West coast road trip - Early planning

Hellooo across the ocean :)

First i'd like to say that this site is awesome!! :) Exactly what i need.

Since this is my first post on this forum, i'll introduce myself. My name is Miha and i come from Slovenia. It's in Europe... :) Yes we have internet in our little country and no we are not in a war and poverty :P
I just graduated from college (Electrical Automation) and now i have more free time for planing my road trip on the West coast next summer. Yes it's early planning :) but as you say "early bird catches the worm" i want to book a plane, car, hotels, camps... this year and until then i would like to know everything about my route.
I have put together a route and places we would like to see and for now i would just like some coments about it.
I don't know how many people we will be, but one car will be enough. We'll go for 3 weeks in the end of july/beginning of august 2011. There are many places we would like to see (SF, Yosemite, Sequoia, LA, Calico, Vegas, Death valley, Hoover dam, Grand canion, R66, Antelope canion, Navaho NM, Monument valey, Arches NP, Bryce canyon, Zion, Lake Tahoe...). Some places are marked on map below. Route between them is made my google:



What do you think?
I wont ask those standard questions that has been answered a gazillion times on this forum. At least not now :)
For now i would like to know if google's route is ok?
And what interesting is to see on route from Arches NP/Zion NP to SF? That part of my route is quite empty :) Would it be beter if we go throu Salt Lake City and on I-80 to SF?

We are planning to land in SF and then stay a few days somewhere by the beach. Relaxing :). Don't know where exactly yet. Sugestions? We will rent a car when we'll leave SF so it has to be in a "normal taxi price area" :)
Then the road trip starts :) Camping will be the first option and then motels/hotels where the weather will be too cruel for camping (heat, cold?, rain...) We are planning to stay in LV for 2 days and maybe in Grand canyon vilage for 2 days. In other places only for a day.

Ok, that is enough for now :)

Thanx for reading and maybe answering :)
And sorry for typos... Well... they're not typos... it's my english... :D

Have a nice day/night.

Miha

Welcome to the RoadTrip America Forum!

This is quite an ambitious trip plan considering the amount of ground you are expecting to cover in the amount of time that you will be here. I would recommend against making reservations for hotels this early since a)I'm not sure if most places even reserve that far in advance and b) you don't know how many will be in your group, which could change your outlook. The national parks you would want to reserve ahead of time, where possible, but even still, making reservations would force you to stick to a hard and fast plan and wouldn't leave much room for exploring and side trips (also known as "errors" to the terse minded).

Hello and welcome !

As Tim mentioned there won't be much time for relaxing but your trip is doable, although I think you could streamline it a little.

Starting from SF you could head South along route 1 to LA, this is one of the most spectacular and famous coastal drives in the world, and not part of your plans at the moment. From LA head direct to the Grand canyon and then continue your trip to Zion NP as you have it above. From Zion head down I 15 to Vegas and then head back to SF via Death valley and Yosemite. You could continue to Sequoia before heading across to SF or visit the grove of giant Sequoia tree's at Mariposa grove in Yosemite. You really need a minimum of 2 days in Yosemite to enjoy it's splendour.

If you wanted to trim back for a more relaxed pace, I personally would take Calico, Winslow, LA and Sequoia out, in that order of preference [mine that is]. Arches NP is wonderful but you could cut out some miles by going from GC to Monument valley and then through Page to Bryce and Zion NP's, instead of the "long way around" via Arches..

You need to book the National parks lodgings or Campgrounds at the earliest possible time available, to secure places in the high season, but you will not be able to until the booking windows open, usually 5 or 6 Months in advance. Check out nps.gov where you will find all the info you need on all the parks.

Thanx for reply Mass Tim.
Yes, i know it's a lot of miles for that amount time. I'm shortening this trip everytime i look at it. At the beginning Yellowstone was included in this trip :) So if necessary this route will get even shorter. If i cancel Flagstaff and Lake Tahoe the trip gets quite shorter. And time in SF can shorten too.
I didn't mean to reserve now. But somewere to the end of this year. Plane ticket a litle sooner, then car and parks, hotels... And of course after we know everything there is to know (how many of us, exact route, dates of stay in places...). That's why i started planning so soon. Plans need to marinate for a while so that miscalculations show up :D
For "errors" im planning to leave some "floating" days betwen different reservations.

edit: Thanx Streamlining. You replied while i was typing. I'm gonna go through your suggestions.

