US West Coast Road Trip Guide: SF to Yosemite & Vegas

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US West Coast Road Trip

Rental Car Guide

All text, photos, & files © YumYumLisa

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Hey fellow explorers, Lisa here!

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If you're planning a US West Coast trip,

booking a rental car is probably at the top of your to-do list.

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Unlike cities with dense public transit networks,

a road trip starting in San Francisco,

winding through Yosemite National Park,

and ending in Las Vegas is

practically impossible without your own set of wheels!

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But here's the catch...

❌ Smash-and-grabs are common, so vehicle choice and parking matter.

❌ Massive distances mean long hours behind the wheel.

❌ National parks often have zero cell service.

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Because of these realities,

you might be stressing over which rental company to trust

and what insurance coverage you actually need.

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I recently tackled this exact route, driving from San Francisco

through Yosemite, and finishing up in Las Vegas.

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We booked an Enterprise Rent-A-Car

through Klook,

and both the pricing and service were absolutely stellar.

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In today's post, I'll be covering:

✔️ Why a rental car is a non-negotiable for the US

✔️ My San Francisco 👉🏻 Yosemite 👉🏻 Las Vegas itinerary

✔️ An honest Enterprise review & booking tips

Let's dive in!

“Stressed about booking a rental car for your US road trip?”

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1. Why is a Rental Car Essential for a US Trip?

It's no exaggeration to say that

90% of a US West Coast trip involves driving.

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While you can easily get around downtown San Francisco

on foot or via public transit,

navigating places like Yosemite National Park

without a vehicle is incredibly tough.

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The sheer scale of the American West is mind-boggling,

making a carless itinerary totally unrealistic.

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Plus, the drive from Yosemite down to Las Vegas

is a solid 8+ hour long-haul journey,

so a safe, comfortable vehicle is an absolute must.

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Here was my game plan:

✔️ San Francisco City → Walking, public transit, and Uber

✔️ Heading to Yosemite → Picked up my Enterprise rental at SFO

✔️ Las Vegas → Dropped off the car at LAS airport

This route maximized our time and budget.

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I chose "Enterprise" because

they have a top-tier reputation among locals,

and I booked through Klook to guarantee a great rate,

a wide vehicle selection, and a seamless booking experience.

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Check real-time prices

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2. San Francisco to Yosemite to Las Vegas Itinerary

Here's a quick breakdown of my West Coast road trip route :)

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This route hits the absolute highlights of the American West!

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You get to soak in the majestic beauty

of Yosemite National Park

and experience an epic desert road trip down to Las Vegas.

It's the ultimate way to maximize a rental car vacation.

3. Picking Up the Rental Car at SFO

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After wrapping up our SF city tour the day before,

we headed to San Francisco International Airport to pick up our ride.

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We went with Enterprise!

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While Hertz and SIXT are also popular,

locals highly recommend Enterprise,

so it was a no-brainer for us.

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Since we were a group of four

with four massive 28-inch suitcases,

I pre-booked a 7-seater.

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We were handed the keys to a sleek

Chrysler Pacifica!

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The best part?

Since we were over 30,

they waived the additional driver fee!

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The van came fully loaded with front and rear cameras,

plus Bluetooth,

making the drive super comfortable.

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After about a 4-hour drive, we pulled into Yosemite.

The breathtaking views of America's great outdoors

along the way are something I'll never forget.

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It really made me understand

why people are so obsessed with US road trips!

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We booked a night at Curry Village inside the park.

We parked right out front

and used the free park shuttles to explore the valley.

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⚠️ Tip: There's a Costco on the way

from SF to Yosemite.

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It's highly recommended to stop there and load up on road trip snacks and groceries before heading into the park.

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3. One Night in Yosemite ➙ Las Vegas

An Epic 8-Hour Drive

The next day, we made the long haul

from Yosemite to Las Vegas.

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Since we visited in the summer,

Tioga Pass was open,

which kept our travel time to a manageable 8 hours.

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If you're doing this drive in winter or early spring,

Tioga Pass will be closed,

forcing a detour that takes closer to 10 hours.

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But this stretch is where the magic

of an American road trip truly shines.

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On your way out of Yosemite toward Vegas,

you absolutely must stop at

📍Half Dome Point,

📍Olmsted Point,

and 📍Tenaya Lake.

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They are unbelievably stunning.

Honestly, the scenery here left a deeper impression on me

than the Grand Canyon.

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The drive was long,

but the vast, sweeping road views were awe-inspiring.

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Cruising past endless desert highways and mountain ranges,

I kept thinking, "This is what driving in America is all about."

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Because there were four of us,

we took turns behind the wheel,

making the long distance totally a breeze.

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If I had been solo,

it would have been a grueling trek.

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Once we rolled into Las Vegas, we dropped the car off right at the airport.

Since we had full coverage insurance,

the drop-off was a quick 'hand over the keys and go' situation—so convenient!

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✅ Different Pick-up and Drop-off locations are OK 👌

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4. Enterprise Rent-A-Car Review

The company that powered our West Coast road trip was

none other than Enterprise!

ENTERPRISE

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As one of the most trusted rental agencies in the US,

their vehicles are kept in pristine condition,

and the customer service was flawless.

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✅ 7-Seater Minivan 👉🏻 Perfect for 4+ people and tons of luggage.

✅ Free Additional Driver: Waived for drivers over 30!

(Three of us registered and took turns driving).

✅ Insurance: Full coverage is a MUST!

(It ensures a no-questions-asked drop-off).

✅ Pick-up/Drop-off: Picked up at SFO

Dropped off at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

(One-way rentals are totally doable).

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Best of all, booking through Klook was actually

cheaper than the official Enterprise site.

They had a great selection of cars,

and the user-friendly platform made everything simple.

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It's perfect for first-time drivers in the US!

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From the airport counter to hitting the road took exactly 10 minutes!

🔻

Book Your Enterprise Rental Car Here

5. Crucial Tips for US Road Trips

Here are a few golden nuggets of advice from my own experience!

✔️ NEVER leave luggage visible in the car.

(Especially in San Francisco and Las Vegas cities)

⚠️ We heard so many horror stories about smash-and-grabs

that we brought large black trash bags from home

to cover our suitcases in the back.

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✔️ Always opt for Full Coverage Insurance!

✔️ Cell service is non-existent in National Parks.

Downloading offline Google Maps is an absolute lifeline!

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✔️ Bring a physical credit card in the primary driver's name.

(Needed for the security deposit and potential toll charges).

✔️ Check the fuel gauge before returning.

(The 'Full to Full' policy is standard practice).

6. Final Thoughts

While the driving distances are no joke,

getting to experience the majestic nature of Yosemite

and the vast desert highways

en route to Las Vegas makes a

US West Coast road trip 100% worth it.

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Enterprise exceeded our expectations across the board—

from vehicle condition to the free additional drivers and seamless insurance.

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If you're planning a San Francisco - Yosemite - Las Vegas itinerary like mine,

book ahead on Klook for a safe and budget-friendly trip.

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The earlier you book your rental car,

the better the rates and vehicle options.

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Plus, Klook offers free cancellation up until the day before your rental,

so you can lock in a rate now and finalize your plans later.

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Get the best rates on US rental cars right here:

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👉🏻 Lowest Prices Guaranteed! 👈🏻

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