Moon California Road Trip

DISCOVER the California Road Trip

Planning Your Trip

Hit the Road

Best Views

Best Hikes

Stretch Your Legs

San Francisco, Yosemite, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon. Each is like no other place on earth. You can experience all of them in a 14-day road trip, with each stop roughly a day’s drive from the next. You’ll drive through a landscape that encompasses the best of the American West: modern skyscrapers and sandy beaches, granite peaks and towering trees, flat deserts and steep-sided canyons.

It’s a landscape filled with overwhelming natural beauty and wide-open space. In Yosemite, waterfalls feather down faces of granite. At the Grand Canyon, layers of colorful geologic history travel back in time millions of years. Along the Pacific Coast, cliff sides tumble dramatically into the ocean.

This is nature at its most primal, but it’s just a few hours away from the cosmopolitan pleasures of America’s most distinctive cities. Whether it’s the sunlight shimmering on the Golden Gate Bridge or the stripes of the rainbow flag, San Francisco is as proud of its colorful character as it is of its reputation as a culinary capital. Sprawling Los Angeles is a source of both world-class culture and amusement park fun. Las Vegas feels more like a mirage than a city, with its neon flashing against the otherwise dark desert sky.

Choose your own pace. Let your interests determine your routes and itineraries. Ride a cable car or hike to Half Dome. Stroll the Hollywood Walk of Fame or explore the Magic Kingdom. Descend deep into the Grand Canyon or dance until dawn in Sin City. Or just lie on the beach and soak up the sun. No matter who you are or what you’re into, this road trip is for you.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

Where to Go

San Francisco

Located on a hilly peninsula between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Add in a renowned food scene, world-class museums, a healthy arts culture, and iconic attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island for a mandatory stop on any serious road trip.

Yosemite

Wander amid sequoia groves, granite peaks, and mountain lakes. See national treasures like Half Dome and El Capitan. Yosemite National Park showcases the stunning Sierra Nevada at its rugged best.

Las Vegas

Rising out of the desert like a high-tech oasis, Las Vegas is an adult playground of casinos, bars, buffets, over-the-top shows, and plush hotels. Dig a little deeper to find fine food, a flourishing arts scene, and local hangouts in the shadows of the Strip.

The Grand Canyon

A mile-deep slice into the Kaibab Plateau, the Grand Canyon defies easy description. Stare in awe at the colorful layers from the canyon’s edge—or descend deep into the canyon to meet its creator: the mighty Colorado River.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a massive mix of Southern California beach town, Hollywood dream factory, and 21st-century metropolis. Unmissable attractions include world-class art, a beach scene that begs for some time in the sand and surf, and an amusement park devoted to a cartoon mouse.

Pacific Coast Highway

Stunning coastal views will fill your windshield as you drive along the stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway that connects Los Angeles and San Francisco. The winding roadway hits its peak passing through the mountains of Big Sur, dramatically perched above the ocean. Seaside sights include Santa Barbara Mission, Hearst Castle, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

Know Before You Go

High Season

The West’s best feature is its all-season appeal. That said, this trip is best in the summer and early fall, when CA-120 through Yosemite will most likely be open, although Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon will be quite warm. It’s possible to bypass CA-120 in the winter and spring by taking a different route, but it will add hours and miles to the trip. Be aware that summer brings the most visitors, which will not only add to the crowds at attractions along the way, but also add to the traffic on the highways. Plan a little extra time to get from place to place.

The easiest places to fly into are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. If you’re flying into San Francisco, you can avoid some of the hassle of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) by flying into nearby Oakland or San Jose. Similarly, Los Angeles offers several suburban airports, including Burbank, Long Beach, and Ontario, which are typically less congested than Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). For more details, see click here.

Advance Reservations

Book hotels and rental cars in advance for the best rates and availability, especially in the summer, which is high season for travel. If you plan to rent a car in one city and return it in another (for example, rent the car in San Francisco and return it in Los Angeles), you should expect to pay an additional fee, which can be quite high.

High-season travelers should also plan ahead for the big-name attractions. If you have your heart set on visiting Alcatraz in San Francisco or the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, purchase tickets at least two weeks in advance. You’ll save money buying advance tickets for Disneyland online as well. Reservations are essential at campgrounds in Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and along Big Sur. If you plan to stay at the historic Majestic Yosemite Hotel or dine in its restaurant, make reservations as far in advance as possible.

What to Pack

Bring layered clothing. Expect desert heat in Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon in the summer, but also be prepared for cooler temperatures. Summer fog is likely along the California coast, and is pretty much guaranteed in San Francisco, making the air damp and chilly. No matter what, use sunscreen; that cold fog doesn’t stop the rays from burning unwary beachcombers.

Coming to the United States from abroad? You’ll need your passport and possibly a visa.