Streamlining i like your route :)

Trip gets much shorter.

This is the short version without Sequoia NP, Lake Tahoe, Winslow and Arches NP:




I think this will be a new base route for my planning :) I'd like to include Sequoia NP and Arches NP in it.

Tnx Streamlining :)

Hi Miha, it's "Streamlining" ! Actually it's Dave [Southwest Dave] but you can call me what you want ;-) Lol ! [Streamlining was actually the title of my reply]

Your trip will take different shapes as you continue to explore the possibilities, of which there are many.

To work with your map and add Arches and Sequoia it would look something like this.



You will notice that I have shown you a different way to Bryce canyon, passing Capitol Reef NP and along Scenic byway 12 in Utah, a wonderful drive. , but that's optional
To give you an idea of how this could work, and how quickly time goes, you could build on the following, 3 nights SF, 2 nights along the coast to LA [Carmel and Cambria ?]2 nights LA, long drive to Grand canyon 2nights, Moab 2 nights [Arches/Canyonlands] 1 night Bryce canyon, 2 nights Zion, 2 nights Vegas, 1 night Death valley [or Lone Pine/Bishop, 2 nights Yosemite, I night Seqouia and back to SF.

Some journeys you might want to break up a little and you may want to spend more time in certain places and less in others, but that should be a good base to start your planning from. Of course there are many wonderful things in between such as Monument valley, and I also realise that I have missed out Page/Lake Powell where you will have to adjust things to work it in.

You will need to take the 163 from Kayenta to go to Monument valley, not the 160 as shown on the map.

Rofl :) Sorry for renaming you Southwest Dave :) Streamlining did feel a little odd. Don't know what i was thinking. Nothing i guess :)

Im gonna add Page to your route and see what mileage/times i'll get. Tnx.
Is there anything interesting to see on the road from LA/Calico to Grand canyon?

It's a long day on the road from LA to Grand canyon, but if you are heading to Calico and spending a night somewhere in between the two, you could pick up parts of old route 66 through Amboy, Oatman, Kingman and Seligman. If you have an old shoe you could add to the collection on the Amboy shoe tree. You could continue to Baker from Calico and drive through the Mojave preserve. If you were not to go to Calico, you could head through Joshua tree NP.

There is going to be plenty to see and do throughout your trip, but as with most of us, time will limiting.

Amboy shoe tree is dead :( ... source
Is Joshua tree NP worth seeing? Or is Calico better? Yes i know that depends on my taste, but i like NPs and old towns like that.
Questions about campgrounds:
Calico is too hot for camping in late july, right?
Camping in the Desert View Campground by the Grand canyon village is not a problem, right?
How about camping in Mitten View Campground in Monument valley? Too hot in july?
The Devils Garden Campground in Arches NP? Or some other camp in Moab area? By the river maybe?
Texas springs campground in death valley?
Camping in Yosemite and Sequoia?


This is the whole route now:




First Sequoia and then Yosemite or like in your (Dave's) route first Yosemite and then Sequoia?

Shame about the tree ! :-(

I think I would go through Joshua tree, mainly because Calico has become more of a tourist attraction, but that's a personal opinion.

The desert areas are going to get hot, but can still see cool nights. Of course no one can predict the weather but by looking at climate data in each place will give you an idea of averages. Death valley I would imagine will be too hot to enjoy camping and you might be better off continuing through. The nps find a park map is a great tool for locating every park and by clicking on the link you will get detailed info on each one.

Desert view campground is about 25 miles from the village near the East entrance, Mather campground is within walking distance of the village and rim, but it would need booking, as will all nps campgrounds to guarantee a place.

I loved the Devils garden campground right at the far end of Arches NP, a wonderful location but it'll be hot I expect, Moab offers plenty of lodgings nearby but is very popular.

For Sequoia, Lodgepole is in a good location and reservable and for Yosemite I would recommend one of the "Pines" campgrounds [Lower/middle/North] which are huddled together in a wooded setting on the Valley floor.

