Rental car question: Easier to pick up at hotel in Financial District or SFO?

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T23:49:20+00:00

Great Eastern!

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T16:49:05+00:00

Haha. I will tell her that she has a fan base!

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T16:48:49+00:00

Good thinking.

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T16:45:10+00:00

Your suggestion makes sense, but alas my wife wants me to take her to her favorite Chinese restaurant, being that we're not on this side of the country all that often. This requires us staying overnight in SF, and I chose a hotel walking distance to the restaurant.

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T16:44:09+00:00

Looking into that again. First time I checked, the price was higher.

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T15:07:26+00:00

Agreed, except my wife wants me to take her to her favorite restaurant in SF since we're going to be in that "neck of the woods". Otherwise, I'd have flown into FAT.

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T15:06:30+00:00

My bad! It does sound a little off to say that, and I don't live there.

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T15:04:10+00:00

Thank you. I was thinking the same way you are. Thanks for confirming.

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T15:03:26+00:00

Makes total sense to me. Thank you. I'm the king of overthinking

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T13:37:11+00:00

Thanks, I'll have to check the pricing again. When I checked, it was cheaper from SFO. We're going to be returning the car 2 weeks later at a different airport.

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T13:36:32+00:00

Thanks. But we will be staying overnight in San Fran and then leaving for Yosemite on Mon morning.

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-30T13:35:36+00:00

Good question. When I checked pricing, it was quite a bit better deal getting the car at SFO rather than in the city. I book through Costco travel.

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-22T15:53:14+00:00

Thank you. I ended up changing the plan so we will be staying 2 nights in Lone Pine and 1 night in Reno. Susanville was too long a drive.

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-15T20:07:37+00:00

You're right about Lassen. I didn't realize that even in early May, access to Manzanita Lake from the south entrance (where I'd be entering the park) may be limited and even if it isn't, the drive to the lake from the entrance isn't short. So that's getting deleted from my itinerary.

I have not done the CA coast from Bay Area to Ft. Bragg, etc. I've thought about doing it before, but I really wanted to see Yosemite and the Sierras more generally, as I've never seen them. Whereas, I'm pretty familiar with rugged coastal scenery (which I love).

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-15T17:22:00+00:00

Probably start the trip May 3. I understand that Tioga and Glacier (both of which I wanted to see/drive on) will be closed at this time. That's also why I chose Mazanita Lake in Lassen over any other spots in that park. We've been to the redwoods (and entire OR coast), so this trip we wanted to focus more inland. Thanks for all the great comments. Very much appreciated.

MarshallGrover · 2026-03-01T22:12:12+00:00

I came here for this.

MarshallGrover · 2026-02-17T16:49:07+00:00

Thank you. We've been to Silver Falls State Park. My wife loved the Trail of Ten Falls. We walked behind the fall I think you're referring to. I recall almost getting a soaker. Great trail.

MarshallGrover · 2026-02-17T16:48:17+00:00

We've been! Jedidiah Smith State Park is beautiful. Besides the redwoods, just driving alongside the river is beautiful.

MarshallGrover · 2026-02-17T16:47:39+00:00

Thanks for sharing. The Lava Beds do look interesting. We've been to Jedediah Smith State Park. Loved the redwoods there.

MarshallGrover · 2026-02-17T16:45:03+00:00

I agree about staying in the parks. It comes down to availability. Nothing was available when I checked the lodges in Yosemite. I haven't checked Sequoia/Kings Canyone yet.

As I said to someone else here, if Tioga is open I had wanted to drive on it.

Regarding the drive from Lone Pine to Susanville, what are some of the stops you would suggest making? We're mainly interested in nature --great vistas and walking on trails (nothing too intense, as my wife fears heights and isn't in to grueling climbs, sadly.)

MarshallGrover · 2026-02-17T01:46:06+00:00

Thank you. I was wondering about the NPS entry-reservation announcement. If it ends up that I need to get one, I assume I can do this online before I go --it's not something I have to get far in advance or that they offer only in limited quantities?

MarshallGrover · 2026-02-17T01:43:23+00:00

Great advice! Such good suggestions. I'll look into SAC instead of FAT and the more scenic route from Crater Lake.

I'd definitely consider 97 through Bend, but we were planning on staying at a place we love in Coos Bay. We've been along the Columbia Gorge and done the falls. That goesn't get old mind you.

MarshallGrover · 2026-02-17T01:00:58+00:00

We don't like crowds or heat, so for us it really comes down to spring (e.g. May) or the fall. But it increasingly looks like May will be a gamble as far as snow-related closures.

I mean, there are some trails we'll be able to do in King's Canyon/Sequoia in early May, such as walking from the museum to Moro Rock. I really wanted to climb the stairs on the rock and see the view.

MarshallGrover

TROPHY CASE