Here’s a summary of my 2017 25 day road trip through California, Nevada and Arizona, in a 2017 Ford Mustang (3.8L v6).
When planning our wedding in 2017 my wife and I knew we wanted to have a remarkable travel experience. We love road trips and decided to do a long journey through the USA.
Before the road trip
We flew from the UK to Florida and spent 5 days in Miami beach. Then we flew to New Orleans for 3 days, before flying to LA to pickup the car.
Campervan vs car
When planning our trip we initially thought about renting a campervan. We have a long relationship with campervans and hoped we’d be able to enjoy the national parks more, enjoy some camping and do more cooking for ourselves, rather than easting out lots.
As I did more research it became apparent that the weather would be hot, probably too hot to comfortable camp in a campervan. Camping in a tent was still an option though. I dreamed of camping in the national park like Yosemite and Sequoia. But the more I read I realised that you need to plan well ahead to ensure you have a space in the campground when you arrive. The spaces are hotly contested and there is often a shortage of space in the busy period. This defeats the ethos we had to freestyle and not plan to far ahead.
Whilst the USA has a good deal of campsites in rural areas, they are generally quite expensive, and they are often limited in urban areas. As we were planing to stay in lots of cities, having a campervan wasn’t a good fit.
I’d considered renting a simpler style of campervan such as those from Escape, Wicked, Jucy and Lost. I certainly didn’t want a massive RV as we’d want to visit some cities and need something mobile and easy to park.
All come with 100 miles per day included, and mileage outside of that costing more. Once you factor in the extra cost of fuel for a campervan the running costs or a car and staying in hotels isn’t that much more than a campervan and campsites.
It also became apparent that we would be covering a lot of miles, about 3,000. Having a good, comfy vehicle that could devour the miles seemed more important than one we could sleep in.
After carefully considering everything above we decided not to rent a campervan but instead go with a car. With the option of getting a tent and some basic kit to do some camping in the national parks if we fancied it.
However: now that I have finished the trip I would happily rent a van from Escape or Wicked and do a weeks surfing trip up the California coast. I saw a few guys parked in car parks north of Malibu and could see those vans are perfect for that sort of traveling.
The car
I started to compare the cost of rental cars using RentalCars (and also SkyScanner initially), and found that a small car would cost about £450 for the 25 day trip. A Ford Mustang costs £900 for the same amount of time. I’m a car enthusiast and we just knew the extra £450 on the Mustang would be well spent. Not just because it’s an iconic American car, but because it’s a convertible, which would be fantastic on those warm days.
When comparing vehicle costs I always ensured this included full waiver insurance with zero costs to pay.
I found the best price with Sixt, and Fox being the second best price. I’d rather have gone with Fox as they seem like a local company, but Sixt were $300 cheaper, and them being a bigger company with more depots felt reassuring when imagining being out in the desert and so far from civilisation.
We picked up (and returned) the car from the Sixt Venice Beach brand in LA. The staff there were great, and it’s not a bad place to collect a car and start your road trip in LA. We paid the extra $65 for road side assistance, window damage cover and loss of key cover.
Day 1 – LA to Twentynine Palms
We were very excited to get the keys, jumped straight in the car and put the roof down (as soon as we worked out how to do it). We set the Sat Nav for roughly Palm Springs and hit the road. As we’re from the UK were are not use to driving on the right-hand side of the road. So venturing into the LA traffic was a bit hair raising, but I’d driven in Europe a lot and it soon came back.
It took us over an hour of slow moving to get through the rush hour traffic, and it was great to get outside of LA and pick up a bit of speed.
Cabazon Dinosaurs
We head towards the Cabazon Dinosaurs. It’s closed when we arrive, but we get some fun photos and speak to a friendly Californian couple who are on a small road trip. They offer us some weed.
There is a Burger King right next to the park, and we treat ourselves to our first fast food meal. It’s average, but fun. It’s our on Burger King on the trip, and we never have a McDonalds.
Pioneertown
As dusk falls we head towards Pioneertown, a faux old wild west town originally but as a TV set. The road leading there is off the highway, and it’s really fun driving on these smaller roads with the roof down. We get to Pioneertown a bit late and everything is closed. We do a quick drive-by and carry on.
Harmony Motel
We stop at the Harmony Motel, which I’d found on Google Maps. It’s out first road trip motel experience, and we were not disappointed.
I checked in and the owner asked if I was from India (even though her family were from India). My tan was strong! She was a funny lady who noticed someone was smoking weed. She said it was legal, but she doesn’t like people smoking it.
We’d stopped at a CVS on the way and grabbed some beers, so we took to the pool with a cold one. I though there was a snake in the pool, but it was just a decorative tile. But we’re a bit spooked and end our swim short. It’s dark at this point, but still incredibly hot, about 38C / 100F.
We sit outside the motel drinking beer, feeling pleased with ourselves, when I notice an enormous tarantula spider strolling across the land in front of us. We stay calm but get inside pretty quickly. We watch it stroll off into the undergrowth.
Day 2 – Joshua Tree, Mohave and Las Vegas
After yesterdays driving fun we are keen to get on the road and visit some national parks. We stop at a supermarket and buy some provisions so that we can make ourselves breakfast everyday.
Joshua Tree National Park
We head into Joshua Tree, and we’re excited. Although a simple park of trees (giant yukkas), it’s vast and has some great rock formations. We stop at the Skull Rock and explore.
After our breakfast overlooking the incredible views we get back on the road. We head out of Joshua Tree and onto the Mohave Dessert.
We come across this great mailbox collection in the wild dessert.
Mohave desert
Las Vegas
7th
Las Vegas
8th
Hoover dam
Grand canyon
9th
Grand Canyon day, raining
10th
Helicopter ride
Drove past Las Vegas
Stayed at Bonnie springs motel. Bizarre and lovely place. We had a great burger and beer in their bar.
