First roadtrip (LA, SF, GrandC, LakeP, LasVegas)- July 1 --> Aug 1

I normally break my trip down into days and print off a map and directions from Google maps or Windows live local to cover each day. Even if I don't want to pre book lodgings, if I have an idea of the area I am spending the night I put said place into the search engine plus lodging/campgrounds and take a note of my options and note contact numbers. Those that I book in advance I then print off a more detailed map of that location to guide me to that address. By searching on line you can find some fantastic little places that you would have passed by and not known they existed.

Definitely carry some paper maps or print outs as the GPS will just take you from A to B by the quickest route and you could miss out on some gems and with the back up of a good map you can always detour and let the GPS re calculate the route, just show it who is boss ! Lol.

At the top of the page just above the green tool bar to the right you will find links to road trip books and maps.

Thanks for removing the picture (alltho it looked sweet on my big screen :))

I have also wanned to break the trip down in day trips for a long time, but since we had no offer BEFORE TODAY WOOHOO, it hasnt been posible. So here it is, and please do not be afraid of commenting.

Best regards,
Sch

May 3 --> July 3
Thailand, relaxing on the beach.

July. (dates)
3-4-5. Pick up car, wander/drive arround LA.
6. LA --> Cambria (scenic water-route 1)
7. Cambria --> San Francisco
8. San Francisco
9. San Francisco
10. San Francisco --> Yosemite
11. Yosemite
12. Yosemite --> Mammoth Lakes
13. Mammoth Lakes --> Sequoia National Park
14. Sequoia NP --> Death Valley
15. DW --> Las Vegas
16. Las Vegas --> Zion NP
17. Zion
18. Zion --> Bryce NP
19. Bryce NP --> Needles Overlook (via Torrey, Hanksville and Moab)
20. Needles --> Lake Powell
21. Drive arround the area of the lake, do stuff
22. Lake Powell --> Monument Valley
23. Monument Valley --> Grand Canyon
24. Grand Canyon
25. GC --> Grand Canyon Caverns (Driving on Historic route 66)
26. Grand Canyon Caverns --> Joshua Tree National Park
27. Joshua Tree NP (Worth staying a day more here?)
28. Joshua --> LA
29. ?
30. ?
31. ?

August 1. LAX --> JFK
2. Wander arround in NY
3. Wander arround in NY
4. Departure to Denmark

Should I let those 3 days in the end be "joker" cards to be played if we find out a place is really awsome?

Your only major problem I see is day 13 and 14. You've got a mountain range blocking your path!

The Yosemite Valley is west of the Sierras, Tioga Pass will take you through Yosemite to the east side and Mammoth. However, Sequoia is also on the west side of the Sierras and there is no pass to get you from Mammoth to Sequoia NP or back across the mountain to Death Valley.

There isn't a great option here, but what I would probably do is visit Sequoia first, then go to Yosemite, and across to Mammoth and Death Valley.


And thanks for providing the new link to the map!

Oh yeah, I see what you mean. According to my map it will take me back to Yosemite to Fresno and then to Sequoia. I think it's a good idea to to it like you propose:
Sequoia --> Yosemite --> Mammoth and then Death valley.

<3 Microsoft Streets & Trips

Oh yeah, and since Im buying a GPS, are there any models you can say good for (walmart). Price range 100-170$

With 3 spare days I would consider adding a couple of them to your time between Bryce and Needles area of Canyonlands. Scenic 12 is quite slow going and you will want time to enjoy it. Capitol Reef is on route and I would spend at least one night in Arches NP and possibly 2 as you will be arriving late it would allow you a full day there, plus it has a great campground ! The Islands in the sky section of Canyonlands is also close by and offers some spectacular views from the end of Grand viewpoint road and others along the way.

Coolio, looks like we are out of time if we stick to the scheduled time.
Im very excited to see if its possible to stick to it, if not, it's not the big problem.
Already booked 3 nights in LA, 1 in Cambria and 3 in SFO. After that we are tenting :)

Gps gps, any specific models within my budget 100-170$ you would suggest?

Eg: http://www.walmart.com/Garmin-Nuvi-750/ip/7958703 ?

Regards,
Sch

By all means get a GPS. I bought a top model and paid much more for it. However, do not expect it to be a substitute for a good paper map and map reading ability. I lost count of the number of times it took me to the wrong destination, or the long way round, or just completely got me lost.

There is a link on here (somewhere) of a recent horror story of an elderly couple ending up spending several nights bogged in snow on some remote mountain track, as the result of following their GPS. The most telling information in that article is the comment from a Garmin spokesman, who said that the GPS is meant to give a suggested route, not specific directions. Unfortunately, that is not how they are marketed.

Lifey who trusts her maps

With a GPS, as long as you go with one of the big names (Garmin, Tom Tom, Magellan) you really should be fine. In that price range, you're generally just paying more for extra bells and whistles (3'' vs 4'' screen, mp3 player, traffic updates, North American vs US only maps, etc), so figure out what you want and see which one has the best deal that fits your needs.

You could also look at buying a unit before you come over and just download the US maps, which would give you a chance to get used to it before you come over, and meaning it would still have a use when your trip is done.

I intend on buying both a GPS and a good map.
The GPS to ease up on driving on highways etc and the map to get specific information and a clear overview.

The problem about buying a GPS from home is that we need to spend 2 months in Thailand before we arrive in LA, and I really do not want to stress my newly bought GPS that much :)

AND US prices is 1/4 of the prices in Denmark.
Also considering buying one in Bankok if I find a good cheap one with the right maps (US, EU).

Dunno really, guess I'll just have to look around and simply ask some salesmen along the road :)

Since I just realized that I have birthday on the road, I was thinking of staying in San Francisco that day, which makes it 3 nights in LA, 1 night in Cambria, 4 nights in San Francisco.

Would it be worth taking an extra day on route 1 or are there plenty to do and see in SF for 5 days 4 nights?