Road Tripping in the USA!

Django x2 · 15 Jul 2014 at 19:34

No, it's not, I may have put the wrong date in (by a week). It's £480

Jaystation · 15 Jul 2014 at 19:51

What are the dates?

Django x2 · 15 Jul 2014 at 23:07

Arrive 11th Sept, leave 27th Sept

TripleT · 16 Jul 2014 at 07:54

I know fox hates this idea but I "rented" a US TomTom from someone local on eBay before I went. Was only £25 and saved the hassle of buying from Walmart to then sell etc and also didn't have to mess around with phones.

I'd do it again in a heart beat, well worth the money. When you're spending thousands on a trip £25 is nothing for the ease.

[TW]Fox · 16 Jul 2014 at 08:13

I only hate it because I didn't think of it first, renting a £75 Tomtom for £25 is like paying Hertz $10,000 to rent the Mustang for 2 weeks

TripleT · 16 Jul 2014 at 08:19

The one I had was a high end one but yer I agree such a simple idea

People do it with roof boxes too and if I didn't have one I could borrow I'd probably rent one of those too. Why do I want to blow £400 on bars and a roof box for the 1 maybe 2 weekends a year I'd use it

Django x2 · 16 Jul 2014 at 09:20

Seems like you can camp in YNP. Are there sites that provide stuff (tent, sleep bag, etc)?

Or, genuinely, is it not worth it?

Great idea on the tom tom. Will have a look

Jaystation · 16 Jul 2014 at 10:25

You unfortunately won't get a spot in YNP now, they will all be taken.

You will have to turn up on the day, and be first in line for the ones they reserve for on the day turn ups - however - LOTS of people do this.

However - DEFINITELY worth it!!

Django x2 · 21 Jul 2014 at 10:29

When we land at LAX, it will be 3pm is. Worth grabbing the car and hitting the 2 hour drive straight down to San Diego for our 1st night or two?

We can do the north LA sites on the way home (from San Fran back down).

bazzabear · 21 Jul 2014 at 11:02

It probably is worth it if you feel up to it, because LA is a hole.

bazzabear · 21 Jul 2014 at 11:06

Django x2 said:
Seems like you can camp in YNP. Are there sites that provide stuff (tent, sleep bag, etc)?

Or, genuinely, is it not worth it?

Great idea on the tom tom. Will have a look

It's absolutely worth visiting Yosemite, it's breath taking.

Staying over there is difficult and really expensive though.

Even if all you get to do is drive through it though with a couple of short stops, it's still absolutely worth it.

When we went, the snow stayed unseasonably late, so while we'd planned to stay very close and therefore get a lot of time in the park (and we did have an overnight stay there too) Our 1 hour journey to the park turned into an 8 hour journey, as we had to drive miles north of the park, then across a lower part of the Rockies and come into the park from the west instead of the east.

So we only got most of one day really, but it was still amazing.

Django x2 · 21 Jul 2014 at 11:10

I can't seem to make the road trip (all destinations) in google maps. It only seems to allow like 8 destinations. Am I Fail?

bazzabear · 21 Jul 2014 at 11:17

Dunno. My trip was so long ago, I used a foldout map!

tlrBeta · 21 Jul 2014 at 11:21

Just returned from my trip, excellent time and missing it already. A couple of photos will follow when I get a moment.

Thanks all for the earlier input, it was useful

daveski · 21 Jul 2014 at 11:28

I loved Yosemite when I went, absolutely beautiful place.

peter · 21 Jul 2014 at 11:35

To Django we land at 7 pm not expecting to have the car until 9pm and will be driving 90 miles out of town just to miss the rush hour traffic.Getting across la at 5pm does not sound like much fun.

Rich_L · 21 Jul 2014 at 12:12

Django x2 said:
When we land at LAX, it will be 3pm is. Worth grabbing the car and hitting the 2 hour drive straight down to San Diego for our 1st night or two?

We can do the north LA sites on the way home (from San Fran back down).

What day is it? As I mentioned earlier it makes a massive difference if it's a weekday or weekend. Weekend head straightdown no problem, weekday - LAX to San Diego in 2 hours at 4:30pm (by the time you've cleared security, picked up car etc) - LMAO try closer to 4 hours

Don't stay in LA first night though, just go down to Santa Monica for a couple hours and wait for the traffic to ease off then head down about 7,8pm.

[TW]Fox · 21 Jul 2014 at 12:24

Django x2 said:
I can't seem to make the road trip (all destinations) in google maps. It only seems to allow like 8 destinations. Am I Fail?

Rubbish new google maps has a limit. Use the old one.

http://maps.google.co.uk/?output=classic

Django x2 · 21 Jul 2014 at 14:35

We land on a Thurs. Thinking get out of LA and try to get down to Laguna Beach where we'll probably stop and spend our first night. Then booked in to the Marriot and San D for the next two nights.

Not sure on hotel for Laguna Beach though. Any recommendations?

@Fox, thanks for the link.

Django x2 · 21 Jul 2014 at 15:13

Does this look feasible?

Gives us some time in LA before flying home, unless you can think of doing an extra night somewhere else. Only 2 nights in Vegas, but just under 3 days by the time we arrive / leave, I guess?

Thurs 11/09 - Arrive LAX Drive to Laguna Beach (Hotel??)
Fri 12/09 - Laguna Beach to San Diego (Marriot)
Sat 13/09 - San Diego (Zoo, etc)
Sun 14/09 - San Diego to Palm Springs (Palm Mountain)
Mon 15/09 - Palm Springs to Vegas (Planet Hollywood)
Tue 16/09 - Grand Canyon (Planet Hollywood)
Wed 17/09 - Vegas, through DV to Bishop (Ramada)
Thurs 18/09 - Bishop through YNP to Modesto (Best Western)
Fri 19/09 - Modesto to San Fran (Marina Motel)
Sat 20/09 - Alcatraz (San Fran)
Sun 21/09 - Pier 39, etc (San Fran)
Mon 22/09 - San Fran to Monteray, Laguna Seca, etc (Morro Bay, Madonna Inn)
Tue 23/09 - Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara
Wed 24/09 - Santa B
Thurs 25/09 - Santa B to Santa Monica (Georgian)
Fri 26/09 - Santa Monica to LA (Mullholland, Hollywood Sign, Rodeo Drive, Walk of Fame) - Candlewood Suites
Sat 27/09 - LA - Home