Climbing in California

Good morning 

I am coming over in october for 3 weeks climbing in Yosemite, Red Rocks and Joshua Tree and flying in to San Fran. Would it be cheaper to rent a car and bring a tent/ Air Band B or to hire a campervan. There are 2 of us!

Thanks in anticipation 

Peter

Cheapest is a 4 cyl rental car w/ good mpg. You won’t need 4WD for any of those spots. Also plenty of free camping near those 3 spots. 

It would be a big mistake to skip Pine Creek/Bishop for a few days at Josh.

Just my humble opinion. 

Michael Rushwrote:

Cheapest is a 4 cyl rental car w/ good mpg. You won’t need 4WD for any of those spots. Also plenty of free camping near those 3 spots. 

I think you may want to get ahead of things if you plan on camping at Yosemite and JT.  Usually the bulk of the sites are booked up months in advance.  I'm not saying you can't figure something out as you go, but if I were flying in for 3 weeks I would see if I could get some firm camping arrangements.  

OP said cheap so free Natl Forest camping outside YOSE and lake bed camping in JTREE  would be it. If it means they’d have to break down camp every night well then that’s the price to pay for free. Traveling internationally, I doubt they’d have much stuff. The good mpg’s would make this easier. Just my $0.02. Reservations in both those spots a mere 2 months out in prime climbing season sounds slightly difficult to obtain. 

Op is a bot

Jacob Bicewrote:

I think you may want to get ahead of things if you plan on camping at Yosemite and JT.  Usually the bulk of the sites are booked up months in advance.  I'm not saying you can't figure something out as you go, but if I were flying in for 3 weeks I would see if I could get some firm camping arrangements.  

Both J tree and Yosemite have first come first serve sites in the fall. Just have to be willing to get up at ungodly hours to hunt for sites.

Calum TMwrote:

Both J tree and Yosemite have first come first serve sites in the fall. Just have to be willing to get up at ungodly hours to hunt for sites.

What spots in Yosemite are first come first serve in fall? Besides like wilderness permits.

Connor Halewrote:

What spots in Yosemite are first come first serve in fall? Besides like wilderness permits.

Camp 4, September 30th and onward

Well, even if this guy is a bot. I was definitely helped by the information shared here. 

Regional

Luke Grahamwrote:

Well, even if this guy is a bot. I was definitely helped by the information shared here. 

Crazy huh. Bots are creating topics worthy of good discussion. But I was thinking the other day, if there’s some good coming out of this AI bot biz, there’s gotta be a flip side too. Which frightens me.

Hey bots, if you’re listening, please don’t get all ape shit crazy and try to take over humanity. 

Thanks for all the useful comments, although having just been on the booking site for Yosemite I am confused by the booking in system!

Peter Whyleywrote:

Thanks for all the useful comments, although having just been on the booking site for Yosemite I am confused by the booking in system!

I bet someone in the regional forum could help…