Originally Posted by
pazza2000
Earlier on in this thread the above back route was suggested to Yosemite after LV/GC, however I was told by some I would be crazy to do it due to the heat and driving time there/back to LA
It's only crazy if you don't plan enough time for the distance you expect to cover and the activities you plan to do.
If you haven't done so already, get really familiar with studying these areas on Google Maps or some other service. You'll get distances, alternate routes, and estimated driving times. Cross reference it with sites that offer more information about specific destinations. For example, visit the National Park Service (NPS) at
www.nps.gov, for detailed maps and information on sites such as Grand Canyon and Yosemite.
New ideas would be welcome, especially regarding the Grand Canyon & Yosemite; where to stay, how best to do it, what to see en route.
I suggest that instead of visiting Grand Canyon you visit Zion National Park and possibly also Bryce Canyon. Zion is about 3 hours from LAS. It doesn't have the box-ticking cachet of Grand Canyon but I think it's prettier and more enjoyable. I love to hike Angel's Landing and the Virgin River narrows.
Perhaps for this trip, an SUV(or large car) would be better, and essential if we change our mind and do LV(GC)-Yos-LA.
Your group is 4 people with 2-3 weeks of luggage and a lot of miles to cover. A vehicle large enough to accommodate you all comfortably is an absolute necessity. You're going to need, at minimum, a full-size sedan. Even then you will probably be squeezed for luggage space. I urge you to seriously consider a full size SUV (macho and big) or a minivan (less macho but extremely practical).
We will be covering alot of miles however we will be taking turns driving, and it is fairly spread out -I am glad to hear it is manageable, I am familiar with LA traffic so my driving tolerance is pretty high.[/QUOTE]