bjr
Ouf, çà y est me voilà inscrite...🙂
Pour ma 1ERE discussion, merci d'être indulgent face à un manque éventuel de concision sur ma demande ....😛
Nous souhaiterions faire un autotour ds l'ouest américain pour juin 2009, pourriez vous nous donner des conseils concernant trajets, lieux à voir absolument ou bien nous recommander une agence sérieuse qui propose ce type de voyage, budget pour 2 ... ?
Pour se déplacer au niveau route et indication des directions est ce bien signalisé ?
Enfin si vous avez de bon tuyaux nous sommes preneurs ....
tout dépendra du nombre de jours (10 à 30) que vous souhaitez consacrer à ce voyage
et à vos centres d'intérêt (villes, parcs nationaux, rando, activités sportives...)
mon top des parcs de l'Ouest
grand canyon
Bryce canyon
Yosemite
Canyonlands
Zion
death valley
monument valley
arches
san francisco & las Vegas valent vraiment le coup...
pour vous donner une idée, je vous présente notre projet pour juin 2009
voyage du 1er juin au 24 juin 2009
du 1er juin au 15 juin : boucle en moto de Las Vegas à Las Vegas
du 16 juin au 23 juin : circuit en auto de Las Vegas à Los Angeles (via San Francisco)
détail du séjour :
1er jour : Lyon - Las Vegas
2e jour : Kingman : Prise de la moto le 2e jour matin - Route 66 – col d'Oatman - Oatman
3e jour : Grand Canyon : Route 66 – Seligman – Williams - (Bellemont : Harley Davidson shop and a Route 66 Roadhouse Bar and Grill) ?
4e jour : Journée à Grand Canyon : Survol du Grand Canyon en hélicoptère - (Winslow : Meteor Crater & Standin' on the Corner Park) ?
5e jour : Kayenta : Monument Valley (4x4 Tour ?)
6e jour : Gallup : Canyon de Chelly
7e jour : Santa Fe : Visite de Santa Fe - visite de Taos
8e jour : Durango : Aztec Ruins National Monument
9e jour : Moab : Mesa Verde – Arches National Park
10e jour : Journée à Moab : Canyonlands National Park – Dead Horse Point
11e jour : Torrey : Capitol Reef NP – Cathedral Valley
12e jour : Springdale : Escalante SP – Bryce Canyon NP
13e jour : Las Vegas : Zion NP – Valley of Fire SP - Retour de la moto le 13e ou 14e jour.
14e jour : Journée à Las Vegas : Prise de l’auto le 14e ou 15e jour. - Le soir : Mariage
15e jour : Death Valley : Death Valley
16e jour : Mammoth Lakes : Dans la Sierra Nevada
17e jour : Sonora : Bodie (ghost town) – Sonora Pass
18e jour : San Francisco
19e jour : Journée à San Francisco
20e jour : San Simeon (ou San Luis Obispo)
21e jour : Los Angeles
22e jour : Journée à Los Angeles
23e jour : départ de Los Angeles : Retour de l’auto le 23e jour (si possible à l’aéroport).
24e jour : Arrivée France
De nombreuses agences de voyage proposent ce genre de tour.
On loue une voiture sur place, à condition d'avoir 21 ans minimum, et on parcours les paysages de l'ouest américain.
Un conseil si les prix sont trop chers: Demander un devis de parcours complet, s'en inspirer et faire son parcours avec ses propres moyens, en contactant les hôtels etc...
Les incontournables:
San Francisco
Le Grand Canyon
Bryce Canyon
Monument Valley
Lake Powell (Magnifique, rester au moins une nuit sur place pour profiter du cadre)
Un conseil, terminer le périple par San Francisco.
Difficile de débuter avec San Francisco notamment à cause du décalage horaire, dur de profiter pleinement de la ville avec la fatigue, alors pour vraiment profiter, faites la en fin de parcours, un petit bijou de ville.
A voir:
Monterey, un port de pêcheurs sur la côté, pas trop loin de San Francisco. Y rester une nuit pas plus, on en fait vite le tour. De délicieux fruits de mer à déguster, un des plus grands aquariums du monde, vraiment impressionant, une virée en mer pour voir baleines, orques et autres...
