San Francisco to Denver (via Utah)

[sparklybeck18]

Hi

I'm planning a road trip from San Francisco to Denver, via the Pacific Coast, LA, Las Vegas, Utah (don't know where yet!) and through Colorado to Denver. Does anyone know of any websites that give lists of motels throughout America? i.e. where they are along the interstates and highways etc?
Cheers

[sparklybeck18]

I am planning to drive from San Francisco to LA this summer - specifically, starting on the 4th August and ideally being in LA by the 6 / 7th. Has anyone done this before and is it possible to drive it in that time, taking into considering the inevitable time out taken to gaze at the scenary?! Also, if anyone has any suggestions of where we could stay the nigth along the way, I'd be really grateful. I was thinking the first stop to be around Big Sur, because that looks amzing, but any suggestions would be really appreciated.
Cheers
becky

[Mark Sedenquist]

I am planning to drive from San Francisco to LA this summer - specifically, starting on the 4th August and ideally being in LA by the 6 / 7th.

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum. By the fastest possible route it is about eight hours to drive from San Francisco to LA. If you drive along the coastal route, it is closer to 11 hours and so being able to take 2-3 days will afford plenty of time to see views like this one:

(Photo by Roadie) Here is more information about this location!

Here are some of the routes we have taken some more ideas:

West coast routes (oh, also be sure to look at the bottom of this page)

Favorite Beaches between SF and LA

Here is a nice overview about LA

One thing you ought to know, is that it will be cool and foggy most days along the Big Sur in August. As the interior of the state heats up the fog appears along the coast.

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

Does anyone know of any websites that give lists of motels throughout America? i.e. where they are along the interstates and highways etc?

Just about all of the online free trip planning sites provide that information. Here are some reviews of the most popular ones.

TravMatix has the most complete listing of motels and services found at Interstate Highway exits.

Mark

[W. Larrison]

Hello sparklybeck18,

It's a very doable trip in that time. However, you should be aware that August is the busy vacation month here and you may find some of the really best accommodations booked.

If I'm reading your note correctly, you have 3-4 days to do the trip.

My random suggestion would be

Day 1 - SF to Carmel/ Big Sur area. This lets you visit Monterey, including possibily Steinbeck's Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium or do the 17 mile scenic drive in Carmel. Very beautiful scenery, and sets you up to start the Coast 1 route the next morning.

Day 2 - Big Sur down to about Santa Barbara (or Santa Maria). This takes you down the scenic Coast 1 route, with potential stops for scenery in numerous places, past the Elephant Seal Colony at Pedros Blancas (just north of San Simeon), past Hearst Castle (a good place to stop for a tour), and then inland at San Luis Obispo. The stopping point will be your choice, but if you're away from the beach towns, it shouldn't be too hard to get a hotel room. I've typically stayed in Santa Maria/ Lompoc areas, although the Danish Community of Solvang is an interesting place to stay. Solvang and the Santa Ynez area was the setting for the movie Sideways, about 2 guys spending a weekend visiting the wineries in the area and figuring out their lives. An interesting side trip is Jalama Beach, although its off the route a bite -- about 15 miles west of the Coast Highway, but one of the more interesting beaches in the area.

Day 3 -- Wine tasting in San Ynez (there's another big set of wineries near Paso Robles, just north of San Luis Obispo, and some in the Monterey area), then Santa Barbara, and then south into LA. Santa Barbara Mission is very beautiful, and there's a nice open-air shopping mall and walking area in Santa Barbara if that's interesting.

[sparklybeck18]

Thank you so much for all the suggestions, this has been genuinely really helpful!

[sparklybeck18]

I'm going to be staying in LA for two days in August, and have heard that some districts in LA are really dodgy - can anyone recommend where to stay in LA? I dont' really mind where we are - we do want to visit the Six Flags theme park, but we have a car so we'll be able to get about.
Cheers

[W. Larrison]

Umm.... what do you want to see or do in LA?

Just as a note, Six Flags Magic Mountain is in Santa Clarita, north of LA off of I-5. That's about 30 minutes north of LA.

LA's a big place... For example, if you want to go to Disneyland in Anaheim, that's another 60+ miles to the south. That'll take you at least an hour, and possibly 2 hours in rush hour traffic since you have to cross through the center of the metropolitan area to get there.

[sparklybeck18]

After hours of searching for cheap hotels in LA, I've finally found the Best Western Montebello Plaza, which looks perfect, but because I know nothing baout LA and have heard there are some pretty dodgy areas, I was wondering if anyone knew anything about this area or have even stayed at this hotel?!

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

I had a look at the LAPD crime statistics for the area and there were no crimes reported within 5 miles of this location over the last week, always a good sign. And a look at aerial photos show it to be a mixed industrial/commercial/residential area with what look like mainly warehouse type operations to the northeast of I-5 and suburban type housing to the southwest. So you should be fine.

AZBuck