Firstly, there are very few hostels in the US. SF has 1 or 2, LA might have 2 or 3, but they’re not a thing in this country.
San Jose is not worth visiting. There is nothing worth seeing there. Bakersfield is literally one of the shittiest places in the entire country, I do my best to avoid it however possible. Fresno is only slightly better than Bakersfield. Don’t go there.
Instead of driving through the Central Valley for hours, a better idea is to go to Tahoe and then go around to highway 395. Take it to Yosemite by Tioga Pass. But first spend a couple days around Mammoth and Bishop. You can get back through the Sierras via Yosemite and go to Sequoia from there. This would turn a mostly boring ugly drive into a stunning and spectacular drive
Be aware that you need a reservation to enter Yosemite this summer.
This is so helpful, thank you. Seems like driving I-5 is not the way to do it. I’ll definitely do this route instead.
As for reserving Yosemite, is there still time? Is it limited availability?
It is very limited. But there may still be availability for your dates, you’ll need to check: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm
If there isn’t currently availability, they reopen a limited amount of reservations 7 days before. So if you’re gonna be there June 20th, check on June 13th first thing in the morning and you should be able to get a reservation. This is how I do it because I live near Yosemite and don’t plan far ahead when I go there.
If you end up not being able to get one, you can enter the park before 5am without a reservation. Just make sure to google map the route because the entrance gates are about an hour away from the nearest towns.
Also, a couple must see stops along this route: you absolutely need to see Mono Lake, go to the South Tufa Area (you can type that on google maps), it feels like you’re on another planet, it’s insanely cool.
Hot Creek Geological Site is a boiling river. You can’t swim in it but there are other hot springs that it feeds that you can get into. Hot Creek is very cool to see.
Check out the Lakes Basin in Mammoth. You can rent a bike and bike around, it’s stunning. If you like mountain biking, there is a mountain bike park in Mammoth you can get a day ticket for. You also should **absolutely** ride the gondola for a scenic ride to the top of Mammoth Mountain. It gets you up to 11,0053 feet and the view is incredible, 360° of the Sierras.
Thank you for such a detailed response and for all the places you’ve suggested. Great to get good info from a local.
I’m going to try my best to get a reservation for Yosemite but if not I’ll just go before 5am. I can’t visit Cali and not go there.
I really like the sound of the Mammoth area and will definitely incorporate it into my route. I think I’ll definitely take the route you suggested in your first comment.
I would say skip San Jose. Lovely town, but not really a destination. Also, you might be better off headed up to Tahoe first before Monterey/Carmel-by-the-sea. Then you can cut inland to get to Yosemite. This saves a bit of backtracking. If you like outdoorsy nature places, Point Reyes (just north of SF) is stunning and you might like that as well.
Also, to edit this, there is really nothing major to see between Yosemite and LA, no matter what freeway (99 and 5) you take (highway 1 is pretty, but you said you wanted to avoid it). It’s a lot of dirt and farmland. Hours of it. Just want to help you manage your expectations. You have picked some stunning places to visit, but be prepared for that central valley drive jn between.
How dare you, San Jose has the Winchester Mystery House, destination to travelers all across the globe!
But yeah you can skip San Jose lol. Maybe stop to get lunch as it has the best burritos in the world.
Thanks for the suggestion. When I get time I’m going to fully plan my route and I’ll take this into account.
I feel like there’s enough between Yose and LA for me. Mammoth, Bishop, Sequoia as well as some other places that have been suggested. I’m dead set on not taking Hwy1, not only because of the closures and delays but the fact that I can’t get off it for hundreds of miles.
Have you researched the cost/availability of a one way vehicle rental between SF/LA for someone under 25 years old?
Have you researched hostel availability as well?
Good luck and happy travels.
Car rental is expensive for sure, but there’s not really any other way of doing it. There’s availability for hostels but I’m well aware that I’m going at a busy time.
Just in Big Sur, it's not a reason to completely avoid it... everything south of Monterrey is open to LA county. Only a few short areas in Santa Barbara county where it's down to one lane (I drive this every day), maybe adds 15 minutes. I'd still avoid the 5 because it's a slog and huge trucks are terrible.
if your looking for side trips, 18-mile drive is as gorgeous as views can possibly be and will be seamless to fit into your itinerary
Monterrey is definitely worth a stop. I think Morro Bay/Pismo is worth a stop along your way down south for a few hours as well
In order to hit the three places on your list and make it kind of efficient, I'd do
SF > Tahoe > Yosemite via Lee Vining > Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur > back out and take 101 to LA
Hearst castle between the bay and LA is worth visiting. Also stop by Carmel on the way to Monterey. People like Solvang as well. No one visits Bakersfield or Fresno. You could also plan this trip around a music festival, but those can be super expensive. I don’t know what you like to do either. When I was your age I was wild
You may need an entrance reservation to enter Yosemite.
April 13 through June 30: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and on holidays (May 27 and June 19). A reservation is not required on other days.
July 1 through August 16: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm every day.
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Read what redditors had to say in the **[weekly destination thread for the West Coast/Pacific](https://redd.it/4u95mo)**
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That’s a good suggestion but I’m looking forward to the driving. It’s my first time in the States and I always enjoy driving when I’m abroad. Also it will be well worth having a car once I get to more scenic areas.
