainly drive. However, the train service is very comfortable, and taking a train from the main station in LA gives you a feeling of re-living American history. There are some great views on the way.

Las Vegas is a long way from southern California, so unless sitting in a car is your idea of fun I suggest flying instead.