Los Angeles to Las Vegas via Sequoia NP and Death Valley

[Gaztop]

Hi there,

I am planning our first family fly drive in USA and have a draft itinery as follows:

Arrive Los Angeles (3 nights) --> drive to Sequoia NP (Three Rivers) (2 nights) --> Death Valley (Furnace Creek) (2 nights) --> Las Vegas (3 nights) -->Los Angeles (1 night) before flying back to UK.

Questions:
1. Is this perfectly feasible?
2. Recommendations for any sights at any location please?
3. Recommendations for accomodation at any of the above routes, or alternates if I have errored in any way
4. Recommendations for car rental, both company and make of vehicle
5. Can I drive from Three Rivers to Furnace Park directly?

Any comments greatly received and your time is much appreciated.

Gary

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

You can't drive directly from Sequoia to Death Valley, because there is no way to cross the Sierra Nevada mountains through Sequoia National Park.

Since this is presumably a summer trip, what I would do is add in Yosemite to your trip. That would allow you to see the sites of another great park, and cross the scenic Tioga Pass rather than backtracking to the south via Bakersfield. You'll likely have to make some adjustments to your schedule, but you could still make it work without being too rushed.

For car rentals, you'll get the best value by booking a regular sedan, which is all you need for a trip like this. I've never found a big difference in rental companies, so I would simply shop around the best price.

[Southwest Dave]

I agree with Michael with regards to Yosemite, it's an amazing place and an amazing drive and is well worth the time.
If it is something you would consider then how I would do it is 1 night in Three rivers and travel through Sequoia and spend the following night somewhere like Oakhurst. The following day explore Yosemite a little and head over the Tioga pass [CA120] and stay at Lee vining or Bishop and then continue to Death valley for 1 night and then you are back on track to Vegas. To be perfectly honest I would sacrifice a night in Vegas for another in Yosemite but that is a personal call for you to make.