I would strongly recommend breaking up your trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas into 2 days or more. The USS Hornet is an aircraft carrier that served in WWII and on the Apollo 11 mission (a manned space expedition!) Besides just being centrally located in San Francisco, St. Regis is genuinely one of the best the city has to offer in terms of amenities and service. You won't be disappointed following this itinerary. Follow the state route past Inyo National Forest, and with Mono Lake to your right, go left to enter Yosemite via Tioga Pass. Regardless of which San Francisco to Las Vegas driving route you take, be sure to have fun in Vegas. (I have 8 days) Want to stop by some parks and also in some romantic winery at Napa Valley. The same Highway 120 crosses right over the Sierra Nevada through the Yosemite National Park with this section being known as the Tioga Road - check before you travel as this road gets closed from time to time and remains closed during the winter only reopening in late spring. This means you have no choice but to break up the trip into at least two days, although you'd need a lot more than that if you want to see everything there is to see. One fun local experience that's sure to please is a visit to the Las Vegas Neon Museum's boneyard, a fascinating outdoor display of retired casino neon signs. Driving from Las Vegas to San Francisco in winter?? - Tripadvisor This means that if you travel in the winter, you can only do the quicker route, and certain sections of the forests you'll be passing are bound to be closed off. This is an incredible place to get in touch with nature by exploring the countless hiking trails and stargazing at night. most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. Hit up Ballarat Ghost town, which used to be an old mining supply stop and hang out for creepy Charles Manson. drive for about 2 hours, 11:56 am eat at Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant Head out of San Francisco along the Bay Bridge to Oakland before following the interstate past Oakland Zoo and Lake Chabot to the I-580. trip dates & more! Google Maps is fine and all but sometimes an old school map is better for finding backroads and byways. Here are some of the best stops you can find along the way: Yosemite's the centerpiece of many California-based road trips - wherever you're headed, you can always justify an excursion to the beautiful Yosemite Valley. The first one is a scenic route filled with amazing views of the mountains, valleys, and lakes around the area. We have five restaurant recommendations worth your attention. death valley? Itinerary from Las Vegas to San Francisco 7 years ago Save I am looking for advice on a 9 day road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco this coming June. The road trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas can be done in just 8 hours 30 minutes following the interstates through Bakersfield. If you're visiting during the sports season, you're in luck, as the Oracle Stadium (and many other major attractions in San Fran, for that matter) are all within walking distance of the hotel. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Keep some energy as this city has plenty of activities to offer. From the pool and natural springs to the palm tree gardens and walkways, this resort truly feels like an oasis in the middle of a vast desert. With temperatures hovering at around 70 degrees, you can get a summer-esque experience while still visiting out of season, meaning fewer crowds and a chance of snagging some affordable accommodation. One of the jaw-dropping sights from a road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco is Red Rock Canyon. You won't want to miss a minute of it. Entering the park from the Tioga Road entrance is so beautiful that you will want to make sure you take advantage of the pull-off spots along to the road to really take it all in. The road trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas can be done in just 8 hours 30 minutes following the interstates through Bakersfield. You could also stay south out of the park and head west all the way to the coast and hit up Santa Cruz for some surfing and beach time, or take highway 101 up the coast for some breathtaking views (check out the Big Sur to San Francisco section in this road trip guide for some awesome ideas). If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. Pack up some additional supplies and get ready to take some detours off the beaten path - you will be surprised at how much there is to discover! Red Rock Canyon offers amazing climbing and hiking routes, as well as a one-way 13-mile loop road if scenic drives are more your thing. Seriously, why would you not want to tour a cheese factory? You won't be able to resist stopping for at least . Despite having some of the most extreme conditions of any National Park, the Mojave Desert is stunningly beautiful and immensely popular. Look out along the coast and try to spot whales, dolphins and sea otters playing in the water. If you're planning a road trip to San Francisco, you can research locations to stop along the way. Its only 2.5 hours to Las Vegas from Death Valley, so if you get up early, you can see quite a bit of the park. Yep, us too. Calico is an authentic Wild West mining settlement, but has been fixed up quite a bit, with new buildings added, to make it more of an attraction than a bona fide historic site it's a cute little stop with loads to see and do. The best things to see and do between Las Vegas and San Francisco. Head north on Highway 95 and enter Death Valley National Park. Like the Eastern Sierras, theres also a LOT to do in Death Valley. Search for RV campgrounds. