How should I travel from Yosemite to Las Vegas sans car?

August 5, 2009 5:53 AM

At end of August, am heading from SF to Yosemite by Amtrak train+thruway coach, staying in the middle of the park valley for a couple of nights, then heading to Las Vegas for a couple more nights and flight back to the UK. It looks like Amtrak coach+train to Bakersfield, stay overnight there, then coach to Las Vegas is the obvious itinerary, otherwise it would be an extremely long day's travel. Any other suggestions, or anywhere better to break the trip? Many thanks.
posted by elliot100 to travel & transportation (9 comments total)

I think I understand what you're getting at, but it might be helpful if you restated your current plans. In USian coach doesn't mean what it means in UKian.
posted by GPF at 7:30 AM on August 5

Coach means bus.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 8:04 AM on August 5

Ah, OK.

I need to travel from Yosemite to Las Vegas without automobile. I think the obvious route is by Amtrak (thruway bus to Merced, then train to Bakersfield), stay in Bakersfield overnight, then Greyhound bus to Las Vegas.

I think that trying to do the whole trip in one day would be a bit much, and I don't think flying is practical. Any other suggestions welcomed, particularly whether I would find an overnight stop elsewhere more interesting.

Not at all famililar with geography or, as you can tell, terminology - it's a fairly last-minute trip.
posted by elliot100 at 8:06 AM on August 5

Geographically, the route you describe from Yosemite to Las Vegas is the most practical way to drive. There is another route leaving east from the park, but it's a much smaller road and not open year round. And there's essentially nothing on the way to Las Vegas in that part of California. Barstow is big enough to get lunch or find a motel, but it's not exactly a tourist destination. (Neither is Bakersfield, but it's big enough to suffice.)

Does your itinerary get easier if you just take Greyhound the whole way? If you're coming from Europe, you may not know that American trains are nowhere near the quality of European. Amtrak coach is just another bus and Amtrak train is terribly unreliable. It's not uncommon for a train to be hours late leaving San Francisco.
posted by Nelson at 8:46 AM on August 5

Hmm, I thought UK trains could be unreliable but they aren't generally hours late... at least not on departure! I did notice they aren't that much faster than buses.

Maybe I should just consider Greyhound only - is it considered fairly reliable?
posted by elliot100 at 8:56 AM on August 5

Yeah, Greyhound is pretty reliable. And generally faster than the train. It's not the most pleasant travel experience. Bring headphones if you don't like getting chatty with uncomfortable strangers. Generally the bus terminals aren't in the nicest part of town. But it should get you where you're going more or less on the posted schedule. From what I gather online Greyhound doesn't run into the park; you have to take a VIA bus from Merced or the like, just like with Amtrak. These web sites looked useful: Yosemite FAQ, Yosemite Area Regional Transport System, National Park Service info.

(Amtrak is a whole 'nother class of bad from UK trains. It does not have right-of-way on the track, so is frequently delayed for freight. Also it's terribly managed. No one who lives in the US considers Amtrak as practical travel outside of the WashDC/Boston run.)

Yosemite is beautiful. Las Vegas is great. Have fun!
posted by Nelson at 9:25 AM on August 5

As far as the first leg of your trip, San Francisco to Yosemite, Merced is a good 45-60 minutes out of your way if you're coming from San Francisco. Avoid. Stick to a route that shoots straight down Highway 120 and you'll make good time. Bonus (if you like burgers and fries): In 'n Out Burgers are all up and down the highway and they're quite tasty; arguably the best fast food burger in The States.

If you want to break up your trip between San Francisco and Yosemite, downtown Oakdale is a pleasant place to have lunch. Ferrarese's is very good, but can get crowded (it's worth it though). They're used to Yosemite tourists, so the town is very accommodating. It's also a great place to get out and stretch you legs; much more charming than Tracy, Manteca, Escalon, or any of the other cities along that route.

The second part of your trip, Yosemite to Las Vegas, will be exceedingly dreary, I'm afraid. Hot, boring, and downright ugly. Bring a good book. Or three.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 12:05 PM on August 5

I've heard of Amtrak trains in California, especially the ones going long distances, to be up to 24 hours late. I would seriously plan for it to be that late when you are making arrangements.
(Freight trains get priority, so every time your train and a freight train need the same track, so much for Amtrak timeliness. As far as I can tell, this is pretty much the train is late whenever I'm on it.)

Oh, here's a website to check this: http://www.amtrakdelays.com/
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:56 PM on August 5

Good grief - well thank you all for the warnings and other info. I will never complain about UK trains again. Guess I'll be looking up Greyhound...
posted by elliot100 at 1:20 AM on August 6