Why I suggested Yosemite first is because it will take you into Yosemite via the Tioga pass [CA120] which has splendid views and is a big part of the Yosemite experience, but either way will work.

Hi :)

I've been reading similar posts on this forum for months and things are much clearer now. I advice everyone to read a few topics or use search before asking questions answered in every second post here. I've read every topic about south-west US all the way back to beginning of 2009. Yes it's a lot of reading :)
I'm amazed at how many times you "RoadTrip Gurus" answer the exact same questions over and over and over... Anyway, you answered many of my questions and gave me a lot of ideas. I thank you for that.
Dave i've read your "San Francisco Loop" report with my mouth open :) The trip is similar to mine so you gave me a lot of useful info.
Ok, before i make my itinerary i have a few random questions.
1. Where on CA1 can we swim in the ocean. I've read that north of LA the water is too cold for normal people. We'll stay one night in LA and i need some sugestions for a hotel near a nice beach with not so many people. Something like in Baywatch :) But not south of Huntington beach. Maybe it will be clearer what i want when i'll post my itinerary.
2. We'll buy camping gear in SF somewere. We need everything from tent to cooler to air mattress to chairs... Yes i like to be comfortable even on camping. Can i get all this in Walmart Supercenter Store in SF? And at the end of our trip i woud like to donate this gear. How can i do that without running all over SF to find some donation center. Can i leave that somewere on the airport?
3. Rentacars allow driving thru Moki Dugway right?
4. Seeing LA will be mostly through windshield. But i would like to walk on Walk of fame. Is parking a problem in the LA center?
5. While reading some posts here i came across a word that i can't get out of my mind now. MONSOON SEASON. Should I be worried about that?
6. Time zones end/start are marked with signs by the road right?
7. From Zion NP to Vegas we would like to take a quick swim in lake Mead. Where can we do that?

Ok, this is it for now :) Tnx for reading and maby answering.

Have a nice day.

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Originally Posted by MihaT.

Hi :)
1. Where on CA1 can we swim in the ocean. I've read that north of LA the water is too cold for normal people. We'll stay one night in LA and i need some sugestions for a hotel near a nice beach with not so many people.

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You need to understand that all of California is cold water beaches - which is a function of Ocean currents. Even in Southern California the water temperature rarely reaches 70 degrees, but during the late summer when you'll be traveling, that should be fine. Here's a good review of your options.

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2. We'll buy camping gear in SF somewere. We need everything from tent to cooler to air mattress to chairs... Yes i like to be comfortable even on camping. Can i get all this in Walmart Supercenter Store in SF? And at the end of our trip i woud like to donate this gear. How can i do that without running all over SF to find some donation center. Can i leave that somewere on the airport?

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Yes, you can get pretty much everything at Walmart - although you might want to look at at sporting goods store if you want more selection or higher quality - but you can certainly get all the basics there.

You certainly can't just leave stuff at the airport (that applies to pretty much anything these days), I'd try to locate a Goodwill or a Salvation Army which are two of the bigger names when it comes to taking donations.

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3. Rentacars allow driving thru Moki Dugway right?

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You'll need to check the specifics of your rental contact - but I know others have made the trip in a rental.

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4. Seeing LA will be mostly through windshield. But i would like to walk on Walk of fame. Is parking a problem in the LA center?

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Hollywood/Walk of Fame really isn't LA Center, but you shouldn't have too much trouble parking - LA is car capital of the world afterall - I know I've parked in a ramp right at the Kodak Theatre, but I'm sure there are plenty of other options.

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5. While reading some posts here i came across a word that i can't get out of my mind now. MONSOON SEASON. Should I be worried about that?

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Trust me - that one sounds far worse than it is. Basically, that refers to the rainy season in the desert, where the weather pattern actually brings moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the southwest. However, even there, I don't think you'll be traveling in an area that's even impacted by it (unless you decide to go more towards the Phoenix area).

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6. Time zones end/start are marked with signs by the road right?

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Usually, although in this case, all of your time zone changes will also be state lines - you'll change you clock when ever you enter or exit Utah.