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. Explore from the desert to the mountains to the coast. If you want a birds-eye view of the action, check out either the Stratosphere Tower Observation Deck or the Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Las Vegas. Kids can take in all the glittering lights of Las Vegas with an early evening family walk to see the lights and fountains shows outside the Bellagio and Treasure Island. It's moored on the San Francisco Bay near Alameda and serves as a massive, floating museum. How long does it take to drive across the USA? You should also be watchful for snakes and scorpions, both of which can be poisonous and pose a significant danger to desert explorers on foot. Trippy is where Take a left at Lone Pine to reach State Route 190 which will take you right across the heart of Death Valley before joining Highway 95 for the drive down to Las Vegas. There are outlet malls to delight bargain hunters, as well as designer boutiques from luxury brands like Chanel, Dior, Jimmy Choo, and more. This isnt a great routing for the winter, because Tioga Pass is always closed during the snowy months and the road conditions on upper Highway 395 can be tricky. restaurants around Barstow: Due to intense heat, authorities recommend extreme caution during the summer. Find out how many days in San Francisco to stay. What's the best neighborhood in Barstow for a first time visitor? Show us by creating an adventure. 15+ INCREDIBLE Road Trips from Las Vegas (NPs, Cities & More!) On the way out of California lies the Mojave Desert, one of the largest deserts in the United States. Then visit the Laws Railroad Museum, which is a remarkably realistic replica town that represents this region in the early 1900s. In Stovepipe Wells, stop at the Mesquite Dunes, then carry on east to the Rhyolite Ghost Town before getting to Beatty. Be aware of local regulations and don't damage these amazing places for the sake of a photograph. Catch a show from well-known performers like Celine Dion or the Cirque Du Soleil artists who have seven different performances around town. You wont have time to do everything in the Eastern Sierras, but we suggest that you take a few quicker scenic stops and short hikes. Visit Colonel Allensworth State Park in the Central Valley. Jessica Foiles This is the shortest route at 111 miles. Maybe try typing in a faraway location like London, Hong Kong, A drive from Las Vegas to San Francisco that avoids interstates means taking roads through Mojave, Death Valley or Yosemite National Park. That's why we send you the best local adventures, stories, and expert advice, right to your inbox. Barstow (17 answers) OK. You will receive our newsletter and are able to unsubscribe at any stage; Ultimate Rock Climbing Campervan Road Trip. The scramble at the end isnt for the faint of heart, but its so worth it in the end. open-ended. Instead of flying, jump in your car and drive through a chain of amazing sand dunes, parks, forests, and mountains. Below, you can see some of the amazing places and landmarks you'll encounter along the way the route I propose has plenty to offer in the way of views and accommodation, so you'll be thankful you drove instead of flying after visiting them! In this part, we explained four hotels you can stay at on the road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco. Got travelers under the age of 21? (This article contains affiliate links. This section lists five restaurants to dine at on the road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco. Marie made it so simple for us she had everything." Destinations. The fastest route is 570 miles and takes about 9 hours with no stops. So, look into getting the annual California State Parks Poppy Pass (which is $125 and good at almost all CA state parks). Once in Oakland, cross the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge into San Francisco. If you're traveling in the summer, you could take one on the way there and the other on the return trip. Las Vegas to Yosemite Road Trip + Death Valley & Sequoia Red Rock Canyon Park is 172 miles (277 km) from Sequoia National Park or a 2h 50-minute drive. This is also a great spot for a quick scenic drive down the 17-mile drive, which hugs a number of golf courses, the coast, and offers a peak at some unique homes. All rights reserved. The Generals Highway covers the best-of Sequoia National Park and Highway 180 covers the best-of Kings Canyon. Click the blue button below. If ever there was a journey that shouldn't be done in one day, the road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco is definitely it. Fill up your tank and then swing by Dynamo Donut & Coffee for a breakfast of champions. It would be an actual ghost town, if not for the General Store and the Pioneer Saloon, a drinking establishment that's been boozing up locals since the days when miners occupied the place. There is a toll for the San Francisco Bridge, though you only pay it if you are headed south toward the city. There are a number of motels and inns there. Goodsprings, Nevada is a town that's basically the dead opposite of Las Vegas. The final destination of your road trip. Total Distance. This town is your base camp for the next days adventure to Sequoia National Park.