Hi there
I have spent the last few weeks reading forums trying to figure out an itinerary for a trip to San Francisco including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. I will be in SF for work in May and my boyfriend is flying over to join me.
Our proposed itinerary starts on Thu May 19 (when I finish work and ends on Fri Jun 3 (allowing us a day or so to fly back to London and recover in time for work on Mon):
Day 1 (Thu May 19) - San Francisco
Day 2 - San Francisco to Los Angeles (drive or fly? - I would like to see the PCH however think we should fly to LA in the evening to save travelling time and also allow an extra day sightseeing in SF)
Day 3 - Los Angeles (will rent a car while there)
Day 4 - Los Angeles
Day 5 - Los Angeles
Day 6 - Los Angeles to Las Vegas (fly or drive?)
Day 7 - Las Vegas
Day 8 - Las Vegas
Day 9 - Las Vegas to Grand Canyon via Hoover Dam (pick up rental car in LV and drive to GC in the afternoon, possibly stay somewhere enroute to GC)
Day 10 - Grand Canyon
Day 11 - Grand Canyon to Death Valley
Day 12 - Death Valley to Mammoth Lakes or Yosemite
depending on whether the Tigoa Pass is open
Not open:
Day 13 - Mammoth Lakes to Lake Tahoe
Day 14 - Lake Tahoe
Day 15 - Lake Tahoe to Yosemite
Day 16 (Fri 3 Jun) - Yosemite to San Francisco
Open
Day 13 - Yosemite
Day 14 - Yosemite or Lake Tahoe
Day 15 - Lake Tahoe
Day 16 (Fri 3 Jun) - Lake Tahoe to San Francisco
The reason we have chosen to do it SF/LA/LV/SF is that we have family to visit in both Los Angeles and Lake Tahoe and I understand the Tioga Pass will be more likely open early June and understand this is an amazing drive. However I have a few queries:
- I wanted to avoid staying in LV over Memorial Day weekend but question whether we should go to the Grand Canyon then - will it be a nightmare?
- Between DV to LT/Yosemite we are flexible and would like to stay at Yosemite for longer if the Tioga Pass is open however I'm not sure of our chances of getting accommodation then?
- Is it easier just to fly between SF and LA and LA and LV (we can get airfares for £80 each for these routes)?
- We looked at hiring an RV but it seems more expensive than just hiring a car and staying at motels/B&Bs or just camping along the way? (plus I would prefer to take turns driving but don't fancy driving a large vehicle).
If you have any comments/thoughts on the above please let me know.
Thanks!