Driving Tips

Both San Francisco and especially Los Angeles suffer from serious traffic congestion. Avoid driving in or through San Francisco during rush hour traffic, typically weekdays 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm, though serious congestion can occur at other times. In Los Angeles, rush hour can stretch all the way from 5am to 10am and from 3pm to 7pm. Of course, special events can create traffic jams in both cities on weekends. To view current traffic conditions in the San Francisco Bay Area, visit www.511.org. For Los Angeles, go to www.trafficinfo.lacity.org for a city map showing current traffic information. Though not as notorious as San Francisco or Los Angeles, Las Vegas has its own traffic problems, especially on Thursday and Friday evenings. The Nevada Department of Transportation (www.nvroads.com) has information on current road conditions.

Because it’s located in the high-altitude Sierra Nevada, access to Yosemite is dependent on the weather and the seasons. Two of the most traveled roads in the park, Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road, are typically closed November-early June. In recent years, forest fires have occurred in the park and surrounding areas, limiting access in the summer and fall as well. Check for road conditions and closures online at www.nps.gov/yose.

Fires and landslides can also impede a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, especially through Big Sur. Visit the Caltrans website (www.dot.ca.gov) for highway conditions throughout California.

Expect high summer temperatures on the drive between Yosemite and Las Vegas, especially if you take the route through Death Valley, where blazing hot temperatures of 120°F or more can occur. Heat can also be a problem on the routes to and from the Grand Canyon. Make sure your car has sufficient engine coolant and working air-conditioning, and take along plenty of drinking water. You may also encounter thunderstorms in this area July-mid-September, which can lead to road flooding. Contact the Nevada Department of Transportation (877/687-6237, www.nvroads.com) and Arizona Department of Transportation (www.az511.gov) for each state’s road conditions.

Cell phone reception is limited or nonexistent in large sections of Yosemite, along the desert route to and from Las Vegas, and along the Pacific Coast Highway through Big Sur.

HIT THE ROAD

The 14-Day Best of the West

You can hit the top destinations in 14 days by driving in a rough loop. The day-by-day route below begins in San Francisco, but you can just as easily start in Los Angeles or Las Vegas if that works better for you. For detailed driving directions for each leg of this road trip, see Getting There at the beginning of each chapter. All mileage and driving times are approximate.

Days 1-2

SAN FRANCISCO

It’s easy to fill two days with fun in San Francisco. On the first day, visit the foodie-friendly Ferry Building, then walk 1.5 miles down the Embarcadero to the ferry that will take you out to Alcatraz. For dinner, indulge in Vietnamese fare at The Slanted Door or the old-school elegance of Tadich Grill.

On your second day, head west to Golden Gate Park, where you can explore the art of the de Young Museum or the animals at the California Academy of Sciences. Visit the Japanese Tea Garden for tea and a snack before leaving the park. Spend the afternoon at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art before dining at its touted on-site restaurant In Situ.

Rest your head at the tech-savvy Hotel Zetta, homey Golden Gate Hotel, or Hotel G with its three dining and drinking establishments. For more suggestions on how to spend your time in San Francisco, see click here.

Day 3

DRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO YOSEMITE

200 mi / 320 km / 5 hrs

Grab a coffee from Blue Bottle Café to wake up for the drive to Yosemite. Leave San Francisco at 8am to reach Yosemite by noon. The drive to the Big Oak Flat entrance takes at least four hours; however, traffic, especially in summer and on weekends, can make it much longer.

Days 4-5

YOSEMITE

Explore Yosemite Valley to see iconic attractions like Half Dome and El Capitan. Make reservations ahead of time to spend the night in the comfort of the Majestic Yosemite Hotel or in the mountain air at the park’s Tuolumne Meadows Campground, which is only open in the summer. On the second day, plan a hike to Tuolumne Meadows or head to the more remote, less-visited Hetch Hetchy region, where worthwhile hikes include the Wapama Falls Trail.

Day 6

DRIVING FROM YOSEMITE TO LAS VEGAS

415 mi / 670 km / 8 hrs

You have a long drive ahead of you, so fuel up with a stop at the Whoa Nellie Deli just east of the park’s Tioga Pass entrance or at the Silver Lake Resort Café on the June Lake Loop.

For most of the year, the best route is via Tioga Pass (if you’re traveling in winter or spring, check to make sure that it’s open before heading out). The Nevada route is the most direct: the 415-mile drive to Las Vegas takes 7 hours, 45 minutes. Follow CA-120 East to US-6 in Benton. Take US-6 East to Coaldale, where it shares the road with US-95 South to Tonopah, which makes a good stopover. It’s then a 210-mile straight shot on US-95 South to Vegas.

The California route is more scenic. It’s only a few miles farther but 45 minutes longer, traversing Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, and Lone Pine. East of Lone Pine, CA-136 becomes CA-190, which winds through Death Valley. A right turn onto the Daylight Pass Road leads to the Nevada border and CA-374 just before Beatty, which makes a good place to stop. From Beatty, US-95 leads southeast to Las Vegas.

