SF - Vegas via HWY 101 with Small dog

[happybunny2]

Aloha RTAers,

In October, I am flying in from Hawaii with my boyfriend, picking up my parents and dog in SF and driving to Vegas to meet BF's parents in Vegas.

Questions:
1) Is october still too warm for a dog in Vegas?
2) going to drive down in 2 days and back up in 2 days spending one night each way in either SLO, Santa Barbara, or Bakersfield (If I take HWY 5). Suggestions on if I should take HWY 5 for one of the routes instead of 101 both ways.
3) If I stay in SLO/Pismo, to get to Vegas, should I continue south on 101 or is there a good, not windy more direct route?
4) any suggestions on dog friendly hotels in SLO/Pismo/SB/Bakersfield/Vegas. Would like a hotel that's not too expensive but not a dump either.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[glc]

1. Considering that a lot of people live there, and certainly quite a few have dogs, I don't see where it would be an issue.
2. That's really up to you and what you want to see. You can also take CA-99.
3. Go north on 101 to Paso Robles and take CA-46 over to Bakersfield.
4. Motel 6 is dog friendly and the ones in SLO aren't bad.

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

Have you considered driving across Death valley and Yosemite on one leg of your journey? If not it is pretty spectacular but would mean more time behind the wheel. Travelling in October would also mean having to check whether the Tioga pass [120] is still open to cross the Sierra's prior to leaving SF but if you are travelling early to mid Oct you should be fine.

[Mark Sedenquist]

1) Is october still too warm for a dog in Vegas?

As you may know, Las Vegas considered the 9th Island and so you'll be amazed how much of an influence Hawaiian Islanders have here. It will still be too hot to leave a dog, a kid or an adult in a car in October. In fact, there is a criminal penalty for doing so - but there are thousands of dog residents here in the valley. Here's an article written by one of our staff writers about caring for his dog in Las Vegas.

4) any suggestions on dog friendly hotels in SLO/Pismo/SB/Bakersfield/Vegas. Would like a hotel that's not too expensive but not a dump either.

Just about all of the chains accept dogs -- the one one I prefer is Holiday Inn Express.

Mark

[happybunny2]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

I did not think of the Yosemite leg. I really like Central Cali as I went to college there so I wanted to see things in that area, as well as only have time for driving and 1 nite staying over, we want the shortest route possible.

Thanks again,
Jackie