Scenic drive Phx to SFO (Phoenix, Kingman: moving, beach, car) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

abad · 06-13-2011, 03:08 PM

I plan to drive in July from Phx to San Francisco. Can someone pls recommend a good route for a scenic drive. I do not plan to stop anywhere, just drive non stop

Finger Laker · 06-13-2011, 03:21 PM

If you are looking to just knock it down in a fairly ambitious day of driving, i'm not sure if you have much time for a scenic route ..... you're probably just looking at I-10 to I-5 in some capacity as your major routes

you could add time by working your way up to flagstaff and cut over to the 40 .... but the day would start getting really long

Some of the drive along CA-1 is really nice - but again, it's slow moving

abad · 06-13-2011, 03:23 PM

ok, please tell me the route for scene, more than a day is fine

observer53 · 06-13-2011, 03:31 PM

Hwy 101 would be more scenic than I-5 and an easier drive than Hwy 1. I would still say you need one overnight stop somewhere around halfway. (San Luis Obispo, maybe?)

Bummer · 06-13-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abad

I plan to drive in July from Phx to San Francisco. Can someone pls recommend a good route for a scenic drive. I do not plan to stop anywhere, just drive non stop

Here's my favorite route, ABad . . .

Route 93 via Wickenburg to Kingman then to the new bridge over Hoover Dam and then on into Las Vegas. Continue North to Reno then I-80 over the Sierras all the way into San Francisco.

observer53 · 06-13-2011, 06:49 PM

Las Vegas to Reno "scenic"? (that's what the OP asked for). No. 450 plus miles of not very pretty desert.

Bummer · 06-13-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by observer53

Las Vegas to Reno "scenic"? (that's what the OP asked for). No. 450 plus miles of not very pretty desert.

Ok, Observer . . . so not every single mile can be classified as "scenic" but, overall, the route I specified makes for one fantastic trip.

Hoover Dam, the New Hoover Dam Bridge, Las Vegas, Reno, Donner Pass and the Sierras are all MUST SEE's.

observer53 · 06-13-2011, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bummer

Ok, Observer . . . so not every single mile can be classified as "scenic" but, overall, the route I specified makes for one fantastic trip.

Hoover Dam, the New Hoover Dam Bridge, Las Vegas, Reno, Donner Pass and the Sierras are all MUST SEE's.

With big gaps of nothingness in between.

I moved here from Reno, I wouldn't call it a must see, (I'm not dissing Reno, it's just not that memorable to drive through and look at) though the drive between Carson and Reno is pretty. If the OP has already been to Vegas, that route gets less appealing. I guess it would depend on what the OP is really looking for.

HX_Guy · 06-14-2011, 10:08 AM

We did this trip a couple years ago, it was great. Went from Phoenix toward LA (not all that scenic but there really aren't many options here) and did stop for the night in Pismo Beach then took the Pacific Highway all the way to San Francisco...simply amazing. Be sure to stop and see he redwoods as you near San Francisco.

On the way back we took the I-5 and that was nice too, lots of rolling hills with orchards and such.

kdog · 06-14-2011, 10:30 AM

Scenic, you say? Here's something along the lines of what Bummer suggested, only nobody could argue that this route isn't scenic.

Take 93/95 through Vegas 95 to Amargosa or Beatty, and then go through Death Valley to Lone Pine. Yes Death Valley will be very hot, but you said you're not stopping. So as long as your car is reliable, you'll have no problems. Then take 395 all along the eastern Sierra Nevada range, to Mono Lake (definitely worth a short stop there) and Lee Vining. Then drive through Yosemite on your way to SF. That's what I'd do if I had the time.