J'ai déjà fait un road trip dans l'Ouest américain de 14 jours avec mon copain l'année dernière, avec les principaux parcs et attractions (Grand Canyon, Page, Monument Valley, Bryce, Zion, Death Vallée, Yosemite) et je m'apprête a en refaire un avec mes parents en partant de LA.
J'aimerais beaucoup avoir vos avis. Je veux caser le maximum de parcs en un minimum de temps, alors ca sera assez compact...
Je vais peut-être pouvoir rajouter une journée mais où?
Merci d'avance 🙂
Maïlys
J1 - Arrivée à LAX après-midi location voiture. Repos.
J2 - ROUTE – passage à Joshua Tree
J3 - Grand Canyon
J4 - Grand Canyon
J5 - Lake Powell/Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe bend
J6 - Monument Valley/Mesa Verde
J7 - Canyonlands
J8 - Arches
J9 - ROUTE
J10 - Grand Teton
J11 - Yellowstone
J12 - Yellowstone
J13 - Yellowstone
J14 - Yellowstone
J15 - ROUTE
J16 - Bryce Canyon
J17 - Zion Park
J18 - Zion Park
J19 - ROUTE – passage Vallée de la mort
J20 - Yosemite
J21 - Yosemite
J22 - ROUTE CA1 ou Sequoia National Park
J23 - Retour à LAX
J1 - Arrivée à LAX après-midi location voiture. Repos. Dommage d'arriver à LA et de ne pas visiter la ville. En l'occurrence pour votre circuit, je verrais plutôt une arrivée à Phoenix et un départ de San Francisco!
J2 - ROUTE – passage à Joshua Tree
J3 - Grand Canyon
J4 - Grand Canyon
J5 - Lake Powell/Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe bend
J6 - Monument Valley/Mesa Verde Grosse journée, à mon avis il faudra abandonner Mesa Verde et faire étape à Mexican Hat: outre Monument Valley tu as Valley Of The Gods, Goosenecks State Park, Moki Dugway et Muley Point dans le coin.
J7 - Canyonlands
J8 - Arches Il manque une journée à Moab pour bien faire
J9 - ROUTE Etape à Salt Lake City, c'est la route non pas la plus intéressante mais la plus rapide.
J10 - Grand Teton
J11 - Yellowstone
J12 - Yellowstone
J13 - Yellowstone
J14 - Yellowstone
J15 - ROUTE Re étape à Salt Lake City
J16 - Bryce Canyon
J17 - Zion Park (choix perso, je prendrais plutôt 2 nuits à Bryce, à Zion il fera très chaud, je ne sais pas l'âge de tes parents mais les randos à Zion risquent d'être pénibles en plein été). Entre Bryce et Zion tu as Cedar Breaks, superbe parc à 3000m d'altitude, peu fréquenté.
J18 - Zion Park
J19 - ROUTE – passage Vallée de la mort (pas d'étape à Vegas?)
J20 - Yosemite il faudrait une étape à Lee Vining.
J21 - Yosemite
J22 - ROUTE CA1 ou Sequoia National Park (pas de San Francisco?)
J23 - Retour à LAX
Je trouve vraiment bizarre l'aller retour depuis LAX, cela vous fait faire des centaines de kilomètres en plus 🤪
Je veux caser le maximum de parcs en un minimum de temps
ça c'est original ! 🤪 😕 🏴☠️
Sur une vingtaine de jours, vous en êtes déjà à 5 journées entières consacrée uniquement à...
de la "ROUTE" ! 😮
Ce n'est pas le but de votre voyage j'espère !
Je vous proposerais plutôt de caser le maximum de parcs, en un minimum de route ! 😉
Allons-y pour le conseil de base :
Faites apparaître les distances et les temps de route (google maps)
sur votre circuit pour un meilleur timing
(inclure des temps de visite par ex...)
Concentrez d'avantage votre circuit à l'exemple de ceux proposés ici (testés et approuvés) :
en 20 jours : http://voyageforum.com/...post=3141166#3141166
le risque sinon, c'est d'aboutir à ce type d'expérience : 😎
http://voyageforum.com/...deceptions_D4455423/
parmi les réponses vous lirez qu'inclure à la fois Yellowstone et Yosemite, c'est le grand écart (et claquage) assuré !
surtout en boucle ! 🤪
Pitié pour vos parents ! 😏
Merci pour ta réponse.
