Our family will be traveling to Oregon through California and onto Las Vegas in August. We are looking to find a realistic time frame in which to do this. Our itinerary is something like this:
Arrive Portland airport 11:00 am, rent an SUV and drive to the MT. Hood loop, see the Columbia River Gorge and then travel on Rt35. (Can we do this in one day?)
Travel to the Coast and look at views, seals, and lighthouses. How far can you get in a day? Where is a good place to stay?
Travel to California and see the Redwoods, then on to NAPA Valley some wine tours etc..Try to see the Gueyser and mineral springs
Travel to Yosemite see the views etc
On to Las Vegas and a family visit there.
Can this be done in a week?? Or am I crazy. Any input will be great. Hotels, places to eat etc.
Summer trip starting in Portland Oregon
While I am sure it would be possible to do in a week, you won%26#39;t really have any time to stop and enjoy anything. Mostly have time for a passing glance. That is a lot of driving and a lot of road to cover in a week.
Summer trip starting in Portland Oregon
Or am I crazy? Yep, sorry. As noted above, you will be doing nothing but driving. And the kids, I assume, everyone probably, will not enjoy this extensive driving.
Here are some comments/suggestions/questions...
Understand just how vast this area is, and it is not by any means all freeways/turnpikes.
Why an SUV? If for roominess for the family, OK; or, rent a van. You won%26#39;t need 4 wheel drive.
Decide what is most important to you, considering that you will probably have other opportunities for trips.
Consider the age of the family members as to the criteria for your visit.
Yosemite is not a drive to and through experience and will be very crowded. I%26#39;d delete YNP unless you have an overnight planned or at least a full day in the park.
Las Vegas is apparently important for family reasons, be prepared, as you know, for HOT in August. Perhaps this can be done in a better season, and then see other SW sights.
Consider doing the Mt. Hood loop, at least the Columbia R. Gorge, well worth it. Then, the next day ...
You will all love the OR coast so, upon arrival, perhaps take this route, drive I-5 south and cut over to Newport for your first night. However, you%26#39;ll be tired after the flight, so might wish to lodge en route.
You will be stopping quite a bit, I know, for the views and short trails along the coast; I%26#39;d give yourselves two days from/including Newport south to the Redwoods. For the latter, allow at least half a day, preferably a full day to relax and enjoy those sights.
Day 1 - Arrive Portland, do the Mt Hood loop. Stay near Portland possibly in the SW area that night.
Day 2 - Drive to Lincoln City via Hwy 18, head south on Hwy 101, arrive Newport after 2.5 hours. Yaquina Head lighthouse, sea lions, lunch in Newport allow 1.5 hours. Drive to Bandon for overnight stop add 3 hours. Total time 7 hours +/-.
Day 3 - Drive south, you will enter redwoods south of Crescent City, CA. Lunch around Eureka, drive Avenue of the Giants, drive-thru tree, overnight stop Garberville. Drive time 4.5 hours, lunch 1 hour, Avenue/Giants 1.5 hours. Total time 6 hours +/-.
Day 4 - 2.5 hours to wine country. Time for tours, sightseeing. Overnight in area, toward Yosemite, maybe Vallejo.
Day 5 - To Yosemite, 5 hours drive? [This is where I%26#39;m not as familiar.] Exit east Tioga Pass to Hwy 395. Overnight Lee Vining.
Day 6 - Full day%26#39;s drive to LV.
Okay, that%26#39;s a rough itinerary. As you see, you%26#39;ll be zipping by a lot on the road, but it can be done.
I%26#39;d also suggest you post in the CA forum for help with the Napa -%26gt; Yosemite -%26gt; LV section :-)
Now, since voyaging types faster than I do, LOL, I will say this - I agree with many of his comments. In re-reading my suggested itinerary above, I got tired just reading it ;-)
But it *can* be done . . .
Thanks so much for your input, I know I am asking alot, but since my daughter lives in Las Vegas and we really don%26#39;t enjoy visiting Vegas, we thought we could see another part of the country first then end up at her house. Yosemite may be too much, we%26#39;ll have to reconsider. I do appreciate all the effort.
Would it not be possible to fly into PDX, see town,drive to the Coast, see that then get back on a plane and go to Vegas?
I cannot imagine the torture of flying past everything and getting in and out of the car with no real time to linger..
I would definitely say take 10 days - 2 weeks or cut a lot of places out of the itinerary ..
Good luck on the Plan :)
Thank you, I do know it%26#39;s alot I guess I%26#39;ll have to take it one day at a time, we have a farm and can%26#39;t be away any longer or I would take more time.
a farm in Connecticut ? whimper whimper... we are originally from NY .. we came This close to buying a place in the Berkshires, close to Sharon :) It is SO beautiful there!
If you skip Yosemite, how about continuing on south on Hwy 101 to about Santa Maria I think it is, then take Hwy 58 across to Bakersfield, Mojave and on through Barstow to LV?
Or .... cut across through Sacramento and see Lake Tahoe then take 395 to LV?
You all have wonderful ideas, I will be planning for a while and hope to make it work, somehow? Thanks for all your suggestions.
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