Cities are stops, not destinations
You have one evening, a car with a tent on the roof, and probably jet lag. This is not a top-ten ranking. It is what to actually do with that evening in each of the three cities we hand over in.
Los Angeles: the evening belongs to the hill
Griffith Observatory at sunset. Free, open late, and the view runs from downtown to the ocean. If you get one evening in LA, this is it.
If you get two, the second belongs to the coast. Santa Monica Pier for the Route 66 sign, then Highway 1 north toward Malibu with the light going gold.
⚠ Parking is the real LA problem with a tent up. Garages in Beverly Hills, Hollywood and Downtown mostly cap around 6 feet 6 inches. Street parking and open lots only. I give every guest the exact height at handover, because finding out at the entrance ramp is a bad afternoon.
San Diego: the easiest first American city
More relaxed than LA, more compact, about 260 sunny days a year. If it is your first time driving in the US, start here and the adjustment is gentler.
La Jolla Cove in the late afternoon. Sea lions, cliffs, and a walkable stretch that does not require a plan. Balboa Park if you want a morning.
Las Vegas: the arrival city
Practically the best place to start the Southwest. Cheap hotel night, everything open late, and Zion, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon all within a day.
The tip I give almost everyone: on the evening after handover, do not drive back into town. Go an hour northeast to Valley of Fire. Red sandstone, almost nobody there after dark, and it is a better first night than a casino floor.
Three practical things for all three
- Sleeping in the car does not work in cities. Santa Monica and much of greater LA prohibit it by ordinance and enforce it. Drive out to a campground.
- Charging is a non-issue. Parking is the issue. California and Nevada have the densest charging network in the country. Your problem is never electrons in a city, it is clearance and a legal overnight spot.
- Leave your arrival day empty. After a long flight you should not be crossing an unfamiliar metropolis. A hotel near the airport and an early night is not a wasted day, it is the thing that makes day two work.
How long, honestly
| City | Give it | The one thing |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 1 to 2 evenings | Griffith Observatory at sunset |
| San Diego | 1 to 2 nights | La Jolla Cove, late afternoon |
| Las Vegas | 1 night | Leave for Valley of Fire |
The cities are where the trip starts. They are not what you came for, and the guests who treat them that way have better trips.