Los Angeles to Crater Lake NP - Most scenic way to get there?

[OCNewbie]

I got a summer job at Crater Lake NP. I have a friend that lives in L.A. My mom and I are going to fly out to L.A., stay there for a day or two, max, then drive towards Crater Lake NP. I was leaning towards taking the 395 most of the way there, but it seems we'll miss Kings Canyon/Sequoia NP via that route. I think Yosemite is the primary goal otw to Crater Lake.

Does anybody have any suggestions on the most scenic way to get there? I'd honestly rather avoid the Pacific coast, as though I'm sure it's beautiful, I'm more into the mountains, valleys, and things of that nature (similar to Yosemite).

Oh, and we'll only have 7 to 8 days max to do this. Our time is really limited, so we'll have to squeeze as much in as possible in that time. I'd like to also have a day or two, or at least one full day, at Crater Lake. I'm thinking maybe just one day in L.A., then everything else spent otw to Crater Lake, then one day at Crater Lake, before my mom flies home.

Edit: Also, does anybody have any suggested alternatives for having a vehicle for ~3 months in the Crater Lake area other than shipping my car out there, then possibly having to ship it back (should be $1500 minimum to go there and back, maybe closer to $2000). I live in Orlando, FL.

Edit2: Neither myself, nor my mom have ever been to any of the places we're going to be near (save for L.A. for me). So most anything out that way worth seeing is something we'll have never seen before and would find interesting.

 

[CrackRabbit]

There are only a few things to see on 395 up until Tahoe.
Devil's Postpile, Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake, and Bodie State Historic Park.
The rest until you get to Mammoth is flat boring desert. Though you do run just south of Death Valley.
If I were doing it I would go up the west side and hit Kings Canyon, and Sequoia before going in to Yosemite.

 

[deadlyapp]

Taking 395 or going 99, either way are pretty barren roads. It's interesting driving in the valley up 395 and you'll see the high sierras on the left, but it doesn't really matter unless you hike in - my .02. If you go 395 you can go stop over in death valley if you want to see the site. Taking 395 up through mammoth and then cutting over in Yosemite is definitely worthwhile.

If you're willing to drive a crappy car you can probably buy a cheap one for a couple grand and then re-sell it when you leave.

 

[OCNewbie]

If I were doing it I would go up the west side and hit Kings Canyon, and Sequoia before going in to Yosemite.

How about doing what you said, then heading over to Tahoe for a day? Is there lots of nice stuff to see in that region, or should we go through the Shasta National Forest area instead? I'm just doing a google maps search, and it seems we'll have to go either east or west of the Sierra Nevada range (or Yosemite, anyway). West will take us through Shasta, and some other places it seems, and East will take us through Tahoe, Reno, etc.

 

[DesiPower]

Hey! its CA, just smoke some of that thing and drive, everything will look beautiful and scenic!!!

 

[IronWing]

Lassen Volcanic National Park has some cool hot springs and isn't too far off the path if you decide to go via Lake Tahoe.

The Mount Shasta area is pretty with lots of hiking and camping spots.

 

[OCNewbie]

The Mount Shasta area is pretty with lots of hiking and camping spots.

My mom is 67, in good health, but not in such great shape that we'll be able to do any significant hiking (just some light, mile or less, well-maintained trail walking, most likely). I am looking into adding Lassen to the trip though. I'm just trying to figure out if we have enough time for everything.

 

[JManInPhoenix]

PCH goes a good chunk of the way.

 

[Brian Stirling]

Another vote for 395, one of NY favorite roads. Lone Pine at the base of Mount Witney, Mono Lake and the high country of Yosemite, Bodies ghost town.


Brian

 

[lytalbayre]

My vote goes to:

Take Highway 1 until you get up to san louis obispo & cambria. check out Hearst Castle, etc.

Then take Highway 46 & 41 through Yosemite all the way to 395 & mono lake.

Go up 395 to Lake Tahoe

Take 89 up to Lassen (make sure to visit Burney falls)

I say then just stay on 5. By the time you are that far North, H5 is actually pretty nice.

 

[OCNewbie]

Evening bump

 

[Ns1]

one note: be careful on the 395

LOTS of speedtraps going through the little cities (you know, "Freeway ends in 1 mile" at which point the speed limit drops from 55 to 35)

 

[lxskllr]

Hot air balloon.

 

[DrDoug]

On your way up think about the PCH/101 and some redwood action. I live on the coast just above the Cali/Oregon border and I never tire of our scenery. If you end up on I5 into Oregon, take Hwy 62 out of Medford to the south entrance to Crater Lake. For a bit more scenery take Hwy 230 (off of 62) to head around to the north end of Crater Lake, Diamond Lake.

