what do you think?

[Southwest Dave]

Hello from the UK, ,my names Dave and my family and I are doing our first road trip in the USA from Oct 16th to 31st. Basically I would like to know what you think of our schedule and wether it's doable without rushing to much.

Here goes.....San Fran>Yosemite>Millers rest {near tonopah]>Zion[via ET highway].
>Bryce>Hanksville>Monument valley>Grand canyon>Las vegas>Lake isabella>Three rivers[giants forest]>Oakhurst>San Fran, phew! The idea behind using the ET highway as opposed to death valley was to make up time and give us an extra day in Zion and bryce and possibly see a part of death valley between vegas and isabella.

We are in a 30ft c class and 2 concerns I have are the Moki dugway between hanksville and Monument valley and the Generals highway from Three rivers to Seqouia, if anyone has any opinions iI would be grateful. Doing a little research show these to be quite hairy, but I am an experienced driver and some of the English roads get very narrow and winding. I know these will be, slow but we have allowed time to take in the scenery. Any advise or "local secrets" worth visiting on this route will be much appreciated,thanks for your time.
Dave

[Mark Sedenquist]

hello from the uk,my names dave and my family and i are doing our first road trip in the u.s.a

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! Sounds like a wonderful trip -- but your RV rental firm is not going to be thrilled if you get stuck on one of the hairpin turns on the Moki Dugway and they have to come and get you. It really depends on the weather at the time -- it could just be dusty and steep -- but if there has been any rain, it will be muddy, slippery and dangerous. Gerald Thurman has some photos of this road and you ought to reconsider this section.

Here is some more of his field report from this area!

san fran>yosemite>millers rest

Wild, I have been to this rest stop and never knew of it's significance -- here is some info about Millers Rest Stop.

the idea behind using the et highway as opposed to death valley was to make up time and give us an extra day in zion and bryce and possibly see a part of death valley between vegas and isabella.

I am not sure I follow the part about Death Valley. But here is a field report from the ET Highway and some info about Pioche (well worth the time for photo opps!)

and the generals highway from three rivers to seqouia,

Here are some photos and a report from another RVer who drove it.
The biggest problem I see, is that you won't have time to do this road if you really want to spend any time in Sequoia NP.

I think it might be physically possible to drive the entire route you have outlined in 15 days, but the pace is going to kill you. You will need to sleep for a couple of weeks when you return home....

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Hi Mark thanks for the welcome and info. As much as I love an adventure I was concerened about the Moki dugway, and although a bit dissapointed it sounds like the sensible thing is to avoid it. I wanted to stop of at goosenecks, but with our schedule I doubt it will be possible going around the other way.

Wild, I have been to this rest stop and never knew of it's significance -- here is some info about Millers Rest Stop. I am not sure I follow the part about Death Valley. But here is a field report from the ET Highway and some info about Pioche (well worth the time for photo opps!)

I didn't explain myself to clear, in my original plan which had to be trimmed back [I would have needed 15 weeks not 15 days ha!ha!] I was going to explore more of Death valley and stay over but decided to cut it out and do the long haul from Millers to Zion. I love the look of Pioche and hopefully will be able to detour, any other small places on route I'd love to here about them

Here are some photos and a report from another RVer who drove it.
The biggest problem I see, is that you won't have time to do this road if you really want to spend any time in Sequoia NP.

It does look like a challenge, thanks for the link. Not sure what to do here, but was thinking if time is against us, we just visit the giants forest and may have to skip Kings canyon.when we leave three rivers we have one more night before returning to san fran

I think it might be physically possible to drive the entire route you have outlined in 15 days, but the pace is going to kill you. You will need to sleep for a couple of weeks when you return home....

I have already joked about needing a holiday when we return from this trip. This is a break down of our planned trip

SF -Yosemite stay 2 nights [16th-17th]

Leave Yosemite valley mid-day via Tioga road making stops, arrive millers late evening [18th]

Long haul to Zion, stay 2 nights[19th-20th]

short trip to Bryce[21st]

Bryce to Hanksville area[22nd]

Monument valley[23rd]

Grand canyon[24th-25th]poss 25th in Williams

Las vegas [26th-27th]

Lake isabella[28th]

Three rivers[29th]

Oakhurst[30th]

end in SF[31st]

Any opinions welcome, and yes I am slightly mad ha!ha!

