Arizona > Nevada > California Road Trip Help!

"Moves-Like-Senna" (moves-like-senna) 12/10/2015 at 14:07 • Filed to: roadtrip, arizona, nevada, grandcanyon, california

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Alright Oppo, I need to enlist your help for my first real vacation in three years. I’ve done something crazy but exciting: I’m going on a two week road trip through Arizona, Nevada and California with a female ‘friend’ whom I met through an app, in another city during my last visit - yes it’s exactly what you think. Apparently, sometimes you’re half joking about driving across the continent to the Grand Canyon for a sunrise and a month later you have your ticket booked haha.

I’m trying to determine our clothes needed, tips for stops, driving tips etc. I’ve never been to this region so I’m trying to get a better idea of what we’re getting into and for any tips! Her and I are both in great shape so we’re not too worried about fitness level required but other factors.

Day 1 and 2

Step 1) Arrive in Vegas at 10:30 PM NYE and pickup the convertible from Enterprise

Step 2) Drive to Hoover Dam (about an hour) and pop a bottle of champagne

Step 3) Drive through the night to the Grand Canyon South Rim to pass out and wake up for sunrise

? - What sort of weather should I expect for hiking here? Should I be prepared for snow? (I’m an avid hiker but normally prefer my runners to full on boots)

What would be open in the area to grab snacks and water for hiking?

Day 3

Head over to Sedona and hike devil’s bridge

? - Again weather

Day 4

Maybe Antelope Canyon then to Indio or straight from Sedona to Indio? Any suggestions? We do have to get to Indio for the night

Day 5

Drive around and explore the Salton Sea for the day

Day 6

Joshua Tree

? - Again what sort of weather should we be prepared for?

Day 7 - 12

Los Angeles!!!! Lots of museums and a few beaches/hikes/family/friends

Day 12-14/15

Maybe Death Valley? Or Head back to vegas? Any suggestions? flying out of Vegas .

Questions

Basically weather in all these locations.

Speeding in the three states? Can I go over the limit or is it a bad idea? I have little experience driving in the States in recent history.

Any additional safety tips for these areas? Plan on stocking up on a ton of water.

Anything else I should be thinking about?

For Sweden > Moves-Like-Senna 12/10/2015 at 14:13

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Tinder or Grindr? This is important

Moves-Like-Senna > For Sweden 12/10/2015 at 14:14

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The former not the latter.

For Sweden > Moves-Like-Senna 12/10/2015 at 14:22

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prude

wiffleballtony > Moves-Like-Senna 12/10/2015 at 14:45

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1. Grand Canyon weather, it’s possible that it could snow. It does and the weather does drop below freezing.

Sedona, probably won’t snow. I’d expect between 40s and 60s. Nevada is roughly the same only a bit more extreme.

2. Speeding, in my experience in the western states is that if you go no more than 9 over the limit you’re fine. In Arizona in the extremely rare chance it happens that you get pulled over doing 9 over its a $15 fine.

3. For the most part there’s rest stops and convenience stores along the interstates. But it’s always a good idea to bring a case of bottled water.

4. Have fun! Also bring cash for fill ups at gas stations, most use a zip code with credit cards. Which you probably don’t have, unless the other person is buying.

Nonster > Moves-Like-Senna 12/10/2015 at 14:50

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I’m flying into vegas tomorrow and going to be riding motorcycles with a friend to the grand canyon so I’ll be able to comment on the weather soon!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Moves-Like-Senna 12/10/2015 at 14:53

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Weather could be shit. These areas are high elevation and desert but expect snow and rain. There are very long distances between anything in the areas that you describe visiting. Know what your fuel range is on your car and buy fuel accordingly so you don’t have “gonna run out of fuel” anxiety.

Otherwise:

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/lifest…

Moves-Like-Senna > wiffleballtony 12/10/2015 at 15:05

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WOW!!! Thanks for all the answers! I guess I should prepare for snow just in case.

Also thanks for the speeding tip! 15$ is pennies hahaha I’m glad to know that and for the gas station zip code info. I had no idea that was necessary in the states.

I really appreciate it! :D Thanks!

Moves-Like-Senna > Nonster 12/10/2015 at 15:05

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Enjoy!!!

Moves-Like-Senna > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 12/10/2015 at 15:08

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Thanks! I guess I should be prepared for all conditions then! Time to go buy some boots and thermals.

Also, good call with the gas! I’ll keep that in mind and try and pick up a paper map to note gas stops etc!

Hahaha, that’s basically what my carry on is going to be full of

El Rocko > wiffleballtony 12/10/2015 at 15:41

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Where did you get the $15 fact from?

El Rocko > Moves-Like-Senna 12/10/2015 at 15:49

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I’ll chime in here! I live in Arizona and there are cops everywhere. Unless you’re going 10 mph over they will probably leave you alone but beware of speed traps (drop in the speed limit for a few miles). It may be too cold/wet/rainy for your convertible most of the time. But if it isn’t it will be glorious. Grand Canyon is often freezing at the top and warm at the bottom. If you plan on going to the bottom and back out on the same day it takes about 8-12 hours depending on your physical condition.

Salton sea? Meh. I mean it’s kinda cool I guess but Joshua Tree, Sedona, Flagstaff, Death Valley, all way better.

You may want to reconsider distances you are planning in a day. It would be a shame to spend too much time in the car when you really want to be out hiking.