Note that in the summer, Arizona is a bit different - Daylight Savings Time is only observed on the Indian reservations, the rest of the state is on standard time year round. This map may be helpful.

I would recommend you inquire locally before taking the Moki. It may be pretty nasty if it's rained recently and/or it hasn't been graded in a while.

Since you'll be doing this in the summer, not backpacking, and not sleeping at altitude, basic 'car camping' sleeping bags and other gear should be fine; otherwise I'd recommend hitting a place like REI for serious gear.

The large stores where you should be able to find your gear include Walmart, KMart and Target, among others. You'll want to pick up your car first (more thoughts on that below).

San Francisco is not Walmart country, nor is San Mateo county (where the airport is, and the next county you'll pass through as you head south). In Santa Clara and Monterey counties there will be Walmarts; but you may want to do some web research beforehand to have a plan on which one(s) you'll want to hit.

You'll be covering a lot of miles, so you want to consider your rental contract in terms of free miles/day or unlimited miles.

You also should shop around to see if you can get a better rate at the airport or other locations (sometimes the airport is more expensive).

Have a great trip!

Thank you Michael
#6 Yes I know Utah is not on PST. The Indian reservation time (as glc mentioned) puzzled me. More specifically on the road from Desert view to Page. Because we will go on Antelope canyon tour and we don't want to be late.

Thank you glc
So Moki road isn't always good. At the hotel in Monument valley or somewhere in Mexican hat will know about the current condition of the road right? I don't want to risk it on a bad road, especially going up hill.


Thank you CalOldBlue
I was looking at Walmart Supercenter Store in American Canyon, CA. But i saw that they have free shipping from online store to any store. So i will probably order online and then pick up somewhere on the road from SF to Cambria where we will be camping for the first time. Hmmm, having said that, this doesn't feel so wise anymore. I'll have to check their "Site to Store" policy.

Yes, unlimited miles is the first thing i check.

We'll probably stay at a hotel in SF that has a free shuttle bus service from the airport, so we won't have to rent a car on the first day at the airport. We'll see where will be the cheapest.

Hi Miha,

The Moki can get a washboard effect and be rutted if there has been heavy rains making it a little "interesting," but generally speaking it isn't too bad. [As you saw in the report we took the RV down there]. You should be able to pick up some local intel on the condition if there has been heavy rains prior to your arrival, and if you don't like the look of it you can always turn around and go the longer way around, it's a very short drive from Mexican hat to the start of the Moki.

There is an REI that Don mentioned in SF so it will be worth investigating, to compare costs against hassle. I see they do tents for less than $100.

We stayed at the Best Western Grosvenor airport Hotel and it offered superb value for money when we travelled. We booked direct and saved quite a bit on Internet site prices too. It was a while ago so make sure you do your homework.

Ok. Moki is an option that we will decide on the road.

Yes, i looked at Best Western Grosvenor hotel and it's about 150$/day incl. tax + parking fee. That seems reasonable for SF. And you get complimentary breakfast if you book through their website and they have free shuttle bus from/to the airport.
Thank you Dave.

I just dug out my road atlas with a listing of all Walmart stores. You have several options between SFO and Monterey. There are regular stores in Mountain View, San Jose, Marina, and Salinas - and Supercenters in Morgan Hill and Gilroy. I don't know how much better the selection would be at a Supercenter - the main differences are the Supercenters have a full grocery and are generally open 24 hours. I do know that for camping equipment they carry the Coleman brand and Ozark Trail, which is their private label.

I don't think I'd use the ship to store - I'd just go in and buy off the shelf.

Antelope Canyon is on MST year-round, same as the south rim of the GC.

We paid about half that amount for a standard double room with breakfast. It was a while back, but having had a look on their site I see a standard double for around $108 with tax at the end of July 2011.

I assume you're going to want to do some hiking in places like Arches and other Southwest parks. A few things to include in your "Walmart list":

Duct tape for emergency tent and air mattress repairs.
Day pack for hiking.
Several water botttles.
Moleskin (and scissors) and elastic bandages ("Band aids") for blisters.
Sunscreen.
Flashlights (plus a headlamp or two from somebody like Petzl; great for reading in bed and when you need your hands free in the dark).
Spare batteries for all the above.

