Los Angeles - San Francisco - Las Vegas - LA Advice needed.

[Lifemagician]

I am no good at travelling with paper maps I am afraid, usually base on sat nav, do you think I am going to get stuck there for good in this case, or miss the roads that I should go by in my trip?

As only one small example, google 'death by GPS'.

Lifey

[glc]

What day of the week is your flight out of LAX, and what time does it depart?

[Southwest Dave]

With paper maps even the most basic knowledge will help as you will be able to use 'Waypoints' from the map and enter them into your GPS so that you go where you want to go. For example, from LV to Sequoia the GPS will take you on I15 to Barstow and by-pass Death valley altogether. Carry maps so you can at least dictate your route and see the 'Big picture'..

[bednarz5]

What day of the week is your flight out of LAX, and what time does it depart?

It is on Thursday at 19:30 so I suppose I should be at the airport at say 16:30 to return the car and head to the terminal.

[Lifemagician]

It is on Thursday at 19:30 so I suppose I should be at the airport at say 16:30 to return the car and head to the terminal.

I'd be aiming to get back by at least 15:30, if not earlier. For one thing, the car return is not at the airport, it is some way away. Then you need to wait for the shuttle bus to take you to the airport and the right terminal. If you have just missed a shuttle you could be waiting 30 mins for the next one.

If you have not flown out of LAX before, you might be surprised just how busy it is at that time, and how long the queues for things like security can be.

That's not even to mention you will be trying to get to the airport right at the start of the busiest time on the road, on a Thursday afternoon..

Lifey

[bednarz5]

I would advise you to buy a Rand McNally Road Atlas. Electronics are no substitute for paper maps.

Can see there is 2 types of Rand McNally Road Atlas, ordinary A4 size and smaller A5 with larger scale maps. Is it better to get a full size one?

[glc]

From the ones available, I'd prefer the standard size one.

Wherever you spend the night, I would plan it so you are through Santa Barbara by noon. I would try to get at least as far as San Luis Obispo.

[Southwest Dave]

I think my tomtom's USA maps from 2006 may not be good anymore lol

It's possible you can update maps through 'TomTom Home' on your computer but not 100% sure if it's possible with your particular model/age of model but it's worth checking. I have a 'One' from around 2009 and I can on that.

[bednarz5]

Right guys, I am getting standard map plus probably purchase maps update for my tomtom. Not sure if can trust free map apps for smartphones. Shame I can not prepare a journey routes on PC tomtom home to upload to my GO 910, its system wont allow that.

And following your suggestions thats my new road trip plan

Day 0 UK - LA Car Hire (Sunday)
Day 1 - 4 LA
Day 5 LA - GC (12h journey and I hope not longer) accommodation somewhere around Ash Fork (small town) 2 nights there
Day 6 GC
Day 7 GC - LV - Hoover Dam on the way
Day 8 - 9 LV
Day 10 LV through DV to around Lake Isabella (calculated to around 10-12h)
Day 11 Lake Isabella - Sequoia (short trail) - Fresno
Day 12 Fresno - YNP (hike)
Day 13 YNP - SF (5,5h journey)
Day 14 - 15 SF
Day 16 SF - Carmel (4h journey)
Day 17 Carmel - Santa Barbara (10h)
Day 18 SB - LAX Thursday

Q1 - Do you think thats gona work?

Q2 - What time do you thing I should leave SB? My flight is at 19:00.
Q3 - Is it worth skipping a night in Carmel in favour to stay one more day in SF or LA and to spend a night in say San Louise Obispo (10h)? Wife wants a bit more time for shopping and chill out I think :)

[DonnaR57]

I'm just curious....why stay in Ash Fork, AZ, for the Grand Canyon? Williams is probably a little more accessible and has quite a bit more choice of lodging in all budgets. It's right on the southern end of the highway that leads to the Grand Canyon South Rim. Oh, and you'd have to really hit a bad traffic situation for it to take you 12 hours to get there. It's probably closer to 9 hours, though I've seen some backups that were hours long.

If your flight is at 19:00, you'll want to be dropping off your car no later than 15:00. Meaning you should leave Santa Barbara in the morning. Better to have to kill time somewhere around LAX than to be late for your flight. Bear in mind that one of the worst traffic pockets in LA is around the intersection of the 101 and the 405, and you'll either need to avoid that or allow a bunch of time to get through it.


Donna