LA-SF-Nevada and area, then back to LA in November

[Carsten Malta Hansen]

Hi guys!

My wife and I are going to LA, and will be there from November 1st to 5th. After that we are heading to SF (one stop overnight somewhere on highway 1), and after two days there we have 8 days before we have to fly out of LAX again.

Our MAIN objective of this trip is to relax - so we don't want to spend every day on the road. The Grand Canyon is also a must, as well as at least one night in Vegas.

Other than that, we have nothing planned, so any suggestions of must-see things is welcomed :)

Right now I'm debating whether Yosemite is worth it (well, I know it's worth it, but the pass might be closed, so a visit there would cost quite a bit of time?), or whether we should head from SF to Tahoe, and cross the mountains from there.

We know we will get back to the area again, so we are not stressed about missing anything. We would be perfectly happy to spend a few days in the Tahoe area, for example, if we could find a nice hotel/lodge with a good view (or any other area for that matter)

Thanks in advance!
Carsten & Carolina

[Lifemagician]

Hi, and Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum.

Is there a special date on which you need to be in San Francisco? If not, may I suggest that you consider doing this trip anti clockwise... i.e. LA - GC - LV - SF (via Death Valley / Yosemite) and back down the Pacific Coast Highway to LAX. That way you will be on the ocean side of the road, where all the viewpoints are.

Lifey

[Carsten Malta Hansen]

Hi Lifemagician,
Unfortunately the days in LA and SF are work-related, so there is no way we can change the direction of the trip.

It looks like we are going to leave SF on the 9th, and we fly out of LAX again on the 16th.

/Carsten

[Midwest Michael]

I would say that Yosemite is always worth it, even if you have to go around the edge of the Sierras when you are done.

I'd think your trip could look something like this
9/10 - Yosemite.
11 - Drive to Death Valley
12 - explore DV and drive to Vegas.
13 - Vegas
14 - Grand Canyon (leave early)
15 - Drive back to LA
16 - Fly home.

If your flight is late in the day on the 16th, you could spend more time at GC on the 15th, and only drive part way back to LA.

There's some room to tweak that plan, if you want to spend more time in some areas, but that's a framework for how you could fit it all in.

[CAnative]

Hi,

Yosemite is lovely and crossing the Sierras on Highway 120 is spectacular. If weather precludes a visit to Yosemite, then Tahoe is nice with the northern portion being less congested.

Jessica