As for water. It can get really hot on the trail (especially in the Southwest parks). You're going to want and NEED water. I probably need more water than most people, but I usually carry 3 liters (quarts) of water (in 3, 1-liter bottles) if I'm going to be hiking all day. I carry two in my pack and one hanging from my belt on a carabiner so it's handy for taking a quick drink (water you don't drink isn't doing you any good).

On one hike, 3 liters wasn't enough. My wife and I hiked 4-6 miles in Supai canyon on a hot day. Thankfully close to the turnaround we ran into one of the tribe members selling Gatorade for $5 a bottle out of a cooler. Best $10 I ever spent, as our water was about gone and we were only halfway done.

As for footwear; unless you're going off-trail decent athletic shoes will be fine.

Hiking in a National Park is the best way to really experience the park, I highly suggest (depending on your time and fitness level) that you try to do as much as possible.

One more thing: since we're talking hiking options; check out this thread.

glc
Walmart has a lot more stuff in online store than in normal stores. Many products has a "Not Sold in Stores" sign online. That is the only reason i want to use the "ship to store". But i like to see up close what i buy, so i'll probably buy off the shelf on the way.
Yes i see now that Page is not in the Navajo Nation territory. I thought that Colorado river is the border. But Antelope Canyon is in the Navajo Nation territory where DST is observed?

Dave
Best Western Grosvenor hotel
Check in: 14. julij 2011
Check out: 15. julij 2011
1 night, 2 adults
Deluxe Room - One King Bed - $110,00
$124,50 with Tourism Tax and Room Tax

But at the bottom of the page in reservation terms you can see:
-"Rates displayed do not include 10% occupancy tax and $3.50 city tax"
-"$3 Daily Parking Fee"

That is how i got to $150 :)

We'll stay 2 nights in SF so it's gonna be about $280. hmmm... that's not so cheap any more. Maybe a queen bed will do :)

CalOldBlue

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I assume you're going to want to do some hiking...

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NO :)
Well, maybe a little. On the trails around parks. There wont be much time for long hikes and the heat will probably be a factor too.
Thanx for the tips and list.
I know that water, sunscreen and wide-brim hat is a must in the southwest.
We have a lot of experience in camping and hiking so that is not gonna be a problem.
Yes, Zion narrows is a must.

O, and where is a good place to swim in lake Mead? Not in the cities or marinas. Is there a road that gets to the lake where there is still natural beach? We will stop there on the way from Zion to Vegas.

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Originally Posted by MihaT.

glc
Walmart has a lot more stuff in online store than in normal stores. Many products has a "Not Sold in Stores" sign online. That is the only reason i want to use the "ship to store".

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Don't let the "not sold in stores" fool you, Wal-mart may have a different selection of items online, but I really don't think you're going to find that they have more stuff.

What generally is the case with their online items, they may carry a different brand or model number for their website, but you'll almost always be able to find similar items - and usually a greater selection - when you actually go inside the store.

I verified on the official Antelope Canyon site that they do NOT observe DST.

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Entrance Fee Station Hours (Mountain Standard Time year round)
Summer (March-Oct) 8:00am - 5:00pm
Current Hours until 11/25/09 9:00am - 3:00pm, 7 Days a week

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Thanks Michael, i'll keep that in mind.

Thanks glc. Don't know why didn't i go to their site to check opening time.


Have a nice day.

I'm planing my days on CA-1 and i just can't decide where to stay.
I was looking at Pfeiffer Big Sur campground, but it's "too close" to SF and too far to LA. So if i would stay at Big Sur i would have to stay somewhere around Oxnard the second night. Hmm... maybe that is not so bad. Is there a good camping around Malibu?
Is this doable:
1. day: Late morning from SF to Pfeiffer campground. Checking the coast and Pfeiffer waterfall.
2. day: Pfeiffer campground to Malibu. Checking the coast.
3. day: Malibu to Palm Springs. Seeing LA. How much time do you think i will have in LA?
4. day: Palm Springs to GC
...

I'm not planning a whole day in LA, but that is up to traffic. I just want to see that "standard" sights.

