Our California Fly Drive

jackieblack

stphnstevey wrote: »

Thanks for all that

Now looking for a place to stay between San Fran and LA - somewhere in the Santa Maria region

Currently looking at Morro Bay and Pismo Beach but any other ideas welcome

Thanks!

We stayed here in Pismo Beach. Loved it, only had 2 nights but wished we'd had longer here. Excellent surfing, whether as a participant or an observer either from your balcony or the hot tub
http://www.kontikiinn.com/

Nobjocki

stphnstevey wrote: »

Its all really helpful

Moved onto looking in LA - are there any good areas to be to be close to attractions or at least to the Metro?

You seriously need to do more research into what you're trying to do.

LA is a huge urban sprawl and the " attractions " are many and varied but spread out all over place.

You should plan to do one attraction in one day aiming to stay close to that attraction the night before.

You will drive everywhere. Don't bother thinking of any other form of transportation.

And don't base any of your driving times around Google Maps or Rand McNally. You could spend two hours trying to get from one side of LA to the other so two hours from LA to San Diego is hopelessly wide of the mark.

Likewise the four hours you have planned to drive from Lone Pine to San Fransisco.

You also don't appear to be factoring in any stops along the journey - there are any number of fascinating detours on the route you've planned and you really need to allow for the unexpected.

www.roadsideamerica.com

My final piece of advice is to join some US-based forums to get a local view on your itinerary.
Two MSE favourites are:

www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?58-Planning-Summer-RoadTrips .... where funnily enough someone from Lithuania is attempting a very similar trip to yours.

and

www.flyertalk.com with a California section.

You will have a great trip but I feel you're making the most common mistake that everyone who does American road trips make - trying to cram too much travelling in too little time will leave you exhausted and with few memories of America except tarmac.

jackieblack

stphnstevey wrote: »

Its all really helpful

Moved onto looking in LA - are there any good areas to be to be close to attractions or at least to the Metro?

Which attractions do you want to see?
LA is vast, if you've only got a short time (and the shorter the better IMO ), it'd be best to stay close to the attractions you want to see in order to maximise the time you've got.

photome

Nobjocki wrote: »

You seriously need to do more research into what you're trying to do.

LA is a huge urban sprawl and the " attractions " are many and varied but spread out all over place.

You should plan to do one attraction in one day aiming to stay close to that attraction the night before.

You will drive everywhere. Don't bother thinking of any other form of transportation.

And don't base any of your driving times around Google Maps or Rand McNally. You could spend two hours trying to get from one side of LA to the other so two hours from LA to San Diego is hopelessly wide of the mark.

Likewise the four hours you have planned to drive from Lone Pine to San Fransisco.

You also don't appear to be factoring in any stops along the journey - there are any number of fascinating detours on the route you've planned and you really need to allow for the unexpected.

www.roadsideamerica.com

My final piece of advice is to join some US-based forums to get a local view on your itinerary.
Two MSE favourites are:

www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?58-Planning-Summer-RoadTrips .... where funnily enough someone from Lithuania is attempting a very similar trip to yours.

and

www.flyertalk.com with a California section.

You will have a great trip but I feel you're making the most common mistake that everyone who does American road trips make - trying to cram too much travelling in too little time will leave you exhausted and with few memories of America except tarmac.

That sort of what I said a earler in the thread, but I got no thanks for it, so I gave up. As you say the OP will still enjoy it as it will be a great trip, but doing slightly less would be far more enjoyable IMO

ferf1223

stphnstevey wrote: »

Sun GRAND CANYON
Start: Las Vegas
Finish: Grand Canyon Village
Hrs driving: 6hrs 300m

Explore LV 8am-12pm (4hrs)
Leave LV 12pm, arrive GC 6pm

I just noticed this.

There's an hour time difference between Nevada and Arizona...Arizona is an hour ahead...so you will lose an hour going, and gain an hour coming back.

jackieblack

ferf1223 wrote: »

I just noticed this.

There's an hour time difference between Nevada and Arizona...Arizona is an hour ahead...so you will lose an hour going, and gain an hour coming back.

OP is travelling in August.
During the summer months there is no time difference as Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, while Nevada does.

ferf1223

jackieblack wrote: »

OP is travelling in August.
During the summer months there is no time difference as Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, while Nevada does.

Ah! Sorry...I think I did know that but totally forgot...seem to recall it confusing us when we did the Vegas to GC trip too.

ailuro2

I'd not plan to do anything as unmissable as the Grand Canyon the day after I'd flown in to the west coast - been there, done that, got the T shirt, use it as a day to explore and catch up on your sleep, but nothing too big.

richardlionheart

Go to the Grand Canyon by steam train :beer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9g0wwwQ79g

https://www.thetrain.com/grand-canyon-railway-steam-7275.html

http://www.thetrain.com/

ferf1223

richardlionheart wrote: »

Go to the Grand Canyon by steam train :beer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9g0wwwQ79g

http://www.thetrain.com/

I agree this would be pretty cool if you had the time, but not sure that it fits with OP's already pretty manic itinerary...with one round trip a day you would effectively need to have 2 whole days for the trip if you wanted to stay overnight, and that doesn't count travel to and from Vegas.