Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco: road trip route. Distance Las Vegas - San Francisco Road Las Vegas San Francisco

How about a car ride along the route "Los Angeles - Las Vegas - Hoover Dam - National Park Grand Canyon - Death Valley National Park - San Francisco - Monterrey - Santa Barbara - Los Angeles? We'll tell you about what interesting things await you along the way.

Brief information about renting a car in the USA

To implement the route described in this article, you will need a car that can be easily rented in an international or local company upon arrival or book in advance online.

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Two important points:

• There are ongoing debates on forums about whether an international driving license is needed or a national one is sufficient. The website recommends that guests of the country have both with them, as some companies refuse to rent to drivers without an IDP. On the forums you can also find stories about problems with the police on this basis;
• Another stumbling block is the card that needs to be presented to the rental company. Many agencies' policies state that the card must be a credit card, but how do you know if it is? You can check this using specialized sites, for example, www.bincodes.com, indicating the first 6 digits of the number (BIN).

So, you have arrived in Los Angeles and intend to start your road trip there.

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From Los Angeles International Airport, located 16 kilometers from the center, you can leave in the following ways:

• by car. Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Sixt and other rental companies are represented here; free shuttles will take you to their offices, the stop of which is located near the baggage claim area;
• by taxi. A trip to Downtown will cost about $60-75, to Hollywood - $70-80, to Beverly Hills - $65;
• by minibus. PrimeTime and Super Shuttle will take you to Downtown, Hollywood or Santa Monica; tickets cost $16, $27 and $21 respectively;
• on a regular bus. Ticket costs $1.75;
• Metro. The closest station is Aviation Station/LAX, accessible by the free Green Line Bus shuttle. Ticket costs $1.75;
• by Flyaway Bus to LAX. A ticket to Hollywood costs $8, to Union Station - $9.75, and there are other routes.

Guests of most hotels located near the airport can count on a free transfer. Their signature buses pick up passengers near each terminal, with stops marked Hotel & Parking Shuttle.

What to see in Los Angeles in a few days?

• Hollywood. Stroll along the Walk of Fame, decorated with stars bearing celebrities' names and their hand and foot prints, stop by the Kodak Theater, home of the annual Academy Awards, and then head up to the Griffith Observatory, where you can see the famous Hollywood sign.

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• Universal Studios Park (100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City). In the themed areas inspired by films and cartoons (The Walking Dead, King Kong, Despicable Me, Jurassic Park, Transformers, The Simpsons, Harry Potter), you will find attractions for children and adults, and in the Animal Actors pavilion, watch performances by animals that starred in films. We also recommend visiting the Special Effects Stage show, which reveals the secrets of creating spectacular special effects, and going on an hour-long Studio Tour through the current Universal filming pavilions. A 1-day ticket costs $105-116, with the opportunity to go to each attraction 1 time without a queue - $179-269.

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• City Hall (200 N Spring St). On the 27th floor of the Los Angeles City Hall there is an observation deck where everyone can go for free during business hours. It offers panoramic views of the city center.
• Union Station (800 N Alameda St), the interior of which has remained virtually unchanged since it was built in 1939.
• U.S. Bank Tower (633 West Fifth Street) is the tallest building in California and the eleventh tallest in the United States (310 meters).

We also recommend taking a ride on the Angels Flight cable car, which runs between Hill Street and California Plaza, connecting the Bunker Hill area with Downtown. It has been closed since 2013 and reopened to the public in August 2017. A one-way ride costs $1 (50 cents if paid with a Metro TAP card).

An excellent addition to the specified route would be. During it, you will learn the history of California and its capital, stroll along the starry alley of Hollywood Boulevard, the ocean promenade and the graffiti district. You will discover all the most interesting things about the film industry, see the legendary “Hollywood” sign, the villas of the stars, as well as the filming locations of famous films and music videos.

Approximately 4 hours by car separates Los Angeles from Las Vegas (if you wish, you can fly here in 1 hour, spending $45).

Even if you are not a gambling person, it’s definitely worth a look at the “City of Sin”. With the onset of darkness, life here is just beginning; the famous Las Vegas Boulevard is filled with thousands of hunters for easy money from different countries. Feel how the air vibrates from their excitement, look into several casinos where a motley crowd gathers at the tables, and then go out into the street and go ahead - be amazed at the ingenuity of hotel owners who are trying with all their might to capture the attention of city guests!

