US help.

[kashanai]

Can the walk in arches NP be done during winter ? Am also doing a visit in December/ Jan this year

Last time I’ve only been to horseshoe bend and Grand Canyon south rim I think

How long is enough for GC depends on you. From The Central village, there are numerous viewpoints all along the rim to the left and right. The former is accessible on the park bus while you can drive your car on the right side. You can stop at every viewpoint if you want which can take a day or just a few since they are variations of the same canyon. You can also trek down the canyon if you want to experience more. Stay inside the official park lodges if you don’t mind paying more or the small town just outside and drive or take shuttle into the park.

If you don’t plan to come by this area again, consider extending your trip to see Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend at Page. Quite different and worthwhile. Quite close is also Monument Valley which is also very scenic. Lastly, for an extra day, drive out further to Arches NP to see some fantastic rock formations which for me was the most memorable when I did the Grand Circle trip. Arches requires at least a day plus since some walking is needed to see the best arches.

 

[hawkwind]

Can the walk in arches NP be done during winter ? Am also doing a visit in December/ Jan this year

Last time I’ve only been to horseshoe bend and Grand Canyon south rim I think

Arches is open all year round but check with their site in case of road closures due to weather. I been there in autumn so can’t say about winter.

 

[patryn33]

Can the walk in arches NP be done during winter ? Am also doing a visit in December/ Jan this year

Last time I’ve only been to horseshoe bend and Grand Canyon south rim I think

U comfortable driving in snow and ice?
https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/winter.htm

 

[kashanai]

Yeah, been to Finland and Iceland before

U comfortable driving in snow and ice?
https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/winter.htm

 

[patryn33]

Yeah, been to Finland and Iceland before

If cars can roll on it, u can walk on it. Lol
Not many ppl have experience driving to parks in Finland and Iceland in winter where there are snowfalls. God u have such experience and it totally comfortable with it

example of possible road conditions

 

[invisible999]

Kinda strange for me - a Californian - asking this question here, but I left California 7 years ago and when I recently checked lodging prices at some familiar places, got a sticker shock.

I, my wife a family friend are going on road trip for 5 days. Staring at Reno, drive via Tioga Pass thru Yosemite, then arriving at Sequoia NP, and finally, come to Bay Area via CA-1.

I wanted to have one night, two rooms, or one room, as long as it sleeps three adults, around/at Yosemite NP and what I see is $300 per night per room, which is 3x my budget. Similar prices are for Sequoia NP. Last time I stayed at these NPs was 14 years ago and things were not THAT bad.

Anyone here recently stayed at Sequoia/Yosemite? Where did you stay, how much did you pay?

 

[pricklepantz]

I want to join a local tour to Antelope from SF on May 28th https://www.taketours.com/san-franc...ce-canyon-lake-powell-4-day-tour-456-611.html
but since i travel solo, the price is almost double.

is there any local tour that is more suitable for solo traveler?

 

[fzhfzh]

Kinda strange for me - a Californian - asking this question here, but I left California 7 years ago and when I recently checked lodging prices at some familiar places, got a sticker shock.

I, my wife a family friend are going on road trip for 5 days. Staring at Reno, drive via Tioga Pass thru Yosemite, then arriving at Sequoia NP, and finally, come to Bay Area via CA-1.

I wanted to have one night, two rooms, or one room, as long as it sleeps three adults, around/at Yosemite NP and what I see is $300 per night per room, which is 3x my budget. Similar prices are for Sequoia NP. Last time I stayed at these NPs was 14 years ago and things were not THAT bad.

Anyone here recently stayed at Sequoia/Yosemite? Where did you stay, how much did you pay?

Timing matters. If you are going during holiday season with good weather, it’s going to be expensive. You can easily find 100+ a night lodging around there normally.

For Yosemite, you have to either book early if you want to stay in the valley itself, or stay somewhere down south outside the valley which is much cheaper.

 

[patryn33]

300+ vs 100+ what is the currency here?
USD or SGD?

+ is a confusing concept for me it can range from 100 to 199.

also are we accounting for taxes and fees?
are we accounting for 3 adults or 2 adults?
2 ppl stay vs 3 ppl stay there is difference in cost.

what kind of loging we talking here? motel 6 or Marriott/Hilton?

https://www.yosemite.com/lodging/hotels/

14yrs ago please account for inflation. that long motel 6 rates is like can go as USD$19.99 now I don't recall seeing USD$19.99 more like usd$39.99.

 

[Avizoa]

planning to go west coast in late feb 2020. first timer

land SFO, drive down via highway 1 to LA then to VEGAS, dropping by hoover dam then to GC then back to LAS or LAX to fly home.

wondering is 12 days are tight?

I just did this route only different orders in 3 weeks and I still think i did not have enough time.
there are many things to be done on pch, how many days are you allocating for it?
GC is very large too, which part are you heading to? Just the west? or intend to head to the south too? North part should be closed when you head there in winter.

 

[Avizoa]

I want to join a local tour to Antelope from SF on May 28th https://www.taketours.com/san-franc...ce-canyon-lake-powell-4-day-tour-456-611.html
but since i travel solo, the price is almost double.

is there any local tour that is more suitable for solo traveler?

AZ is so far away from SF... The cost to travel there i feel is ok. You can always rent a car and drive there.

 

[invisible999]

300+ vs 100+ what is the currency here?
USD or SGD?

USD.

Pulled trigger and booked five nights around the parks, nothing was available within boundaries, I'm not even talking about prices.

14yrs ago please account for inflation. that long motel 6 rates is like can go as USD$19.99 now I don't recall seeing USD$19.99 more like usd$39.99.

Last time I saw $39.99 for Motel 6 within vicinity of Bay Area, it was in Gilroy, and it was 1998.

