Honeymoon in the US - LA to Vegas via Pacific Coast Highway (help needed!)

Don't miss San Francisco in favour of Palm Springs.

Between Death Valley and Yosemite there are numerous places to stay - Bishop or Mammoth Lakes are the two obvious ones. Bishop has plenty of the usual motels.

I did Las Vegas through Death Valley to Bishop, where I stayed overnight, then carried out the next day through Yosemeite, did that, and stayed at Modesto that night, then next day onto San Francisco.
 
As much as I loved the route through Joshua tree and Mojave there's no way I would replace PCH, San Fran, DV and Yosemite over it.

If you drive from San fran through Yosemite it would be best to stay at Bishop that night. Then drive through DV the next day to Vegas! Or do it the other way around where you go up to Vegas from LA/San Diego then cut across DV through yosemite to san fran and down the PCH to finish with.

The anti-clockwise way is the usual way to do it.

Would be even better if on the LA/SD leg you go through palm springs and Mojave, but don't forget that you will want some time to chill rather than manic driving all teh time. Plus San Fran is lovely!

No time to get my threads up today as I went out but I'll try and get them up tomorrow when I'm back.
 
[TW]Fox;18947705 said:
Don't miss San Francisco in favour of Palm Springs.

Between Death Valley and Yosemite there are numerous places to stay - Bishop or Mammoth Lakes are the two obvious ones. Bishop has plenty of the usual motels.

I did Las Vegas through Death Valley to Bishop, where I stayed overnight, then carried out the next day through Yosemeite, did that, and stayed at Modesto that night, then next day onto San Francisco.
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-Ad- said:
As much as I loved the route through Joshua tree and Mojave there's no way I would replace PCH, San Fran, DV and Yosemite over it.

If you drive from San fran through Yosemite it would be best to stay at Bishop that night. Then drive through DV the next day to Vegas! Or do it the other way around where you go up to Vegas from LA/San Diego then cut across DV through yosemite to san fran and down the PCH to finish with.

The anti-clockwise way is the usual way to do it.

Would be even better if on the LA/SD leg you go through palm springs and Mojave, but don't forget that you will want some time to chill rather than manic driving all teh time. Plus San Fran is lovely!

No time to get my threads up today as I went out but I'll try and get them up tomorrow when I'm back.
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Ok awesome. That has definitely helped me out. Tonight I'll plan my proposed route and I'll post it up soon. Are the motels in the US the same as the stereotypical movie and TV seedy-looking ones? They alway look so crappy but if there are good ones then I don't mind looking at stopping somewhere like that if we are in need of somewhere to stay and have been travelling a lot already. Really looking forward to Vegas. Will four nights be enough or should I look at increasing the stay there?
 
CHokKA said:
Ok awesome. That has definitely helped me out. Tonight I'll plan my proposed route and I'll post it up soon. Are the motels in the US the same as the stereotypical movie and TV seedy-looking ones? They alway look so crappy but if there are good ones then I don't mind looking at stopping somewhere like that if we are in need of somewhere to stay and have been travelling a lot already. Really looking forward to Vegas. Will four nights be enough or should I look at increasing the stay there?
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4 nights is fine but make sure its weeknights - you'll get amazing rooms at fantastic hotels for 30-40 quid a night.

Most of the motels are average - fine for a one night stopover.
 
I stayed over at Bishop on the way to Yosemite and I was made to feel very welcome there. I forget the breakfast place we stopped at before heading off but a Geordie accent drew as much attention as would firing a gun into the ceiling and shouting yee haa.
 
Von Smallhausen said:
I stayed over at Bishop on the way to Yosemite and I was made to feel very welcome there. I forget the breakfast place we stopped at before heading off but a Geordie accent drew as much attention as would firing a gun into the ceiling and shouting yee haa.
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Hehe sounds like I'll need to start practicing my Geordie accent then :P

Thanks to everyone for the awesome information in this thread. It has all been incredibly useful. I'll post up my proposed route soon enough :)
 
Threw together an example itinerary, but there are many variations you could do, especially doing it in reverse order which would actually be my preference.

Look at doing it both ways around to see how the days land, with you needing to be in Vegas during the week and San Fran ideally at the weekend. But Vegas during the week is more important.

Can give you some hotel recommendations too, especially for San Fran. Staying the the Marina disctrict is highly recommended. Hardly any tourists but a vibrant area with great restaurants and wine bars, only 10mins walk to the harbour where you can see the Golden gate and another 10 mins to Fishermans wharf (tourist cental - yuck :p)

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This is still quite an intense route and I think getting Joshua Tree and Palm springs in is far to much of a rush. You will regret not enjoying san fran and will get plenty of road trip awesomeness from the PCH-Yosemite-Death Valley section which is an unmissable part of the trip.
 
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Few observations on that route

You are better driving PCH north to south as you are on the side of the coast then...nicer views and easier stops.

I stayed at Madonna Inn, its great but a hell of a drive from there to SF and you miss Pebble Beach/17 Mile drive/ Monterey doing it in one hit.

We stayed at Holiday Inn Express, Fishermans Wharf in SF- was fine and great location.

Yosemite is worth more than a drive thru- we did about 3 hours there and it was far from enuff
 
Yea, all of the PCH and as far as San Fran in one day is ridiculous, you are supposed to enjoy the views not drive non stop all day.
 
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