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

[Lifemagician]

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

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

[DonnaR57]

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

[tomazrebic]

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?

[Southwest Dave]

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.

[DonnaR57]

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?

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

[landmariner]

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.

[Lifemagician]

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

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

[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.

[tomazrebic]

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.

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.

[Southwest Dave]

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.