Ok, PCH is planned. First day in Pfeiffer Big Sur SP campground and the second in Leo Carrillo SP campground. They have good reviews.
But i still don't know if i can get from Malibu to Palm Springs in one day and see some LA on the way. Google says it's gonna be 5 hours driving in traffic. Let's say 6 with pit stops. Is that realistic? Will there be time for a few hours of sightseeing in LA?

It's only about 150 miles from Malibu to Palm Springs. I think your plan is realistic, but be prepared for some really slow going in morning and evening rush hours.

Itinerary is completed... maybe :)

This is the plan:

Day 1. SF
Landing in SF. Relaxing. Sleep somewhere near airport.

Day 2. SF
Pick up a car. Be a turist for this day. Sleep somewhere near airport.

Day 3. CA1, SF - Big Sur 230km, 3h
Leave SF early. Castroville, Monterey, maybe 17mile drive, Carmel, McWay falls. Sleep in Pfeiffer camp in Big Sur.

Day 4. CA1, Big Sur - Malibu, 450km, 5h
Cambria, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Leo Carrillo SP, Malibu. Swimming in Pacific. Sleep in Leo Carrillo SP camp.

Day 5. LA, Malibu - Palm Springs, ?km, ?h
LA (Hollywood, Walk of Fame, Beverly Hils, Venice Beach, Sunset Strip, Bell Air...). Sleep somewhere in Palm Springs.

Day 6. Joshua Tree, Palm Springs - Kingman, 520km, 7h
Leave early. Joshua Tree NP, lunch at Twentynine palms inn, maybe Lake Havasu. Sleep somewhere in Kingman.

Day 7. Grand Canyon, Kingman - Grand Canyon South, 530km, 6h
Route 66 through Peach Springs, Flagstaff, meteor crater, GC. Sleep in Mather camp.

Day 8. Grand Canyon
Staring in the canyon all day. Sleep in Mather camp.

Day 9. Monument valey, Grand Canyon South - Monument valey, 430km, 5h
Horseshoe Bend, Page, Antelope Canyon tour, Glen Canyon dam, Lake Powell, MV. Sleep in the View hotel.

Day 10. Arches NP, Monument valey - Arches NP, 300km, 5h
Leave early. MV, Mexican Hat, Gooseneck, maybe Moki Dugway, Wilson Arch, Hole in the Rock, Arches NP. Sleep at Devils garden camp.

Day 11. Island in the Sky, Devils garden - Island in the Sky - Devils garden, 250km, 5h
Mesa Arch, Upheval Dome, Green river overlook, Grand view point, Shafer Canyon overlook, Dead Horse point. Sleep at Devils garden camp.

Day 12. Bryce NP, Arches NP - Bryce NP, 500km, 7h
Capitol reef, Calf Creek, Bryce Canyon. Sleep at Sunset camp.

Day 13. Zion NP, Bryce NP - Zion NP, 140km, 2h
Bryce, Red Canyon, Zion. Sleep at Watchman camp.

Day 14. Zion NP
Admiring Zion. Sleep at Watchman camp.

Day 15. Las Vegas, Zion NP - Las Vegas, 300km, 4h
Valley of Fire, swimming in Lake Mead (don't know where), LV. Sleep in Luxor hotel.

Day 16. Las Vegas, LV - Hoover Dam - LV, 100km, 2h
Hoover dam, new bridge, win a jackpot or two. Sleep in Luxor hotel.

Day 17. Death Valley, Las Vegas - Lone Pine, 400km, 5h
Death valley, Furnace Creek, Sand Dunes, Badwater, Lone Pine. Sleep in BW Frontier Motel or Dow Villa Motel

Day 18. Yosemite NP, Lone Pine - Yosemite NP, 350km, 5h
Bishop (breakfast at Erick Shat's Bakery), Lakes June, Silver, Grand, Mono (maybe see an alien), Tioga pass, Toulumne, Yosemite. Sleep in one of Pine camps.

Day 19. Yosemite NP, Pine camp - Glacier point - camp, 100km, 3h
Falls, trails, points, crowds. Sleep in one of Pine camps.

Day 20. Sequoia NP, Yosemite NP - Sequoia NP, 300km, 4h
Mariposa Grove, Fresno, Grant's forest, Giant forest, trails. Sleep at Lodgepole camp.

