Hi there, been reading up on the various routes from Las Vegas to San Francisco and want some opinion on the best scenic route. We aren't in a hurry as we have 3 or 4 days to do the trip. Would like some advice on good places for overnight stops, things to see etc.
We pick the rental up from the airport on 27th November, so I guess snow is going to be the big issue.
Option 1.
Highway 160 from LV, then onto the 190 through Death Valley and eventually onto the 395. North all the way to just past some place called Topaz, then left onto the 89, then the 88 down to Stockton. Then there are loads of routes to SF, maybe we'll go around the north of the bay to enter over the Golden Gate bridge.
Option 2.
Highway 160 from LV to Pahrump, onto the 178 through Death Valley, then the 190, back onto the 178 until it crosses the 395 and goesover the Walker Pass and onto Bakersfield. then it is basically up route 99 with a couple of loops to the Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite (up route 41 and back to Merced) Then the same as option 1 to SF.
The return trip will be down the coast on Highway 1, which I'm also allowing 3 or 4 days for. Which is the nicer route? should I spend the spare days on the route north (mountains) or the route south (coast)?
Thanks for your advice.
Colin W
(visiting USA for the first time!)