USA west Coast Road Trip

n0785

Hi looking some advice on my itinery please.

Going to the west coast for 3 weeks.

Fly into San Fran - 2 Nights - Hiring a car here

Half Moon Bay - 1 Night

LA - 2 Nights

San Diego - 3/4Nights - Drop off Car

Fly to Las Vegas - 3 Nights - Hire Car

Death Valley - 1 Night

Yosemite - 2 Nights

San Francisco - 1 Night - Home

This leaves us with plenty of time to stay in towns along the coast and an extra night in cities we like.

Any tips on where to reduce/extend our stays would be greatly appreciated?

Thanks

jackieblack

What time of year are you going?

n0785

jackieblack wrote: »

What time of year are you going?

7th August - 28th August 2015

blindman

n0785 wrote: »

Hi looking some advice on my itinery please.

Going to the west coast for 3 weeks.

Fly into San Fran - 2 Nights - Hiring a car here

Half Moon Bay - 1 Night

LA - 2 Nights

San Diego - 3/4Nights - Drop off Car

Fly to Las Vegas - 3 Nights - Hire Car

Death Valley - 1 Night

Yosemite - 2 Nights

San Francisco - 1 Night - Home

This leaves us with plenty of time to stay in towns along the coast and an extra night in cities we like.

Any tips on where to reduce/extend our stays would be greatly appreciated?

Thanks

Look at the South West and West coast USA thread

[Deleted User]

Two quick observations - if you have so much time why are you dropping off the car in San Diego,flying to Las Vegas and then hiring another car to drive back to San Fransisco ?
You can easily do the drive in less than a day if you're in a hurry and will you not be liable for two sets of one-way rental charges ?
If you're not in a hurry - and three weeks is a huge amount of time - why not do that drive via the Grand Canyon and Arizona.The scenery is spectacular.
Also consider the area north of San Fransisco on your way back from Las Vegas.
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/the-wilder-side-of-california-7654696.html
Your planned drive is a good one but it's a traditional road trip and there's some really interesting stuff just a short drive off the beaten track.

Alan_Bowen

There are no one way rental charges between any Californian or Nevada rental stations so that isn't a problem. I would not hire the car in SF until you are ready to leave, cars are just not necessary there, I would add a night on the route down Highway 1, last time we stopped at San Luis Obispo and Solvang, previously we stopped at Carmel and Santa Barbara. There are plenty of places to see, Hearst Castle is worthy of anyone's time but as you are travelling in peak season you will need to book tickets in advance, as you will if you want to go to Alcatraz in SF (personally seeing someone else's misery is not my idea of fun on a holiday, but each to their own)

I am no fan of LA, I like Newport Beach south of the main city area and always try and take the ferry out to Catalina Island which even in peak season seems to be a 1000 miles away from LA madness. Definitely spend time in SD, Sunday in Balboa Park is hard to beat anywhere in the world, not sure about Death Valley in August, the temperatures will be approaching 50 degrees during the day and only slightly less hot at night, again each to their own but make sure you and the car have plenty of water

silvercar

One tip, book your stay in yosemite early. There are not many hotels and they get booked up.

Another tip, on your way between SF and LA consider whale watching in Monterey

John259

If you're taking the very scenic Pacific Coast Highway (California State Highway 1) between Half Moon Bay and Los Angeles, then it would be a good idea IMHO to have an overnight stop or even two, probably in the Monterey area and the Morro Bay area. It's a great drive with a lot to see on the way, so not a road that you want to rush down.

I agree with the recommendation to drive from San Diego to Las Vegas. Some people find the desert boring, some find it awesome, but it's easy driving.

Between Death Valley and Yosemite Valley you'll need an overnight stop. If you're going the most scenic way (US395 North, then California State Highway 120/the Tioga Pass Road West) then that could be at Bishop or Mammoth Lakes (or possibly Lee Vining). If you're going the less scenic way (via the Tehachapi Pass, Bakersfield and Fresno) then somewhere around Bakersfield would split the distance but AFAIK there's nothing special about the town so a budget motel on the outskirts of town at a freeway exit might be a good choice.

I agree with the suggestion to consider exploring a bit further afield given that you've got three weeks. You might like to have a look at a map and see where some more national parks are, if scenery appeals to you.

It's a magnificent area with a huge variety of things to see.

n0785

Thanks everyone, will take all onboard

ShAnE

Personally, i'd extend SF and LV. Wasn't a huge fan of LA, loved San Fran and there is so much to do in Las Vegas.

jackieblack

Alan_Bowen wrote: »

There are no one way rental charges between any Californian or Nevada rental stations so that isn't a problem. I would not hire the car in SF until you are ready to leave, cars are just not necessary there, I would add a night on the route down Highway 1, last time we stopped at San Luis Obispo and Solvang, previously we stopped at Carmel and Santa Barbara. There are plenty of places to see, Hearst Castle is worthy of anyone's time but as you are travelling in peak season you will need to book tickets in advance, as you will if you want to go to Alcatraz in SF (personally seeing someone else's misery is not my idea of fun on a holiday, but each to their own)

I am no fan of LA, I like Newport Beach south of the main city are and always try and take the ferry out to Catalina Island which even in peak season seems to be a 1000 miles away from LA madness. Definitely spend time in SD, Sunday in Balboa Park is hard to beat anywhere in the world, not sure about Death Valley in August, the temperatures will be approaching 50 degrees during the day and only slightly less hot at night, again each to their own but make sure you and the car have plenty of water

I agree with most of this, with the exception of the Hearst Castle comment, but horses for courses and all that.