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Will be setting off from SF soon on first road trip in USA. I'm planning on a round trip from SF heading to Yosemite for 2 days, maybe Sequoia and then over to Grand Canyon before returning via LV (not stopping there) and back up Route 1. Any suggestions of route at this time of year? I dont have much idea which roads are likely to be closed and I'd hate to get it wrong as we only have 11 days in all!
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You can pretty much count on all the minor roads over the Sierra Nevada being closed. That includes CA-120, CA-108, CA-4, and CA-88. That leaves CA-58 through Bakersfield and Barstow as your only realistic alternative for getting to the Grand Canyon. And there's absolutely no reason to go through Las Vegas on the way back to the coast if you don't want to stop there. Just take I-40 to CA-58 and then US-101 south to San Luis Obispo to pick up CA-1 north along the coast.
AZBuck
May I suggest that you do this trip anti-clockwise.... SF, LA, GC, DV, Yosemite, SF. When driving the coast road from North to South, you are on the ocean side of the road, the side on which all the viewpoints and pull-offs are.
Driving from South to North, everytime you want to pull into, and out of a viewpoint you will have to contend with oncoming traffic.
It is a great drive, but ever so much better when done from North to South.
Lifey
I agree that heading down the coast is a good idea, and coming back through Vegas you can detour into Death valley and around Lake Isabella to Sequoia/Yosemite. However, with your limited time I would not go all the way into the urban sprawl of LA, but head towards GC via San Luis Obispo as Buck mentioned. [only the other way around]
Thanks. I checked these links out and they are pretty useful. Obviously some serious snow around the Sierra Nevada. What are the chances of needing chains? I hear the rental companies dont like them anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mass Tim
Good point - I may well change my original plan! Thanks for replying..Quote:
Originally Posted by Lifemagician
That certainly narrows my options, Buck, but it's great to have the advice.
The only thing I can add to Buck's advice is CA-88 *is* maintained year-round, but will frequently have chain restrictions and is occasionally closed for a couple of days for avalanche control.