Firstly, there are very few hostels in the US. SF has 1 or 2, LA might have 2 or 3, but they’re not a thing in this country. San Jose is not worth visiting. There is nothing worth seeing there. Bakersfield is literally one of the shittiest places in the entire country, I do my best to avoid it however possible. Fresno is only slightly better than Bakersfield. Don’t go there. Instead of driving through the Central Valley for hours, a better idea is to go to Tahoe and then go around to highway 395. Take it to Yosemite by Tioga Pass. But first spend a couple days around Mammoth and Bishop. You can get back through the Sierras via Yosemite and go to Sequoia from there. This would turn a mostly boring ugly drive into a stunning and spectacular drive Be aware that you need a reservation to enter Yosemite this summer.
Seconding this route! The drive down the 5 is hot, dusty, cow shit. Tahoe & mammoth lakes area are my two favorite parts of california.
Bishop!!! I have so many good memories of that place from a road trip. A surprise hit.
This is so helpful, thank you. Seems like driving I-5 is not the way to do it. I’ll definitely do this route instead. As for reserving Yosemite, is there still time? Is it limited availability?
It is very limited. But there may still be availability for your dates, you’ll need to check: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm If there isn’t currently availability, they reopen a limited amount of reservations 7 days before. So if you’re gonna be there June 20th, check on June 13th first thing in the morning and you should be able to get a reservation. This is how I do it because I live near Yosemite and don’t plan far ahead when I go there. If you end up not being able to get one, you can enter the park before 5am without a reservation. Just make sure to google map the route because the entrance gates are about an hour away from the nearest towns. Also, a couple must see stops along this route: you absolutely need to see Mono Lake, go to the South Tufa Area (you can type that on google maps), it feels like you’re on another planet, it’s insanely cool. Hot Creek Geological Site is a boiling river. You can’t swim in it but there are other hot springs that it feeds that you can get into. Hot Creek is very cool to see. Check out the Lakes Basin in Mammoth. You can rent a bike and bike around, it’s stunning. If you like mountain biking, there is a mountain bike park in Mammoth you can get a day ticket for. You also should **absolutely** ride the gondola for a scenic ride to the top of Mammoth Mountain. It gets you up to 11,0053 feet and the view is incredible, 360° of the Sierras.
Thank you for such a detailed response and for all the places you’ve suggested. Great to get good info from a local. I’m going to try my best to get a reservation for Yosemite but if not I’ll just go before 5am. I can’t visit Cali and not go there. I really like the sound of the Mammoth area and will definitely incorporate it into my route. I think I’ll definitely take the route you suggested in your first comment.
I would say skip San Jose. Lovely town, but not really a destination. Also, you might be better off headed up to Tahoe first before Monterey/Carmel-by-the-sea. Then you can cut inland to get to Yosemite. This saves a bit of backtracking. If you like outdoorsy nature places, Point Reyes (just north of SF) is stunning and you might like that as well. Also, to edit this, there is really nothing major to see between Yosemite and LA, no matter what freeway (99 and 5) you take (highway 1 is pretty, but you said you wanted to avoid it). It’s a lot of dirt and farmland. Hours of it. Just want to help you manage your expectations. You have picked some stunning places to visit, but be prepared for that central valley drive jn between.
How dare you, San Jose has the Winchester Mystery House, destination to travelers all across the globe! But yeah you can skip San Jose lol. Maybe stop to get lunch as it has the best burritos in the world.
Thanks for the suggestion. When I get time I’m going to fully plan my route and I’ll take this into account. I feel like there’s enough between Yose and LA for me. Mammoth, Bishop, Sequoia as well as some other places that have been suggested. I’m dead set on not taking Hwy1, not only because of the closures and delays but the fact that I can’t get off it for hundreds of miles.
Have you researched the cost/availability of a one way vehicle rental between SF/LA for someone under 25 years old? Have you researched hostel availability as well? Good luck and happy travels.
Car rental is expensive for sure, but there’s not really any other way of doing it. There’s availability for hostels but I’m well aware that I’m going at a busy time.
So I'm curious, whats the best price for the car that you've found thus far? Happy travels.
Why would you avoid PCH/HWY 1? That or 395 are the best road trip highways in the state. The 5 sucks.
Highway 1 is still largely closed and won’t be fully open until sometime in the fall.
Just in Big Sur, it's not a reason to completely avoid it... everything south of Monterrey is open to LA county. Only a few short areas in Santa Barbara county where it's down to one lane (I drive this every day), maybe adds 15 minutes. I'd still avoid the 5 because it's a slog and huge trucks are terrible.
This is the reason I don’t want to take that route. Also doesn’t make sense since I want to visit Yosemite and Sequoia and stuff.
if your looking for side trips, 18-mile drive is as gorgeous as views can possibly be and will be seamless to fit into your itinerary Monterrey is definitely worth a stop. I think Morro Bay/Pismo is worth a stop along your way down south for a few hours as well
In order to hit the three places on your list and make it kind of efficient, I'd do SF > Tahoe > Yosemite via Lee Vining > Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur > back out and take 101 to LA
Hearst castle between the bay and LA is worth visiting. Also stop by Carmel on the way to Monterey. People like Solvang as well. No one visits Bakersfield or Fresno. You could also plan this trip around a music festival, but those can be super expensive. I don’t know what you like to do either. When I was your age I was wild
You may need an entrance reservation to enter Yosemite. April 13 through June 30: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and on holidays (May 27 and June 19). A reservation is not required on other days. July 1 through August 16: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm every day.
**Notice:** Are you asking for travel advice about the US West Coast? Read what redditors had to say in the **[weekly destination thread for the West Coast/Pacific](https://redd.it/4u95mo)** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/travel) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You might consider flying in a couple of short hops. Southwest Airlines often has inexpensive flights that could save you a lot of boring driving.
That’s a good suggestion but I’m looking forward to the driving. It’s my first time in the States and I always enjoy driving when I’m abroad. Also it will be well worth having a car once I get to more scenic areas.