Is this route "Do-able" ?

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06-08-2006, 02:31 AM
Jenga

Is this route "Do-able" ?

Hello all,

Firstly I apologise for starting yet another thread about California & Nevada; this forum has been invaluable for helping me with my planning so far, but I still have a few queries I hope someone can help me with!

I'm getting married in Las Vegas (at Valley of Fire) in October, and afterwards (25th October) we're picking up a convertible and then we have until 25th of November until we fly back out of LAX.

So far we've plotted out where we'd like to stop off, which will hopefully allow for not having to drive for too long at a time:

Las Vegas
Death Valley
MOn Lake
Bodie
Yosemite
Lake Tahoe
Sacramento
San Francisco
Then all the way down PCH stopping off a lot!
Finishing at San Diego

The only bit I'm concerned about is the driving from LV to Lake Tahoe - will be ok in a convertible at that time of year, and do road even exist that will take us the route we're looking at?

Any advice much appreciated, including alternative suggestions and side trips.

Thanks in advance!
06-08-2006, 07:48 AM
Mark Sedenquist

Fees at Valley of Fire

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenga

Firstly I apologise for starting yet another thread about California & Nevada; this forum has been invaluable for helping me with my planning so far, but I still have a few queries I hope someone can help me with!

No problem and welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum!

Quote:

I'm getting married in Las Vegas (at Valley of Fire) in October

Congratulations and the venue will be fantastic. Are you aware that all marriages conducted in the park require a permit and a fee? That regulation is tightly enforced, everytime I go, I see wedding parties.

Quote:

and afterwards (25th October) we're picking up a convertible and then we have until 25th of November until we fly back out of LAX.

Sounds like a great honeymoon plan.

So far we've plotted out where we'd like to stop off, which will hopefully allow for not having to drive for too long at a time:

Your plan looks reasonable -- good job. Road to Bodie is gravel/dirt with lots of washboard.

Quote:

The only bit I'm concerned about is the driving from LV to Lake Tahoe - will be ok in a convertible at that time of year, and do road even exist that will take us the route we're looking at?

US-395 is just one of about six major routes between these two points.

Happy Planning!

Mark
06-08-2006, 08:57 AM
Jenga

Quote:

Originally Posted by Editor

Are you aware that all marriages conducted in the park require a permit and a fee? That regulation is tightly enforced, everytime I go, I see wedding parties.....

Your plan looks reasonable -- good job. Road to Bodie is gravel/dirt with lots of washboard. US-395 is just one of about six major routes between these two points.

Thanks Mark, I think I'll get hold of a map and have a good look at the roads before I ask any more stoopid questions!

The wedding is all booked through an agency in Las Vegas, and includes the permit and fee and minister etc (and cake and limos etc!). Hopefully all we have to do is turn up :)

Maybe I should forget Bodie then - that wasn't one of the main places we want to see, as I understand the route will go past a number of ghost towns.
06-08-2006, 10:14 AM
twixplz

(I registered on these forums just to advise you on this haha. Ahh well.)

Yes that route looks do-able to me. You can get from Las Vegas to Lake Tahoe by taking I-15 from Vegas to Barstow. Then get on Highway 58, which will take you to Highway 395. That route goes winding up through the mountains and it's a beautiful drive. Once you get to Carson City, you'll have to take Highway 50 west and up into South Lake Tahoe. From there you can drive all around the lake quite easily.

However, having lived nearly 10 years in the Sierra Nevada mountains (in S. Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas), I would caution you one thing. Keep in mind that in the Tahoe area it has snowed every single month of the year and that the weather there can change drastically. Before you head up into the higher elevations, I would check with CalTrans (the state transportation authority) for road conditions. There may be some parts of 395 or 50 that are closed down because of the weather, though usuallyl it's later in the year than that. I know that when I lived in Lake Tahoe it snowed or sleeted every single Halloween that we were there.

A convertible would probably be okay, provided you are prepared to put the top back on should things turn ugly out.

That being said, have a wonderful trip! It's some of the most beautiful country in the U.S. (he said with obvious bias).

And congrats on your wedding!
06-08-2006, 10:34 AM
Mark Sedenquist

Nothing stupid here

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenga

Thanks Mark, I think I'll get hold of a map and have a good look at the roads before I ask any more stoopid questions!

I didn't notice until about three seconds ago, that you are from the UK -- we try and cut international visitors a little more slack -- but yes there are many roads between Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. There are about 475 threads on this forum discussing this route. If you look at the bottom of this page, you can read some of that discussion and I urge you to use the Search function to find more.

Quote:

The wedding is all booked through an agency in Las Vegas, and includes the permit and fee and minister etc (and cake and limos etc!). Hopefully all we have to do is turn up :)

I am sure it will be wonderful!

Quote:

Maybe I should forget Bodie then - that wasn't one of the main places we want to see, as I understand the route will go past a number of ghost towns.

Bodie is pretty cool, but since this a rental vehicle -- you could catch some serious flack for driving off-highway. 99% of all ghost towns are accessible from dirt roads -- again that could be challenge for your rental. One that comes to mind, that sports, easy paved access would be Rhyolite near Beatty, NV. Another place for you to pencil in during your time in the Lake Tahoe area would be Virginia City. It is a living town, but full of western charm and characters.

Mark
06-08-2006, 10:39 AM
Mark Sedenquist

Multiple ideas are always better!