Carmel, près de Monterey, sur la côte. Anciennement Clint Eastwood en était le mer. Une plage magnifique à découvrir en fin de journée. Inutile de s'y arrêter, juste y faire un tour.
Flagstaff, une ville traversée par la mythique "Road 66", près du Lake Powell. Ambiance vraiment sympa, de nombreuses boutiques de musique, des bars...
A éviter:
Las Vegas.
Vraiment aucun interêt, pour ma part nous avions décidé d'y passer, juste pour le "fun", et franchement nous nous en serions bien passés. Du monde, du monde, du monde et encore du monde. Des paillettes pas du tout glamour qui sentent l'alcool et l'argent. Vraiment inutile. Privilégier les beautés naturelles à ça.
Salut Manou et bienvenue.
Comme la personne qui sait le mieux ce qui te plaira de voir est toi même, il n'y a pas de réponse toute faite à la demande " que dois voir " ! 🙂
Le mieux est de reculer de quelques dizaines de pages et de lire ( même en diagonale ) le forum tu verras qu'il y a de très nombreuses propositions / rectifications de circuit en fonction des attentes de chacun.
Si au cours de ces lectures tu as des interrogations, pose les il y a ici des spécialistes qui se feront un plaisir de te répondre !
Philosophiquement VF est plutot un refuge pour voyageur organisant eux même leur trip, l'idée principale étant qu'avec les bons tuyaux recueilli sur VF, il serait ballot de payer plus cher pour faire un voyage facilement faisable par ses propres moyens ...
Un bel endroit aussi sur VF pour pécher des idées c'est la rubrique " carnet de voyage " tu pourra y trouver les récit de voyages (surprenant, non 😉) et t'en insiprer sachant que pour un premier trip, l'originalité sera hyper diffficile à trouver !
Bonjour manou bienvenue
voila mon autotour juin 2008 et je ne regrette rien.j'ai passé un séjour top super.
Tu peux en prendre des conseils.Fait t'on autotours et reserver voiture, avion, hotel sur le net avec auto escape, Expedia, voyage sncf, ebooker et j'en passe.
1er jour Paris / Las Vegas
Départ Roissy
Arrivée Las Vegas 22h30
Prise de la voiture
Départ pour l’hôtel Four Quenns
2 ème jour Las Vegas / Sedona
Petit déjeuné à l’hôtel puis ballade dans Las Vegas
Départ dans l’après midi pour Sédona
Recherche d’hôtel sur place
Ballade dans Sedona
3ème jour Sedona/ grand Canyon
Ballade autour de Sedona
Slide rock Park
Visite de Oak creek canyon Reed rock
Bell Rock, le vortex le + connu ( on ne sait jamais ? ) et la chapelle Holy Cross .
Départ pour Grand Canyon milieux ou fin après midi
Distance 185km 2h30 de trajet
Dans la soirée installation au Best Western grand canyon squire Inn
Voir coucher de soleil sur g canyon si pas trop tard
4ème jour Journée G Canyon
Descente south kaibaid jusqu'à tipoff et remonté par le Bright Angel trail
Visite hermit rest road
Ballade sur le Canyon Rim Nature Trail
Visite de West rim drive ( tous les points de vue)
Retour hôtel
Ballade pour voir le coucher de soleil
Nuit à Grand Canyon au
Best Western grand canyon squire Inn
5ème jour Grand Canyon /PAGES
Départ pour PAGES
Sur la route détour à Lee Ferry (voir le Colorado) et Horse shoebend. ¾ de miles à pied à faire le matin pour avoir le soleil dans le dos.
Arrivé sur PAGE début d’après midi.
Visite Antelope Canyon avec soleil haut.
Visite Upper Antelope Canyon
Visite Cathedrale Wasch
Dîner en ville spectacle country Horseshoebend.
