Seeing LA,Vegas and San Fransisco in 1 week???

[aussie2324]

Can someone help me here please. We are coming over in September for 3 weeks. Is it possible to drive from LA to Vegas to San Fransisco back to LA and see the sites in 1 week???????

[irvington]

That seems really ambitious to me, but maybe someone else will chime in about driving times (you might want to run the trips on mapquest). I love SF and you could easily spend a week there. There are wonderful things to do in the other cities as well. Would you consider doing LA-SF or LA-LV but not all three?

[aussie2324]

I felt that as well. It is my daughter her hubby & 2 granddaughters. She wants to come over to the states 1 week before. I tried to tell her that they will be spending so much time driving they won't really see anything. Plus they have never been to the states before. different car different roads unfamiliar territory.

[Craving A Cruise]

Can someone help me here please. We are coming over in September for 3 weeks. Is it possible to drive from LA to Vegas to San Fransisco back to LA and see the sites in 1 week???????

 

I felt that as well. It is my daughter her hubby & 2 granddaughters. She wants to come over to the states 1 week before. I tried to tell her that they will be spending so much time driving they won't really see anything. Plus they have never been to the states before. different car different roads unfamiliar territory.

 

 

Hello Aussie2324,

 

I have to agree with the previous poster that this is an ambitous trip, yet still possible. :)

 

Here is a little more info that may help you decide:

 

Los Angeles to Vegas is approx 280miles or 4.5hrs driving time. (depending on traffic.) The first hour will be on local highways (picture 4-6 lanes each direction thru suburbs of LA). Then once you leave the So. Calif area you will be travelling on Interstate Highway 15 (I-15) the rest of the way. This is primarily a divided highway of 2-3 lanes each direction thru an area we call the 'High Desert'. The posted speed limit is 65-75mph. It is a pretty straightforward drive through the desert, with very few areas to stop along the way, but it does have some nice scenery at times.

 

 

Typically by September the temperature has dropped, but usually temps can reach well over 100 degrees in this area (& Vegas) during the summer. So, you will want to time your journey for the cooler parts of the morning or evening. And ALWAYS carry water with you!!! Finally, you will arrive at "sin city" also known as Las Vegas.

 

Las Vegas! Wow, you could spend 24 hours here or several days (or weeks.) It really depends what you are hoping to see and accomplish. :D There is the possibility of a couple of side trips to see the Hoover Dam across the Colorado river or possibly visit The Grand Canyon.

 

I noticed that you mentioned 2 grandchildren will be travelling also. Depending on their age, Vegas may or may not be a good choice. Let me know their ages and I can give you a bit more info or suggestions.

 

I will stop here for now. Please let me know if I can answer any more questions.

~ Craving A Cruise~Karen~

[Craving A Cruise]

Can someone help me here please. We are coming over in September for 3 weeks. Is it possible to drive from LA to Vegas to San Fransisco back to LA and see the sites in 1 week???????

 

Hmmm, Vegas to San Francisco is definitely the tricky bit of your trip. This is the portion that is not pleasant. Sorry, but this is the longest, most boring bit of it.

 

Unfortunately, there is not a direct route to S.F., so you will be backtracking a little bit. On paper it looks like an easy loop. ( LA to LV to SF to LA) but in reality there is a mountain range between California and Las Vegas, Nevada. So you will be driving much longer to go around it.

 

This portion involves about 9+ hours of driving (575 miles or 925km) along a 2-4 lane highway thru a flat, dry desert and farmland areas. (Cutting through Bakersfield area) Not much to see or do along the way. :(

 

I think most people travelling from S.F. to Las Vegas would opt to take a short 1 hour flight! ----I know I would. ;)

 

~Craving A Cruise~ Karen~

[aussie2324]

Hmmm, Vegas to San Francisco is definitely the tricky bit of your trip. This is the portion that is not pleasant. Sorry, but this is the longest, most boring bit of it.

 

Unfortunately, there is not a direct route to S.F., so you will be backtracking a little bit. On paper it looks like an easy loop. ( LA to LV to SF to LA) but in reality there is a mountain range between California and Las Vegas, Nevada. So you will be driving much longer to go around it.

