Las Vegas to Los Angeles 3 – A classical trip in California (with a little of Nevada) that includes Yosemite National Park and Route 1 in addition to Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles. This trip includes driving the Tioga Pass road in Yosemite that is open for a relatively short period every year (see opening and closure dates here).
Day 1 – Land in Las Vegas and spend the afternoon in the city
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 2 – Spend the day in Las Vegas
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 3 – Enjoy one more day in Las Vegas
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 4 – Drive west to Mammoth Lakes, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Mammoth Lakes
Day 5 – Cross north Yosemite National Park along the scenic Tioga Pass HWY (route 120) and go on short hikes along this route, 3 hours drive
(the Tioga Pass HWY is usually open from the end of May/June until October. See status here)
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 6 – Travel and hike in Yosemite Valley, short drive
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 7 – Visit Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove in south Yosemite, 1.5 hours drive in each direction
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 8 – Drive to San Francisco and enjoy the afternoon in the city (or spend the morning in Yosemite), 4 hours drive
(on the way you may go on a rafting trip here)
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 9 – Spend the day in San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 10 – Enjoy one more day in San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 11 – Drive to Monterey through HWY 1 and the coastal towns of Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz (which has a unique amusement park) and Capitola, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 12 – Spend the day in beautiful Monterey
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 13 – Enjoy the day in Monterey’s surroundings (17 Mile Drive and Point Lobos State Park), less than 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 14 – Travel south along the most famous portion of HWY 1, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Cambria or Morro Bay
Day 15 – Drive to Los Angeles and visit sites along the way, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Hollywood or Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 16 – Spend the day in Los Angeles or visit Universal Studios
Lodging location: Hollywood or Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 17 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our California destinations pages, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