Nuit à l’hotel Best Western lac Powell
6ème jour Pages/Monument valley
Départ pour Monument valley
Pour la fameuse vue des 3 pitons de Monument Valley, il faut monter sur la terrasse du Visitor Center
Seul inconvénient : le matin, le soleilest en face et impossible de vraiment en profiter ou prendre une photo potable. C'est pour cela que toutes les images correspondent à des soleils couchants !!.
Ballade sur sentier de découverte à l’entrée Sandai trail
valley drive .A faire avec voiture circuit de 18 kms.2h30 de trajet sur piste
Le premier point John Ford Point. Le matin est vraiment idéal. La lumière est dans la bonne direction, il ne fait pas encore trop chaud et les bus arriveront + tard.
Au point three sister ballade possible à cheval avec Navajo 40 dollars.
Goosenecks State Park Blanding, à côté de MEXICAN
Nuit à l’hôtel à Mexican Hat
7ème jour MEXICAN HAT /MOAB
Avant Moab Canyonland sur the needles
A1.5 km accueil route secondaire de 2.4 km au Cave spring trail boucle de 1 km facile amusante et varié
Pothole point trail boucle 1km facile
Slickorck boucle de 4 km
Depuis squaw flat campround grimpez brievement e long du squaw canyon trail vue superbe sur the needles
Ballades Nexispaper rock sur la route
Rordside rain, Cave spring (camp cowboy)
Blanding Edge of the cedars
Needles Overlook .au bout de 20 mn ( là où il y a un embranchement vers la fin, prendre à gauche ), tu arrives au bout du plateau et ce que tu as devant les yeux est à peine + petit que le Grand Canyon .... et encore !!
Retour et arrive sur Moab
Si du temps ballade à Death Horse point state parc ou balade et baignade à MILL CREEK CANYON à MOAB
Nuit à Moab
8ème jour MOAB
Départ pour Canyonland
Rando à Island in the ski par ut 313 (Van et marche à pied)
Le Mesa arch natural trail sentier facile de 800m
White rim overlook trail sentiert facile
Grand view point overlook sentiert facile
Rafting facile dans Westwater canyon
Nuit à Moab
9ème jour MOAB
Départ pour Arches National Park ...
Parking de Landscape Arch
Balanced Rock defi à la pesanteur à14.5km de l’entrée boucle de 500m
Windos section plusieur sarches spectaculaires
Double arch trail et Windos trail rando faciles permet d’admirer les arches les plus étonnantent
On atteint Landscape Arch au bout de 30mn. Il est désormais interdit d'aller en dessous depuis qu'un bloc de 180 tonnes s'est détaché en 1990 ! Elle est tellement fine maintenant qu'au prochain incident, elle disparaîtra ...
Delicate Arch ...
C'est elle, la star incontestée du parc !!!
C'est d'ailleurs le symbole de l'Utah. 3kms de marche mais en montant et en plein soleil .
Il faut faire cette excursion le soir de préférence.
Dead horse point
Petit pac méritant un détour de 35km
De très belles vues sur le Colorado
10ème jour MOAB/TORREY
CAPITOL REEF
Les fischers torrey moab et arche sur ut28
Goosenecks méandre de sulphircreek à droite de Torrey
Le + populaire des sentiers facile et pentu
En 1 mile la plus grande arche du parc
Rando à Cohat canyon trait 2h00
Sunset point 15mn 1km avant d’arriver à Torrey (piste)
La scenic drive à faire.
Chymney Rock trail.Voir scenic Rod en bord de route
CAPITOL REEF, arrêt ferme bio, pétroglyph, cueillette abricot oasis Fruita, rando grand wash canyon, scenic road.
Nuit à Torrey
11ème jour TORREY/BRYCE CANYON
La plus belle route de l’Ouestla snenic drive Torrey/Red canyon
Les environs de Calf creek recréation une merveille avantEscalant
Exploration de Red canyon
Ballade à Kodachrome basin
BRYCE CANYON
3h00 de rando allez jusqu'à Grosvenorach
4points de vue Sunrise sunset, inspiration bryce sont concentrés sur à peine 2 kms.