 

This portion involves about 9+ hours of driving (575 miles or 925km) along a 2-4 lane highway thru a flat, dry desert and farmland areas. (Cutting through Bakersfield area) Not much to see or do along the way. :(

 

I think most people travelling from S.F. to Las Vegas would opt to take a short 1 hour flight! ----I know I would. ;)

 

~Craving A Cruise~ Karen~

 

Thankyou soo much for your info. The girls are 6 & 9. I think I have talked DD around. They have now decided to drive to Vegas. Her DH wants to do the Stratosphere Tower Las Vegas High Roller coaster:eek:Then they want to stop at Calico ghost town on the way back. Then with time permitting we will catch an early flight to San Francisco spend the day do Alkatraz, Fishermans Wharf and maybe a cable car ride then fly back late evening. We have 4 free days when we first arrive then 2 days DL (for the kids big and small) then on the Carnival Splendor for a week followed by 3 days post cruise Santa Monica before we head back to Australia. Tracey:)

[Craving A Cruise]

Can someone help me here please. We are coming over in September for 3 weeks. Is it possible to drive from LA to Vegas to San Fransisco back to LA and see the sites in 1 week???????

 

 

This segment of your trip (LA to San Francisco) is much better than the previous one. It is approx 400miles (630km) and will take about 6.5 to 7.5 hours driving. The drive is on Interstate Highway 5 (I-5), an 6-10 lane highway thru scenic flat farmland with lots of small towns and opportunities to stop along the way. An alternate route would be to travel a slower route along the Pacific coastline. Again, it really depends on the purpose of visiting each city and what you hope to accomplish.

 

 

 

Finally, I should point out that you could spend the entire week in any of these 3 cities and leave feeling as though you didn't have enough time to see it all. There is more than enough to see and do in each city!!! However, the drive between cities is the part that is boring and time consuming.

 

 

I can understand the desire to want to see each of these cities, especially given the expense of flying here from Australia.

 

My Dh and I are in the early stages of planning a trip to Australia next year. We would love to visit Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Sydney and "pop by" to visit his friend in Melbourne! LOL. :eek: We are quickly realizing that its just not possible to do it all in one trip!! Oh yeah, and we are also thinking of doing an RCCL cruise while we are 'down under'. :D hahaha. I guess we are just going to have to decide what is most important to us.

 

I hope this has been helpful. Please let me know if I can answer any more questions.

 

Bon Voyage!

~Craving A Cruise~ Karen ~

[celestialcruiser]

I would spend more time in SF and less in LA. Spend at least one night in SF. You could do one of the DL days on your post-cruise time.

[Bklynbill]

Thankyou soo much for your info. The girls are 6 & 9. I think I have talked DD around. They have now decided to drive to Vegas. Her DH wants to do the Stratosphere Tower Las Vegas High Roller coaster:eek:Then they want to stop at Calico ghost town on the way back. Then with time permitting we will catch an early flight to San Francisco spend the day do Alkatraz, Fishermans Wharf and maybe a cable car ride then fly back late evening. We have 4 free days when we first arrive then 2 days DL (for the kids big and small) then on the Carnival Splendor for a week followed by 3 days post cruise Santa Monica before we head back to Australia. Tracey:)

 

I'm sorry to inform you that Stratosphere Tower Las Vegas High Roller coaster:eek: does not actually exist anymore. Many things in Vegas open and close rather quickly. The Stratosphere has 4 thrill rides currently. this is the link for their website: http://www.stratospherehotel.com/Tower/Rides . I do not ride them, but have heard good things about all of them except for Insanity. If you want something educational and unique I highly recommend the National Atomic Testing Museum. Not educational, but incredibly fun is the Pinball Hall of Fame. Over 100 classic pinball and video game machines dating from the 1950's to modern time. They all run on quarters and all profits go to charity (salvation army). Both are just off the strip (pinball HOF is closer to UNLV). If you get there early in the morning, go to the cactus garden at Ethel M's Chocolates, and then go to the chocolate factory (not much of a chocolate factory, more like a shop where you can see them making chocolate, but the garden is really cool). Any other questions, feel free to ask.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I've done the LA to Vegas run a few times (a couple of times in car and a couple on Greyhound bus). As others have said, best to do this early, early in the morning or after dark. It's still pretty hot here in LA in September so I imagine it is even hotter in LV.

 

I have also done the LA to south of SF drive, but not all at once. We stopped up near Morro Bay and then did Hearst's Castle (if you want to do this, and I strongly recommend it -- you need to buy your tickets ahead of time) and then drove up to Carmel/Monterey on the 1. Another time, drove up to Santa Maria, and then one day we continued on to around Monterey and back down to LA in one day but on the least scenic, more direct route. My family is considering doing a road trip all the way up to Seattle, but that would be over the course of several days as we'll be checking out colleges along the way for our teen.

[Craving A Cruise]

Thankyou soo much for your info. The girls are 6 & 9. I think I have talked DD around. They have now decided to drive to Vegas. Her DH wants to do the Stratosphere Tower Las Vegas High Roller coaster:eek:Then they want to stop at Calico ghost town on the way back. Then with time permitting we will catch an early flight to San Francisco spend the day do Alkatraz, Fishermans Wharf and maybe a cable car ride then fly back late evening. We have 4 free days when we first arrive then 2 days DL (for the kids big and small) then on the Carnival Splendor for a week followed by 3 days post cruise Santa Monica before we head back to Australia. Tracey

 

Hello Tracey,

 

So glad to see that you have narrowed down your options. :D As the previous poster mentioned, the Stratosphere may no longer be an option. So your son-in-law may want to check out a different rollercoaster.

