California tour check-up

Hello everyone!
I'm happy to be back on this great forum! It was a precious help on my previous roadtrip a couple years back (Las Vegas to Denver and back).

I am now planning a 16 days roadtrip around California. I have read many other post about similar trips but I'd just like to get some more experienced roadtrippers to 'validate' my itinerary as I still have a some questions to answer.

Here's my itinerary:

Aug 1: Arrival at Las Vegas.
Aug 2: Chilling in Las Vegas.
Aug 3: Pick up the car and go to Grand Canyon south rim. I've been there before but my girlfriend hasn't and even though it is a detour on the Cali tour, I think it'd be stupid not to bring her there as she might not have any chance to see it (she's european).
Aug 4: Hiking in Grand Canyon (trail suggestions are welcome).
Aug 5: Back on the road toward California. Destination: Big Sur (San Simeon). I know I can't reach it in one day's drive. What's is my best plan? Camping at Mojave Nat' Park, or Lake Isabella, or somewhere else?
Aug 6: Getting to San Simeon, then driving on US-1 up to Monterey. Overnight there or (suggestion?).
Aug 7: Going to San Fransisco.
Aug 8: SF
Aug 9: SF
Aug 10: SF (Are 3 full days in SF too much?)
Aug 11: Going to Yosemite
Aug 12: Yosemite
Aug 13: Yosemite to Kings Canyon/Sequoia Park
Aug 14: Kings Canyon/Sequoia Park to Lake Isabella.
Aug 15: From Lake Isabella to Death Valley and back to Vegas (late afternoon, early evening)

-Is this tour doable in 2 weeks?
-How much time should we really spend driving on Big Sur?
-I'd really like to go to South Lake Tahoe. Would it be worth it to shorten my stay in SF and maybe not stay at Kings Canyon overnight (just passing through during the day) to make it possible?

Thanks for helping out!!

Hi Fred, welcome back to RTA !

Your itinerary looks good, is well laid out and is doable in 14 days. Lake Tahoe would be possible but you might start stretching things a little. I also don't think that 3 days in SF is to much but I would be looking for that extra day from GC to San Simeon and SF looks to be the place to take it from. For that journey I would see at what time you leave the canyon and stop when you feel like it. If you wanted to tour part of the original route '66 through Seligman, Kingman and onto Oatman a stop at Lake Havasu city [London bridge] or Laughlin could be possible or you could push on to the Bakersfield area and max your time on the coast. I wouldn't detour to Lake Isabella as you are there later in your trip. Two full days and arriving in San Fran in the evening will let you enjoy the coastal drive and some points of interest.
If you progress South from Yosemite through Kings canyon and Sequoia NP it would also be possible to drive through the Sequoia NM through Johnsondale and Kernville, although it's very scenic it is slow going and would make for a long couple of days.
Another way to "tweak" some of these issues would be to leave [as an example] the GC and SF late afternoon the day before planned and get a few hours of driving under your belt.

Thanks for your advices Soutwest Dave! Really appreciated!

If I understand correctly, your suggestion would be to do something like this:
Aug 5: From Grand Canyon to Lake Havasu City (what about camping out at Mojave?)
Aug 6: Then going towards Bakersfield (is this really a place to be or should I look for a 'nicer' spot to stop at?)
Aug 7: Bakersfield to Monterey
Aug 8: Monterery to SF
Aug 9: SF

-I'm not sure taking two days on that route (GC to San Simeon) is really in order and I think getting to Bakersfield from GC would be too much in one day (would't?) Could a stop in Barstow be a better alternative so that I get to Big Sur in 2 days instead of 3?
-From Monterey to SF, is it worth it to keep going on US-1 or if I should get on the 101 right away?

