Easter or Jul/Aug for west coast

Bazinga 39 · 23 Jun 20, 11:02 AM

Hi all, planning west coast for 3 weeks next year, I’ve been planning jul/Aug but wondering if I should consider Easter time, can anyone offer any advice on difference in flight/hotel prices, weather, anything really?😀

jdouds · 23 Jun 20, 11:12 AM

Hi again would definitely stay to summer if you plan Yosemite. This year tioga pass opened 15 th June , last years it was 1st July after they cleared 25 foot snow drift. Earliest opening in the last 20 years was the first week of May

Bazinga 39 · 23 Jun 20, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by jdouds

Hi again would definitely stay to summer if you plan Yosemite. This year tioga pass opened 15 th June , last years it was 1st July after they cleared 25 foot snow drift. Earliest opening in the last 20 years was the first week of May

Hi thanks for reply again, we definitely want to get the best from Yosemite so a good reason to stick to the summer months then😀

mason1 · 23 Jun 20, 01:47 PM

We’re planning next year, and have decided on 2 weeks at Easter. We can go back again and do Yosemite, as we can’t fit it in this time. I was also concerned about the heat in August in Vegas and the Grand Canyon. We tolerate Florida in August but are in and out if AC most of the day.

jdouds · 23 Jun 20, 04:19 PM

Hi again have a quick search for tioga pass images, some great photos of snow ploughing etc

Edie ray · 23 Jun 20, 05:03 PM

The weather is glorious in July/August but probably a lot cheaper at Easter

**cornishfrogboy** · 23 Jun 20, 10:26 PM

We did Easter in 2018 as we were not bothered about Yosemite (which we knew to be marginal on weather. The trip report link is in my signature. The weather was absolutely lovely as we moved from SFO to San Diego then back up to LA to come home. Reasoning for Easter.
1. Price
2. Hoped for smaller crowds as not strictly in season. (That proved true).
3. Had heard that you get smog over LA in the summer.

This March we were due to go again.. SFO-Monterey-Pismo- S l Obispo- fly to Seattle-Renton-Vancouver. We achieved good prices (imho) throughout.

We are now booked for August.. Phoenix-Pima-Tombstone-Hollywood-Pismo-San Simeon- Monterey- SFO. To our great surprise, the prices were pretty much the same as we have encountered on previous Easter trip and attempted trip.

What I do know from research is that whilst you can expect good but not overly hot weather on the West Coast in August, we were very fortunate with the weather we got in the Easter of 2018. Crowds , Smog and stuff? I will hopefully find out in August!
What I do know is that it will be blazing my hot in the Arizona desert.

Bazinga 39 · 24 Jun 20, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

We did Easter in 2018 as we were not bothered about Yosemite (which we knew to be marginal on weather. The trip report link is in my signature. The weather was absolutely lovely as we moved from SFO to San Diego then back up to LA to come home. Reasoning for Easter.
1. Price
2. Hoped for smaller crowds as not strictly in season. (That proved true).
3. Had heard that you get smog over LA in the summer.

This March we were due to go again.. SFO-Monterey-Pismo- S l Obispo- fly to Seattle-Renton-Vancouver. We achieved good prices (imho) throughout.

We are now booked for August.. Phoenix-Pima-Tombstone-Hollywood-Pismo-San Simeon- Monterey- SFO. To our great surprise, the prices were pretty much the same as we have encountered on previous Easter trip and attempted trip.

What I do know from research is that whilst you can expect good but not overly hot weather on the West Coast in August, we were very fortunate with the weather we got in the Easter of 2018. Crowds , Smog and stuff? I will hopefully find out in August!
What I do know is that it will be blazing my hot in the Arizona desert.

Hi thanks for the reply, I have just read your trip report and it was actually because you went at Easter that I wondered if I should consider it, really enjoyed the report by the way😀

**cornishfrogboy** · 24 Jun 20, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Bazinga 39

Hi thanks for the reply, I have just read your trip report and it was actually because you went at Easter that I wondered if I should consider it, really enjoyed the report by the way😀

You are very welcome.

The West Coast was absolutely fabulous and as you will have noticed, we missed out on the crown jewel... The PCH between Monterey and Pismo... hence our plans to return!

BigSkip · 28 Jun 20, 11:37 AM

I did Yosemite in 2004 in October/November. Tioga Pass road was shut, but you could still do the valley floor, which is outstanding. Was going back in September this year to do Tioga pass, but have postponed to lat May 21. I know it's still sketchy that it will be open, but if not, other routes to get to Reno will be, and the waterfalls should be really good.