Quote:

Originally Posted by twixplz

Yes that route looks do-able to me. You can get from Las Vegas to Lake Tahoe by taking I-15 from Vegas to Barstow.

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! We always like and appreciate local input. One thing to note, this poster is planning on traveling to Lake Tahoe from Las Vegas via Death Valley and so they wouldn't be using I-15 to Barstow.

Quote:

(I registered on these forums just to advise you on this haha. Ahh well.)

Well, now, you can share more information with the rest of us! Welcome!

Where do you live now?

Mark
06-08-2006, 10:55 AM
twixplz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Editor

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! We always like and appreciate local input. One thing to note, this poster is planning on traveling to Lake Tahoe from Las Vegas via Death Valley and so they wouldn't be using I-15 to Barstow.
Well, now, you can share more information with the rest of us! Welcome!

Where do you live now?

Mark

Oh! Gosh I totally looked over that detail when I was reading. My apologies! You look to have covered it though, so hopefully I didn't cause too much confusion.

And nowadays I call Houston, Texas home :) I've traveled to 36 out of 50 states, at last count (and I'm only 27, so I've got lots of time heh).
06-08-2006, 11:03 AM
Mark Sedenquist

Lot of "interesting" memories from Houston!

Quote:

Originally Posted by twixplz

And nowadays I call Houston, Texas home :) I've traveled to 36 out of 50 states, at last count (and I'm only 27, so I've got lots of time heh).

That is a goodly number, I have been in 50 US states, five Canadian provinces, two Mexican states, driven slightly over 1 million miles and still consider my "roadtrip coverage" to have been less than ~13% of what there is to see in North America. So, you have lots more exploring left to go.

Houston, I have never seen an area flood faster than Houston in a tropical storm. Plenty of interesting memories from there.

What is your favorite road trip place within one hour of Houston? We are big advocates for the concept of the Two Hour RoadTrip around here!

Mark
06-08-2006, 11:31 AM
twixplz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Editor

Houston, I have never seen an area flood faster than Houston in a tropical storm. Plenty of interesting memories from there.

Oh I know exactly what you mean. I'm originally from California and until I moved here (about 4.5 years ago) I had never seen rain like this. There have been times when we've been out driving and had to pull off the road because we can't see the front of our car for all the rain. I love it though :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Editor

What is your favorite road trip place within one hour of Houston? We are big advocates for the concept of the Two Hour RoadTrip around here!

Wow there's so many, it's hard to pick. We're lucky to have two totally beautiful and unique cities within three hours - Austin and San Antonio. Closer though, I think I'd have to say Brenham. Not only do you get to experience the beginnings of the Hill Country with its country lanes that show off bluebonnets and thick forests, you also get to visit the Blue Bell ice cream factory. Being a guy who is fond of ice cream, it's a great stop. You can drive out there on Highway 290 and/or take little scenic farm-to-market roads back to town.
06-08-2006, 01:52 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Blue Bell ice cream factory & Brenham!

Quote:

Originally Posted by twixplz

Wow there's so many, it's hard to pick. We're lucky to have two totally beautiful and unique cities within three hours - Austin and San Antonio. Closer though, I think I'd have to say Brenham. Not only do you get to experience the beginnings of the Hill Country with its country lanes that show off bluebonnets and thick forests, you also get to visit the Blue Bell ice cream factory.

Hey, that is very cool to know. As a Texan resident, you may already know about TexasEscapes.com, but if not, you are in for a treat -- I have found all sorts of amazing Texan hideaways and historical factoids on this site.

Mark
06-08-2006, 01:56 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Getting back to Jenga's post...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenga

Then all the way down PCH stopping off a lot!
Finishing at San Diego

There is a great book, that I use whenever I am cruising PCH, you can read about it here and look at our other book recommendations. The way we handle book reviews on this site, is that these are all personal recommendations of the reviewer -- we reject several titles each year -- if a review is published here -- then we personally use the product/book/CD/Map etc.

Mark
06-08-2006, 02:11 PM
Jenga

Yep, I bought that book a little while ago on a recommendation I read here! I'll have a look what else is recommended and take a little selection with me. I drove the PCH once years ago (well ok, I was a passenger, like I will be this time - I never did get round to passing a test!), but last time drove straight down in two or three days; this time I want to really liiiingerrrr over it all. I'm pretty sure we won't have too many problems on that part of the trip, it's really the meandering around Death Valley and Yosemite on the way to Tahoe that I'm unclear about - working out A to B to C to D etc, and working out which side of them to drive through or skirt round, rather than taking one major road from LV to Tahoe etc that's confusing - though I need to have some patience and look at a map .... it wouldn't be the normal regular getting lost would it? I have visions of getting lost in Yosemite and getting eaten by bears.
06-08-2006, 02:52 PM
Mark Sedenquist

Getting Sleepy about then

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenga

I have visions of getting lost in Yosemite and getting eaten by bears.

Nah, those bears will be silky, fat and sleepy then. Right now is a different tale. The heavy snow pack has driven many of those hungry, irritated and grumpy "old timers" down into the campgrounds and parking lots. A few cars are getting "opened" without the benefit of keys and the park rangers are on high alert to keep run-ins between human guests and those groucy bears to a minimum. I have personal experience with some of those aforementioned bears in the high country of Yosemite. Not a trifling matter.

Mark