I was suggesting just one overnight stop to San Simeon and was suggesting the earliest point at which you could stop was Lake Havasu or if you got away from GC early and skipped route '66 or any other major sight seeing Bakersfield would be about as far as I would recommend travelling, so anywhere in between the two would do.
So basically GC to Barstow [for example] 1st night [5th]> to San Simeon 2nd night [6th] > to Monterey 3rd night [7th] to SF [8th]. That would give you more time to explore the coast and maybe do a Hearst castle tour and other sight seeing.

Either Barstow or Bakersfield would be a suitable overnight stop just to spend the night. Neither city has anything really noteworthy to see.

Barstow and Bakersfield in August will be REALLY hot. A cooler and nicer place to stay on the CA58 route to San Simeon would be Tehachapi.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by glc

Neither city has anything really noteworthy to see.

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George, Come on.... Barstow is chock-full of roadside murals, it's a Route 66 city, there's a couple of great museums, fabulous place to go rock-hounding, etc. Bakersfield is a very larger farming and commerce center -- and like shirohniichan mentions above -- Tehachapi is a little cooler and a nice place for over-night.

Mark

Thank you all for your contribution!
Barstow and Tehchapi would seem like good spot for an overnight.
Tell me if I'm wrong, but my readings and some friends have told me that this I-40 highway isn't the most scenic and a pretty boring part of my trip. They have suggested passing through Utah/Nevada after Grand Canyon Park to reach California.
So I'd be going Vegas > GC > then road 89, 93, 6, 120 to Yosemite > SF > Big Sur > Sequoia/Kings Canyon > Death Valley> Back to Vegas
How long (days) would be that stretch from GC to Yosemite? Would it be a better itinerary than my previous plan? Or maybe you guys have another idea?

The most precious commodity you have on this trip is time and taking that detour you've mentioned will add 1-2 full days of driving. I-40 is a scenic highway, it parallels much of historic Route 66 and I suspect that those who would refer to it as boring, have never driven it.

Mark

I'm happy to hear that from you, Mark! I guess I'll stick to my original plan.
Thank you all for your help!

As you head across Death valley to Vegas the more direct route that will also take you past Furnace creek and close to Badwater [the lowest point in the USA] Zabriske point and the Armagosa opera house at Death valley junction is keeping on the 190 untill Death valley junction and then the locals route on the Ash meadows road to Pahrump and then 160 to Vegas. It's quite a spectacular journey.

So it's road 190 all the way through DV, then Ash Meadow road to Pahrump, and 160 to Vegas, right Southwest Dave?
Thanks for the tip! and sorry for the long delay for my reply... I've been quite busy lately!

If you scroll down this page, you'll see a map for the route. Going through Shoshone is pretty cool too -- Interesting town -- only adds about 20 minutes to the trip. Or if you just want to see the map, you can click here.

Mark

About this part of the trip (SF to Yosemite), I'm wondering what is the fastest path, and also, what would be the most scenic (and how long it would take)?

Hi Fred,

It will depend on if you are staying in the valley or where abouts outside the park. Leave SF on I-80 to I-580 E to I-205 and I-5 N for a couple of miles and then CA 120 Manteca. Continue on the 120 and the scenery and roads start to get real interesting around Priest grade as you near Groveland. If you were staying near to the South of the park you could head down CA 99 from Manteca to Merced and then towards Mariposa on CA 140. I would allow 4.5 to 5 hours from SF to Yosemite but it'll depend on traffic and getting out of the city.

Hi Dave,
I still don't know where I'll be camping. We cannot make reservations for the park's campground sites for now and I was thinking to settle in a campground somewhere along Tioga pass road (seems there are a lot of them, and they don't take reservation)...
The path you described seems pretty straight forward... I guess I'll go with it! Thanks!

Now, I'm really wondering about the best road from Sequoia Park to Death Valley. I was thinking of making an overnight stop at Lake Isabella, but I'm wondering if Owens Lake would make a better stop? What would be the fastest route? The most scenic? Could Sherman's pass be an option? I need some help here...