In Bay Area... last year cheapest room next to SFO was USD $215/night and it was Super 8.

 

[invisible999]

You can easily find 100+ a night lodging around there normally.

For Yosemite, you have to either book early if you want to stay in the valley itself, or stay somewhere down south outside the valley which is much cheaper.

People who are locals and used to going to these parks saying that they have not seen any prices cheaper than $200 in last 10 years regardless of time/day of the year.

Even a tent now would cost $180/night.

 

[addats]

Try looking outside of Yosemite. I stayed at Mariposa 5th street inn. Really nice. big rooms with kitchenette

Kinda strange for me - a Californian - asking this question here, but I left California 7 years ago and when I recently checked lodging prices at some familiar places, got a sticker shock.

I, my wife a family friend are going on road trip for 5 days. Staring at Reno, drive via Tioga Pass thru Yosemite, then arriving at Sequoia NP, and finally, come to Bay Area via CA-1.

I wanted to have one night, two rooms, or one room, as long as it sleeps three adults, around/at Yosemite NP and what I see is $300 per night per room, which is 3x my budget. Similar prices are for Sequoia NP. Last time I stayed at these NPs was 14 years ago and things were not THAT bad.

Anyone here recently stayed at Sequoia/Yosemite? Where did you stay, how much did you pay?

 

[addats]

No point driving backward unless you want to do a loop thru yosemite. Although Death Valley is really an experience. If not take internal flight to SFO or LA

planning to go west coast in late feb 2020. first timer

land SFO, drive down via highway 1 to LA then to VEGAS, dropping by hoover dam then to GC then back to LAS or LAX to fly home.

wondering is 12 days are tight?

 

[hawkwind]

Try looking outside of Yosemite. I stayed at Mariposa 5th street inn. Really nice. big rooms with kitchenette

I stayed at Yosemite View Lodge at El Portal road before. It’s cheaper than the park lodges and a shortish drive into the valley. Rooms quite spacious with kitchenette. Mariposa is a nice town further out with more dining options but longer drive.

 

[Shiny Things]

Kinda strange for me - a Californian - asking this question here, but I left California 7 years ago and when I recently checked lodging prices at some familiar places, got a sticker shock.

I, my wife a family friend are going on road trip for 5 days. Staring at Reno, drive via Tioga Pass thru Yosemite, then arriving at Sequoia NP, and finally, come to Bay Area via CA-1.
[...]

Anyone here recently stayed at Sequoia/Yosemite? Where did you stay, how much did you pay?

I don't know about Sequoia/Kings Canyon, but Yosemite has gone bananas the last few years; it's getting to the point where the NPS is seriously considering rationing access to the park.

Last time I went there I stayed all the way down in Manteca on the west side, and Bishop on the east side.

I want to join a local tour to Antelope from SF on May 28th https://www.taketours.com/san-franc...ce-canyon-lake-powell-4-day-tour-456-611.html
but since i travel solo, the price is almost double.

is there any local tour that is more suitable for solo traveler?

Yeah, don't do that tour from San Francisco. San Francisco to Page, Arizona (where Antelope Canyon is) is like doing a tour from Singapore to Koh Samui.

Do that trip out of Vegas instead, or if you're willing to drive yourself, rent a car out of Vegas.

 

[invisible999]

I stayed at Yosemite View Lodge at El Portal road before. It’s cheaper than the park lodges and a shortish drive into the valley. Rooms quite spacious with kitchenette. Mariposa is a nice town further out with more dining options but longer drive.

I might got lucky, found this:
Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort. It is USD $210 for one night and people told me that I got really lucky.

I don't know about Sequoia/Kings Canyon, but Yosemite has gone bananas the last few years; it's getting to the point where the NPS is seriously considering rationing access to the park.

Last time I went there I stayed all the way down in Manteca on the west side, and Bishop on the east side. .

Yah, people told the the same.

As for as Sequoia/Kings Canyon. Last time I was there was 2010. There were people around but it was no comparison to Yosemite. But, seems 50% of lodging inside the park was removed because it was determined that they damage roots.

So if anyone now wants to stay inside the park, they need to book 350 days in advance.

Side note. Honestly - screw California. For this trip of 7 nights I will have to spend close to USD $2700 just for lodging and car. I spent the same amount for 18 days trip in South Africa, including 5 days next to Kruger and 13 days from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, while staying at 2-3 bedroom houses and apartments rented via AirBnB. Even if you are coming with your own RV, travelling around California can be very expensive.

 

[fzhfzh]

People who are locals and used to going to these parks saying that they have not seen any prices cheaper than $200 in last 10 years regardless of time/day of the year.

Even a tent now would cost $180/night.

I’m local here, just went there few months ago, a room in town outside of Yosemite is easily lower 100s. There’s limited lodging inside the valley itself, but you really don’t have to stay inside.

 

[fzhfzh]

I might got lucky, found this:
Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort. It is USD $210 for one night and people told me that I got really lucky.



Yah, people told the the same.

As for as Sequoia/Kings Canyon. Last time I was there was 2010. There were people around but it was no comparison to Yosemite. But, seems 50% of lodging inside the park was removed because it was determined that they damage roots.

So if anyone now wants to stay inside the park, they need to book 350 days in advance.

Side note. Honestly - screw California. For this trip of 7 nights I will have to spend close to USD $2700 just for lodging and car. I spent the same amount for 18 days trip in South Africa, including 5 days next to Kruger and 13 days from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, while staying at 2-3 bedroom houses and apartments rented via AirBnB. Even if you are coming with your own RV, travelling around California can be very expensive.

Lol I’m staying around San Francisco. The best point is no matter you travel to where you will feel it’s cheap. People say how places like Hawai’i and Paris are expensive. When we go there it’s like wow so cheap.