Voir le coucher de soleil du snow point
Nuit à Bryce canyon
12ème jour BRYCE CANYON
Ballade dans Bryce Canyon
Vous allez voir des paysages de dentelles minérales avec des couleurs à couper le souffle. Il ne faut pas hésiter à descendre par les chemins pour se retrouver au milieu de ces sculptures.
On n’est pas obligé de faire toute la balade, mais juste être en bas pour profiter d'un autre point de vue. Selon l’heure, prévoir de faire Sunrise pour le déjeuner ...
Aire de pique-nique avec un "General Store" très bien achalandé.
Les points de vue sont l'occasion de voir une autre marque d’écureuil ... les Chipmunks. des fameux Tic et Tac.
Dèpart pour Kanab
Kanab centre touristique le petit Hollywood 100 westerns tournés
Nuit à Kanab
13ème jour BRYCE/ Zion National Park
Ballade cralpink sand dunes state parc
ZION
Riverside walk 1h30 /Middle emerald pool 2h00
Emerald pools
Randonnée sympa et accessible au plus grand nombre. upper emerald pools se termine en cul de sac où les falaises vertigineuses de grès vous impressionneront 1h30
Nuit à ZION
14ème jour ZION
Angel's Landing 4 h00 l'incontournable
Virgin Rivers Narrows
Nuit à ZION
15ème jour ZION/DEATH VALLEY
Passage par Valley of fire ballade de 30mn
DEATH VALLEY
Y arriver dans l’après midi pour y voir les points classiques
La piste de twentymule canyon. Badwater et en fin d’arés midi Artistedrive et palette de l’artiste, puis pour terminer par la ballade de Golden canyon jusqu'à Red cathedral.
Panorama du Dante view
16ème jour DEATH VALLEY/LAS VEGAS
Zabriskie point
Aller aux Dunes stovepipe wells.Départ pour Las vegasInstallation au Four Queens
Soirée en ville.
17ème jour LAS VEGAS/MONTREAL/PARIS
Départ aéroport
Voiture à rendre à ALAMO
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Hello! The itinerary is pretty much set for August 2026. Yeah, I know it’s gonna be *super* hot. But it’s the only time we can get away.
So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas.
Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026:
Car rental – check,
Hotels – check,
Itinerary – almost check,
Photo gear – check,
Budget – check, 🤪
Meal planning – meh, we’ll see...
Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.
And now, without too much detail...
Fort Worth:
The Longhorns and the Stockyards;
JR’s ranch (for the missus);
Medal of Honor Museum – Arlington.
Houston and NASA Space Center:
See the Gulf of Mexico/America.
San Antonio and the missions.
Fort Stockton for an overnight stop.
El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains:
El Paso and White Sands.
Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum:
Tombstone, Bisbee.
Phoenix:
Still working on the program.
Sedona:
Round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) – we’ll decide on the spot.
Albuquerque:
Santa Fe,
Turquoise Trail,
Los Alamos.
Amarillo via Route 66:
Old Route 66 in the city;
Big Texas Ranch Steak 😏.
Dallas:
JFK Museum;
Perot Museum;
West End district.
And through it all – the road, the road, and more road!!!
We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state (we’re not exactly spring chickens).
hi everyone
I’m planning a world trip and I’m looking for great tips on accommodation in the United States.
Do you have any good deals to share, please?
thanks
Hello everyone! Really damaged due to flooding caused by runoff after forest fires (a total mess!), does anyone in this friendly forum have any updates on the Apache Trail between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Dam? Is there still a section of the road that’s tough to navigate?
We're leaving at the end of June and will be driving the route between Buffalo and Cody. We’ve already booked our accommodations and a rodeo in Cody, but during the day, we’ll be driving between the two and I’m unsure about the itinerary.
Which route do you think is the most pleasant, interesting, or scenic between:
- The northern route via Highway 14 with Sheridan, Lowell, etc.
- The southern route with Highways 16/20/14, passing by Loaf Mountain Overlook, Powder River Pass, Ten Sleep Canyon...
We’ll be in a car, so we should be able to drive on any road.
Thanks for your input!