My favorite road in Arizona is 89 between Prescott and Wickenburg - it’s absolutely gorgeous and super fun to drive it’s curvy through the forrest, then it open into this beautiful valley with horse pastures, then you drop down down down on a curvy divided, two lane highway into Wickenburg. I hope you rent something with a little sport in it. In fact, Hwy 89A from Flagstaff through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona then over Mingus mountain through Jerome and into Prescott is a close second and connects to 89 in Prescott. You can use 89A and 89 to bypass phoenix on your way to I-10 and Indio. It’s a really scenic alternative to I-17. Have Fun!

wiffleballtony > El Rocko 12/10/2015 at 15:51

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Arizona HB 2662. It passed the House in March, seems to be at the Senate now. Figured it would have gone through.

El Rocko > wiffleballtony 12/10/2015 at 17:13

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I wasn’t aware of it. Thanks.

BobintheMtns > Moves-Like-Senna 12/10/2015 at 17:49

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Sounds like a fun trip—- some of my faves that I’d hit up if in that zone—

Zion National Park : so epic it will melt your face off... It’s close to Vegas too... I once went here for two weeks to climb. It snowed for the first week. Usually, if half your climbing trip gets fuct by weather, you’re PISSED. But I just hiked and explored all over the park and it was one of the best times I’ve ever had. Zion is truly not to be missed.

Red Rocks Zone : It’s on the western edge of Vegas, rad sandstone walls ranging up to over 2500 ft tall... And some very, very cool canyon hikes there as well. Pine Creek Canyon (off loop road) there is amazing.. some of the coolest water pools/waterfalls ever in a desert canyon.... very, very cool hike- and like 20 min from the strip.

Grand Canyon ’s cool. But keep in mind it’s rim is at around 8000ft.. I once did a rim-to-river-and-back in a day, during this time of year- It was 28 degrees and a foot of snow at the rim. But 65 degrees and total sandy desert down at the river (you drop 5000 ft from rim to river..) So be prepared for coldness this time of year (especially if camping out). But if you’re not looking to drop down into the canyon proper, I’d almost suggest skipping it and devote that time to Zion.... (seriously) The top of the Grand Canyon is just a total tourist/giftshop zone... kinda off-putting... but you wont have any issues getting snacks etc. If you’re dead-set on the Canyon, see if the North Rim road is still open. North Rim is waaaaaaay quieter tourist-wise and more wilderness-y.

Oh, and regarding footwear, I’m a big tennis shoe hiker too, but if the trails are icy (good chance) you might want some of those yak-trax type things for your shoes so you don’t slip and break your tailbone (I hear resetting it is no fun).

And also, they built a damn bridge and re-routed the damn highway, no more damn access to hover dam.

Amoore100 > Moves-Like-Senna 12/10/2015 at 20:02

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Interestingly enough we’ve been to all these places and returned about two weeks ago from our AZ road trip to Grand Canyon, Sedona, Pertrified Forest, etc. My dad loves national parks so we go to those quite often, and there's a lot to do out there. Hope you have a good time!

Moves-Like-Senna > BobintheMtns 12/11/2015 at 09:59

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Thank you so much for all the info! It’s all so useful!! I’m going to see if I can squeeze Zion or RedRock in for the final few days :D

For some reason I didn’t realize it was 8000ft!!!!?!???! That’s really high but I will make sure we’re prepared for snow in that case and see if I can bring some zipties (trying to avoid checkin) to use for the ice. I know the North Rim closes in october until spring so I guess we’ll have to do the tourist like south but I think we can make do. We’re thinking of going part way down as we’ll be tired and was told not to attempt getting to the valley and back in a day even if you’re in perfect physical condition.

Wait... what do you mean they re-routed the highway? There’s no way to access or view the dam anymore with a car at night?

Moves-Like-Senna > El Rocko 12/11/2015 at 10:20

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Thanks for chiming in! I really appreciate it and I’m hoping to get something sporty too! Fingers crossed for an EcoBoost Mustang ;) or a V6 Camaro and that we can get the top down for a couple days at least - personally I’m hoping they’ll swap me out to a coupe (I have a lot of loyalty points/ranks).

Thanks for the speed trap and road tips! I’m going to make sure we go through the 89 and 89A!! I think we’ll spend that day getting from Sedona to Indio to make sure we get scenic views etc. I know the distances are quite long but much of it I’ll be doing after it gets dark. It get’s dark so quick I want to make sure we get early mornings and being a 4 hour sleeper and her being small enough to sleep anywhere comfortably I think we can keep up with the distances.

Also thanks for the tips about the canyon! I’ll keep in mind to layer like crazy! I suspected I could do it alone in 7-8 hours but she’s likely going to take closer to 12 so we’ll go part way down. Is the salton sea that meh? I thought it would be interesting to see the biggest environmental mess up on the continent haha.

Moves-Like-Senna > Amoore100 12/11/2015 at 10:25

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Wow Amazing!!! I can’t wait thank you :D

BobintheMtns > Moves-Like-Senna 12/11/2015 at 10:29

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You used to be able to drive across the dam, and there was a parking area there, so you could walk across and check it out too— But they re-routed the highway across a new bridge, and the bridge has really high wind barriers so you can’t even see the dam anymore.

But there might be an observation point or something.. but the old days of the highway going across the dam are over....

El Rocko > Moves-Like-Senna 12/11/2015 at 12:23

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The sea is beautiful. You should see it. I don’t know if there is much to do there anymore. Let me know what you think maybe I owe it another visit