From DC to Grand Canyou and to Highway One

[hamed]

We are in the washington dC area. We are planning to see the Grand Canyon which we never have seen before. I would also like to get to California and get on Highway One and ( possibley from Los angelos ). We have a week ( 5 to 7 days ) for the trip.

I was thinking to going to Phoenix, AZ and then drive to the Grand Canyon and from the canyon drive to Los Angeles and from there get to highway one and end at San Francisco and Return from San Francisco to DC ( home).

I am a bit worried about the drive from Grand Canyon to California. For one thing I am not sure which route I would go from Grand Canyon to California (from Vegas or other way) . Note sure what the fastest or better way is.

Am I getting myself into a lot of driving with no enough time?

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

If you were to set out from Washington and drive straight to Los Angeles OR San Francisco, you might make it in 5 days if you made no stops whatever on the trip other than to refuel, eat and sleep. There is absolutely no chance that you can make it to BOTH cities AND see the Grand Canyon AND travel the Pacific Coast Highway AND see Las Vegas and Phoenix AND get back to DC. You need at least 3 weeks for the trip you've outlined.

AZBuck

[Southwest Dave]

Hi there,
As Buck says, impossible to drive the whole route but the fact you mentioned Phoenix makes me wonder if you are flying into there and then out of San fran and 5-7 days in between.

If this is the case then it is possible, although you still won't have time in abundance. I-40 is the quickest way from the canyon to California, but if you are planning a couple of nights at the Grand canyon and want to drive up the PCH [route 1] I would consider leaving out L/A as you're not going to get any real time there, and continue on HWY 58 through Bakersfield and head towards Morro Bay and then head up to San Fran, enjoying the coast.

That would end up like this for instance, G/C [2nights] > 1 night between G/C and 1 night in Morro Bay[ 2 nights] Morro Bay> San fran incl 1 stop [2 nights] San fran [1NIGHT?] >fly home.

[hamed]

Yes, I will be flying to Phenix and than drive to CA.
Do you think , I should go to LA by air after seeing the GC. There is a 2.5 dirve from the GC to the air port, so I though I just dirve for another 3 hours and be in LA.
I was planing to spend only 1 or two days at the GC. Do you think that's enoght since I will not be hacking in the GC.

[Southwest Dave]

Personally I would drive it, by the time you have checked in and boarded your flight and make sure you're there in good time you may as well take in the scenery.

If you can get 2 full days at the Grand canyon south rim it will give you time to 'overview' it but you could spend a lot longer. One day for the the village and Hermits rest route and one to travel along Desert view drive is a nice split.

[hamed]

So , the best way to go to LA would be I-40 righ?
Any other tips for the trip on Highway one in CA?
This is my first time doing a trip like this?
Also , what city or point in the way would have the best beach to relax. ?
Thank you for all of your help.

[Mark Sedenquist]

We are in the washington dC area....I was thinking to going to Phoenix, AZ and then drive to the Grand Canyon and from the canyon drive to Los Angeles and from there get to highway one and end at San Francisco and Return from San Francisco to DC

It is not possible to drive from Washington DC to the Grand Canyon to Los Angeles to San Francisco and back to Washington DC in 5-7 days. If you took seven full days, this would require that you drive at least 1057 miles per day or ~ 19 hours a day, including traffic delays, fuel stops, rest, sight-seeing, etc.

The absolute minimum number of days we would recommend for this route would be 12! And like AZBuck mentioned above, you would really need three full weeks to drive this route and be able to actually see anything...

You need to re-think some of this.... I would recommend that you do a fly-n-drive. Fly to Phoenix, go the Grand Canyon, over to LA, San Francisco and back to Phoenix. Even this would be pushing it -- but you could probably do most of that route in 5-7 days.

Mark

[Midwest Michael]

He did say he was flying into Phoenix to start this trip and flying home from SFO.

I should go to LA by air after seeing the GC. There is a 2.5 dirve from the GC to the air port, so I though I just dirve for another 3 hours and be in LA.

I-40 would be the most direct way to get from the Canyon to LA, although it bypasses Vegas, if you were looking to stop there. Although I'm a little concerned about your perception of time, however. Its a whole lot more than 2.5 hours to get from the Phoenix Airport to the Grand Canyon (4 hours is more likely), and the drive to LA is a solid 10 hour trip.

If you're looking for info on beaches between LA and SF, then I'd check out this thread.

[Southwest Dave]

Although I'm a little concerned about your perception of time.
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Indeed, I overlooked the estimated times whilst answering the fly or drive part of the question.

Hamed, As I mentioned in an earlier post, you are going to struggle for time to visit L/A from the G/C and do the coast road with time to enjoy it rather than rushing through and see little.

I would consider dropping one of them or you need to find a bit more time to do this

Is your 5-7 days including the flying?

[hamed]

We are planing to go to go to Grand canion by air and stay there for two days.
We then, want to drive to LA and from there get on highway one in CAlifornia and go up to Sanfrancisco and from SFO come back home by air.

We don't plan to stay in LA more than one day. In our dirve to Sanfrancisco , what are most Beautiful places to stay? I hear a big Sur is very Beautiful with nich beaches. Other have recomned also staying in Laguna bech. We have 6 days for the hole trip. I am having a hard time booking hotles since I don't know where I am going to stay and when I would get there.

Also,
I would like to know where are the beaches with less people. Than you,