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The most popular hotels, restaurants, shops and gambling establishments are concentrated on the so-called Las Vegas Strip - a section of Las Vegas Boulevard that is about 7 kilometers long.

Do not miss:

• Bellagio Hotel and Dancing Fountains (3600 S Las Vegas Blvd). The show starts every 15-30 minutes: from 15:00 to 00:00 from Monday to Friday, from 12:00 to 00:00 on Saturday and holidays, from 11:00 to 00:00 on Sunday;
• Caesars Palace Hotel (3570 S Las Vegas Blvd). What guests remember first is the ceiling, made in the shape of the sky with clouds running across it;
• The Venetian Hotel (3355 S Las Vegas Blvd). Canals, gondolas, the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Square, Campanile and the Rialto Bridge - consider yourself in Venice. Episodes of the films “Resident Evil 3”, “Miss Congeniality 2: Beautiful and Dangerous”, “Rat Race” were filmed here;
• Mirage Hotel (3400 S Las Vegas Blvd). The volcano erupts in front of the main entrance at 19:00 and 20:00 from Sunday to Thursday, and at 19:00, 20:00 and 21:00 on Friday and Saturday.

Almost any hotel can surprise someone who is in Vegas for the first time - their owners are fighting for attention potential clients and try to outdo each other, focusing on design features. Paris (3655 S Las Vegas Blvd), for example, boasts its own Eiffel Tower, while New York-New York (3790 S Las Vegas Blvd) has skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty.

Coordinates: N 36.016222, W 114.737245. You can get here from Las Vegas in 40-50 minutes.

The dam on the Colorado River, named after the 31st US President Herbert Hoover, is one of the largest and, perhaps, the most famous structure of its kind in the United States, as well as the highest in the Western Hemisphere (221 meters). She appeared in the films “Into the Wild,” “Transformers,” “Vegas Vacation,” “Superman,” “San Andreas Fault,” as well as documentaries and TV series.

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Half an hour is enough for an inspection and photo session, if your interest in dams is not of a professional nature.

Grand Canyon National Park

Coordinates: 36°03"32"N, 112°06"33"W (South Rim, Visitor Information Center), 36°11"51"N, 112°03"09"W (North Rim, Visitor Information Center ). From the Hoover Dam to the entrance to the southern part of the National Park you will reach in about 4 hours.

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The Grand Canyon is one of the most famous natural attractions in the United States and North America; it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The name is justified: the area of ​​the park is 5,000 km², the length of the Colorado River canyon around which it is formed is about 400 kilometers, and the depth is up to 1.6 kilometers. The canyon conventionally divides the park into two parts:

1. South Rim is the most visited and “tourist” area, where there are three dozen observation platforms, several walking paths, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants, campsites, a railway station and a clinic. South Rim is open all year round, but it’s better to come here not in the summer - crowds of tourists can spoil the impression;
2. The North Rim is the most picturesque part of the park, where fewer visitors get to due to its remote location. There are a variety of viewpoints and walking routes to suit every taste. North Rim is available from May 15th to October 15th.

In addition to exploring the park on foot or by car, your leisure time can be diversified by mule riding, helicopter and airplane flights over the canyon, rafting on the Colorado River, and a train ride along the historical railway, jeep safari, sunrise watching or stargazing.

By the way, in 2018 you will be able to visit the National Park three times for free: April 21, September 22 and November 11.

On other days, you will have to pay $30 for each car, regardless of the number of passengers. This fee allows you to stay on the territory for 7 days, leaving it if necessary and returning an unlimited number of times. Bicyclists, pedestrians and guests arriving by train pay $15.

The famous glass Skywalk bridge is not the property of the National Park; it is located on the territory of the Hulapai Indian reservation. You can climb it for $82. Opening hours: from 8:00 to 17:00 (from October to March), from 7:00 to 19:00 (from April to September).

Planning to stay in the park for a few days? Book your hotel room or campsite in advance! During the high season (from May to October) it is difficult to find accommodation. If you want to save on an overnight stay, you can stay in one of the neighboring cities: Tusayan (10 minutes drive), Williams (1 hour drive), Flagstaff (1.5 hours drive) - for those visiting the southern part of the park; Jacob Lake (1 hour drive), Kanab (2 hour drive) - nearby Northern part; Peach Springs or Kingman (1.5 hour drive) - in the vicinity of the Skywalk.