 

The "Desperado" is a high speed rollercoaster located at Buffalo Bill's Casino about 40 miles outside of Vegas. It is located just off the I-15 near the state border between California and Nevada (on your way). But I think it is closed M-TH. There are lots of videos to watch on Youtube.:eek:

 

Another option in So. California, if he absolutely loves High Speed Rollercoasters and other thrill rides, I would highly recommend that all of you visit www.SixFlags.com/MagicMountain . It is just north of LA, in a town called Valencia. This could be an option post-cruise. I think during September the operating hours are limited to weekends only once the local kids have returned to school. (Typically by September 4th.)

 

 

I would also agree that staying overnight in San Francisco would be a better choice, as there is so much to see and do. Since it is a very large city, it does take some time to get around due to the traffic. Also, you many need to reserve and purchase tour tickets for Alcatraz ahead of time. My family did this tour last spring and really enjoyed it, however it does take probably a minimum of 4 hours and we bought our tickets the day prior. Sailing times fill up quickly. And don't forget that a visit to SF would not be complete without a visit and walk onto the Golden Gate Bridge!!:)

 

 

Please let me know if I can answer any more questions about this or your cruise to Mexico.

 

 

Bon Voyage!

Karen

 

 

p.s. be sure to take the family to see the water fountains at The Bellagio Hotel in las vegas. (Amazing!! and FREE)

[Bruin Steve]

My thought here is that, if I had a week to spend, I would skip Lost Wages...ummm...I meant Las Vegas...

 

Last time I was there, we dropped around $3,000 in two days...and I don't gamble...and our airfare was FREE! Of course, that was Super Bowl Weekend at the Bellagio...But, really...Shows are incredibly expensive (We saw a Cirque d' Soleil show one night and Terry Fator the next)...Dinners have gotten terribly expensive...Even Breakfast at the hotel was expensive--and we needed to stand on line a LONG time to get a table...

 

And I really don't see it as that great an experience for 6 and 9 year old girls...Every time you leave your hotel, you need to walk through the length of the Casino (they are all designed that way) and the cigarette smoke is incredibly thick.

 

If I had a week from LA, I would fly to San Francisco, spend a couple of days in The City--visit Alcatraz, Lombard Street, tour the sights, walk around Fishermans Wharf...Take the girls to the Exploratorium, etc. Then, when ready to leave, I would rent a car (you don't want it while you are IN the City--driving and parking is near impossible) with a one-way deal that would allow drop-off back in LA...I would drive down the coast, stopping in Monterey (take the girls to the Aquarium there, eat on Cannery Row/Wharf), drive the 17 Mile Drive through Pebble Beach to Carmel and walk around the art galleries, then head down Route 1 (in the morning, not when it's dark!) through the Big Sur to San Simeon...Visit and tour Hearst Castle (Incredible), then continue down to Solvang for a visit, then to Santa Barbara and , finally, back to LA...There is a lot to do and some beautiful scenery on that route...You could stay in Monterey one night, San Simeon the next and Santa Barbara the next...So you take 3-4 days to make the trip down the coast...not that much driving each day...more time to relax in the towns ...Back in LA, there are plenty of amusement parks with Roller Coasters and more...Aside from Disney, there is Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm and Universal Studios...Also, if you are staying in Santa Monica, there are a few rides right out on the Pier...

 

Have fun...

[Bklynbill]

My thought here is that, if I had a week to spend, I would skip Lost Wages...ummm...I meant Las Vegas...

 

Last time I was there, we dropped around $3,000 in two days...and I don't gamble...

 

 

I didn't want to be the negative guy, but after living in Vegas for 2 years, I do agree with Bruin Steve. There are better things to see on the west coast of the U.S. than Vegas.

[PatriciaF]

If all three are must do's, then I would suggest checking out SW Airlines and flying to each destination or at least the Vegas portion. The time on the road just really cuts into the little time you have here--plus the drive to Vegas isn't that scenic. The only drive worth doing is the coastal highway route SF to LA or vice versa and to make it worthwhile you should do it over two days.

 

Not much for children to do -- can't be in the casino --and as Bruin Steve said the shows are very pricey.

[kenish]

Last time I was there, we dropped around $3,000 in two days...and I don't gamble...