11th
Woke up to peacocks wandering on the lawn.
Drive to Death Valley.
Have lunch in the Furnace Junction buffet. Fun.
Long drive to edge of Sequoia park.
Stayed at Motel 6 in Poterville. Worse motel ever. Nervous nights sleeps
12tg
Wake up early and get out of terrible Motel 6 quickly. Get wifi refund.
Head to local supermarket for supplies
Stop at lemon cove for healthy breakfast overlooking the lake
Head into sequoia np
Blown away by park
Amazing driving roads
Stop at Clovis town and stay in excellent comfort inn. So relived to not be in terrible place
Laundry
Mexican diner
13th
Stock up on buffet breakfast for hiking
Head into Yosemite. Amazing sights. Evidence of fires
Hiking on small trail, 2-3 hours
Massive storm when we leave. 5c massive hail, worried
Long drive to Lake Tahoe. Get in at 9. Keep left for us. Very relieved.
14th
Went down to Amethis cafe for nice breakfast over looking the lake.
Cycle around state line town, checking out a few shops.
Back to the motel to enjoy the great pool and hot tub.
Went out to local bar for a drink. Awesome local craft beer.
Great dinner at Blue Angel cafe
Back in the hot tub.
15th
Drive to Emerald Bay. Do 1 hour like down to the lake side. Very lovely. Hike back up. Used our nps membership to park for free.
Drive to SF. Heavy traffic as we get close.
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge.
Park up at our motel. Lovely place with garage for the car.
Contact Kate and Lotte and hook up with them at hemlock bar. Lots of fun. Sierra Nevada craft beer.
Go into Whitechapel bar.
Uber back to the motel.
Sat 16th
Fit fuzzy, but we walk to Lombard street.
Walk to fisherman walf. Have a great lunch at Hollywood cafe.
Take LP walk down to market street. Go through Chinatown.
Take a muni train to Delores park for sinking with k and Lotte.
Then into nice bar. Sierra Nevada beer and lots of tequila.
Then onto burrito place. Then debs flat.
Very drunk. Into burlesce bar. Then home.
Sun 17th
Very hungover
Rent bikes and ride to Golden Gate Bridge. Very nice ride.
Go for lunch at mels diner.
Back home for refresh.
Go for nice walk through lovely neighborhoods. Hills, park Mrs sought fire house
Get pizza from home in the wall. Chilled with pizza in hotel
Managed to get returned tickets for Alcatraz using web app. Going tomorrow.
Mon 18
Headed into the mission district
Took photos at clarion alley
Went to thrift store
Walked up to market street. Saw a lot of homeless people
Bought cheap levis jacket
Bought 49ers cap
Bought tickets for cable car but queue was long so took uber to Alcatraz wharf
Did Alcatraz
Walked through fishermans wharf
Took cable car to market street
Walked through union square
Went to busy Chinese restuanrent for average food.
Uber home
Tue 19
Left sf
Drove down to Santa Cruz
Stopped at mystery spot
Discovered boardwalk closed
Sandwich in town
Drinks at bar in town chatting to Rob a FEMA employee
More drinks at bowling alley. Very very drink.
Wed 20
Woke up feeling quite rough
We went to a cafe for breakfast
Walked along the ocean road, saw rh surfers
Went to conservation centre
Bought Santa Cruz tahirts in the wharf
Played games at the arcades
Got take out pizza and watched pulp fiction on tv
Thu 21
Went to beech in the morning
Breakfast at beach cafe
Drove to Santa Clara through some nice hills
Check in early to Ramada hotel, which is good
Go to Walmart and get 49ers tshirts
HAve beer and get ready for game
Get uber to stadium
Meet Kate and Lotte
Have pop corn and beer
WTch game
Get cold, abs gets me shirt and blanket to keep warm
Have hotdog and beer
49ers neRky come back
Have chicken wings on way home
Fri
Drive to Monterey
Go to aquarium, which is amazing
Check in to shit motel
County fair seems closed
Fun dinner at Denny’s
Sat
Drive 17 Mile drive to Carmel, past pebble beach
Chilling at beach
Drive to Monterey
HAve awesome sandwich
Go whale watching. Only see 1 whale get rain check for tomorrow
Have pancakes at Denny’s
Sun
Early start out of shit motel.
8am whale watching at motel Monterey. Say 20 whales tons of dolphins.
Sandwich at market place.
Drive to Madonna Inn.
Relax at pool with cocktails.
Have good diner at amazing restaurant.
Mon
Run first thing.
All day by the pool. Lots of chats with Tim and girlfriend. Quite a few cocktails.
Diner at the Copper Cafe.
Tue
Drive to Malibu beach. Only stop briefly at Malibu as we need the loo.
The drive into LA isn’t too bad.
Hotel is great. Chill in Venice. Have tacos at great place.
Wed
Rent bikes and and ride 20 miles across the sea front right through to playa del rei
Hang at the beach.
Meet Holly and Flo for dinner at Rose Cafe.
Have drink on bar on way home.
Thur
Morning at Venice but it became cloudy. Booked tickets for Warner Bros studio tour. Drove to Hollywood in heavy traffic. Get to Burbank with little time to spare.
The tour is cool. Great sets and studios.
Drive to griffin park. Walk to observatory. Great views. Take path in the dark back down the hill.
Go to Hollywood walk of fame.
Drive to drive through movie and see the hitmans bodyguard. Great experience. Have pizza.
Don’t get home until 1:15.
Fri
Last day
Chilling at Venice beach
Saw Dolphins at the beach
Posted postcards.
Lunch at Larrys
Got stuff
Returned car
Uber to airport
Fly home