I’m almost done planning our September road trip. After our 3-night visit to Sequoia, we’ll have a stopover night in Coalinga (to break up the drive). We’ll be staying two nights in Monterey and would like to stop along the way to visit one side of Pinnacles National Park. We’re torn between the West entrance and the East entrance, and we’d like to do a short hike of no more than 2 hours since we don’t want to arrive too late in Monterey.
This park is split into two distinct zones with no connection between them, and the mileage from Coalinga to Monterey is pretty much the same for both. Which area do you recommend visiting—east or west? And which route is the most scenic?
I’ve spotted two short hikes:
- East: Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop
- West: Balconies Cliffs Cave Loop
Has anyone been there, or do you have another hike to suggest?
Thanks in advance, and have a great afternoon!
Marcalamar 🙂
After our first trip as a young couple to the West in 2007 (yes, that doesn’t make us any younger!), we’re planning to go back in 2028, but this time as a family of four! (We have two boys who’ll be 5½ and 13 years old in the summer of 2028.)
Our plan is to combine a few big cities (SF and LA, maybe San Diego) with national parks and state parks, mostly!
Ideally, we’d like to leave at the end of June and head back to France around July 19–20, so we can enjoy the first week of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Since we already did the "loop" in 2007, there are must-see places we absolutely want to revisit—and especially share with our kids: Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and above all, the Grand Canyon, which is still the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen on Earth!
On the other hand, some places didn’t leave a big impression on us for various reasons, so we’re not making them a priority: Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, for example.
We’re planning ahead, but might as well be smart about it😏
Do you have any tips for a fun and doable itinerary over about 20–25 days with kids, without rushing?
Hi everyone! 🙂
Just a quick question about King Canyon and Sequoia National Park.
Before our night in Miramonte, we plan to visit King Canyon. The next stop will be two nights in Three Rivers to explore Sequoia National Park. I wanted to go all the way to Roaring River Falls on the King Canyon Scenic Byway and then turn back to head to Miramonte. Since we’re coming from Oakhurst, Google Maps says it’s 300 km and 5 hours of driving. Since we also want to hike to see the sequoias (Big Stump Area and Grand Grove) before tackling the King Canyon Scenic Byway, the timing’s going to be tight. How far do you recommend going before turning back to miss as few points of interest as possible on the King Canyon Scenic Byway? Thanks for your advice, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
Hi everyone!
After years of hoping, waiting, planning, then changing, saving, and searching for the best possible route... we're FINALLY off this summer for a 5-week road trip in the West.
I had planned a trip to Colorado in 2021 but canceled due to COVID, so with time passing and my eldest’s high school graduation approaching fast, I figured it was now or never!
Anyway, the itinerary has been modified and extended to please everyone (I’m no longer the only one making decisions!!)
Here’s our final route:
Day 1 - 7/12/2026 - Brussels / Los Angeles
Day 2 - 7/13/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 3 - 7/14/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 4 - 7/15/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 5 - 7/16/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 6 - 7/17/2026 - Los Angeles / Kingman
Day 7 - 7/18/2026 - Kingman / Grand Canyon
Day 8 - 7/19/2026 - Grand Canyon / Page
Day 9 - 7/20/2026 - Page
Day 10 - 7/21/2026 - Page / Monument Valley
Day 11 - 7/22/2026 - Monument Valley / Durango
Day 12 - 7/23/2026 - Durango
Day 13 - 7/24/2026 - Durango
Day 14 - 7/25/2026 - Durango
Day 15 - 7/26/2026 - Durango / Glenwood Springs
Day 16 - 7/27/2026 - Glenwood Springs
Day 17 - 7/28/2026 - Glenwood Springs / Moab
Day 18 - 7/29/2026 - Moab
Day 19 - 7/30/2026 - Moab
Day 20 - 7/31/2026 - Moab
Day 21 - 8/1/2026 - Moab
Day 22 - 8/2/2026 - Moab / Vernal
Day 23 - 8/3/2026 - Vernal / Grand Teton
Day 24 - 8/4/2026 - Grand Teton
Day 25 - 8/5/2026 - Grand Teton / Cody
Day 26 - 8/6/2026 - Cody / Yellowstone
Day 27 - 8/7/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 28 - 8/8/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 29 - 8/9/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 30 - 8/10/2026 - Yellowstone / Salt Lake City
Day 31 - 8/11/2026 - Salt Lake City / Bryce Canyon
Day 32 - 8/12/2026 - Bryce Canyon / Zion
Day 33 - 8/13/2026 - Zion
Day 34 - 8/14/2026 - Zion
Day 35 - 8/15/2026 - Zion / Las Vegas
Day 36 - 8/16/2026 - Las Vegas
Day 37 - 8/17/2026 - Las Vegas / Los Angeles
Day 38 - 8/18/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 39 - 8/19/2026 - Los Angeles / Brussels
Day 40 - 8/20/2026 - Brussels / Home
We’ll be alternating between house swaps, motels, and campgrounds. I’ve booked all the accommodations (except the campground at Bryce since sunset bookings open only 14 days in advance) and the first activities, as well as the most touristy ones.