Address: 328 Greenland Blvd, Death Valley (post office located 400 meters from information center for visitors). The journey from the Grand Canyon will take about 4.5 hours.

Coordinates: N 36°27.70, W 116°52.00.

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The hottest and driest national park in the USA. It is also the largest in the country, if you do not take into account the parks of Alaska, - 13,650 km².

Death Valley's main tourist spots:

• Dante's View is an observation deck at an altitude of 1,669 meters above sea level. The Panamint Mountains are visible in the east, and the Sierra Nevada range in the west, where the highest point of the Continental States is located - Mount Whitney (4,418 meters above sea level);
• Mesquite Flat sand dunes;
• Twenty Mule Team Canyon - a route of more than 4 kilometers, ideal for walking or cycling;
• Zabriskie Point is the most popular viewpoint in the park and the best place to watch the sun set;
• Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, located 86 meters below sea level. After heavy rains, a temporary lake forms here;
• Devil's Golf Course is a course consisting of rock salt deposits of unusual shape.

The park is accessible to visitors every day, 24 hours a day, but some facilities may be closed due to weather conditions or for renovations.

For those who want to spend the night on the territory, there are 9 campsites; their opening hours can be found on the website.

Please note that the coverage mobile operators absent from most of the “Valley of Death” territory. It is also worth remembering that many of the roads here were built back in the 30s of the last century: they are narrow and twisted, so you need to drive extremely carefully. Make sure you choose the right car and take it with you necessary tools and spare parts in case of breakdown.

Entry to the park costs $25 per car, regardless of the number of passengers. The ticket gives you the right to stay in Death Valley for 7 days, entering and leaving an unlimited number of times. Admission for pedestrians and cyclists is $12.

San Francisco

From Death Valley you can get here by car in 8 hours. If you decide to stay in the city for 1-2 days, we recommend including in the program:

• a walk along Fisherman’s Wharf - an embankment that offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay, city neighborhoods, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Check out the famous Pier 39, where restaurants serve delicious crab chowder and a seal rookery on the pier. At the entrance to the pier is the Aquarium of the Bay, which displays the many inhabitants of the bay;

San Francisco is Northern California’s cultural hub. Exuding a laid-back vibe, the city is home to the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, the freshest seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf and the best art galleries and cafes in the famed Union Square neighborhood. Alcatraz Island, the former prison, is a must-visit, as is the biggest Chinatown outside Asia. Hitch a ride on one of the iconic red cable cars, catch the San Francisco Giants playing baseball, feel movie magic at the Walt Disney Family Museum and take in spectacular views of the Bay Area from Twin Peaks.

Things to do in San Francisco

• Golden Gate Park

  Golden Gate Park, located in San Francisco, California, United States, is a large urban park consisting of 1017 acres of public lands. It is administered by the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, which began in 1871 to oversee the development of Golden Gate Park. Configured as a rectangle, it is similar in shape but 20 percent larger than Central Park in New York, to which it is often compared. It is over three miles (3 mi) long east to west, and about half a mile (0.5 mi) north to south. With 13 million visitors annually, Golden Gate is the fifth most-visited city park in the United States after Central Park in New York City, Lincoln Park in Chicago, and Balboa and Mission Bay Parks in San Diego.

• Golden Gate Bridge

  The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the 1 mi strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The structure links the American city of San Francisco, California – the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula – to Marin County, carrying both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1 across the strait. The bridge is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco, California, and the United States. It has been declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

• Conservatory of Flowers

  The Conservatory of Flowers is a greenhouse and botanical garden that houses a collection of rare and exotic plants in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California. With construction having been completed in 1879, it is the oldest building in the park. It was one of the first municipal conservatories constructed in the United States and is the remaining oldest municipal wooden conservatory in the country. For these distinctions and for its associated historical, architectural, and engineering merits, the Conservatory of Flowers is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Places. It is a California Historical Landmark and a San Francisco Designated Landmark.

• Alcatraz Island

  Alcatraz Island is located in San Francisco Bay, 1.25 mi offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. The small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison (1868), and a federal prison from 1934 until 1963. Beginning in November 1969, the island was occupied for more than 19 months by a group of Native Americans from San Francisco, who were part of a wave of Native activism across the nation, with public protests through the 1970s. In 1972, Alcatraz became part of a national recreation area and received designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

The distance Las Vegas - San Francisco along the highway is 900 km, in a straight line - 661 km. In English countries, the length of this route is 560 miles by road and 411 miles as the crow flies. A trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco by car will last approximately 12 hours and 52 minutes.

