Tours From Las Vegas To Yosemite
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Travelling from Grand Canyon To San Francisco?
I will be doing a driving tour of the west coast of USA in Oct. One segment of my travel will be the westbound journey from Grand Canyon to San Francisco.
From what I can deduce from GPS simulation, the driving times are as follows:
Grand Canyon – Las Vegas: 6 hrs
Las Vegas – Death Valley: 3 hrs
Death Valley – Yosemite: 8 hrs
Yosemite – San Francisco: 5 hrs
Are the above drive times realistic, taking into account some rest stops? Where should my night stopovers be, and what is the most optimum way to traverse this route (eg are there are other interesting towns that I should park myself overnight instead of the more famous spots)? After leaving Grand Canyon, I have about 3 days to do this segment. Thanks !
Those are reasonable estimates. For example, you can expect to do Yosemite-San Francisco in 4 hours (non-stop). With a gas stop and meal along the way, an additional hour seems about right.
You should spend your first night in Las Vegas. Since Vegas is a “mirage” rising unexpectedly in the middle of nowhere anyway, you don’t have much of a choice in the matter. Besides, where else can you play blackjack in the presence of an artificial rainstorm (or a real African lion roaming around a glass enclosure 15 feet away). Of course, it is absurd and kitschy. But once you get pass all that skepticism, there’s an undeniable energy to the place.
Death Valley is part of the same desert system, so don’t expect too many small towns around there either. The only settlement of note is Furnace Creek, which has three hotels. The high-end Furnace Creek Inn serves the wealthier set. The other two (Furnace Creek Ranch and Stovepipe Wells Village) are motels. I would leave Vegas early to see Death Valley’s sand dunes, and then move onto Yosemite. It is a beautiful area, but it’s not as diverse as the environment up north.
The area around Yosemite is littered with interesting “Gold Rush” era towns (Merced, Mariposa, Ahwanee, Wawona) that haven’t changed much since the 19th century. Although most visitors head straight for Yosemite Village, there are excellent and more affordable accomodations in the little towns I’ve mentioned above. Coming from the south, you’ll likely encounter Ahwanee and Wawona first. Homestead Cottages and the Wawona Hotel are both superb choices for the overnight.
Yosemite itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A title it certainly deserves. There are waterfalls, lakes, forests, mountains, valleys, meadows, and an incredible amount of wildlife. Spend most of the day here before heading into the urban jungle of the San Francisco Bay Area (and the 7.2 million residents who call it home).
Death Valley And Yosemite Tour
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Moon California Road Trip: San Francisco, Yosemite, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Los Angeles & the Pacific Coast (Moon Handbooks) $13.59 Discover California with Moon California Road Trip—from L.A.’s sun-drenched beaches and star-studded streets to Yosemite’s cascading waterfalls and spectacular views. An essential resource for any trip through the Golden State, this comprehensive guide contains chapters on San Francisco, Yosemite, Los Angeles, and the California coast—as well as Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, for travelers… |
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Las Vegas Strip Apollo Night Tour by Air $100 Luxury Helicopter Night Flight Tour Over Dazzling Las Vegas! Rise above the City of Lights, you will see spectacular views of the dazzling Las Vegas Strip from the comfort of your jet copter! |
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Las Vegas Downtown Hotel Airport Transfers $17 Let your transportation be taken care of by convenient door to door transfers from McCarran International Airport to your Downtown Las Vegas Hotel. You will ride in comfort and luxury and be on time. |
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Historic Las Vegas City Tour $109 Explore the Natural and Cultural History of Las Vegas with Pink Jeep Tours! Discover a different perspective of Las Vegas – its beauty, history and future – on a tour that starts at the fresh-water spring where it all began thousands of years ago, the Springs Preserve. Travel along the Las Vegas Strip. |
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Las Vegas Mob Experience $37.5 The Las Vegas Mob Experience is the hottest new attraction in Las Vegas. Come experience a live interative entertainment adventure that is anchored by the world’s largest collection of authentic organized crime artifacts. Come expose the myths, truths, and legends the real ”Godfathers” left behind. |
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Las Vegas Attraction Power Pass $104.99 Save time – no waiting in long lines. Save money – up to $500 in admissions to 20 of the most exciting attractions in Las Vegas. Plus! Your Las Vegas Power Pass entitles you to a host of special offers and discounts at restaurants and shops. Good for 2 days. |
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Las Vegas 1 day Meal Ticket $54.99 The Las Vegas MealTicket is an exciting new product for visitors, and the best value for dining. For one low price, you receive breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring 9 of the most popular restaurants in Las Vegas! And! No reservations are needed. |
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Madame Tussauds Las Vegas Wax Museum $22.5 Located in the midst of the excitement of the Las Vegas Strip at The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is an interactive celebrity attraction that immerses its guests in dynamic, one-of-a-kind experiences. |
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Las Vegas Strip Hotel Airport Transfers $13 Ride in comfort and luxury as you travel between McCarran International Airport and your Las Vegas Strip Hotel. Let your transportation be taken care of by convenient door to door airport transfers. |
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Neon Lights Tour of Vegas $55 Delight in the informative narration of the Neon Lights Tour guides as they introduce you to Las Vegas at Night. The Neon Lights Tour of Vegas gives you an insider’s look at Las Vegas. Enjoy sightseeing at its best on-board deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach. |
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Flight from Paris to Las Vegas $1027 All class flight from CDG (Paris) to LAS (Las Vegas) |
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