We also have 2 nights and a full day in SF at the start and end of our trip, we want to visit Alcatraz but any other tips such as great little restaurants, places of interest?

Thanks dave. p.s.my driving is a lot better than my computer skills!!

[RedCorral]

Hi,

An ambitious trip, but you know that. A couple of thoughts. You'll be driving right through Capitol Reef National Park, one of the best but under-appreciated in Utah. There is a very nice campground there amongst the apple orchards, and don't be surprised if you are tempted to spend some extra time. At least take the scenic drive and do some looking around.

My guess is you'll find that after leaving Las Vegas you'll not want to tough your way through to Lake Isabella and out the other side. We drove it in a 25 footer and it was a workout. Not up and down, but winding and narrow and slow. You'll save time by going around via Bakersfield.

Also, I'm not sure about the restrictions when driving a motorhome into the southern end of Sequoia, but I know you can't get all the way through with a rig longer than 22'. You know, there are some very big trees in Yosemite (Mariposa Grove) which you can see while you are there.

I'm also wondering about the trip to Oakhurst...if it is time well spent? It is a pretty area - is there something specific you are going to see?

Would it be better (adding a little contrast to the trip) to head from Bakersfield across to the coast via Paso Robles and up the coast highway, or even 101, to SF?

Just some more ideas to consider, as if you haven't got enough to keep you busy.

Have a good one,

Craig Sheumaker
co-author of the travel guide: America's Living History-The Early Years

[Southwest Dave]

Hi Red, thanks for the comments and ideas, thats what I want,good or bad. This will be our first trip to the states and a dream holiday for us, possibly a once in a lifetime trip so trying to get it right is important to us. We understand that during the trip things will change, after all thats the beauty of the open road. I guess were trying to get a balance of seeing as much as possible without ending up not really seeing anything at all because of the hectic schedule.

We were hoping to get a little bit of time in Capitol reef. Have you any more info on this sight please? We were thinking of carrying on further as we have 1 night between Bryce and Monument valley and this could be a possibility.


Vegas to Isabella.you may be right, I will have to see how this one pans out. We would have only done 1 days drive [GC to Vegas in the last 4, so hopefully would have caught breath. My other option was a short drive to Calico near Barstow.

Seqouia. That road does look windy but I believe it's a 22ft recommendation and the legal limit is 40ft, but it is a concern. Although here in England, especially in the west country and lake district that looks pretty normal and we do tend to treat the driving/scenery as part of the holiday rather than just getting from A to B. Lucky for me I actually enjoy it, just as well with the miles ahead.


Oakhurst. Not a must do, but I was just thinking of stopping in that area or further up towards Jamestown, that looks quite nice, as the next day we are returning the RV, but it is actually Oakley [inland from the bay area] we are returning it to, not SF as I had said. I have been very tempted by the coast highway and now even more so.[runs to look at map, ha!ha!]

Thanks again and any more comments welcome, good or bad. I really want to make this trip a dream come true.

[sydtow]

Hi!

Bryce and Zion are BEAUTIFUL! I think you'll be alright doing all that in just 15 days. My husband and I did Durango, Mesa Verde, Arches (a must if you can!), Capitol Reef, Bryce, Zion, Vegas, Lake Powell, Grand Canyon, Santa Fe in just 10 days and we had plenty of fun! It was exhausting but well worth it.

While in San Fran: Pier 39, Chinatown, Lombard St., Coit tower are worth seeing...

[Southwest Dave]

Hi!

Bryce and Zion are BEAUTIFUL! I think you'll be alright doing all that in just 15 days. My husband and I did Durango, Mesa Verde, Arches (a must if you can!), Capitol Reef, Bryce, Zion, Vegas, Lake Powell, Grand Canyon, Santa Fe in just 10 days and we had plenty of fun! It was exhausting but well worth it.

While in San Fran: Pier 39, Chinatown, Lombard St., Coit tower are worth seeing...

Thanks sydtow, it looks like there's hope for us yet, he!he!
Thanks also for SF tips, we are now staying on Lombard st after we have dropped the back.

I saw your thread on your next planned trip, it looks awesome, have fun.