Edited the link, check again :)
Printable View
Edited the link, check again :)
You new plan appears to add several more destinations. The exact same advice still applies, however: it all depends upon how you plan to spend your available days - and that's where you've at least go the potential to have problems.
Yep, its the same but more spaced out. So no more crazy long ride from Houston/Austin to Santa Rosa. In stead, we'll do Roswell, Carlsbad, San Antonio on the way and stay a night in each place. We also have now cut should the PCH trip, so we're plannign to go from Flagstaff to Death Valley and then hit the coast near San Simone/Cumbria.
The drive from DV to Cambria/San Simone, etc is like 8 hours. What's a good stop you would recommend?
Do you still have 14 days for this trip, or are you extending it out to about 3 weeks? If you stop at all these places for a night, I don't see how you have enough time to do this trip in the 2 weeks you originally planned.
From DV, I'd go past Lake Isabella and through the Kern River Canyon to Bakersfield. After crossing the Central Valley, there are several wineries on the road to Paso Robles.
It's 18 days.
We stay for 2 night each at: Nashville, New Orleans, Flagstaff, Death Valley, Big Sur. That's 10 days.
And then one night at each of these places: Ranoke, Memphis, San Antonia, Houston, Carlsbad, Roswell, Santa Fe, Bakersfield (thanks!). That's 8 days.
So here's the route: NYC>Ranoake>Nashville>Memphis>New Orleans>Houston>San Antonio>>Carlsbad>Rowell>Santa Fe>Flagstaff>Death Valley>Bakersfield>Big Sur
We can't do the whole west coast PCH anymore bit at least we'll get 2 days in awesome Big Sur.
Does that make sense?
You have a plan that's perfectly doable and if it suits your tastes then you will have a great time. Going where you want to go makes the most sense and it's certainly workable ! You will get to see the best of the PCH between Cambria and Monterey anyway, and will miss the hustle and bustle of LA, exactly how I would have done it.
I know you mentioned NP's not being of interest, but it would be a shame to be that close to the south rim of the GC and not visit there while in Flagstaff. If you are not going to do so you could move further down the road for a night to Kingman or even Vegas rather than 2 in Flagstaff. You could also consider taking part of original route 66 through Seligman and stop at the Hoover dam.
Hey guys,
This is so exciting, so pretty much half the trip is planned and booked! Here goes,
1. NYC to Roanoke, VA (1 night)
2. Roanoke,VA to Asheville, NC (1 night)
3. Asheville, NC to Nashville, TN (1 night)
4. Nashville, TN to Memphis, TN (1 night)
5. Memphis, TN to Natchez, MS (1 night)
6. Natchez, MS to Lafayette, LA (1 night)
7/8. Lafayette, LA to San Antonio, TX (2 nights, because we will be spending time with family in Houston so get to SA only late evening on day 1 so need another day)
9. San Antonio, TX to Carlsbad, NM (1 night)
10/11. Carlsbad, NM to Santa Fe, NM (2 nights)
All of the above i.e 11 days is planned and hotels are booked, yippee yay! But we need help to plan the next leg which is another 6 days long. Here is what I am thinking so please let me know if this is okay or not:
12. Santa Fe, NM to Gallup, NM or Flagstaff, AZ -- is it necessary to stopover in Gallup? or can we just continue on to Flagstaff via route 66 and see Petrified Forest, Stewart's Petrified Wood Shop, Winslow, AZ, Painted Dessert onroute. It will be a major driving day but I'm not sure what we will see between Santa Fe & Gallup so not sure if we should stop?
13. Flagstaff, AZ to Monument Valley/Mexican Hat/Shiprock via Grand Canyon (see GC it in the AM during sunrise) and maybe spending the night night at Lake Powell?!
15. From Lake Powell or whereever we go to St. George via Antelope Canyon and Zion National Park
16. St. George to Bakersfield
17. Bakersfield to Big Sur
18. Big Sur to SF
Is this 2nd leg too much, the first leg as u can see is kinda chilled, right? Please suggest how to go about the 2nd leg. We could potentially skip Big Sur if needed.
Santa Fe to Flagstaff would be a nice day's drive, even with a stop at a petrified wood shop. Add about 2 hours to do Petrified Forest NP and the Painted Desert. The Painted Desert is at the north end of the park, and most of the petrified forests are in the mid to southern edge of the park.
Donna
With regards to the second leg I think you will need to choose from some of your wish list as trying to stop by all the places mentioned will be a bit rushed. Getting to Flagstaff would be fine but the next 2 days would be too much if you were to spend any quality time at the attractions. You could leave Monument valley and Mexican Hat out and enjoy time at the canyon and possibly Antelope canyon, staying the night in Page AZ. [Taking a tour can be time consuming] If you don't mind a long day on the road to Bakersfield I would consider then stopping in the lovely town of Springdale and maximise your time at Zion.
Another option would be to head to Mexican Hat/ Monument valley direct from Santa Fe instead of going to Petrified forest and Flagstaff and stop the night in Kayenta or at Cameron Trading post. This route would take you close to Four corners monument via Farmington. The next morning head to the Grand canyon and then stop in Page and next, Springdale/St George.
Hey Donna and SouthWest Dave: -- I took all of what you said into consideration and have reduced the 2 nights stay in San Antonio to one, so that we can get one more day for the New Mexico-Utah-AZ loop. So the 2nd leg could look something like this?
Day 11. Santa Fe, NM to Flagstaff, AZ
Day 12: Flagstaff, AZ to Page, AZ
Day 13: Page, AZ to Springsdale, UT
Day 14: Springsdale, UT to Bakersfield, CA
Day 15: Bakersfield, CA to Big Sure
Day 16: Big Sur
Day 17: Big Sur to SF
What are the must see attractions around these areas esp day 11 thru day 14th?