Las Vegas to San Diego - via San Simeon and Los Angeles

[Larraine]

Hi, I'm trying to plan a holiday visiting Las Vegas, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Simeon (to see Hearst Castle) late September/early October. I haven't booked anything yet and would appreciate any tips from anyone who has been on a similar trip. We will be flying from the UK. I want to be as economical as possible with the mileage and can't decide where to start and where to finish. We could do San Diego, up to LA, up to San Simeon and finish in Las Vegas or the other way round. We could stop at other places overnight to break up the journey. We have been to California and Las Vegas before but never driven from one to the other.

[Lifemagician]

Welcome to the Great American Roadtrip Forum.

You do not say how long you have for this trip, and without knowing that it is hard to give any suggestions. Where are you flying into and out of? Have you thought of doing a loop trip, starting and ending at the one city? That way you could choose to fly into and out of either San Francisco, Los Angeles or Las Vegas - whichever gives you the best deals in flight and car rental. You would avoid the one way drop fee on the rental vehicle which can run into quite a bit, and may find it will save on air fares as well.

The loop would look something like SF > LA > SD > LV > SF or the other way around.

Lifey

[glc]

The loop would look something like SF > LA > SD > LV > SF or the other way around.

I'd recommend SF to LA instead of the other way around, so the scenic turnouts are on your side of the road, and if you have time include the Grand Canyon between SD and LV. If Tioga Pass is still open, you can go from LV through Death Valley and over Tioga Pass through Yosemite on your way to SF - again, if you have time.