California National Parks Trip

[mekkerlc]

We were supposed to do this trip summer of 2020, but Covid derailed that. Now we are planning it for Summer 2023.

Summer 2021 we did 3.5 weeks in ND, SD, WY, and MT seeing those National Parks.

Summer 2018 we did 4.5 weeks in AZ, UT, and CO National Parks

Looking at routing California stops right now and booking sites once I have a route confirmed. 32-days is the length. Kids will be 16, 14, 12, 10...we are all very active and don't mind the long drives and short stops...we make the most out of our time by getting to hikes at 6am etc...

• Lake Tahoe/Reno (stopover coming from SLC)
• San Francisco (Marin RV Park?)
• Yosemite NP (Yosemite Rivers RV Park?)
• Pinnacles NP
• Kings Canyon & Sequoia (stay in Three Rivers?)
• Channel Islands NP (stay in Ventura?)
• San Diego (Campland on the Bay?)
• Joshua Tree NP
• Las Vegas (stop at Death Valley NP)

Thoughts on this route and order of stops?
(of course I wish we had more time, but this is what we have!)

[jbflag21ds]

Any particular reason for the SF stop?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by mekkerlc

We were supposed to do this trip summer of 2020, but Covid derailed that. Now we are planning it for Summer 2023.



Summer 2021 we did 3.5 weeks in ND, SD, WY, and MT seeing those National Parks.



Summer 2018 we did 4.5 weeks in AZ, UT, and CO National Parks



Looking at routing California stops right now and booking sites once I have a route confirmed. 32-days is the length. Kids will be 16, 14, 12, 10...we are all very active and don't mind the long drives and short stops...we make the most out of our time by getting to hikes at 6am etc...

• Lake Tahoe/Reno (stopover coming from SLC)
  
• San Francisco (Marin RV Park?)
  
• Yosemite NP (Yosemite Rivers RV Park?)
  
• Pinnacles NP
  
• Kings Canyon & Sequoia (stay in Three Rivers?)
  
• Channel Islands NP (stay in Ventura?)
  
• San Diego (Campland on the Bay?)
  
• Joshua Tree NP
  
• Las Vegas (stop at Death Valley NP)
  

Thoughts on this route and order of stops?

(of course I wish we had more time, but this is what we have!)

Is your list, in order of stops?

[mekkerlc]

Originally Posted by jbflag21ds

Any particular reason for the SF stop?

I originally did not have the SF and SD stops in our 2020 route -- but got to thinking that we are WAAAYYYYY out there in California with the kids, who've never been to CA...how could we drive right by SF, LA, and SD without showing them just a little of those areas. Hit Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, the Wharf, and maybe Alcatraz...keep it simple. For SD do the Zoo and the Beach so they can get in the Pacific Ocean.

[mekkerlc]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Is your list, in order of stops?

Yeah, I put the list in order as of now...it could easily change as I didn't book any sites yet.
I'm also up for changing the direction (instead of North to South, do South to North). Not sure if it would matter with kids going back to school in California or weather?

[jbflag21ds]

Originally Posted by mekkerlc

I originally did not have the SF and SD stops in our 2020 route -- but got to thinking that we are WAAAYYYYY out there in California with the kids, who've never been to CA...how could we drive right by SF, LA, and SD without showing them just a little of those areas. Hit Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, the Wharf, and maybe Alcatraz...keep it simple. For SD do the Zoo and the Beach so they can get in the Pacific Ocean.

Fair enough. The truck in your sig won't make it easy getting around that city though.

I just highly dislike SF, have for decades, so i am biased. But Alcatraz is neat, the bridge is cool as is the headlands and old military batteries up there.

[Pacifictime]

My advice is to stay the heck out of the City of San Francisco. Dangerous filthy place and if you can get out of there without getting your vehicle broken into you are very lucky.

[Jfkmk]

Originally Posted by Pacifictime

My advice is to stay the heck out of the City of San Francisco. Dangerous filthy place and if you can get out of there without getting your vehicle broken into you are very lucky.

Been there, and I agree with you 100%.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Pacifictime

My advice is to stay the heck out of the City of San Francisco. Dangerous filthy place and if you can get out of there without getting your vehicle broken into you are very lucky.