The road map is highlighted in red on the map and passes near 25 settlements. To plot the route Las Vegas - San Francisco for a car and find out how many kilometers between these settlements, the exact coordinates of cities, highways and other geographical objects were used.

To find out what traffic jams are like on the Las Vegas – San Francisco road now, check the “Traffic” box and enlarge the map. To find out how to get from to by car through intermediate cities and towns, list them when calculating the distance. To get a map of the road route in convenient format, press.

Attention!
To plot the route and calculate the distance, precise satellite coordinates of roads and settlements were used. We do not guarantee 100% accuracy and are not responsible for the route constructed.

I've been planning a trip to San Francisco for a long time. I really wanted to see the sights of this city and admire the beautiful views of the ocean. Get to it settlement not difficult. Las Vegas is located quite far away, but this was not a barrier for me.

Flight

A large number of passengers use the services of Alaska. There are six regular flights:

• departure at 06:10, landing at 07:45;
• departure at 07:25, landing at 09:00;
• departure at 12:00, landing at 13:35;
• departure at 15:10, landing at 16:45;
• departure at 17:00, landing at 18:35;
• departure at 18:55, landing at 20:30.

United Airlines operates seven flights, and many passengers also use its services. The first plane departs at 08:45 and the last at 20:10. The flight time will be approximately one and a half hours, and the interval between flights will be 1–2 hours.

All of the above flights operate from McCarran International Airport and land at San Francisco International Airport.

You can also fly to San Francisco by Spirit Airlines, which operates three scheduled flights. Departures are at 08:40, 15:50 and 21:56. The company's planes land at Auckland Airport.

From San Francisco International Airport, you can get to the city by high-speed train (skytrain), which departs from the SFO BART station. The free AirTrain takes you to this station.

You can also get there by Shared Ride Vans, which takes passengers to their desired destinations.

If you arrived at Oakland Airport, you can get to San Francisco by the same BART electric train, and you need to get on at the Oakland International Airport station. Trains travel at intervals of 10–15 minutes throughout the day.

You cannot discount the taxis that are parked near every airport. You can also rent a car and drive to the city on your own. At each airport there is a company that provides car rental services, but I recommend booking a car on the Internet. You can look in a search engine or .

How and where to buy tickets

I recommend buying a plane ticket on the Internet, where you can find tickets at a good price. You can look. Also tickets for good prices available on the websites of Alaska, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines.

BART tickets must be purchased at the departure station in the terminal. Shared Ride Vans bus fares must be paid upon boarding.

Price

On average, the price of a flight ranges from 53–96 dollars (3500–6300 rubles).

A trip on a BART train will cost approximately 4–8 dollars (260–525 rubles). A trip to Shared Ride Vans will cost $20 (1,300 rubles).

By bus to San Francisco

It is possible to get there by this type of transport, but you need to make one transfer. There are Greyhound buses.

Departure is at 07:00 and arrival is at 21:35 (transfer in Auckland). Departure is at 12:01 and 15:40, and arrival is at 05:35 and 04:20 respectively (transfer in Los Angeles).

All buses depart from Las Vegas Bus Station (200 S Main St) and arrive at San Francisco Bus Station (200 Folsom St).

The buses are comfortable. There must be free wi-fi and an individual outlet.

Where and how to buy tickets

Price

For the trip you need to pay approximately 39–61 dollars (2570–4000 rubles).

Travel by car

The distance between the cities is approximately 920 kilometers, which is about 570 miles. This distance can be covered in about 12–13 hours (if you make several short stops).

The trip will take place on I-15 and I-5. All the roads on this route are of ideal quality, there is no damage whatsoever. Traffic is average, can be busy in places (closer to San Francisco). There are gas stations every 20–30 kilometers. You can not only refuel on them, but also have a snack. Speed ​​limit is 70 mph (113 km/h).

You will have to spend about 80 liters of gasoline on the road, and pay about 55 dollars (3,600 rubles).

Bottom line

It is best to fly by plane, it is fast and inexpensive. The option of traveling by bus or car also has a place, but only if someone is afraid to fly. It is not practical to consider the option of trains, since there are no direct flights, and I don’t see any point in making 2 transfers.