Any MUST SEE places between Idaho and San Diego?

[Sept987]

So we're planning a roadtrip from northern Idaho to San Diego this December for my brother's wedding. My wife and I can't decide which way to go. Originally, we were going to drive to Seattle, visit her brother, then do the "I-5 drive" along the coast and visit the redwoods, some lighthouses in Oregon, etc. However, I was reading the "longest dirt road" thread and now we are thinking about doing something through SE Oregon, or go from Utah through Nevada, etc.

So the question is....Any recommendations? Any must see places? We have a stock 80 series LC with factory lockers and 285's. No aux gas tank. Am considering pulling a little trailer and if that's the case I could bring fuel. We wanted to camp out a bit, but it will probably be too cold until we get pretty south. We like the idea of seeing some ghost towns, taking pictures, scenic trails, or pretty much anything interesting along the way. We're not in a huge rush and figure if we are going to be getting 12 mpg we might as well have some fun.


Thanks,

John

 

[waxwrapped]

If you swing through Utah, you have to go to Zion Nat'l Park. Zion is incredible. And the bonus for that route is you get to go to Vegas

 

[tag3]

If you cruise down the ca-1 and need a place to camp out around the Santa Cruz area, hit me up.

 

[freepowder]

If you get lost and end up in Nevada:
http://parks.nv.gov/parks/cathedral-gorge/
http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire-state-park/

Those are just for lookin' not for wheelin'.

 

[Sept987]

Thanks guys. The more I try and narrow it down, the more I run into these great places. Thanks for the input. This is a great starting point. All other opinions are still welcome!

 

[DrivingMissRosey]

If you swing through Utah, you have to go to Zion Nat'l Park. Zion is incredible. And the bonus for that route is you get to go to Vegas

I'd second a stop in Zion and add a stop in Bryce Canyon, see the pic below.

 

[MANUCHAO]

Hot Springs in DV, Crater Lake, Mt Saint Helens, Pismo Beach, Salton Sea, Zion NP, Grand Canyon AZ, The Wave, Horse shoe Bend & Antelope Canyon between Kanab Ut and Page AZ.... Yosemite NP...

 

[waxwrapped]

If you do end up near Zion and Bryce, you should stay the night at the Sun n Sand Motel in Kanab. The owner is awesome. He gives you an Arizona Budweiser when you check in.

 

[TexasJack]

Not sure it is "on the way" but I'd hit Arches Park if you can.

 

[Sept987]

Thanks for the great ideas. You have shown us the light. If I knew how to quote your previous posts I would, and thank you each individually!

So the plan is to go through Salt Lake and spend 1.5 days in Zions and then get to the wedding ASAP. The way home is still in the air. Maybe stop there again, I guess we'll see. If I could have my dream, I'd do the Mojave trail, but when the wife heard it can flood pretty bad in December and began thinking about being stranded all alone if something broke, has pretty much convinced me to save it for another day. But it is on the future list with Moab and Arches National Park. Thanks again guys for the suggestions!

 

[PoppaWheelie]

If you are going down that far I would recommend Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. I was down from OR for Christmas a couple years ago and thought is was beautiful. A lot of back country and hiking. Plus fresh local grapefruit and oranges really topped it off. I was in a Motorhome with my endouro on the back at the time but I would love to go back with my LC. (plus the bike)

Maybe not on you're route, but the redwoods in Sequoia National Park and Joshua Tree National Park are always on my short list when traveling south from where I live.

Just thinking about it makes me want to take another road trip! Have fun.

 

[Enigma]

On our way down to Moab last year from BC, we went through this one area called "One thousand falls" or maybe it was 1000 springs, anways, it was pretty cool. I forget what state it was, think it was Idaho?

 

[shady]

If near Reno, Nv

High Rock Canyon which is in the Black Rock Desert near Gerloch Nv, which is about two hours north of Reno.

You would need to check because there may be saesonal closures due to Condor nesting sites.

 

[patrickfinley]

Between Idaho and San Diego you have a good percentage of the best things to see in the US.

Correction on your post, the I-5 is an inland highway route from LA to San Fran and further north. US Coastal Highway 1 is the coastal drive. One of the most well known sections is the fantastic drive from LA to San Fran with Big Sur in the middle. If you hit that route on your way you wouldn't be disappointed. The Big Sur area in winter isn't too cold so you could camp there. Check out the Yurts at Treebones, they have a few campsites as well. Probably 50's and windy. The US 1 does run all the way to Oregon but that could be a long trip.

From San Fran cut over to Tahoe and Reno then on to Idaho. On your way home go through Utah, Moab, Zion then Vegas.

Another Great route up through California is on 395. From LA it'll take you to Mohave, Mammoth, Lake Mono, Bodie (great ghost town) and eventually Tahoe. You'll also drive right by Yosemite but the access road will be closed this time of year.

 

[Sept987]

Between Idaho and San Diego you have a good percentage of the best things to see in the US.

Correction on your post, the I-5 is an inland highway route from LA to San Fran and further north. US Coastal Highway 1 is the coastal drive. One of the most well known sections is the fantastic drive from LA to San Fran with Big Sur in the middle. If you hit that route on your way you wouldn't be disappointed. The Big Sur area in winter isn't too cold so you could camp there. Check out the Yurts at Treebones, they have a few campsites as well. Probably 50's and windy. The US 1 does run all the way to Oregon but that could be a long trip.

From San Fran cut over to Tahoe and Reno then on to Idaho. On your way home go through Utah, Moab, Zion then Vegas.

Another Great route up through California is on 395. From LA it'll take you to Mohave, Mammoth, Lake Mono, Bodie (great ghost town) and eventually Tahoe. You'll also drive right by Yosemite but the access road will be closed this time of year.

Hey thanks!!! I'll start looking things up. I appreciate it.

 

[freepowder]

From San Fran cut over to Tahoe and Reno then on to Idaho. On your way home go through Utah, Moab, Zion then Vegas.

Surely you mean Moab, Zion and Vegas on the way to 'Dago and 'Dago to 'Frisco, Tahooey, Reno and back to Idaho, right?

As for that last bit there's a really good cat house in Elko, NV, so I hear anyway. Don't remember the name, but there was a red light.