En fait je n'ai pas été assez précise, mes parents sont également venus l'année dernière (j'ai passé un an à Long Beach en programme d'échange), et donc ils ont deja vu LA, Las Vegas et San Francisco, voilà pourquoi je ne pensais pas trop retourner dans les villes vu le peu de temps qu'on a.
Alors dans l'ordre:
- Mesa Verde - j'avais une grosse hesitation effectivement, à moins que ce soit vraiment un truc à voir!
- Moab - je pensais enfait passer deux nuits dans la ville et à partir de là aller à Canyonlands et Arches, mais la ville a-t-elle qqch de particulier?
- Bonne idée pour étape à Salt Lake! :)
- Pareil pour Bryce/Zion j'hesite beaucoup à inverser, j'avais adoré Bryce, mais pas eu la chance de faire les Narrows ni le Subway à cause des montées d'eau à Zion alors dur de choisir!
- Je pensais faire une nuit à Vegas après Zion
- Lee Vining oui je vais l'ajouter, car on dormira surement à Mammoth Lakes :)
Enfait partir et revenir par LA c'est un peu moins cher que changer de ville...
Merci pour les suggestions en tout cas, je vais reconsidérer quelques trucs!
Êtes-vous obligée de repartir de LA? En prenant un billet "multidestination", vs pouvez repartir d'une autre ville que celle d'arrivée (tout ça en ne payant pas ou guère plus cher)
Il faut rajouter qq jours pour faire:
J1 : LA (ou mieux Phoenix ou Las Vegas)
J2 : LA (Phoenix ou Las Vegas)- Grand Canyon
J3 : Grand Canyon
J4 : Grand Canyon- Page
J5 : Page - Monument Valley
J6 : Monument Valley – Mesa Verde
J7 : Mesa Verde - Moab
J8 : Moab
J9 : Moab
J10 : Moab - Vernal
(10’ à rajouter : Vernal – Vernal (si on veut visiter Dinosaur NM) )
J11 : Vernal - Flaming Gorge - Jackson Hole
J12 : Jackson Hole-Grand Teton - Yellowstone
J13 : Yellowstone
J14 : Yellowstone
J15 : Yellowstone
J16 : Yellowstone - Salt Lake City
J17 : Salt Lake City - Torrey (Capitol Reef)
J18 : Torrey - Bryce Canyon
J19 : Bryce Canyon - Zion
J20 : Zion – Valley of Fire - Las Vegas
J21 : Las Vegas
J22 : Las Vegas – Death Valley
J23 : Death Valley - Lake Isabella(ou qq part entre Death Valley et Sequoia)
J24 : qq part - Sequoia – Oakhurst
J25 : Yosemite
J26 : Yosemite – San Francisco
J27 : San Francisco
ou
J24: qq part - Sequoia – Monterey
J25 : Monterey - la côte pacifique - Santa Barbara
J26 : LA
EDIT: Remarques: Il y a moyen de gagner un jour à gauche ou à droite. L'itinéraire reste toujours faisable (ds le sens où après avoir fait la route, il reste du temps pour visiter... car c'est qd même bien le but😛😎).
Mais attention, ce genre de circuit est intense... donc fatigant... car c'est visite ts les jours (il n'y a pas de jour de relâche)
Différentes possibilités pour gagner 1 jour:
- Arriver à Phoenix ou Las Vegas, et faire
J1 : arrivée à Phoenix (ou Las Vegas)
J2 :Phoenix (ou Las Vegas)- Grand Canyon
J3 : Grand Canyon - Page
- Supprimer Mesa Verde, et faire
J6 : Monument Valley – Moab
- Supprimer Sequoia NP et Yosemite, et faire
J22 : Las Vegas – Death Valley
J23 : Death Valley - LA
Ouest USA 2009 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2800143#2800143
5ème trip USA, 09/2013 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6186946#6186946
En fait je n'ai pas été assez précise, mes parents sont également venus l'année dernière (j'ai passé un an à Long Beach en programme d'échange), et donc ils ont deja vu LA, Las Vegas et San Francisco, voilà pourquoi je ne pensais pas trop retourner dans les villes vu le peu de temps qu'on a.
Justement pourquoi pas une arrivée à Phoenix et un départ de San Francisco?
- Moab - je pensais enfait passer deux nuits dans la ville et à partir de là aller à Canyonlands et Arches, mais la ville a-t-elle qqch de particulier?
la ville non, mais les alentours demandent 3 nuits minimum.
