First time and overwhelmed!!

[glc]

If you fly from city to city, you are still going to have to get around from place to place. The public transportation systems can be quite restrictive, and renting a car in each place can get quite expensive. The cost of multiple internal flights will add up quickly too.

[Midwest Michael]

As I mentioned, yes, if you are willing to simply fly from city to city, then your plan certainly is workable and if that is what you want to do, then by all means, go for it.

I'll say my personal reaction to a plan like that is "yuck." It sounds insanely expensive - you'll easily be spending more than $1000 just on internal plane tickets. It also sounds extremely dull. All of the cities you've mentioned are certainly great places to visit, but spending three weeks just going from city to city certainly isn't my idea of a good time - if for no other reason than because I'd know that I was constantly flying over the top of some of the most unique landscapes on the planet.

Again, we constantly say on this forum a trip should be about what you want - and if this is what you really want then by all means go for it. However, if that is your idea of a good time and what you are really looking for - then why would you come to a forum about Roadtrips for advice?

That's a retorical question with this simple point: I'd make sure you aren't falling into a trap where you are so focused on getting to everything on your list, that you miss out on everything you actually want to see and experience.

[galaga]

Guys, sorry if i am taking the wrong approach. Yes it started as a roadtrip but the more i looked, the more i saw that i could not achieve what i wanted by doing a roadtrip. I will end this post if i need to. The problem I have is that this probably will be my one and only trip to america so am trying to achieve as much as i can.

[Southwest Dave]

Guys, sorry if i am taking the wrong approach.

No need to apologise. We are not saying you are taking the wrong approach, if that is what you want to do then it is the right approach, we are [and I think you maybe] just unsure of what you want to achieve. We are not trying to change your mind, more giving you things to consider.

The problem I have is that this probably will be my one and only trip to america so am trying to achieve as much as i can.

The point is, what is it you are trying to achieve ? You don't have to fly thousands of miles to see more of America, in fact you will see much less, as a lot of your time will be spent in the air. It could be argued that you will see more of America by spending your 3 weeks in the Southwest [or wherever] and get a good mix of City, small town, open road and natural wonders than you will from spending your time in airports and 'concrete jungles'. Seeing different City's on different side's of the country doesn't equate to seeing more of America.

I hope you get what we are trying to say.

[galaga]

Ok and yes I understand where you all are coming from. And believe me I am grateful for all the advice and direction I am receiving. I am going to leave you gys alone for a while I think and replan my direction. I think I am going to drive the west and then pick another destination to fly to. Will come back and show what I have come up with.
Thanks.

[glc]

That's probably a better way to look at it - places are closer together in the east and public transportation is better - especially in the northeast.

[galaga]

Ok so I am back to haunt you all again...haha
We have decided to stay west and will be driving. The entire holiday can only be 3 weeks.
My thoughts are fly to San Fran and work down including yosemite and vegas ( i need to do some research for what to do on way down ) any suggestions greatly appreciated.
So Itinerary could be ( without times )
San Fran
Yosemite
Death Valley
Vegas
Grand Canyon
San Diego
La
this need sto be about 2 to 2.5 weeks.
Fly to Hawaii for 4 days then Australia.
Is San Fran best to fly into or should I swap around a bit to fly into LA ( cheaper from what I can see)
Is there any threads copying my trip before Hawaii I could find?
I now need to find my activities and times between destinations.

[Southwest Dave]

This is by far the most talked about area on the forums and by using the search box at the top right of the page you will find an abundance of info, but to get you started, here are some of our favorites.

If LA is cheaper then it would make sense to fly into there, you could stop at SF or continue down the spectacular coast Rd and complete a loop. Your trip would then look something like this; LA>Grand canyon>Las Vegas>Death valley>Yosemite [**a possible drive through Sequoia NP**]>Yosemite>San Fran>LA[?]

**From Death valley to Yosemite, a spectacular and popular drive is across the Tioga pass [CA120] but there is a chance that during May [and possibly into June] the road will still be closed due to winter snow accumulation, [the pass reaches over 9000ft in elevation] if that is the case you can simply head around the Southern end of the Sierra's via Bakersfield and possibly visit Sequoia.

[galaga]

Thank you so much. Sorry new to forums. I will research then be back with some questions.

[glc]

It would probably be cheaper to fly in and out of the same city - there will be no one way dropoff fee for the rental car. Compare airfares and car rental rates for all the cities on your route to make the decision - LA, SF, LV, and SD. A "loop" trip to see what you want can be done from any of those 4 cities.