1

Welcome to Thorn Tree.

It would help if we knew your home country and your tolerance for cold and snow. Driving experience on snow would also be helpful.

A driving tour of the west at that time of year requires familiarity with driving on snow. Of the places you want to visit, the only ones where you won't see snow are San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. You are faily safe from snow in Las Vegas too. Other than that, you are likely to encounter it. That includes the high passes leading into and out of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

How much time do you have? CA-1 down the Pacific Coast of California will be snow-free between San Francisco and it is a beautiful drive. You will also avoid snow between Los Angeles and San Diego. Once you turn inland to Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas, you will likely encounter snow. You will have to enter Yosemite from the west as Tioga Pass, the east entrance to the park, is closed that time of year. Book reservations for lodging at Yosemite as early as possible. Snow or not, it will be busy. Reservations at Grand Canyon National Park are also a good idea. Only the South Rim will be open.

Your route will depend on the available time and the airport you use as a point of departure. Is that also Los Angeles?

2

Good advice from zeldasdad as usual, yes there will be snow at Yosemite and they may require that you have (or at least carry) tire chains. Unfortunately most rental car places will not allow you to use tire chains due to the possibility of damage.

3

January in the west is an excellent time to visit the deserts. Higher eleveation areas will be snowed in. I'd consider places like Death Valley National Park in California, Saguaro National Park in Arizona, and the southern Utah canyonlands.

For winter driving, besides snow, beware of "black ice" usually encountered when temperatures are near freezing in shadowed spots and on bridges and overpasses.

4

Christmas/ New Year Is probably the most expensive an disagreeable period for a visitor to enjoy NYC...I suggest you fly Las Vegas direct... Renting there,drive a loop trip of your desired attractions... Keeping(with a eye to the weather) to lower elevation areas as much as possible... Stop in at Washington DC/ NYC on your return to where ever...carracar

5

NYC is actually not that expensive for NYE in terms of accommodations anyway. There are also lots of options for bars that are inexpensive to spend New Year's. I don't think it's a bad idea at all compared to other big cities in the US, unless weather is a factor.