Family Roadtrip from SF to LA. 1st time in the USA !

[jcgilles]

Hi,

I thank you all for your help.

"Monument valley. You should have time to check it out from Page and get to the Grand canyon, or at least nearby. Look up the Cameron Trading post near the east entrance to the south rim.
For your night after GC you could find lodgings in Williams to save a few miles"

Dave, do you think that PAge-->MV--> GC could be done in one day (day 13) or do I have misunderstood ?
Between Page and MV I would like to visite at least Antelope.

Best regards,

JC

[Mark Sedenquist]

Dave, do you think that PAge-->MV--> GC could be done in one day (day 13) or do I have misunderstood ?
Between Page and MV I would like to visite at least Antelope.

Best regards,

JC

This is not a doable day, especially if you stop at Antelope Canyon. These aren't strictly speaking "drive-by attractions" it would be better to add one more night or cut the visit to Antelope Canyon. There is plenty to see at Monument Valley -- especially if you plan to drive into the Tribal Park.

I just went back and looked at your schedule. On Day 13, you show staying overnight at Monument Valley -- I've stayed at hogan nearby called the Firetree Inn but more easier accommodations, my suggestion would be Goulding's Lodge. Even if you don't stay there, the views from the restaurant are very special!

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

I agree that with an Antelope canyon tour and if you wanted to take a jeep tour through Monument valley, it would be a long day and maybe too much. However, I do think that with an early tour at Antelope and if you were only to do a brief visit to MV [an hour or so] then you could still get to the Cameron Trading post for the night, which is just a short drive to the east entrance of the GC south rim.

[jcgilles]

Hi,

The puzzle is almost complete thanks to you.
I will follow your advices, visit Antelope then drive to MV and sleep at Firetree In if it's still available.
The day after I will drive to GC and maybe take a little tour around MV on the morning.

Dave sugggested me to sleep at Williams in place of Kingsman.
Is there any particulary reason because the day after should I have more miles to join LA specially if I make a stop in Joshua Tree.

Is there any other good option for the night between day15 and day16 on the road between GC and LA ?

[Southwest Dave]

It was suggested as an option to maximise your time available at the GC and maybe stay to witness a sunset, but Kingman would make a shorter drive to LA the following day and is a better option if you are visiting Joshua tree. It's about 3 hours to Kingman once you have exited the park, so you could still spend much of the day there and arrive in Kingman in the evening.

[jcgilles]

Hi everyone,

I still have a lot of practical questions but first I would like you to take a look at my last trip planning having in mind these questions:

Is it a good idea to drive thru the Death Valley all day long ?
Is Lone Pine a good place to stay on D8 (someone suggested me to rather stay in Furcace Creek)
On D11 should I sleep in Carmel Junction or closer to Bryce ?
Does the Road N1 still in good condition after the fires of this summer ?


D0 21/7: SF (rest in the hotel, little walk in town)
D1 22/7: SF(visit SF)
D2 23/7: SF (visit SF)
D3 24/7: SF-SACRAMENTO thru the NAPA valley/ Night in SACRAMENTO (Family meeting)
D4 25/7: Family meeting in Sacramento
D5 26/7: Family meeting in Sacramento
D6 27/7: Road to the south + Visit the MARIPOSA GROVE/ back to OAKHURST to spend the night
D7 28/7: Glacier Point + walking in the YOSEMITE Valley/ Night in Tuolumne Meadows
D8 29/7: Road 395, little walk in Mammoth Lake/ night in Lone Pine
D9 30/7: Road thru the Death Valley/ Night in Las Vegas
D10 31/7/ Shopping in Las Vegas + road/ Night in Springdale
D11 01/8: Visit Zion Park/ Night in Mount Carmel Junction
D12 02/8: Visit Bryce Canyon + road / Night in Page
D13 03/8: Visit Antelope + road / Nuit on the Monuments Valley site
D14 04/8: Road + sunset and night in GC Village
D15 05/8: Little walk in the GC + road 66/ Night in Chloride
D16 06/8: Road + visit the Joshua Tree/ Night in Palm Springs
D17 07/8: Road + little walk in Santa Monica/ Night in West Hollywood
D18 08/8: UNIVERSAL Studio/ Night in Santa Barbara
D19 09/8: Road N° 1/ Night in Cambria
D20 10/8: Road N°1/ Night in Monterey
D21 11/8: Return in SF et flight back

I thank you all for your contribution.

JC

[Southwest Dave]

It's taking shape nicely !

1)Lone Pine to Vegas via Death valley is a good day on the road.

2)Lone Pine is a nice spot to stay, giving you time to enjoy the meadows, Mono Lake and Mammoth etc on route. Furnace Creek is an option but DV is very hot in summer.

3) Either option will work. Mt Carmel to Bryce canyon is about 90mins and then 3 hours to Page.

4] CA1 should be fine.

[jcgilles]

Hi everyone,

I'm back on my reseachs now that I have heard that THe Mariposa Grove wil not be open this summer.
Wich alternative do we have to see giant Sequoias nowing that we will leave Sacramento on thursday to reach Oakhurst. Orignally we wanted to visit de Mariposa Groove the same day and go back to the hotel. The day after we go thrue the Yosemit Park and sleep in Tuolumne Meadows.

Should we find another place to spend the night on thursday and visit the Tuolumne Grove ? Or does it exist other place to see Giant Trees that I don't think about ?

Here is my original roadtrip for that part:


D5 26/7: Family meeting in Sacramento
D6 27/7: Road to the south + Visit the MARIPOSA GROVE/ back to OAKHURST to spend the night
D7 28/7: Glacier Point + walking in the YOSEMITE Valley/ Night in Tuolumne Meadows

I thank you for your advies,

Best regards,

JC

[Southwest Dave]

Between Sacramento and Yosemite you could detour to Calaveras Big Trees State park along CA4 but it will take a big chunk out of your time in Yosemite. Whether or not it's worth it to you is what's important but personally I might opt for more time exploring in Yosemite.

[Midwest Michael]

You should be aware, that in addition to Mariposa Grove now being closed until fall, the coastal portion of your trip will also have to change from your original plan.

CA-1 is closed at Big Sur due to a collapsed bridge and will not reopen until at least September 2017. Essentially, you will have to use US-101 from Monterey to Cambria. You can follow the latest here: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum...-Big-Sur-Issue!!!