Road Trip, San Francisco-Las Vegas-Grand Cannyon-Los Angeles with stops

Hello RTA! I have been reading this forum for a few weeks now to get some tips and advice from all the threads and discussions here.
Me and my friend are going on a road trip as mentioned in the tittle. First I would like to present you our road trip itinerary and than I will ask some questions about it :).

Itinerary:
San francisco (14.4-18.4. 4 NIGHTS)rent a car in SF and drive to - Yosemite (18.4-19.4. 1 NIGHT) - drive to sequoia national park and than to Death Valley (19.4-20.4. 1 NIGHT camping/sleeping in the car)- Next morning or afternoon drive to Las Vegas (20.4-22.4 2 NIGHTS) - Drive to hoover dam for a quick stop and continiouing to Grand Cannyon (22.4-23.4 1 NIGHT) - drive to Joshua Tree (23.4-24.4 1 NIGHT)- and finally Los Angeles (24.4-28.4 4 NIGHTS).

So my questions:

Is this doable? I know it might be a tight schedule with those one night stays?

I am still looking for camping grounds just to stay and sleep overnight in our cars in (Death Valley, Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree), any suggestions? (best would be some campgrounds that provide some showers and restaurants/convenience stores since we wont have any camping gear)

Any good stops or interesting things we should not miss or seen in between those destinations?

It will be the first time I am coming to America and the first time that I will go on a road trip like this so any suggestions and recommendations will be appreciated! :). We have made some reservations already but nothing is 100% and can be changed except that the starting point is in San Francisco and that the end of the road has to be in LA and on 24.th April since we already paid for accommodation.

I am looking forward to hearing your responses! Thank you :)!

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

There's only 1 spot that is impossible, and that's Yosemite to Sequoia and then Death Valley on the same day. With Tioga Pass closed in April, it's a full day of driving to get from Yosemite to Death Valley without the extra detour to Sequoia. If you want to see both Sequoia and Death valley you'll have to add another overnight stop.

While everything else could work, as you mentioned, this is a very rushed trip and I wouldn't think about trying to add anything else to it.

I would really reconsider sleeping in your car. With 2 people, it's really, really difficult to find a way for 2 people to get comfortable enough for real sleep inside a car - and that's doubly true when you'll be in a rental car, so you won't be able to make any modifications - or even know what model you'll be driving to get an idea of what your sleeping situation will be like.

Even if you do stick with the idea of sleeping in your car in DV or Joshua Tree, I'd really wouldn't do it at the Grand Canyon, because you'll be at an elevation of 7,000 feet, and it could very easily drop below freezing overnight. Pretty reasonably priced motels can be found about an hour away in Williams.

All of the National Parks you are looking to visit have campgrounds, and many of them have showers etc, you need to look at the National Parks website to find out which ones will work best for you.

I would consider spending one night less in both SF and LA and spend some of your time enjoying the natural wonders rather than just racing through them.

Thank you Midwest Michael for the nice welcome and all the suggestions!
Yes the trip is a bit rushed because after the 14 days in america we are going to Canada and we already have all the flights booked. I look at it as an active holiday and it should be still enough time to enjoy every stop :)...
Yeah I taught that the Yosemite to Death Valley would be a bit too long. I am thinking of maybe staying in San Francisco only till the 17th April and than go to Yosemite and than from Yosemite to Sequoia and stay there for one more night on the 18 and than the drive from Sequoia to Death Valley and arrive there on the 19th as planned? That could work right?
We are two students so I think we can survive a rough sleep in a car, we will be renting a compact and it says Toyota Corolla or similar. So it should be a bit more spacious. Thank you for the recommendation about the stay in Grand Canyon. I didn't know it can get so cold in April there. Will def. look up some motels in the area.
Otherwise do you maybe have any good recommendations as to witch camp sites to choose in Death Valley, Sequoia and Joshua Tree?(if you stayed in any of them).. I will look up the website as well thank you.

@Southwest Dave I think we will stay one night less in San Francisco and squeeze one more night in Sequoia in. I'm not sure if we can modify our booking in L.A tho. Did you had any particular park that is worth seeing in mind?

Cutting a day from SF will make Sequoia possible.

Like I said, the NPS website will detail each campground, tell you what amenities they have and where they are located in the park. That's really going to be your best place to start - if you have some specific questions after that, then we'll be glad to help.