I’m currently putting together my day-by-day roadbook and having some trouble planning certain days, like in LA or Las Vegas. Choosing hikes isn’t easy either—it’s tough to decide!
We’re really excited but could definitely use your help with choices and optimizations!!
Hello.
I’d like to travel along I-15N from San Diego to Las Vegas with my mom, who’s 67. We’ve explored Northern California and the California Coast over the past two years and now want to continue through the desert.
There are several attractions along the way:
- Mormon Rocks
- Desert Discovery Center and visit the Old Woman meteorite
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Mojave Desert
- Mojave National Preserve
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Silverwood Lake
My mom has back issues that prevent her from hiking or walking on trails with elevation changes. Is it possible to visit these places by car, or are the routes flat enough?
I’d love for her to experience the desert with an itinerary adapted to her condition. I’m also open to other points of interest that aren’t mentioned. We have 3-4 days for the trip, so we’re not in a rush—just want to explore.
I’d love to take a road trip and visit Nova Scotia. I’d appreciate some info on the best cities to see and the most interesting spots. The trip should last about 10 to 15 days, staying in hotels or motels. Thanks in advance!
We’re being relocated to Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
We’ll be taking the flight from Nantes to Montreal and then from Montreal to Saint Pierre.
Could you recommend a hotel near the departure terminal that allows dogs?
Hi,
My 16-year-old son is flying to Grand Rapids with other kids his age. There’s a layover in Detroit. There’s no unaccompanied minor service available. Is it pretty easy to navigate Detroit Airport to catch the connecting flight to Grand Rapids (domestic flight)? There are several of them who speak English well.
Thanks for your replies,
Good evening, everyone! 🙂
Just a few last questions to wrap up our Lake Tahoe visit plans.
**Parking:**
We’d like to walk to Eagle Falls and then Eagle Lake. I’ve spotted two parking lots that seem close to each other and give access to the trailhead. Where and how do we pay for entry to Emerald Bay State Park and Inspiration Point?
**Viewpoints on the East Side:**
Are most of the viewpoints (Balancing Rock, Granite Cave, Bonsai Rock, etc.) right by the road, or do you have to hike to reach them?
**Donner Memorial State Park:**
Is it worth making a detour to Truckee to visit this park and the Truckee historic downtown?
Hi there. I'm shocked by the price of the Upper Antelope Canyon tour—$175 for less than an hour… You might say, "if you can’t afford it…" But the real question is whether it’s really worth it, because $350 for two makes me feel like I’m getting ripped off. For those who’ve done both Lower and Upper, can you tell me if the price difference is really justified? Thanks
Hi everyone! 🙂
As you can see, we're heading back from September 6th to the 27th.
Everything’s booked for September—flights, accommodations, and the car. As I plan, I’ll be asking the experts for help. This is our second trip to California, but most of the stops are new to us.
We’ll start directly from San Francisco to our first overnight stop, Davis, before heading to Lassen Volcanic Park for 4 nights. Our flight lands at 12:50 PM.