While Sequoia National Park and Death Valley are quite close as the crow flies, there is no road that cross the Sierras to link them. That means the fastest way to get between them, and the fastest way to get from Sequoia to Owens Lake is a 6-7 hour drive.

You could take Sherman Pass, which is a nice scenic trip, but it is also pretty slow going and would make for a very full day drive from Sequoia National Park. Here's some more info about that route and your other options here.

Speaking of Mountains, I'm also a little confused that you are now talking about taking Tioga Pass, which again would put you on the wrong side of the the Sierra from Sequoia. Since your plan seems to be developing as you learn more, it would probably be helpful to repost your current trip outline.

Thanks for the links Michael! I'll read them later at work.
About the Tioga road, unless there are available camping spots in Upper/Lower Pines in Yosemite, I think I'll have to camp along the Tioga road. I don't necessarily intend to drive from one end of the park to the other on that road. I could set camp around Yosemite creek for instance, and leaving for Sequoia/Kings from the west side. How does that sound?

But the way I look at it, it seems like goind to the Sequoia/Kings park will add LOTS of mileage in very few days. I'm starting to wonder if it's worthwhile. I'd get to the park mid-afternoon and would have to leave next morning... Lots of mileage, not a lot of time in the park. Maybe I could spend one more day around yosemite, and leave on the 14th, stopping somewhere en route to DV (on road 395), hence skipping the SQ/KC park. What do you guys think?

Here's what my itinirary looks like for now:

Aug 1: Arrival at Las Vegas.
Aug 2: Chilling in Las Vegas.
Aug 3: Pick up the car and go to Grand Canyon south rim.
Aug 4: Hiking in Grand Canyon.
Aug 5: Back on the road toward California. Stop around Barstow for the night.
Aug 6: Getting to San Simeon. Overnight there.
Aug 7: Driving on US-1 up to Monterey (Big Sur). Overnight there.
Aug 8: Going to San Fransisco (morning).
Aug 9: SF
Aug 10: SF
Aug 11: Going to Yosemite
Aug 12: Yosemite
Aug 13: Yosemite to Kings Canyon/Sequoia Park
Aug 14: Kings Canyon/Sequoia Park to Lake Isabella or Owens Lake.
Aug 15: Going to Death Valley and back to Vegas (late afternoon, early evening).

I could see that skipping Sequoia might make more sense with the route you've laid out, however there are a couple other options you could consider.

You might consider hitting Sequoia as you make your way west, between Barstow and the Coast. Or from San Francisco, you could go to Sequoia and then head back north to Yosemite.

There is a little north/south backtracking with both of those options, but it would let you see Sequoia, while making the trip from Yosemite to Death Valley direct via Death Valley.

I really enjoyed the drive through Sequoia and down the Generals highway, and as I mentioned earlier in the thread, the following day you could drive through the Sequoia NM to Lake Isabella. Yes, it's a lot of driving but the scenery is very entertaining and you get plenty of time to get out of the car and explore a little. Having said that if you opted for going over the Tioga pass you could get your big tree "fix" by visiting Mariposa grove on the Southern flank of Yosemite. Either way you might be better off splitting your two nights in Yosemite if possible, spending one night on Tioga and one near the Southern entrance to suit which way around you are going, ie; Tioga >Valley > South > Sequoia or, South > Valley > Tioga and over the pass. It would save some doubling back over the same ground.

Thanks for those great tip Michael and Dave!

Let's say I would stop to Sequoia/Kings on my way to the coast and spend 2 days there (aug 6+7). I'd get to San Simeon on the 8th and sleep there. Could I drive along the coast (Big Sur) up to SF in one day (aug 9)? Would I have enough time to enjoy the coast or would I have to jet it?