Day 7

LAS VEGAS

The glitz of the Las Vegas Strip makes it a surreal stopover between the natural wonders of Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. Fortify yourself with a rich but right Croque Madame from famed chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon at The Venetian. Strip off the dust and sweat of the road with a decadent pool party at The Palms. Watch the sun set from the 550-foot-tall High Roller observation wheel and then get some creative comfort food at Culinary Dropout or go upscale at Rose. Rabbit. Lie. Indulge yourself with a stay at the lux Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas. For more suggestions on how to spend your time in Las Vegas, see click here.

Day 8

DRIVING FROM LAS VEGAS TO THE GRAND CANYON

280 mi / 450 km / 5 hrs

The 280-mile drive to the Grand Canyon takes about five hours. Head south on US-93, breezing over the new Hoover Dam Bypass, and stop over in Kingman, Arizona. Then take I-40 East to Williams (115 miles) and overnight at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel.

Day 9

THE GRAND CANYON

Enjoy a break from your car by taking the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams to Grand Canyon National Park. Enjoy the views from the Rim Trail or descend into the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail. Get an appetizer or a drink at the historic El Tovar Hotel before taking the train back to Williams. For dinner, indulge in a prime cut of meat from Rod’s Steak House.

Day 10

DRIVING FROM THE GRAND CANYON TO LOS ANGELES

500 mi / 805 km / 8 hrs

After a good night’s sleep, head out for Los Angeles. The 494-mile drive to Los Angeles takes 7-8 hours. Take I-40 West to Barstow. From Barstow, take I-15 South, then take I-10 West into the heart of L.A. Be prepared to slow down when you hit the L.A. traffic, which may extend your driving time exponentially.

Days 11-12

LOS ANGELES

After appreciating the natural wonder of the Grand Canyon, it’s time to appreciate the achievements of civilization in Los Angeles. On your first day, see the Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center or view the artistic masterpieces at The Getty Center. For a night in the heart of downtown, stay at the Ace Hotel and enjoy dinner at its downstairs restaurant, L.A. Chapter.

On your second day, give your mind a rest and hit the beach. Choose the Santa Monica Pier for its beachside amusement park, Venice Beach for its lively boardwalk, or Malibu for its famous surf. For dinner, plan on fresh seafood at Neptune’s Net, then sleep by the sea at the Hotel Erwin in Venice Beach. Kids (and kids at heart) might prefer a full day and night at the Disneyland Resort. For more suggestions on how to spend your time in Los Angeles, see click here.

Days 13-14

DRIVING FROM LOS ANGELES TO SAN FRANCISCO

500 mi / 805 km / 8 hrs

This scenic route runs almost 500 miles and can easily take 8 hours to drive. While it’s possible to make the drive in one long day, this is one stretch that you won’t want to rush. Planning on two days allows you to take in some of the many fine attractions along the way. Alternate between US-101 North and CA-1 (which are sometimes the same road) depending upon where you want to stop and linger. For a quicker drive, take the inland route I-5, which is just around 380 miles and takes about six hours—but you’ll miss the most scenic sections of the California coast.

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY

The most difficult part of this journey along PCH is deciding which of its many fine attractions deserve a stop. On the first day, soak up surf culture in Ventura or experience fine living in Santa Barbara, with its regal Santa Barbara Mission. San Luis Obispo is around the midway point and makes a good place to spend the night. On the second day, choose between Hearst Castle in San Simeon, the scenic coastal drive through Big Sur, or Monterey, with its world-class aquarium, on your way back to San Francisco. If you allow 3-4 days for this drive, you can see them all. Stay longer depending on where your interests lie. For specific suggestions on where to stop along the coast, see click here.

San Francisco, Yosemite, and Los Angeles

In just six days, you can experience California’s most famous cities and its biggest natural attraction. But you’ll be doing a lot of driving. Make it a full seven days and you have enough time for the state’s best coastal drive along Big Sur. If you have more time than that, it’s well worth adding another day to each of the main stops. Mileage and driving times are approximate.

Day 1

SAN FRANCISCO

Spend your San Francisco day in Golden Gate Park. Indulge your artistic side at the de Young Museum or learn more about our world at the nearby California Academy of Sciences. Unwind with a walk through the park’s Japanese Tea Garden. Then make your way to the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the world’s most famous photo-ops. End your day with a meal at one of the city’s culinary stars—or grab an authentic burrito at a local taqueria, which may be just as tasty. You won’t have as many dining options once you make it to Yosemite. For more suggestions on how to spend your time in San Francisco, see click here.

Day 2

DRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO YOSEMITE

200 mi / 320 km / 5 hrs

With a head full of art and science and a belly full of gourmet food, head to Yosemite. Leave San Francisco at 8am to reach Yosemite by noon. The drive to the Big Oak Flat entrance takes at least four hours; however, traffic, especially in summer and on weekends, can make it much longer.

Day 3

YOSEMITE

Spend a day touring around Yosemite Valley, seeing Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls. If you want to break a sweat, hike the 5.4-mile round-trip Mist Trail. Spend a night under the stars at one of the park’s campgrounds or enjoy a night indoors at the classic Majestic Yosemite Hotel