Las Vegas to San Francisco

steve185 · 03-06-2007, 04:26 PM

Going to Las Vegas this May and plan to rent a car and drive to San Francisco and stay there for three or four days. Does any body have any advice on the best route, not necessarily the fastest but the most scenic.
Thanks
Steve

Seahawk · 03-06-2007, 04:49 PM

Steve,

If you want to drive up the coast, pretty easy solution.
If you want see the desert, mountains, foothills and coast (once you get to SF) then I would recommend:

Pick your route from LV through Death Valley, then head up 395 to 120 and drive through Yosemite. Check the weather.

From there find Angels Camp (I spent an inordinant time there running rivers) and enjoy the foothills.

Head to SF.

mjohnson · mjohnson's Garage

Absolutely, positively Death Valley!

Especially if you're from Canada, DV is pretty surreal. May will be hot, while you're there just imagine you were on the wagon trains 100 years ago in the summer...

Very inhospitable, humbling place just 3.5 hr from Las Vegas.

mike
'78SC

ckissick · 03-06-2007, 08:42 PM

Death Valley for sure. Then head over to 395 and Bishop. If the road is open in May, cross the Sierra through Yosemite. Otherwise, keep north, then cross over at Tahoe to Hwy 50.

steve185 · 03-07-2007, 06:34 AM

Thanks for the directions, I will plan go through Death Valley. The road atlas says it takes about eight hours to go from Las Vegas to San Francisco. If I drive through Death Valley how long will it take and is there a good place to stay about halfway through the trip?
Thanks again
Steve

Zeke · 03-07-2007, 06:47 AM

I like the advice given so far. Crossing the Central Valley may be a bit of a bore unless you find farming intersting. Once into the coastal range, things get interesting again. If you cross the valley a bit more south, you can stay overnight anywhere along the 101 Hwy. The Big Sur Route 1 drive is very tedious, but stunningly beautiful. You've seen clips on countless TV commercials. Monterey/Pacfic Grove is a nice destination, but a bit of a drive starting in LV and driving through DV. Most of NorCal is very nice; you really can't go wrong. Every route has its charm. Read up on San Fran, there's a lot to do and a lot to eat in that city.

ckissick · 03-07-2007, 10:43 AM

Lee Vining on Hwy 395 would be a good place to spend the night. Believe it or not, the gas station has an excellent restaurant. Mono Lake is worth checking out. If you have time, visit Bodie, also.