Here’s our itinerary:
Day 1: Davis – overnight stop
Day 2: Red Bluff – exploring Lassen Volcanic Park (scenic drive to Lake Helen)
Day 3: Susanville – scenic drive through the park via the South Entrance, points of interest, and hikes
Day 4: Susanville – Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes hike
Day 5: Susanville – Warner Valley (hikes)
Day 6: South Lake Tahoe
Day 7: South Lake Tahoe
Day 8: Mammoth Lake
Day 9: Mammoth Lake
Day 10: El Portal via Tioga Road
Day 11: El Portal
Day 12: El Portal
Day 13: Oakhurst
Day 14: Miramonte
Day 15: Three Rivers
Day 16: Three Rivers
Day 17: Coalinga
Day 18: Monterey
Day 19: Monterey
Day 20: San Francisco
Day 21: San Francisco
Day 22: Departure
For hikes in Lassen Volcanic Park, I’ve planned:
Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake (Day 2)
Paradise Meadow (maybe not going all the way), Devastated Area, and the loop around Reflection and Manzanita Lakes (Day 3)
Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes (Day 4)
Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Spring Lake (Day 5)
I’ve read there are trails to access the trailheads for Cinder Cone (11 km) and Warner Valley. Are these easy trails for an SUV?
Are there any other must-see spots or things we shouldn’t miss?
That’s where I’m at for now. Thanks for your replies, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
I’m a total USA addict. I’ve already done several road trips, including the East Coast and West Coast.
I’m here today because I’m planning to go back for another road trip on the West Coast. Possibly with one of my sisters and a couple of friends. It’s still just a plan for now, but I’m working on an itinerary in the meantime. Ideally, I’d leave in 2026, but I don’t have the exact dates yet—maybe April-May or September-October.
My last trip to the West Coast was in September 2014. We went for 2 weeks, but this time it’d be 3 weeks. What made me want to go back was simply a colleague who just left today. As I’m writing this, he’s on the plane. I’m so happy for him, but now all I can think about is going back.
Since I recently went to NY, I noticed that prices have really gone up. I assume the same is true for the West Coast? For 2 people over 3 weeks, what budget should I expect? We’re the type to watch our spending and find great tips.
I think we’ll arrive in San Francisco like the first time and leave from either Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
Thanks for advising me on the booking—should I reserve a room in the hotel or go for a cabin for the best view?
Should I get breakfast or not?
What do you think of the restaurant?
Hello, if the off-the-beaten-path enthusiasts are still around 😉, I’d love some info on tackling these trails. I’m not super familiar with the rules, risks, or what to expect—I’m looking for firsthand experience from folks who’ve done it on their own once or multiple times.
Hi everyone!
I’m planning a week-long family trip to NYC in October 2026. The focus is on museums and soaking up the New York vibe. I’ve been checking Airbnb, but the prices in Manhattan are through the roof. Since I don’t know NYC well, is it "wise" to look outside Manhattan? Any neighborhoods you’d recommend?
After our first trip to the West, we’d love to go back to see other must-see spots!
The stay would be from May 11 to 20, 2026—it’s short, but hey...
M11: Lyon to Las Vegas (overnight in Vegas)
T12: Route 66 – overnight in Grand Canyon (GC)
W13: Visit GC – overnight in Page
Th14: Visit Antelope Canyon / Horseshoe Bend – overnight in Monument Valley (MV)
F15: Visit MV – overnight in Moab
Sa16: Visit Arches / Dead Horse Point – overnight in Bryce
Su17: Visit Bryce – overnight in Zion
M18: Visit Zion / Valley of Fire – overnight in Vegas
Tu19: Return flight
What do you think? Could we add one more night somewhere? We’re not big hikers, so we’ll mostly explore the parks using shuttles.
Also, we’re all set—passports are good. Do you think one classic Visa card and one premium Visa card will be enough for coverage?
Thanks so much for your feedback, and happy holidays!
Hi North America forum crew,
Just a little post that might interest some of you:
Travelers to the United States | Photo Now Mandatory Upon Entry and Exit | La Presse
I assume many of you already know, but the America the Beautiful annual pass, which was $80, will increase to $250 starting January 1, 2026.