But I have to say, going with a compact car triples my previous concerns. Rest is not optional on a very busy trip like this, and that's just not possible in a tiny car that's barely big enough for two adults to sit, much less sleep. Again, the phrase is "or similar," so you don't know exactly what you're going to get and a compact car in the rental industry is generally includes some of the smallest cars on the market. I'm not sure how you are figuring "a bit more spacious."

It shouldn't cost much to pick up a 2 man tent and a couple sleeping bags at a Walmart, total cost should be under $75. When you are done with them, you can donate them to a charity shop such as Goodwill or Salvation Army or pack them in your luggage. In fact, you may even be able to buy them at one of those shops.

We really don't see the problem of sleeping in the car for 2-3 nights. But we will check out if we get any good prices on a tent and than decide if we buy it, thanks!

Soo I think that it would be a sin to not see Antelope canyon right?
I was thinking of doing it one day after seeing Grand Canyon. So if we stay in lets say Flagstaff and see Grand Canyon on the 22nd and the next day on the 23rd go to Antelope and drive later to Joshua N.P just to have a stop and sleep over before L.A. Is that doable? Or is there any better option/suggestion you guys would have? Is there maybe a better place/city to stay in between G.C and Antelope?

Another option is to stay in Flagstaff for 2 days and for one day enjoy Grand Canyon and the other day Antelope and also go to visit the meteor crater near Flagstaff and do the drive to Los Angeles the next day on the 24th and skip Joshua Tree entirely?

Antelope Canyon is owned by the Navajo, and I believe it's only open with tours and permits. You might want to research that a bit more.

Sunset Crater near Flagstaff is a much better prospect, IMHO, than the Meteor Crater near Winslow.


Donna

If you visit Antelope canyon then it would be best to head to Page AZ for the night after Grand canyon, but as has already pointed out you are already rushing through this part of the trip to spend multiple nights in City's, trying to add more without extra time is only going to highlight the problem more.

I remember car sleeping when I was younger, but those were the large Chevy, Ford cars with bench seats front and back, not so these days of bucket seats and a corolla rear seat is still crunchy. As suggested above, consider purchasing a tent, couple of sleeping bags and towels (most park showers do not provide them and they can double as head rests in the tent).

While at the shopping store you could also pick up a cooler and basic utensils.

Your driving schedule will take up a good bit of time squeezing your National Park and leisure time. Flagstaff to Los Angeles is a long haul in one day and you do want to a avoid the rush hour.

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Originally Posted by tomazrebic

We really don't see the problem of sleeping in the car .....

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Michael does see the problem, and he is more conversant with what is needed to stay safe on the road in the US, than you are. Living in the US he is only too aware of the thousands killed on the road each month, and is warning you. Fatigue is one of the killers, and the only way to avoid fatigue is to get a good night's sleep, every night.

Where are you flying in from. It is only when you get to the US and begin to see the distances to cover and just how tiring that can be that you will realise the importance of Michael's concerns. Mine too! If you do not get a GOOD night's restful sleep, then you end up becoming a danger on the road. It could turn a trip into a nightmare.

Bring warm clothes and rethink your plans. Either bring enough money for budget hotels or to buy a tent and some semi good (warm) sleeping bags and mats.

Lifey

You probably won't find them in the city, but if you keep an eye out for a big Walmart -- there's one in Dublin and one in Pleasanton, both could be on your way out of SF to Yosemite -- you'll find a decent sporting goods department. There you can pick up a not-too-expensive tent and a sleeping bag for each, plus a sleeping mat to keep you up off the cold hard ground. Make sure your tent has a floor -- all but the $10 models should have them -- as that will give you more insulation from the cold. A cheap cooler, cold and non-fridge food, and a bag of ice, plus some food, and you have some good camping gear.

I was just reading an article on one of the major medical websites, about road fatigue being just as deadly as driving drunk. Sleeping in your car, especially a compact without the ability to stretch out, can lead to that. Another thing about sleeping in your car....no bathroom!


Donna

I appreciate all your concerns and tips about sleeping in the car! We will definitely stop by a Walmart and try to find a good deal for a tent. If not we will be sleeping in the car only for 2 days in Sequoia and Death Valley. In all the other destinations we already booked hostels/hotels/motels and airbnb's. I know how fatigued you can be after just one night of bad sleep and I do take this seriously. If it comes to sleeping in a car I think both of us will get a decent night sleep.. maybe not as good like in a bed but still... I have sleep manny times on a bus sitting upright and I got a good 7 hours of sleep in the same position. Sleeping in a car with the sits down can only be better than that. Yes we will have our sleeping bags with us!

