Road Trip First-timer: SF - Yosemite - Death Valley - Grand Canyon

[sammysays]

Hello everyone! After a long, long time, I finally have a final plan for the road trip. We decided to loop back to SF. I will arrive in the US on the 24th of November and our road trip starts on Dec 2.

Day 1 - Drive to San Simeon from SFO (where we will pick up our rental car early in the morning), stops at Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Beach, Nepenthe, (McWay Falls maybe?), Ragged Point, Elephant Seal Rookery, overnight stay at a Motel 6

Day 2 - Drive to Kingman, lunch stop at Barstow, overnight stay at a Motel 6

Day 3 - Drive to Grand Canyon, lunch stop at Cameron Trading Post, enter Grand Canyon East Entrance and enjoy Desert View, watch sunset, overnight stay at Grand Hotel (my companions only want to sight-see at GC)

Day 4 - Drive to Page, early lunch, join one of Ken's Canyon Tours after lunch, drive to Springdale, overnight stay at Terrace Brook Lodge

Day 5 - Spend all day in Zion National Park

Day 6 - Drive to Death Valley, check out Dante's View, Badwater Basin, Artist's Palette, and watch sunset at Mesquite Flats, overnight stay at Stovepipe Wells

Day 7 - Drive to Yosemite, lunch stop at Bakersfield, overnight stay at Mariposa (maybe at Yosemite Bug)

Day 8 - Spend all day at Yosemite

Day 9 - Spend half a day at Yosemite, drive back to SF after lunch

I know our sched is tight, but we are early risers and head out by 8 AM (at the latest) every day. Anyway, what do you think? I know some days look relaxed, while some are packed.

[Southwest Dave]

You have really summed it up yourself at the end of your post so you know what to expect and if you are happy with that, it looks like a great trip. I think you could make things a little easier on yourselves[ and possibly see another couple of sites] if you cut back on the amount of time in SF, but that's a personal choice. Presumably you don't fly home on the last day of your road trip ? If you fly home the following day you could arrange it differently, so that you spend a little time relaxing in SF at the end of your trip as well as at the beginning by splitting your days there.

[Midwest Michael]

The only thing which seems off to me is the Grand Canyon portion of your trip. Cameron Trading Post is on the "wrong" side of GC when coming from Kingman, and doesn't make a lot of sense, when you'll be heading back out that way again to get to Page.

I'd go from Kingman directly to the Grand Canyon (cutting north at Williams), and then leave via the East Entrance the next morning.

[sammysays]

You have really summed it up yourself at the end of your post so you know what to expect and if you are happy with that, it looks like a great trip. I think you could make things a little easier on yourselves[ and possibly see another couple of sites] if you cut back on the amount of time in SF, but that's a personal choice. Presumably you don't fly home on the last day of your road trip ? If you fly home the following day you could arrange it differently, so that you spend a little time relaxing in SF at the end of your trip as well as at the beginning by splitting your days there.

Thank you! Actually, I have to visit family before the road trip, but we will definitely take it easy afterwards and not fly out on the same day it ends.

The only thing which seems off to me is the Grand Canyon portion of your trip. Cameron Trading Post is on the "wrong" side of GC when coming from Kingman, and doesn't make a lot of sense, when you'll be heading back out that way again to get to Page.

I'd go from Kingman directly to the Grand Canyon (cutting north at Williams), and then leave via the East Entrance the next morning.

I see! Thank you for pointing that out to me. I'll follow your suggestion.

This site is really a godsend. No matter how many other sites and people I've referred to, I always miss something that only someone on RTA notices. Thank you!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Thanks for the kudos. Much appreciated!

Mark