 

Reminds me of the old joke: "I drove to Vegas in a $25,000 Toyota and came home in a $300,000 Greyhound Bus !" :D

 

Be sure your source of Las Vegas info is fairly recent. Back 15+ years ago, LV made themselves very kid-friendly to continue to attract adults. For a variety of reasons family visitors became unprofitable. A lot of the kid-friendly attractions and venues were torn out. Nowadays the target market is spendy adults and LV is marketing themselves as a risque, upscale adult playground (with a genius "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" ad campaign). A few hotels and restaurants don't permit anyone under 10 or 15 to enter and are openly "No kids".

 

So, there may be little to hold the interest of the kids and a very long drive for all. The old downtown area may be more interesting to kids than the Strip...that said, there are some pretty ratty areas downtown while the Strip is very upscale and new.

 

Since you're from Oz, at least you're used to long distance car trips. I disagree the SF-LV route is boring...if you go via Reno, or 395 and through Yosemite there is some pretty spectacular scenery. I consider the 395 corridor between Olancha and Reno one of the most under-visited and overlooked areas of the West Coast.

 

Hope this helps; I recommend either more time or dropping one of the 3 cities. It's too ambitious and will be "hit and run" visits to each place.

[silversunpickups]

I'd suggest you stop by Primm NV on your trip, the rollercoaster there is 100x better then the ones in Las Vegas. To see all the attractions in LA, Vegas and San Fran you will be driving a lot and not be able to see much. I'd recommend you might fly from LA to San Fran and then when you fly back to LA you can drive to Vegas and see the sights and make it back to LA in under a weeks time.

[Fattony]

3 weeks total for the trip and 1 week to see L.A., Vegas and S.F.? Where would you be the rest of the time?

 

Your first itinerary was insane. Scenic, but all of that in a week, including driving and seeing each city (if I read it correctly)? Crazy. Even flying would be rushed, since even then you'd still have just a couple of days in each city. Especially important for L.A., which is huge and spread out (and many people say L.A. when talking about not just the City of L.A., but also the much larger County of Los Angeles and even adjoining counties, such as Orange County, where Disneyland is). Even with a car, getting between things tourists typically want to see (e.g., Hollywood, Disneyland, etc.) takes time. BTW, many things people often associate with Hollywood aren't in that part of L.A. Best movie studio tour may be Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank. Sony (formerly MGM) Studios is in Culver City. Paramount Studios is in Hollywood. Universal Studios is, I believe, still more amusement park than studio tour. They aren't cheap to see, either.

 

I'd also skip Vegas, especially with kids, who can't enter the casino areas (have to stand on the edges, at least). September will still be hot. The roller coasters won't really take that much of the day, and they are expensive. The drive from L.A. to Vegas is hot and boring. And I like the desert. You can find some pretty good roller coasters in the L.A. area. I personally prefer Disneyland and perhaps Disney California Adventure and Knott's Berry Farm (which each have roller coasters), but if one really likes big, fast roller coasters, I've heard best park is Magic Mountain (though after Labor Day if may be open just on weekends; check their Web site). Of course, it's your trip, and I do understand many people really, really want to see Las Vegas.

 

The drive from L.A. to S.F. can be done in a day (either a short day up boring I-5 or a long day via Highway 101; the most scenic route, Highway 1, is best done with at least two days). The Amtrak Coast Starlight train is enjoyable (mainly follows the route of Hwy. 101). Flights are quick and inexpensive.

 

If you go to Vegas, you'd probably want to stay on the Strip, but the Golden Nugget Hotel in downtown Vegas, next to the Fremont Street Experience, has an enclosed water slide to the swimming pool that goes through a big aquarium that has sharks in it (kids might like it if they're old enough). The drive from Vegas to San Francisco is scenic, especially if you go via Hwy. 395 and either Yosemite or Lake Tahoe, but you'd need at least 2 days, preferably 3-4, just for that trip

[SadieN]

If the drive is decided upon leave for Las Vegas early in the morning. The 15north thru the Cajon Pass can crawl, heck 5 miles south of the pass it was already bumper-to-bumper at 3:30 this afternoon.

 

511 gives traffic info in California.

 

Check the weather reports for the 395. It is possible, but not likely at that time of year, to hit snow. The only way out of Reno at times is flying.

[PNW Traveler]

If I were traveling with children ages 6 and 9 I would do the following - everyone will enjoy these and the family will have some wonderful memories:

1. LA - Disneyland (allow at least 2 days) Stay at the Disneyland Hotel to maximize the experience. It's perfect for adults as well as children.

2. Take a tour of Hollywood. It is fun for all.

3. Visit Universal Studios. Allow a full day.

4. Visit the Grand Canyon. It is one of the most magnificent places on earth and you will never forget it.

 

There are many great cities, but only one Grand Canyon. The children will never forget their USA adventures.