planning trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles

[edwin rodriguez]

Hi

I am from Puerto Rico.
This is my first time traveling to Gran Canyon. I also want to visit Las Vegas, Seqoia National Park, Yosimite National Park and Los Angeles.

I will apreciate if someone could tell me the best route from Las Vegas to Seqoia andYosimite National Park and then to Los Angeles.

Also lodging tips and best rates and destance traveling. i am planing to travel en June 2007.

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America forum.

Assuming that you are flying into Las Vegas, your visit to the Grand Canyon would best be done as an out and back trip, staying overnight at or near the Canyon before returning to Las Vegas the next day. June is not quite the height of the season at the Canyon, so if you book now, you might still be able to get a room at one of the lodges on the South Rim. Camping sites are also available as well as less expensive rooms just outside the park boundaries at Tusayan, AZ.

As far as seeing Sequoia and Yosemite from Las Vegas on your way to Los Angeles, you have a couple of options. There is no way into Sequoia from the east, but the road over Tioga Pass (CA-120) into Yosemite should be open by June. So you could leave Las Vegas by way of US-95 north and then cut over to take in Death Valley National Park, say via NV-373 and CA-190 before continuing up to Lee Vining, CA on US-395. There you would take CA-120 west over the Sierra Nevada mountains into Yosemite. Exiting Yosemite on CA-41 south would take you down to CA-180 into Sequoia and/or Kings Canyon National Parks. Finally, you'd leave Sequoia by CA-198 to I-5 and on into LA. I think such a route would best suit your needs. BUT if Tioga Pass is not open, then you're just going to have to leave Las Vegas on I-15 south to Barstow, CA, then cut over on CA-58 to US-395 north to enter the parks on the roads previously mentioned, and then double back to Los Angeles afterwards.

As far as mileages go, Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon is about 275 miles one way, which is why I recommend that you plan to stay overnight before heading back. The loop through Death Valley, Yosemite and Sequoia (if Tioga Pass is open) is 850 miles at a minimum, plus any sightseeing detours.

AZBuck

[Mark Sedenquist]

... There is no way into Sequoia from the east

A slight correction here -- One of these days, I will get that field report written, but there is a direct route -- more-or-less from Death Valley to Sequoia National Park. It involves traveling over Sherman Pass, but if the road is open by June, it would be memorable approach. The entire road is paved although there are some significant potholes up near the pass. It is a long days journey to go this route. But it provides views of the southern Nevada that most folks never see, except by airplane.

Mark

[Midwest Michael]

A slight correction here -- One of these days, I will get that field report written, but there is a direct route -- more-or-less from Death Valley to Sequoia National Park. It involves traveling over Sherman Pass, but if the road is open by June, it would be memorable approach.

Sherman Pass Road is a very scenic trip across the Sierra, and very few people explore that area. I drove it a couple years ago on July 4th, and even with the busy holiday, I don't think I saw more than one or two cars the entire day.

But as nice as the route is, it doesn't actually go to Sequoia National Park.

It will take you to the Sequoia National Monument, which is worth checking out and has some great areas of Giant Sequoia trees, but its not exactly the same as the more famous Sequoia National Park.

To get to the Sequoia National Park from Sherman Pass Road, you still have to go all the way out to Porterville in the Central Valley, go north on CA-65 and then head back east into the mountains via CA-198 once you get to Exeter.

[Mark Sedenquist]

To get to the Sequoia National Park from Sherman Pass Road, you still have to go all the way out to Porterville in the Central Valley, go north on CA-65 and then head back east into the mountains via CA-198 once you get to Exeter.

Pretty funny -- but I have driven this route too. It is correct that the Sherman Pass road does connect with the Monument the easiest, but one can still reach the national park without going through Porterville. From the Sherman Pass Road, a traveler would go north on the Western Divide Highway into the Sequoia National Monument and then west on CA-190 to Balch Park Drive (J-37) and then west again on Yokohi Drive (at Milo) and then turn northeast again on CA-198 (northeast of Exeter) for the drive into the national park.

Mark

[Midwest Michael]

That would be a great scenic drive. I've driven many of those roads, but not all of them. Have you driven that whole distance and how long does it take to get from the end of Sherman Pass Road out to CA-198?

And just to quibble a bit, techincally, aren't you back in the Central Valley when you get to the intersection of CA-198 and Yokohi?

[Mark Sedenquist]

... how long does it take to get from the end of Sherman Pass Road out to CA-198?

I am not sure. The last time I was there, I was in full "field trip mode" (where I stop every 10-15 minutes and take notes and photos) and so I really don't know how long the entire route would be if someone were to simply drive it - but it would be at least 10-12 hours from Las Vegas (whch is why I wouldn't recommend the route as a short-cut...)

And just to quibble a bit, techincally, aren't you back in the Central Valley when you get to the intersection of CA-198 and Yokohi?

Point taken -- but one does not need to travel through Porterville to do it. However, there are good reasons to go that way -- good lodging and one of the best steak places in southern California can be found on that route.

Mark