Hmmm. We find it no different than any other metro area. One of our favorite cities to visit. Yes, you do have to be aware of areas where you shouldn't wander and try not to be out too late. All the major touristy places mentioned above are fine.
The homeless problem is definitely worse than years past but not bad enough to prevent us from enjoying our favorite areas.

[whitexc]

Originally Posted by mekkerlc

We were supposed to do this trip summer of 2020, but Covid derailed that. Now we are planning it for Summer 2023.



Summer 2021 we did 3.5 weeks in ND, SD, WY, and MT seeing those National Parks.



Summer 2018 we did 4.5 weeks in AZ, UT, and CO National Parks



Looking at routing California stops right now and booking sites once I have a route confirmed. 32-days is the length. Kids will be 16, 14, 12, 10...we are all very active and don't mind the long drives and short stops...we make the most out of our time by getting to hikes at 6am etc...

• Lake Tahoe/Reno (stopover coming from SLC)
  
• San Francisco (Marin RV Park?)
  
• Yosemite NP (Yosemite Rivers RV Park?)
  
• Pinnacles NP
  
• Kings Canyon & Sequoia (stay in Three Rivers?)
  
• Channel Islands NP (stay in Ventura?)
  
• San Diego (Campland on the Bay?)
  
• Joshua Tree NP
  
• Las Vegas (stop at Death Valley NP)
  

Thoughts on this route and order of stops?

(of course I wish we had more time, but this is what we have!)

Jealous of both your employment (time off actually) and your skills at planning and corralling the herd together for what sounds like a great family vacation (another great vacation that is). The kids will remember these trips forever. Good on you. Have a great time and be safe.

[Leo Whitlock]

Take a look at Lassen Volcanic Park.
Highway 396 north out of Reno, Turns into Highway 36 West in Susanville, Ca.
Just west, outside of Susanville, you have a choice of Highway 44 to North entrance or Highway 36 to south entrance go thru park and take either 44 or 36 west to Interstate 5, then south to SF.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by mekkerlc

• Lake Tahoe/Reno (stopover coming from SLC)
  
• San Francisco (Marin RV Park?)
  
• Yosemite NP (Yosemite Rivers RV Park?)
  
• Pinnacles NP
  
• Kings Canyon & Sequoia (stay in Three Rivers?)
  
• Channel Islands NP (stay in Ventura?)
  
• San Diego (Campland on the Bay?)
  
• Joshua Tree NP
  
• Las Vegas (stop at Death Valley NP)
  

Thoughts on this route and order of stops?

(of course I wish we had more time, but this is what we have!)

First, agree that you shouldn't take your truck into SF.
Second, yes SF has gotten bad in some areas. But I still love The City and many places are still worth visiting.
Third, i suggest your order of stops should be:
Tahoe
Yosemite
SF
Kings Canyon/Sequoia
Pinnacles
Channel Islands
San Diego
Joshua Tree
Vegas

Eliminating San Francisco would simplify the trip.

[Pacifictime]

That sure says a lot about our country. Just stay with the flock and be safely in the barn by dark.

[n1acguy]

Personally, I would leave off SF too. Even if the park you stay at is nice, it's a real cluster getting there.

That said SF is probably the only one of the 3 major cities you would want to be in, unless you want to visit Hollywood or the theme parks, but Hollywood is a dump. Same thing with SD, IMO. We used to love going to SF, but in recent years the smell of feces and urine seems to be everywhere, with homeless druggies piled up on the sidewalks just outside of Union Square.

You might consider Sacramento. Touring the capital is a nice day. Really nice rail museum and auto museum in old town. They've got a lot of museums and attractions in the area, and it's like a gateway to gold country. Those little mountain towns have a lot to offer.
Also the lakes and waterways are great recreation. There are small boat, kayak, and bicycle rentals to ride around Folsom lake on a really nice bike path/walkway.
Also, on the coast in the northern part of the state are the most beautiful giant redwoods, and probably the only place on earth where you can see them. Lots of nice level trail loops on "The Avenue of the Giants".

I guess what I'm saying is that the state is beautiful, but our cities aren't doing too well, and it really shows.

