Southern Cali to Washington

[RoadTripper Brad]

5 days is more than realistic for a holiday to the Grand Canyon from Southern California. Like I said before, it will take about 1/2 to 3/4 of a day to drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon by I-40, so if you plan to explore a bit I'd say a full day, arriving in GCNP in the early evening. You'd then have 3 days to explore the National Park at your leaisure, and even the surrounding area, leaving a full day to get back.

Personally, I'd do the exploring on the first day, and wrap the trip up with just a straight shot back home.

-Brad

[W. Larrison]

Hmm.. I've done the OC to Seattle Drive more times than I can remember, starting before college. Its 24 hours driving time there, just about. So its either 2 long full days of driving (OC to Redding or Shasta, thereabouts), and then from there to Seattle. So 5 days's isn't a lot of time to get to Seattle.

But Hmm.. what do you like? Want to do the deserts and a bit of heat? In 5 days you can do Vegas, Grand Canyon, and loop down through Phoenix and back. Or you can go up Coast 1 to SF and beyond to the Redwoods, and then zoom back on I-5.

Or there's Yosemite, then over the Sieeras to the back side, and down through Mammouth, Bishop and perhaps Death Valley, back to Vegas, and then LA?

Or just zoom up toe SF, or Sacramento or Reno/ Tahoe?

The Sierras? Lassen?

hmmm? What are you folks in the mood for?

[PNW Judy]

Gosh, I've done the same route many times in 18-19 hours. Maybe we've always been lucky and timed it when there's no traffic? That's driving time. Typically it takes us about 20-21 hours including short stops (Not counting spending the night in Weed or Redding.)

[Mark Sedenquist]

I don't think we will do anything in Vegas or even stop there. Do you think it's feasible?

Wait a moment, if you are headed for the Grand Canyon, why would you go out of you way ~ 150 miles (to include Las Vegas) if you weren't going to stop here. RTA's home is Las Vegas and there is plenty to do here. But like Arizona Brad has mentioned, you don't need to go to Las Vegas to see the Grand Canyon.

Mark

[Kimmikins]

Thanks all for all suggestions. I'm a total newbie. I just know nothing about planning a roadtrip and this is my first time. Normally I just go by air...
Anywho, 3 days at Grand Canyon is a little too much for my friends and me. Is there anything we can do over there?
Thanks again

[AZBuck]

Within a few hours of the Grand Canyon are the following:

The Museum of Northern Arizona - Anthropology
Walnut Canyon National Monument - Sinagua Ruins
Meteor Crater - 50,000 Year Old Impact Crater
Tuzigoot National Monument - Sinagua Ruins
Jerome, Arizona - A Unique Old Mining Town
Oak Creek Canyon - Great Scenery and Hiking
Red Rock State Park - Hiking in Sedona

That should get you started on places to spend the other day or two of your three days in the Grand Canon area.

AZBuck

[Kimmikins]

So, we all decided to have a Cali tour within 5 days. Apart from Yelowsmite, do you have any suggestions about where to go and what route we should take?
Thanks a bunch,

[Midwest Michael]

I think at this point, You will be best off if You open up a map a decide which areas sound appealing to You.

Once You come up with some ideas on things You would like to do and see, we'll be able to help You a lot more with things including a route.