So if you're planning to travel before the end of December 2026, it's in your best interest to buy your pass in December 2025, since it will still cost $80 and be valid until the end of December 2026 if you purchase it in December 2025.
This price increase only applies to non-U.S. residents.
Additionally, for those who planned to visit just one park, a $100 surcharge per person will apply to access a list of 11 national parks...
For example, if there are 4 of you in a car, you’ll have to pay $35 + $400,
which comes to $435 to visit one of the 11 parks on the list (I don’t have all of them... Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc.).
Total madness.
The goal is to push people who only visit one park into buying the annual pass.
Last point: free entry days are over for non-residents!
Hi everyone, I’m traveling to Los Angeles and would like to rent a vehicle at the airport. However, I have a Boursobank Ultim deferred debit card, so I’d love to know if it’s possible for those who’ve experienced this recently. Thanks for the info!
I’m planning a week in S.F. in April 2026 and I can’t figure out how to tell the cable cars—of which I understand there are three lines—apart from the trams, which I think number seven. I can’t find their individual numbers or routes anywhere.
Could someone shed some light on this for me? Thanks in advance.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2026 full of amazing travels.
Cheers,
Régine
Hi,
I’m planning a road trip through the American national parks starting from Denver in June 2026.
The price of the pass is jumping from 80 € to 250 € on January 1st, 2026!!!
Is it possible to buy the pass online before the end of the year to lock in the 80 € rate? If so, where and how do I go about it?
Thanks for your tips.
Arnale
I’m planning a road trip for July 2026 in northern Florida. Could you let me know if my itinerary makes sense?
Day 1: Orlando
Day 2: Amelia Island
Day 3: Amelia Island
Day 4: Tallahassee
Day 5: Panama City Beach
Day 6: Panama City Beach (visit to Destin)
Day 7: Crystal River (stop in Cedar Key on the way)
Day 8: Crystal River
Day 9: Anna Maria (stop in Clearwater)
Day 10: Anna Maria (St. Pete)
Day 11: Anna Maria
Day 12: Orlando
Day 13: Orlando
Day 14: Orlando
Day 15: Departure
We just finished 9 days in the American West and wanted to share our experience because we had an amazing time.
I know some of you might ask, why use an agency? Honestly, we didn’t really feel like doing all the driving and planning, especially since we didn’t know the area at all. And since our English isn’t great, having French-speaking guides was a big comfort.
We found Emmanuelle and Isabelle, and wow, they were fantastic. It was just the two of us with them, so it was a truly VIP, ultra-personalized experience. They treated us like royalty from start to finish. These two live in Las Vegas and know the region like the back of their hand. They told us they’ve spent over 15 years exploring every corner of the American West, and it really shows. Their knowledge of geology, park history, and local anecdotes is just impressive. It’s nothing like someone reciting a memorized script. They answer all your questions and really adapt to what you want to see or do.
What we really loved: the vehicle was super comfortable, and the little details made a difference—like snacks and even a homemade cake! Though, to be fair, we devoured the cake right away, so that counts.
Since they know the sites inside out, they took us at the right times to avoid crowds. So we could enjoy peaceful picnics at Grand Canyon viewpoints without being packed in with 200 people. Plus, on top of the must-see spots, they showed us some hidden gems that were absolutely stunning—places we never would’ve found on our own. They’re true locals who know all the best tips.
The service was really personalized. They adapted to our pace and preferences, and we could stop whenever we wanted to take photos. It’s the luxury of being in a small private group—you’re not just a number on a big bus.
In short, we really felt like we were traveling with friends rather than professional guides. Everything’s included in the price (hotel pickup, meals, park entries, etc.), so the value for money is fair.
We loved it so much that we’re already planning to come back next year to explore other areas with them. I think we’ve caught the American West bug—it’s all we can think about, and we can’t wait to return.
If you’re looking for a French-speaking tour with real personalized service and guides who know the region like no one else, we highly recommend them. We had unforgettable moments. They also design road trips for those who don’t want a guide. And they handled our hotel reservations in Las Vegas too. If you want genuine advice from friendly locals, we’re giving them a 200% recommendation!
