USA West Coast Road Trip routes - things to see

[Raymond Lin]

It is early days (12 months away) but planning a road trip for next year in the states on the west coast. Plan is start from San Diego and drive up to Seattle.

Stops in a few cities in between see the sights and move on.

Route - Click



This is the first draft of the route so far. Obviously there is a slight double back to Yosemite (so may not do that), but in terms of actual road/highway, is there any stretch on there that is a must drive through?

Any places outside the cities that is a must see?

p.s. Las Vegas does not interest me.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I haven't looked into costs much, but I do remember you mentioning about car hire charges out of state so the idea is to break them out to 3 hires. My friend had a quick look and mention its about $600 a week (not sure if she just did a 1 way from A to B without breaking it up)

I have actually mentioned to her the possibility of a loop and thus make things cheaper but the idea of the trip is start at A and end at B.

Having said all that, this is STILL in its infancy, I need to know the cost breakdown of both and see if it is feasible and difference. I know it would be more expensive going the intended route (perhaps a 1 way flight from Seattle to LA first on the way back) but will need to find out the difference are and see if we can afford it, I don't want to write it off before doing the numbers. The 1 way drive from San Diego to Seattle is a dream, not something I'd be doing again and if I can do it in 1 go, I would. Next time it would be a different part.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Well, if car charges is the only thing that is the limiting factor, $600 a week vs $200 a week (halved), then I don't want to let £800 put a stop to a road trip of a life time to drive up the west coast. It would cost me that much to go back again in air fare so the way I see it, what the heck if it can be done.

More a concern is not enough time to see a place that vast, and enjoy it. Car hire/flight fare from Seattle are not top of the priorities.

 

[Raymond Lin]

ive just got back from doing a trip similar.....

if you hire a convertable, dont get a mustang!

i had my heart set on one but the rental company didnt have any in when i arrived, they gave me a dodge charger instead and told me to come back in the morning to swap it. i got to my hotel and saw 4 mustangs in a 25 space car park. the next day when we went exploring i saw 10-15 of them. you will see them everywhere. i saw prob 200 on my whole trip. they dont feel as special when you have one in front and one behind you in the same colour doing the exact same as you. Camaros you see far less, i think i saw 4 chargers.


i cant say much more as im going to a wedding

Driving in America is great and everyone is so much nicer.

you will have an amazing time.

Thanks!

Haha, I already know about mustang's abundance there, they are like Ford Focus around here, but they have an image of being driven round by guys in wife beaters with a glock in the glove compartment, most Americans do not think it is that special.

Well, we plan to stay a couple of nights in the big places – San Francisco, San Diego, LA, Seattle. (I would put more nights into SF over LA)

Fox, I am planning for 2 to 3 weeks, like I said, trying to fit it all in is more a concern than car hire charges (might doing San Diego to San Fran, then head east and then down to San Diego again, who knows?!). I understand your concerns but I am not writing it off in day 1 of planning. I need to do some number crunching on it before writing it all off, right now I'd like to know some routes and interesting places to see, I will then make a short list of places that interest us and those that do not, that's all.

 

[Raymond Lin]

When I had a mustang I was amazed by the interest it got. People took photos and walked up to me in the street to compliment it. It was bizarre. They are very much not like the equivalent of a focus over there, the American people love them, it's an iconic car. They are very common rental cars in California but it's still a bit of a laugh. I wouldn't rent one again but I am glad to have had one for California.

I was in the South, Georgia