LV, Grand Canyon, Death Valley and SF in 5 days?

[dlp]

Hi,

Me and a friend of mine are planning a 5 day drive from Las Vegas to San Francisco, but I'm having problems trying to fit everything in! So much to see, and as we're coming all the way from the UK I really want to fit as much in as poss!!!

Anyway, we have 5 days, and our plan so far is to leave Las Vegas early on the first day to go to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Hang around there for a couple of hours before driving up to Page (or possibly as far as Kanab) to stay the night.

Next day drive through Zion National Park before heading back towards Las Vegas (via Valley Of Fire State Park), then on to Death Valley to stay the night (hopefully by sunset!).

Spend the next day exploring Death Valley, staying in Panamint Springs that night.

Fourth day we will drive from Death Valley up the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada to Lake Tahoe, and possibly over the mountains on route 50 if it isn't too late in the evening.

Final day travel to San Francisco with a quick detour through Yosemite National Park.

Basically my question is, is this feasible?? Too much? Or could we squeeze in anything else (Bryce Canyon?)

[Mark Sedenquist]

Me and a friend of mine are planning a 5 day drive from Las Vegas to San Francisco, but I'm having problems trying to fit everything in! So much to see, and as we're coming all the way from the UK I really want to fit as much in as poss!!!

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum. RoadTripping is rarely about how much you can see -- your plan is going to be chock full.

Anyway, we have 5 days, and our plan so far is to leave Las Vegas early on the first day to go to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Hang around there for a couple of hours before driving up to Page (or possibly as far as Kanab) to stay the night.

A couple of hours? Shortest distance is roughly 300 miles and about the fastest you can cover that distance is 5.5 hours -- the shortest time I could image staying at the Rim (pretty cursory look at the viewpoints) would be 4.0 hours and driving time to Page would be an additional three hours so your first day would require a minium of 12 hours of travel.

Next day drive through Zion National Park before heading back towards Las Vegas (via Valley Of Fire State Park), then on to Death Valley to stay the night (hopefully by sunset!).

With the exception of I-15, none of these roads are quick -- in order to reach Death Valley by sunset and drive through both Zion and Valley of Fire you would need to be on the road no later than 7:00 am. (short night!)

Spend the next day exploring Death Valley, staying in Panamint Springs that night.

This is a reasonable day, I hope you also take some naps. Be sure to stop by the Furnace Creek Inn for tea service in late afternoon!

Fourth day we will drive from Death Valley up the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada to Lake Tahoe, and possibly over the mountains on route 50 if it isn't too late in the evening.

A gorgeous route -- but another very long day.

Final day travel to San Francisco with a quick detour through Yosemite National Park.

Depending on where you stayed the previous night -- this could easily be a 15-hour travel day.

Basically my question is, is this feasible?? Too much?

That is hard to say -- it would be too much for me. But it will be memorable.

Mark

[dlp]

Hmmm... Thanks for your reply Mark, much appreciated! You kinda confirmed what I thought to be honest... I had checked distances and times in Mapquest, just as a guide (I can't see them being that accurate, and if anything I imagine they would be quite optimistic), so it's great to hear your opinion.

I'm going to have another think about the route, might just drive to the South Rim, and back to Las Vegas the next day. We might have to miss out the Grand Canyon altogether even. Can you think of any way we could do it??

Could I just ask something else as well? We're going to be hiring a car, and I've noticed that car insurance isn't always included in the price over there (because your personal car insurance covers hire cars, is that right?). The trouble is I can't seem to find out how much it would cost to buy insurance, and there seem to be so many different types!!! Is there any information about car insurance on the site somewhere, or is there another website that you can refer me to?

[AZBuck]

Is there any information about car insurance on the site somewhere?

Here is a primer on the types of insurance available, and this post outlines some of the people you should check with to see if you already have coverage that you may not even know about. If you check the car rental company's web site, you should be able to find what they charge for a given set of insurance coverages. I did a quick check on what one of the major firms would charge me for full coverage on a standard sized car in my home town and it was just over $40/day - more than the cost of renting the car, Ouch!.

AZBuck

[Mark Sedenquist]

We're going to be hiring a car, and I've noticed that car insurance isn't always included in the price over there (because your personal car insurance covers hire cars, is that right?).

Technically most personal car insurance policies cover the drivers -- no matter which car they are driving.

The trouble is I can't seem to find out how much it would cost to buy insurance, and there seem to be so many different types!!! Is there any information about car insurance on the site somewhere, or is there another website that you can refer me to?

Here is a quick primer on the types that rental car companies offer.

Mark

[dlp]

Wow, thanks for all the links! It all makes a lot more sense now...

Can I just ask one more quick question? I read that the north rim of the grand canyon doesn't open until May, do you know if that just refers to the facilities at the north rim, or is the road there actually closed until then?

Can I also just say thanks for all the help, not just for the replies you have posted here, but also for all the information I've found on the site over the last few weeks! If it wasn't for you guys my mate and I would probably find ourselves preparing to drive over the Tioga Pass next month, in blissful ignorance!!!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Wow, thanks for all the links! It all makes a lot more sense now...

Glad we could help a little.

Can I just ask one more quick question? I read that the north rim of the grand canyon doesn't open until May, do you know if that just refers to the facilities at the north rim, or is the road there actually closed until then?

Actually both -- the road is "open" if you use nordic skis or snowmobiles, but it is closed to all vehicular traffic.

Can I also just say thanks for all the help, not just for the replies you have posted here, but also for all the information I've found on the site over the last few weeks!

Happy to help -- Now your "job" is to have a wonderful holiday adventure and then post a trip report upon your return.

Happy Planning!

Mark

[Utahtea]

With only 5 days, I'd start and end in Las Vegas,

Day 1 Drive to South Rim, Grand Canyon and spend the night. 280 miles 5 hours driving time.

Day 2 Spend most of the next day seeing the Grand Canyon and move on to Page, AZ and Lake Powell. Do the upper antelope slots canyon tour and horseshoe bend hike. See Glen Canyon dam. 140 miles and less than 3 hours driving time. Scenic route...do not drive after dark!

Day 3 Drive to to Bryce Canyon National Park and spend night. See park and sunset. 155 miles and a little over 3 hr drive.

Day 4 Do an early morning hike in Bryce and drive to Zion National Park. 86 miles and 2 hour drive.

Day 5 See Zion and drive to Las Vegas. 165 miles and 3 hour drive.

On this trip you will see a great varity of different landscapes and you will actually have time to enjoy the parks, instead of spending all your days driving.

Utahtea