Enfait partir et revenir par LA c'est un peu moins cher que changer de ville...
en billet multidestinations (et pas 2 allers simples) il n'y a pas grande différence, en tout cas ça évite les centaines de kilomètres supplémentaires (et les frais d'essence, la fatigue de la route...)
J'ai effectivement fait l'itinéraire sur Google maps, et c'est vrai que le gros problème c'est de caser Yosemite ET Yellowstone qui sont aux extrémités. D'ailleurs on voulait faire le road trip en Camping car et on dépassait largement le quota de miles accordé...
Mais je n'arrive pas à en supprimer un des deux... J'ai adoré Yosemite, et j'aimerais vraiment y aller avec mes parents, mais on ne peut pas non plus passer à côté de Yellowstone, surtout qu'on est passionné de photo animalière!
En choisissant des villes differentes, on pourrait partir de San Francisco, passer par Vegas, faire la boucle jusqu'à Yellowstone et revenir par Vegas. Ou oui, arriver par Phoenix et repartir par SF. Je vais regarder les prix...
Je me demandais aussi si 4 jours à Yellowstone c'était pas un peu trop?
Nous avons passé 3 jours à Yellowstone en 2011, et j'y serais bien resté 1 jour de plus, tant il y a à voire dans ce parc! A toi de voire maintenant si tu aimes beaucoup randonner. Car si pas, 3 jours sont assez.
Mon plus beau souvenir de ce parc: Le grand Prismatic vu du haut de la colline à l'ouest de celui-ci!
Bonjour,
Pour ZION : Narrows et Subway : tout dépend de la période à laquelle tu y seras.
The Subway est à privilégier par rapport aux Narrows (surpeuplés dans la partie basse).
Mais c'est aussi assez sportif et il faut un permis.
Jean-Jacques
Pourquoi ne pas partir plus au Nord, (au plus près de Yellowstone)
et "redescendre" vers la côte ouest (départ de LAX ou SFO) ?
là ce seront plusieurs centaines de km économisés ! ( et pas mal d'heures de conduite...) 😇
You can fly into Denver and then check connections
into Bozeman, Montana or Billings, Montana.
(The second flights may be changing with the merger between Delta and Northwest.)
Or, you can fly into Salt Lake City.
There are connections to Idaho Falls,
and from June to September, connections right into West Yellowstone, Mt.
(right on the western entrance toYellowstone).
Or, fly into Chicago O-Hare and connect to Jackson Wy
which puts you 12 miles south of Grand Teton National Park and 90 miles south of Yellowstone Park.
" En choisissant des villes differentes, on pourrait partir de San Francisco, passer par Vegas, faire la boucle jusqu'à Yellowstone et revenir par Vegas. Ou oui, arriver par Phoenix et repartir par SF "
Euh... c'est exactement ce que je te proposais ci-dessus😛... mais bon!
Ouest USA 2009 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2800143#2800143
5ème trip USA, 09/2013 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6186946#6186946
Euh... c'est exactement ce que je te proposais ci-dessus 😛... mais bon!
😏 ha la la, c'est difficile d'être entendu !
Il faut rajouter "qq jours" pour faire...
on n'est déjà assez loin de l'intitulé du post : "itinéraire de 14 j" ! 😮
quand je pense que le circuit de 29j est déjà un peu "short" pour faire Yellowstone et Yosemite... 🤪
http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=4876929;page=unread#unread
" En choisissant des villes differentes, on pourrait partir de San Francisco, passer par Vegas, faire la boucle jusqu'à Yellowstone et revenir par Vegas. Ou oui, arriver par Phoenix et repartir par SF "
Euh... c'est exactement ce que je te proposais ci-dessus😛... mais bon!
Oui je viens de le voir! Par contre je viens de regarder les billets multi villes et ils sont plus chers de 200 euros environ donc on économise 600 miles mais on perd 600 euros surtout qu'on a un budget assez serré... Je crois que c'est le billet Geneve-LA qui est particulièrement cheap et pas le fait que ce soit multi destination, car meme en faisant Geneve-Vegas Vegas-Geneve ca reste bien plus cher...
soit 960km... admettons que ta voiture fasse du 10L aux 100. Si tu choisis un gros 4*4 ça sera plus proche des 13L aux 100.
Bref... 96L d'essence soit environ 100$ que tu peux déduire de l'économie que tu fais en faisant un aller retour pour Vegas.
Oui.. je me demande pourquoi Ducros se décarcasse...
" on n'est déjà assez loin de l'intitulé du post : "itinéraire de 14 j" ! "
Je crois qu'il y a une erreur ds le titre du post.