[jbflag21ds]

Originally Posted by Pacifictime

That sure says a lot about our country. Just stay with the flock and be safely in the barn by dark.

Maybe some of us don't like driving down tight and narrow and congested streets in a large truck (possibly with a trailer depending on the route needed) with stop lights every 1/4 mile and one way streets, jaywalkers, trolleys in the way, terrible traffic signage, and annoying hills.

I have stayed in places that are less safe than SF, but they weren't a PITA to drive in

[ppine]

A good list. California has 40 million people. These parks are loved to death in summer so you need reservations for most of them. San Francisco is a very interesting city to visit. I have been going for over 50 years.

Forget about Death Valley during summer. It is just too dang hot, dangerously hot. Las Vegas will be difficult but okay with AC.

[mekkerlc]

Appreciate all the feedback!

We expect the heat and the crowds at the different stops and are prepared to deal with that. Nothing we aren't familiar with in our travels.
This trip is a great opportunity to get the family out to California, so we want to make the most of the limited time we have...hence all the stops.

We won't really change our mind about the stops on the route. Its more the route and order of stops we are concerned about.

Someone suggested going to Yosemite first, and then SF, etc... But looking at driving directions, that seems to bring us from SLC south to Yosemite...then back north for SF...then south again to Kings/Sequoia, etc...

This is where I am eager to learn and implement the best route for efficiencies...mileage and time of course.

[DougW]

With Garmin Basecamp you can put your route in with all of the planned stops then use the “optimize route” option. Other programs may have similar features.

[Pacifictime]

70 cents a gallon tax on gas, $37.60 to pull your trailer across the Golden Gate Bridge, $9.40 to just drive a car across. 10% sales tax on everything you buy. Average parking ticket in SF is $97.40 from which the city makes $90 million dollars a year. San Francisco has about double the crime rate of every other county in California.
All this so you can be accosted by bums and junkies, with the constant smell of urine and human feces.
50 years ago, SF was a great city, but it has become a cesspool. I live about an hour north of SF and I used to like to go to restaurants etc. but no more. I don't understand how anyone can run a business in The City. I have avoided talk of SF politics because it is forbidden in these forums. By the way, tourists are a favorite target of criminals. I say stay away and let San Francisco rot in its own filth.

[The2002Wanderer]

Here's a few suggestions from a Marin County Local for your planned trip to CA National Parks:
SAN FRANCISCO - I suggest that you consider Olema Campground (https://www.olemacampground.net/) Close to Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes Lighthouse and beaches (Drakes Beach is best for day use, other beaches beaufiful but dangerous surf). Would be difficult to access SF from here.

Marin RV Park is more a RV parking lot than an RV Park. But it as a good location to access SF. As everyone has wisely said do not try to take your RV into or thru the city. The ferry terminal (https://www.goldengate.org/assets/1/6/summer20222.pdf) is within walking distance of the RV Park. If you take Ferry to SF you can omit bay cruise. Once in rhe city (what we call SF locally) I'd suggest a hop-on-hop off bus tour to aquaint yourself with all of the highlights: one of these includes a tour of Alcatraz which is a must see and requires reservations. If you don't want to bus tour you can walk from the ferry building north along the Embarcadero to the Maritime Museum, Guirardelli Square and tourist traps like Pier 39. Cable Cars are a must, include the Cable car Museum.

Weather Warning: SF is notorius for summer weather including FOG - it can be 80 degrees at your RV Park and 60 (or less) in the city with fog. Dress in layers for your visit.

If you'd like more suggestions visit https://www.sftravel.com/ for suggestions.

PINNACLES NP. - This is good for one day of hiking - not more. Camping is only accessible from east side entrance: the road does not go through the park and the west side is day use only. My choice would be to drop Pinnacles and go to Monterey/Carmel area instead.

JOSHUA TREE NP - Good choice and can be substitute for long out-of-way trip to Pinnacles NP.

I suggest choosing your destinations and then planning routes using RV Trip Wizard. HWY 140 into Yosemite south entrance is closed (7/14/22) due to wildfire in area. In CA you should chek https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/ for fire updates when traveling in the Sierra.

f you want some more personal ideas PM me.

Have a great trip,
Don