And what if I leave Yosemite for Vegas (without stopping by Sequoia/Kings), for a 2 day ride, going through DV on last day. What do you think of these places for an overnight: Alabama Hills (seems pretty center between Yosemite and DV), Devils Postpile (maybe too close to Yosemite, would make a long second day), or Brittlescone Pine Forrest (a little detour?)??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fred-Montreal

...what if I leave Yosemite for Vegas (without stopping by Sequoia/Kings), for a 2 day ride, going through DV on last day. What do you think of these places for an overnight: Alabama Hills (seems pretty center between Yosemite and DV), Devils Postpile (maybe too close to Yosemite, would make a long second day), or Brittlescone Pine Forrest (a little detour?)??

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A couple thoughts:

The typical places to stop on this route would be Mammoth Lakes (near Devil's Postpile National Monument), Bishop, and Lone Pine.

Mammoth is almost certainly too close to Yosemite/too far from Death Valley to make sense, I would think Lone Pine (at the Alabama Hills) would be about right. You would have time to hit probably one or two of these that day without making it too long a day: Bodie, Mono Lake, Devil's Postpile, Bristlecone Pine forest, Alabama hills. Note that some roads may be dirt and may violate a car rental agreement.

Bodie and Devil's Postpile will require the biggest time commitment, and possibly Bristlecone Pine (have to admit it's still on my to-do list).

Lots of insight here about the LA to Monterey route, but I'd like to know if Cambria to SF is doable in one day?
Consider I will NOT spend time at Hearst Castle. Also, I'm wondering if I should stay on PCH-1 all along to SF or get back on a less scenic road after Castroville or Santa Cruz for instance...

Hello Fred,

In early November 2007 my wife and I drove the Castroville-Morro Bay segment, pretty much what you're looking at. We did not visit Hearst Castle but did spend nearly an hour at the nearby elephant seal beach and enjoyed a long lunch at Cambria.

We took on fuel just on the north side of Monterey at around 0930. We drove slowly and stopped at quite a number of pull-offs (perhaps two dozen?), and we arrived at Cambria, following the seal beach stop, by around 2:30pm. From there, recollection tells me it was around 30 minutes on to Morro Bay, where we headed inland to San Luis Obispo and US 101 for the remainder of our trip to Ventura.

So, no Hearst Castle, no exploration in and around Big Sur, but plenty of leisurely driving and lots of stops took us around 7 hours.

Earlier in the week, we'd driven from Half-Moon Bay to the Golden Gate. It was plenty nice, but pales in comparison to the Monterey-Cambria segment. One benefit of remaining on the PCH above Monterey is seeing Capitola and Santa Cruz. Each are funky beach towns with warrens of small shops, restaurants, bars, and wharfs to explore.

If you decide to head east from the PCH at Santa Cruz, be aware that CA 17 over the Coast Range is a major-league commuter route into the Silicon Valley from the beach communities. You don't want to be bucking that traffic in the morning, trust me.

Have fun planning and taking your RoadTrip!

Foy

Thanks for the tips, Foy!
That's exactly what I wanted to know!


(Moderator note: The last couple of posts have been moved from a "dead" thread from 2006. While we are glad you are looking at other and old threads for more information, please keep all of your questions about this trip in this thread. This will keep all of the information in the context of your entire trip and comes with the background of the advice that you've already been given. This is the second time we've had to move your posts back here.)

Hey guys,
just wanted to thank you all for your help!
I'll be on my way to Vegas in a few hours from now.
It's gonna be a blast! I'll let you know how it went!
Thanks again for the invaluable advices and tips!

Have a great time Fred and I look forward to you popping by and letting us know all about your trip !

Hello,

I'm planning to go for a California trip, Can anyone suggest me the best places to visit? I'm looking for natural things such as lake, valley,adventurature kind of things . Please suggest me with the best places.
Thank you!

Hello Lisa and welcome to RTA !

I suggest you start your own dedicated road trip thread to get the advice you need, but with more information included. We need to know when you are travelling and for how long and where you are starting from. The more you tell us the more personalised the advice will be.

Dave.