It's fine, I was just pointing you in the right direction. Ask away when you are ready !Quote:
Originally Posted by galaga
Printable View
It's fine, I was just pointing you in the right direction. Ask away when you are ready !Quote:
Originally Posted by galaga
Guys how far is it from LA to San Diego then San Diego to Grand Canyon? I want to leave LA and go to sea world then continue near Grand Canyon if possible without losing a day. Explore Grand Canyon ( how much can I do in a day?) and stay near there somewhere. Then move on.
So far my thoughts are LA> San Diego>Grand Canyon>Las Vegas>Yosemite>SanFran> then need some things to do back down to LA.
We know what it's like to have to try and cram a lot into a short period of time, but it's real important to change your thinking. If you rush around trying "not to lose a day" you will end up seeing nothing. A day spent doing the things you want to do is not a day lost, although I do understand what you are saying, but you are not going to see everything, so you must prioritise your time and then enjoy it.
I guess you already know what's coming by now, but no, you won't get out of the urban sprawl of LA, visit Seaworld and get somewhere close to the GC same day. If you want to see Seaworld, it's the best part of a day gone, San Diego to Grand canyon is close to a full day on the road, and to really enjoy the canyon, you need a full day there. So, 3 day's I would recommend as a minimum, but even that will be a little rushed.
I think you should work on your whole itinerary from start to finish, and then work back again, as I don't see why you would feel the need to rush so much early on in your trip.
From San Fran to LA check out Monterey, Big Sur, San Simeon etc, or just type Pacific Coast Highway [PCH] into your search engine.
Keep at it !
I agree with Dave, you've kind of listed 3 days worth of stuff you want to do in one day.
LA to San Diego is a couple hour drive (depending upon where you are starting in the LA area, if its north, if can be a 4+ hour drive, if you're in Orange County it could be under 2).
Sea World really is a full day activity. First, with the price of tickets alone I want to get my money's worth, but just as important, its a place where a lot of the fun is centered around shows, so you're limited in how fast you can see things. I'd try to get there as soon as the gates open, which means even driving in from LA that morning means you're looking at a long day, and one where you should really planning to spend the night in SD.
I'll also throw out just as my own personal preference, if I was only going to do one big SD attraction, I'd probably do the zoo instead of Sea World.
SD to the Grand Canyon is a full day drive, and I'd recommend planning to spend at least a full day there. You're then a half day drive back to Vegas.
Hi I am back again. So is LA to San Fran and back again with most popular attractions in between actually achievable in 16 days? I have had to compromise with my partner as she wants to spend 3 days in hawaii before coming back to australia. Was thinking maaybe fly one way and tour as much as possible one way. My list is still same but. LA, Vegas, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, ( is May good time to be here? ), Big Sur, San Fran, and any way to throw in a Navajo trip? Yes I know it is out of my way.
Yes, your trip is doable in 16 day's.
I am not sure what you mean by fly one way and tour the other, your route is fairly circular and it looks as though it's a case of where to fly into and where to fly to Hawaii from.
The month of May can be a good time to visit Yosemite, but as I said earlier in the thread, some of the higher Sierra passes could still be closed, namely the Tioga pass. You will have to choose your route accordingly, but the waterfalls into the valley floor will be spectacular.
As I also pointed out earlier, you will save miles by going from LA direct to the Grand canyon and then back to Vegas. If you are considering driving around Big Sur, say to the Cambria area, you could head to SF from Yosemite and complete a loop back to LA.
Navajo tours include Monument valley, Antelope canyon and Canyon De Chelley. You could possibly take either one, but the more you try and squeeze in the faster the pace you will have to travel. What about San Diego ?
How long are you planning on staying in places such as Vegas, LA, Grand canyon etc, all these factors will determine what you can do. Start plotting your itinerary in terms of the 16 day's you have and then it will become clearer what you can add or what you will have to take away.
This is what I have come up with so far. My concern is when leaving Vegas and the best way to get to San Fran. I am not sure of the best route and also how long to take. I am looking for some ideas while I am still researching. Do you guys think my timing is ok? I think I can cut some time off LA too. And I want more time in San Fran too.
1 13-May-11 Friday Fly To Los Angeles. Leave Sydney 11am arrive 8am
2 14-May-11 Saturday Visit universal
3 15-May-11 Sunday Visit Disneyland
4 16-May-11 Monday Visit Disneyland
5 17-May-11 Tuesday Drive Los Angeles to San Diego
6 18-May-11 Wednesday Drive Sandiago to Las Vegas (6hrs)
7 19-May-11 Thursday Grand Canyon tour from Vegas
8 20-May-11 Friday
9 21-May-11 Saturday Drive Las Vegas to Death Valley Nat Pk (2.5hrs, 194km)
10 22-May-11 Sunday Drive Death Valley to Sequoia Nat Pk (1.5hrs, 78km)
11 23-May-11 Monday Drive Sequoia to Yosemite (4.5hrs, 384.6km)
12 24-May-11 Tuesday
13 25-May-11 Wednesday Drive Yosemite to San Francisco (3.5hrs, 302km)
14 26-May-11 Thursday San Francisco
15 27-May-11 Friday Drive Sanfran to LA
16 28-May-11 Saturday Drive Sanfran to LA
17 29-May-11 Sunday Fly LA to Honolulu
18 30-May-11 Monday
19 31-May-11 Tuesday
Hi galaga, you have been busy !
You have got an itinerary that will work for you. Each day is manageable but do not expect your drive times to be realistic, they look as though they have come straight from a mapping program. Yosemite to SF for example will be closer 5 hours than 3.5 [depending on traffic], yet still perfectly 'doable'.
The biggest 'no, no' is Death valley to Sequoia, you would need a helicopter to get across the Sierra mountain range to do it in that time and distance. From the centre of each park it is approx 360 miles and around 8 hours on the road, as you will have to drive around the Southern end of the mountains via Lake Isabella. If you want to spend the night in DV, then Panamint springs is the furthest lodgings to the West and would reduce an hour off your trip to Sequoia next day. You could actually push on to the Lake Isabella/ Bakersfield area for the night and have more time in Sequoia, that's something you will have to decide for yourself.
Be aware that the tours from Vegas do not generally go to the Grand canyon National park, but to Indian lands at the West rim. I am sure it will be a great experience but won't offer you the famous views seen in so many pictures around the world.
For an extra day in SF you will need to do a straight swap with a day in LA or cut out San Diego to keep your trip balanced in my opinion.
Hi again. Quick question as we are changing the itinerary slightly. I want to drive from san fran to yosemite and stay overnight. Initial plan was to drive back to san fran but am now thinking to head to monterey or similar as we will be driving coast road back to LA.
At this stage, we are flying from vegas to san fran so have missed the national parks but still want to see yosemite.
I am planning 3.5hrs from san fran to yosemite on Hwy 140?
Stay overnight at ?
Leave yosemite for coast. How long would it take to get to monterey? Is this the best place to join the coast?
Are there any chances of roads being closed?
Thanks
You should plan on it taking 4.5 hours from the City and similar back to Monterey depending on your start points. If your budget can manage it I would stay inside Yosemite NP as your time is limited. If not one of the nearby towns of El Portal, Mariposa, Wawona etc would be a good bet. Cheapest lodgings will most likely be found at Oakhurst a little further South.
You will be OK getting around in Yosemite valley, that has a lot to offer in a short stay anyway and any road closures will be up on higher ground such as Tioga pass and Glacier point.