Thank you for the suggestion DonnaR57! We will try to go to sunset crater instead of meteor.

So I decided to alter the plan like that:

From Las Vegas on the 22nd we go see Hoover Dam on the way and than I'm debating if we go directly to Grand Canyon until the end of the day or to Flagstaff to check in to our Hotel and eat something in the city and go to Grand Canyon? The next day we drive to antelope canyon and if we want we still have some time to explore Grand C. or sights around Flagstaff. We overnight one more night in Flagstaff and the next morning (24th) we start driving to L.A.

24th of April will be thursday, when is the rush hour to L.A or when is the best time to drive and arrive?
How much hours does it take to get to L.A.. I don't really trust google maps.. around 10 hours without stops?
What are some good stops (eating, sights) on the way from Flagstaff to L.A? I believe you drive through route 66 to get to L.A from Flagstaff right?

I would head straight to the Grand canyon, you could stop in Williams or Tusayan for something to eat on the way. You could take route 66 from Kingman through Seligman on the way there or on the way back. Heading back to LA you could drive through Oatman on old route 66 and see the wild Burro's. LA seems busy most of the time but would imagine 4-6pm would be busier and it will depend on where exactly you are headed for how long, but I will let someone else comment on that.

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How much hours does it take to get to L.A.. I don't really trust google maps.. around 10 hours without stops? What are some good stops (eating, sights) on the way from Flagstaff to L.A? I believe you drive through route 66 to get to L.A from Flagstaff right?

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Flagstaff to LA is around 10-12 hours with only stops for fuel, bathroom, etc. If you go through Peach Springs, add time. It's a long day. Do not try to drive from GC to LA and then catch your flight the same day. It's way too risky.

One possibility is to take I-17 down to Phoenix. On the north end of Phoenix, catch the 101 loop south to I-10, then I-10 west. You'll take yourself right by the Joshua Tree National Park, if you have time to see a little of it. Lots of interesting trees and rocks in that park!

The other is to take I-40 west, cut off at Seligman towards Peach Springs on old 66, continue on it through Oatman, then catch I-40 again at Needles. That will take you to I-15 at Barstow then south into the LA Mess-tropolis.



Donna

I drove from Flagstaff to Los Angeles, using I 40 to the Lake Havasu City exit, spending the night in Lake Havasu City (home of the London Bridge). Also found a great brew pub, College Street Brewing. The next day I drove the scenic route to the south entrance of Joshua Tree (the actual trees are on the north side of the park). And then I 10 to LA, the pits. I 10 is a crappy hwy in so many ways. Hit Palm Springs traffic at 1p (on a Friday) with congestion all the way to the coast. People going East were in gridlock.

During the road trip, I 40 was much preferred over I 10, East and West.

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Originally Posted by tomazrebic

If not we will be sleeping in the car only for 2 days in Sequoia and Death Valley.

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I would be very weary of sleeping in a small sedan in Death Valley. Even in late April it can be quite hot, and you cannot keep the aircon running as that would put you in danger of carbonmonoxide poisoning. Neither would you want to sleep with the windows open.

I suggest you rethink this plan.

Lifey

If you're going to do it anyway, [sleep in the car] check out the Alabama Hills just west of Lone Pine and a short drive into Death valley the following morning. One of the coolest places I have spent as an overnight stay under the stars and it's free and legal.

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Originally Posted by Southwest Dave

If you're going to do it anyway, [sleep in the car] check out the Alabama Hills just west of Lone Pine and a short drive into Death valley the following morning. One of the coolest places I have spent as an overnight stay under the stars and it's free and legal.

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Wow I checked it out!... Really cool idea Southwest Dave, thank you! :)
We might do that yes.. Only thing is it's a bit clumsy since the plan is to go from Sequoia in the morning and to see Death Valley and we would need to drive back to Alabama Hills and the next morning to Vegas. But I think it will be well worth some extra drive.

It will depend on what time you want to arrive in Vegas as you could easily drive from the Alabama hills to Vegas and have time to enjoy some DV sights if you were to arrive late afternoon/early evening. Working that backwards means you could spend a bit more time in Yosemite the morning before heading to Sequoia, spend the next morning in Sequoia before driving to the Alabama hills and then take the day to get to Vegas.