14 jours correspondait au 1er voyage de MailysF
Ici, elle parle d'un itinéraire de 23-24 jours
"quand je pense que le circuit de 29j est déjà un peu "short" pour faire Yellowstone et Yosemite... 🤪 "
Non.. pas du tout.. il ne faut pas 29 jours pour faire Yellowstone + Yosemite.
En choisissant bien ses aéroports d'arrivée et de retour, on peut faire ce circuit sans problème en 26 jours (ou même 25 si on supprime la journée complète à Page). Regarde:
J1 : Phoenix (ou Las Vegas)
J2 : Phoenix (ou Las Vegas)- Grand Canyon
J3 : Grand Canyon - Page
J4 : Page
J5 : Page - Monument Valley
J6 : Monument Valley – Moab
J7 : Moab
J8 : Moab
J9 : Moab - Vernal
(9’ à rajouter : Vernal – Vernal (si on veut visiter Dinosaur NM) )
J10 : Vernal - Flaming Gorge - Jackson Hole
J11 : Jackson Hole-Grand Teton - Yellowstone
J12 : Yellowstone
J13 : Yellowstone
J14 : Yellowstone
J15 : Yellowstone - Salt Lake City
J16 : Salt Lake City - Torrey (Capitol Reef)
J17 : Torrey - Bryce Canyon
J18 : Bryce Canyon - Zion
J19 : Zion – Valley of Fire - Las Vegas
J20 : Las Vegas
J21 : Las Vegas – Death Valley
J22 : Death Valley - Lake Isabella(ou qq part entre Death Valley et Sequoia)
J23 : qq part - Sequoia – Oakhurst (entrée Sud du Yosemite)
J24 : Yosemite
J25 : Yosemite – San Francisco
J26 : San Francisco
ou
J22 : Death Valley - Lee Vining
J23 : Lee Vining- Yosemite (entrée Est du Yosemite)
J24 : Yosemite
J25 : Yosemite – San Francisco
J26 : San Francisco
Ouest USA 2009 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2800143#2800143
5ème trip USA, 09/2013 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6186946#6186946
Et si on veut faire le Yellowstone + SF + LA + la côte, il faut prendre un vol intérieur Jackson-SF et le parcours se fait en 27 jours (donc moins de 29 jours😛)
J1: Arrivée à Jackson Hole. Grand Teton NP. Nuit à Colter Bay.
J2: Visite du Yellowstone
J3: Visite du Yellowstone
J4: Visite du Yellowstone
J5: Fin visite du Yellowstone, retour vers Jackson(avec éventuelle visite ds Grand Teton), nuit à Jackson
J6: matin: vol vers SF
J7: visite de SF
J8: visite de SF
J9: SF-Yosemite
J10: visite du Yosemite
J11: route Yosemite- Monterey
J12: Monterey- San Luis Obispo
J13: San Luis Obispo - LA
J14 : LA
J15 : LA- Grand Canyon
J16 : Grand Canyon
J17 : Grand Canyon- Page
J18 : Page
J19 : Page - Monument Valley
J20 : Monument Valley - Moab
J21 : Moab
J23 : Moab
J23 : Moab - Capitol Reef - Torrey
J24 : Torrey- Bryce
J25 : Bryce – Zion – Las Vegas
J26 : Las Vegas
J27 : retour depuis Las Vegas
Ouest USA 2009 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2800143#2800143
5ème trip USA, 09/2013 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6186946#6186946
Je suis actuellement en train de préparer notre circuit de 14 jours dans l'ouest américain. J'ai vraiment besoin de vos conseils afin d'optimiser au mieux…
Je suis nouvelle sur le forum alors je vais me présenter! Je m'appelle Alice, J'ai 26 ans et je vis à Paris. Si je vous écris aujourd'hui c'est que je suis en…
Je pars avec 2 couples d'amis pour fêter nos 50 ans aux Etats Unis en juin prochain. Notre choix s'est porté sur l'ouest américain sachant qu'ils veulent faire…
Avec ma copine, nous allons voyager d'Orlando à Chicago en passant par une partie de la Floride, Savannah, Charleston, Washington, Philadelphie, New York,…
Un nouveau projet de voyage se profile à l'horizon et un peu comme à mon habitude je n'arrive pas à boucler l'itinéraire toute seule ;) il s'agit d'un séjour…
salut a tous
je prepare un tour du monde et je recherche des bons plans pour les logements aux etats unis
avez vous des petits prix a me partager svp
merci
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).
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!