Grand Canyon to Los Angeles (October)

[steve cornforth]

My wife and I are planning our California Road Trip from the UK in September/October 2015.

We are travelling in a campervan from LA and then following the classic route - Monterey, San Franciso, Yosemite, Las Vegas (via Lone Pine) and then to Grand Canyon. We have allowed about 2.5 weeks to get this far with 2 nights at GC.

We then have 3 - 4 days left to make our way back to LA to complete the circuit!!

Are there interesting places to stop off on the way? Are Joshua Tree and or Palm Springs worth a visit? Anywhere else?

We have to return the campervan on the day we fly home so probably need to end up a couple of hours max from LA.

[DonnaR57]

Welcome to RTA!

Joshua Tree is definitely a beautiful and interesting place to visit. There are opportunities to do a little hiking, if that interests you.

If you haven't already made your camping reservations for Yosemite and Grand Canyon, you will want to do so as soon as possible. Even in Sept/Oct, those two parks' campsites will be reserved up! If you don't get a reservation the first time, keep trying back. Someone else may cancel and you could get in on their cancellation.

Campgrounds and RV parks in LA aren't easy to find, either, but they do exist. If you are flying out on a weekend, be sure to reserve a spot in LA, too.

Donna

[Southwest Dave]

If nothing is set in stone yet you could look at reversing the direction of your trip and head south down the coast with the advantage of having the ocean on your side of the road.

Either way if you have 3 or 4 days to spare I would recommend looking at heading into Southern Utah and visiting Zion and Bryce canyon National parks. So from Vegas you would first head north to Zion, then Bryce and then through Page AZ towards the south rim of the Grand canyon, which you will enter via the east kiosk from US89, which is the best way in in my opinion. You would also have the option to detour through Monument Valley. If you reverse the trip it would be LA >GC>Bryce canyon >Zion > LV>Yosemite[via DV] > SF and coast back to LA. You could still break the journey between GC and LA with a stop at Joshua Tree and if you end up visiting 4 or more of the National parks it will be 'penny wise' to buy the annual pass for $80 at the first park you visit.

[steve cornforth]

Thanks Donna - we have GC booked. We are scheduled to try and book Yosemite on 5th May! Thanks for your help. Really appreciated. I have always fancied a trip to Joshua Tree!

[steve cornforth]

Thanks Dave - we have pre-booked camping so our route from LA is fixed. But Southern Utah sounds really interesting! i think that is a viable option for us.

Thanks for the tip about the annual pass!

[steve cornforth]

My wife and I are planning a 3 week road trip in September. We are in UK and want to rent a Campervan. Does anyone have experience of Escape Campervans, LA?

Moderator Note: Please keep all questions about the same trip in the same thread.

[glc]

We have at least one regular roadtripper that posts here and has used them - in my opinion that's the best compromise between a car and a real RV. They are very reputable.

[Lifemagician]

We have at least one regular roadtripper that posts here and has used them - in my opinion that's the best compromise between a car and a real RV. They are very reputable.

Here is one of the reports John has posted of a trip in the Escape Vans. He has made several trips, using them.

Lifey