1

Note: Unless you are taking a fixed wing craft or bus first, these go to the west rim, which is on Native land. This is still the "Grand Canyon," but it's not in the national park. The national park is where it is for a reason, as this is where the canyon is widest and deepest. When you see pictures in brochures and magazines, they are most likely from the national park.
Travel companies in Vegas tend to obfuscate this inconvenient detail.
If you can, go to the national park. Stay at least one night, in the park if you can. Cut a night or two from Vegas to do so (much of what there is to do there is at night, so cutting time in the day is no big loss).

This trip is better.

2

We appreciate any tips and pointers regarding interesting things to do/see along this route
What are you interested in? Scenery? American Indians? Wildflowers? Ghost towns? Strip clubs (female or male dancers?)? Shooting ranges? Etc. Or, why are you considering the places on that map route?

3

I agree with nrclibn that it all depends on your interests. I would personally plan to visit Joshua Tree National Park and Kings Canyon/Sequoia when going by them, but I love visiting the natural wonders more than Las Vegas. I would shorten the Las Vegas time to drive to the Grand Canyon NP and hike down the Bright Angel trail rather than just get a short view from a helicopter.

While in Vegas, make sure to book a show: the Cirque du Soleil has some great shows, for example.

Otherwise, you have a lot of great things on your list. The important thing to remember is that the area has endless great things to visit. Which ever ones you choose, you'll enjoy it and have a great trip.

4

So, after San Francisco you have 16-days to drive your loop, but you are taking 4-days from that for a stay in Las Vegas so you actually have only 12-days for driving your loop. Do I understand that correctly?

If so you can do it - a little rushed for my tastes and 4-days in Las Vegas would be like a prison sentence for me, but overall the schedule isn't too bad. You've selected an excellent time of year for your trip - October. The desert areas should be cooling off some by then (at least at night) and you should be in the mountains before the first winter snows (hopefully).

Lone Pine in California is a tiny village. If you want somewhere with a little more to do consider staying in Bishop instead. Either way, the Alabama Hills are pretty cool and the site of many western cowboy films.

5

Welcome to Thorn Tree.

Instead of driving down US-395 to Lone Pine and backtracking, why don't you continue down US-395 and cross Death Valley National park to reach Las Vegas? The route through Death Valley to Furnace Creek will be a much more interesting drive to Las Vegas even if you just drive through Death Valley.

Be aware that CA-120 through Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park closes in winter depending on the snowfall. Your trip is early enough that the pass is likely to be open but have a "Plan B" ready should it close early next fall.

The above advice on the helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon is sound. If you want to see the "REAL" Grand Canyon, you have to go to the South Rim. My apologies to the North Rim, but it also closes in mid-October for the winter. The helicopter tours from Los Vegas go to the West Rim. The West Rim is the "Las Vegas version" of the Grand Canyon. The only reasons to go there is that you can do everything at the West Rim that you can't do at the South Rim. You can do everything from flying down to the river and landing to hunting Dall sheep. Also, the West Rim can be seen in a day-trip.

Four days in Las Vegas will be fun as long as you can afford it. Budget your money accordingly. There is no point in trying to spend four days in Las Vegas "on the cheap."

As you both appear to call Norway "home," I presume you don't need any warnings about the weather.

Have a great time.

6

One route suggestion, instead of backtracking back to Highway 168 from Lone Pine, head to Lone Pine from Highway 95 via Highway 190 through Death Valley. Great route. You can still see the Bristlecones with a short detour up from Big Pine, CA and back to 395 instead. You could stay a night in Death Valley instead of Pahrump and Ryolite.

Not sure why you have three nights scheduled to make you way up highway 95, it is not that interesting. I would do Vegas to Death Valley, one night, Death Valley to Lone Pine, second night

Also, keep in mind there is a SMALL chance, but still a chance that the road over to Yosemite (Tioga Pass) may be closed due to snowfall by late October.

Begininng of the trip. You will want more than one day to drive from Monterrey to LA. You also want more than one night in LA (there is so much to see there). Shave some days off your slow stroll from Vegas to Yosemite and add to the California coastal part of the trip.

7

I wish we had an edit icon.

OP, I note that your version of Google Maps omits Death Valley National Park completely. You may want to do some additional research.

8

You really need one more night, preferably two, along Highway 1, it is a very long drive from Monterey to LA and if you plan on any stops (Monterey Aquarium, Point Lobos, Hearst Castle, etc.) you will be lucky to make LA by midnight. I would stay another night in Cambria and the last night in Santa Barbara, then hit LA. Drop a couple of those obscure Nevada towns to add these nights.

9

We are hoping to see a little bit of everything. Although wildflowers, shooting ranges and striptease may not be on top of the list ;-)

Keywords: city sightseeing, wildlife (maybe whale watching), ghost towns, some relaxing, wine tasting.
And of course beautiful nature of all kinds, as I am an amateur photographer who's always looking for nice motives :-)

10

I agree with bzookaj: definitely include the Grand Canyon National Park (either South Rim or North Rim).
And you'll have to prioritize, but's it's doable.
Enjoy !

11

There are some nice wine areas driving south on Highway 1, for instance Paso Robles just inland from Cambria on Highway 46 has some very nice wineries, as does the Edna Vally near San Luis Obispo. Also north of Santa Barbara you have the Santa Ynez Valley (movie "Sideways" was shot in parts of here) which has a lot of very nice wineries as well, some of which specialize in Rhone type wines. I like Paso better, they do some very nice reds.

12

Even if the Tioga Road is not closed, there are no services on the road after the first of October, so in case of breakdown, you may have a long wait for help to arrive.

Be sure to book your Yosemite lodging well in advance. Although October is not as bad as summer, lodging does get fully booked up.

Why the Napa Wine Train? It's not necessarily that special--mainly a way to do wine tasting and look at scenery without driving. If visiting wineries is something you'd like to do, you have many other opportunities.

California has many wine regions, that produce wines as first class as the better-known Napa Valley. You will pass through several of these regions on your route. For example, there are many wineries in the MOnterey-Santa Cruz area, near San Luis Obispo, and between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. In addition, there are wineries in the Sierra foothills north of Yosemite and in the LIvermore Valley, on the way fro Yosemite to SF.

One of the reasons these other regions might be more attractive is that the wineries are often less crowded and tasting fees are lower than those in the Napa area. Many wineries in these regions have no tasting fees.

If you are a member of NAF you will have privileges with the American Automobile Association. This includes maps, discounts and breakdown service.

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Nutrax

The plural of anecdote is not data.

13

Thanks a lot for all the response!!

A little explanation : This is not our itinerary, but only a number of places we'd like to see. And the more suggestions we get, the more we have to choose from :-)

Maybe two days is enough in Vegas.

And I see your point about the south rim of Grand Canyon. Maybe it will be worth the drive out there. How is the motel/hotel situation like in the Grand Canyon south rim area? Will we need to book in advance?

14

If you want to sleep in the National Park, you'd better book in advance here:
http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/
Alternatively, plenty of hotels just outside the park in Tusayan (check booking.com and type Tusayan as destination).