Day 21. SF, Sequoia NP - SF, 450km, 5h
Returning the car, donating excess luggage. Sleep somewhere near SFO airport.

Day 22. SF
Fly home. Sleep on a plane :)

Day 23. home
Writing a report of the trip on Roadtripamerica.com :)


This miles and times are only for driving. It's gonna take longer with stops and traffic.

What do you think? :)


This is the route:

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/8...groute2.th.jpg

I don't know why google maps doesn't show my routes anymore, on forum embeded maps.

Exact date is not yet determined but the trip is gonna be between july 15 and august 15, 2011. On what days would you put weekends? Yosemite is probably a must during workdays.

Thank you for reading :)

You seem to have a handle on things. There are some day's you have quite a lot to take in, but if you stay in one place a little longer and not make it to another then so be it, you won't be missing out. Leaving things open to change is the one of the great things about the roadtrip.

If you are spending the first couple of nights near to the airport, I wouldn't pick up your car until later in the day on day 2, or on day 3 depending on how early you want to start. Some airport hotels have free shuttle bus services to and from the airport as mentioned. SF is a compact City and easy to get around the centre, so we took the free shuttle bus back to the airport and used the BART rail system to get downtown, which I think you would find easier than trying to drive and park in the City.

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Exact date is not yet determined but the trip is gonna be between july 15 and august 15, 2011. On what days would you put weekends? Yosemite is probably a must during workdays

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Weekends in the NP's will be the busiest, but this time of year you are going to get a lot of visitors anyway. Once you're 'in' you can find quiet spots away from the crowds, but the kiosks and main areas can get busy. Not sure if it has been mentioned, but secure your campsites as soon as the booking window opens, they can sell out within hours of becoming available !! Also get an annual pass for $85, it will be cheaper than paying individual park fees. Get the pass at the first park you visit, or if you find yourself on 'Pier 39' in San Fran, they have an office up a flight of stairs where you can obtain one.

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Day 23. home
Writing a report of the trip on Roadtripamerica.com :)

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Will look forward to it !

Thanks for quick reply.

I'm gonna need the car on the second day because i want to drive lombard street and goldengate. Also we're going shopping for camping gear and i don't want to drag all that stuff on the bus. But i'm gonna rent it as late as i can.
Yes i know about the booking window for NPs. I've heard they are full within minutes.
Isn't annual pass 80$? It doesn't matter... I'll buy it in Joshua tree NP.

It's written on Yosemite site that yosemite falls can be dry in august. Do they mean dry like dry dry or just low on water. Has anyone been there in august?

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It's written on Yosemite site that yosemite falls can be dry in august. Do they mean dry like dry dry or just low on water. Has anyone been there in august?

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They mean it can be dry, as in dry. The main flow season is Spring and early summer when the snow melt is at it's peak. If there has been rains you might get a 'trickle treat', as dissapointing as it may be your surroundings will more than make up for it !

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Isn't annual pass 80$?

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Yes it is. I would like a dollar for everytime I have written it as well, so I have no idea of what I was thinking ! Lol.

It's $85 if you order it over the Internet and have it mailed to you - they add a $5 service charge. Buying it at a park is $80, you can buy it right at the entrance kiosk.

However, in your case I would recommend you buy it at Pier 39 as long as you will be in SF anyway.

One more question. Where can i see saguaro cactus? I know they are around Tucson but that is too far from my route. Are there any near the border CA/AZ? Maybe on the AZ95 from I10 to I40?

Change of plan. From Palm Springs we'll go to Phoenix (I-10) and stay somewhere around Cave Creek. Full Circle Ranch B&B Inn seems nice. Next day up the I-17 to Flagstaff and then continue with the posted plan.

That will cure your Saguaro cactus hunt then ! It's said that while in Arizona you learn that you will only ever hug a Cactus once in a lifetime. :-)

I've not been, but came across the Desert Botanical gardens.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Southwest Dave

...you will only ever hug a Cactus once in a lifetime. :-)

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How did you know i meant to do that :P

This garden looks interesting. It's 15$ pp and it's on the other side of the city so... we'll see.

I'm back from an amazing roadtrip. Here is the report.