Before we start.....I know the Tioga Pass will be closed in March 🙂
As the ending to a 5 month travelling vacation (from England) taking in Australia, New Zealand and the USA (Florida, North Carolina and driving from Charlotte to Gettysburg) we are looking at the practicality of driving from Gettysburg over to San Francisco. We would be in no particular rush (10+ days not including stops) and would like to stop off at Death Valley, Yosemite and Lake Tahoe at that end of the drive.
Some details about us which may help form answers
2 drivers both having driven long distance professionally, (1 ex military so used to extreme driving weather etc)
Both very well travelled so used to roughing it and going with the flow
Both enjoy driving (no problems taking turns etc)
Not in a major rush as we will have been travelling since November by the time we do this next March/April
Interested in a wide range of things from military history (hence Civil War battlefields before we start) and nature (we hike and camp)
We will have a rental car that will be picked up in Florida
I have a few questions I would like some help with to see if this drive is doable (or if we should fly which we don't really want to do)
1, if you had the chance to do this drive would you and if not why not?
2, is 10 days a reasonable amount of time to do the major part of the drive (Gettysburg to Death Valley)
3, we have driven the SF /Yosemite/Tahoe/Death Valley/ drive in October how much poor weather are we likely to find in late march?
4, as we have not driven across the US before (especially in Spring) what should we expect weather wise?
5, if you were to recommend places as 'must see' on this route what would they be?
6, are there any places on the route you would avoid ?

Should we bite the bullet and just fly across? We really fancy taking the time to see more of the US and this seems like a great opportunity

Thanks in advance