Lots of nice scenery and things to see.

 

[DCal430]

This map will take you to: Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP, Yosemite NP, Lake Tahoe, Lassen NP, Burney Falls, Mt Shasta, and Redwood NP.

Take: I5 North;
Then 99N
Next 198E (Kings Canyon/Yosemite NP)
Next 180W
Next 41N (Yosemite NP)
Next 120E (Towards 395N)
Next 395N
Next 89N (Emerald Bay (Tahoe), Lassen NP and Burney Falls)
Next I55
Next 299W
Next 101N (Redwoods NP)
Next 199, 234, and 62

Now you will be at Crater Lake NP.

You can drive to Kings Canyon/Sequoia and spend 1 night
(This will take about 4 to 5 hours to drive)
Next drive until Yosemite, and spend 1 night here
(This will take another 5 hours to drive)
Next day drive to Lassen NP and Burney Falls, and spend 1 night here
(This will take about 6 hours to drive)
Next day drive to Redwoods NP, and spend 1 night here,
(This will take about 6 hours to drive)
Finally drive to crater lake.
(This will take about 4 hours)

If you do an extra day you should spend 2 nights in either Yosemite or Lassen, or nights days for both.

 

[Ns1]

//edit

n/m, delete.

 

[OCNewbie]

bump... thanks so much for the replies so far!

 

[OCNewbie]

Night bump for the west coasters

 

[Ns1]

if you have any inclination of stopping by vegas, I would encourage you to take a detour through death valley.

 

[Leyawiin]

/snip

That detour over to the North Coast would make the trip excruciatingly long. Its beautiful yes, but that's way off the beaten path.

 

[skyking]

138 is my favorite drive to/from Crater lake along the Umpqua river. Lots of things to check out. The river confluence at Glide is cool, Tokatee Falls, Diamond Lake resort ( It reminds me of 'Dirty Dancing' a little ).
Grants Pass has a jet boat ride on the Rogue river.
You could take the 138 when you take your mom to the airport.

 

[Sukhoi]

There are only a few things to see on 395 up until Tahoe.
Devil's Postpile, Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake, and Bodie State Historic Park.
The rest until you get to Mammoth is flat boring desert. Though you do run just south of Death Valley.
If I were doing it I would go up the west side and hit Kings Canyon, and Sequoia before going in to Yosemite.

Uh, no. 395 has an amazing amount of stuff on it if you're willing to get out of your car. Would recommend http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...tle_Lakes_Valley_Trail-Bishop_California.html if you can hike 6-8 miles with <1000 ft elevation gain.

What time of year are we talking? High country isn't going to be melted out until at least late May. Also once it heats up inland the coast is covered in fog so don't bother doing Highway 1 much later than a couple weeks from now.

Assuming we're talking Memorial Day or later I'd take 395 up to 120, go through Yosemite, take 5 up to Redding, cut over to the coast on 299, see redwoods, then go to Crater Lake. If you need to cut anything out I'd skip the redwoods since you can see big trees at Sequoia or Yosemite.

 

[OCNewbie]

What time of year are we talking? High country isn't going to be melted out until at least late May. Also once it heats up inland the coast is covered in fog so don't bother doing Highway 1 much later than a couple weeks from now.

First week of June. I'd love to see the redwoods, but I'm thinking we may need to cut it out since it's so far out of the way. That would suck to miss it though.

 

[Sukhoi]

First week of June. I'd love to see the redwoods, but I'm thinking we may need to cut it out since it's so far out of the way. That would suck to miss it though.

While the best ones are up near Humboldt, there are plenty close to SF that you could see on a future trip to the city. I'd focus on the mountains at that time of year. Death Valley is going to be too hot, and the coast has a high chance of fog.

If your mom wants to see the mountains from up high without any effort I believe you can buy a ticket to the tram at Mammoth and just ride up to the top. May need to be on a weekend though, if they're even running anything at that time of year. It's sort of in between skiing and summer season for the resort.

Devils Postpile NM is cool and interesting, but it takes a fair amount of effort and time to get to with having to ride the shuttle and all. Bodie would be a good place for a quickish stop, as well as Mono Lake.

If your mom can ride horses you could look into a couple hour ride. There are pack outfitters on most every road/canyon off of 395 between Lone Pine and Lee Vining. I'm not sure which ones do part-day rides. http://www.bishopvisitor.com/activitiesPackTrips.php

 

[OCNewbie]

Weekend bump