Je reviens vers vous pour un dernier avis concernant mon parcours avant de réserver tous les hôtels (cf mon 1er post datant du 26/01 http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=3170236;search_string=legibus; ) car désormais les vols sont réservés depuis hier !
Ce sera donc départ le 05/09, retour le 08/10, vols directs Air Tahiti Nui Paris-Los Angeles (34 jours, 32 sur place)
J'ai tenu compte de tous vos conseils pour affiner notre parcours, avez-vous d'autres remarques, est-ce que tout se tient bien ?
Le plus difficile était de ne pas tomber à Las Vegas sur un vendredi ou samedi où les prix sont plus élevés, et de tomber en semaine aussi pour faire Universal et Six Flags Magic Mountains (non négociable, Monsieur veut ses sensations fortes 😉😇)
Par rapport au programme de janvier, j'ai ajouté 1 jour à Page et 1 jour à Moab au détriment de Zion, tans pis ça sera pour un prochain voyage 🙂
Nous pensons d'ailleurs zapper complètement Zion. Nous pensions au départ traverser et faire la courte randonnée Canyon Overlook mais la route d'accès par l'Est sera en travaux de mi-mai à octobre avec pas mal de perturbations (1 à 3h d'attente, voire route coupée totalement par moment avec gros détour en perspective). Du coup, on envisage de passer par Cedar Breaks à la place.
Qu'en pensez-vous ? Y a t'-il d'autres alternatives dans les environs ? Je n'ai pas encore potassé ce coin là du coup 😇😊
Jour 1 : 05/09 : Vol Paris - Los Angeles (nuit Santa Monica)
Balade autour de l'hôtel (plage, Pier) en fonction de l'horaire d'arrivée du vol
Jour 2 : 06/09 : Los Angeles (nuit Santa Monica)
Matin : Visite de Santa Monica, Venice
AM : Visite de Beverly Hills, UCLA, Mulholand Drive...puis Downtown
Soirée : Santa Monica PierJour 3 : 07/09 : Los Angeles (nuit San Fernando ou Santa Clarita)
Matin : Hollywood Bld, Walk of Fame
Matin + AM :Universal Studios
Griffith park en fin d'AMJour 4 : 08/09 : Six Flags (nuit Joshua Tree)
Matin : Six Flags Magic Mountain
Milieu AM : départ vers Joshua Tree
Soirée : sunset sur Joshua Tree
Jour 5 : 09/09: Joshua Tree > Sedona (nuit Sedona) = 8h sans les arrêts
Journée : visite rapide du parc de JT au sunrise, puis route vers Sedona par Prescott et Jerome
Sunset à Sedona : point de vue Airport Mesa
Jour 6 : 10/09: Sedona (nuit Sedona)
Matin : rando West Fork of Oak Creek
Midi : Baignade à Slide Rock State Park
AM : rando Red Rock Crossing/Crescent Moon
fin AM : rando Chimney Rock loop ou Broken Arrow Trail
Jour 7 : 11/09 : Sedona > Grand Canyon (nuit GC Village ou Tusayan)
Matin : départ vers Grand Canyon, arrêts à Flagstaff et Williams sur la route 66
AM : balade le long de la Rim (Hermits rest route, navettes seulement)
fin AM: sunset à Shoshone point (accès en voiture sur la Desert road)
Jour 8 : 12/09: Grand Canyon Village > Page (nuit Page)
Matin :Lever de soleil sur le GC (Mather point ou Yavapai point) puis Hélico puis différents points de vue de la Desert Road jusqu'à Desert View
Fin de matinée : départ vers Page
AM : Marble Canyon, Lee's Ferry, rando Cathedral Wash
fin AM: Barrage, sunset sur le lac Powell
Jour 9 : 13/09 : Page (nuit Page)
Matin : Antelope Lower
Fin de matinée : Horseshoe Bend
AM: Paria Movie set et rando Yellow Rock
Jour 10 : 14/09 : Page (nuit Page)
The Wave (Coyote Buttes North) si permis !
Sinon, rando Edmaier's Secret + Wahweap Hoodoos
Jour 11 : 15/09: Page (nuit Page)
Matin et AM : Stud Horse Point hoodoos puis Rando Wire Pass puis Buckskin Gulch (fraicheur)
Fin AM : Rando Toadstool Hoodoos jusqu'au sunset
Jour 12 : 16/09 : Page > Monument Valley (nuit Goulding's cabin ou Mexican hat)
Matin : Waterholes Canyon à Page (permis à retirer)
Midi : départ pour Monument Valley
AM : piste de Monument Valley jusqu'au sunset
Jour 13 : 17/09 : Monument Valley > Moab (nuit Moab)
Matin : Sunrise sur MV puis Valley of the Gods, Moki Dugway et Muley Point
Fin de matinée : Goosenecks SP puis route vers Moab
AM : Needles : rando Cave Spring (30 min.) + Slickrock Trail, puis point de vue Needles Overlook
fin AM : route vers Moab
Jour 14 : 18/09 : Moab (Canyonlands) (nuit Moab)
Matin et AM : Sunrise à Mesa Arch puis rando Grandview point overlook, rando White Rim trail et rando Aztec Buttes, piste Shafer Trail + Potash Road
fin AM : Dead horse Point State park au coucher du soleil
Jour 15 : 19/09 : Moab (Arches) (nuit Moab)
Matin :points de vue : Park avenue viewpoint, La Sal mountains viewpoint, Petrified Dunes viewpoint puis Devil's garden trail (Landscape et Double O, par Tunnel Arch et Pine tree Arch) puis Partition Arch (partie haute du parc)
AM : 2h de repos à Moab ?!
fin AM : rando Delicate Arch jusqu'au coucher du soleil (partie médiane du parc)Jour 16 : 20/09 : Moab (nuit Moab)
Matin : rando à Corona Arch ou survol de Canyonlands en avion (1h)
Matin : rando Mill Creek Canyon + baignade
AM : rando Fisher towers jusqu'au Sunset
Jour 17 : 21/09 : Moab (nuit Moab)
Matin : Randos à Arches : Park Avenue Trail, puis Balanced Rock, The Windows section (partie basse) puis Double Arch trail (partie basse du parc)
Midi : repos à l'hôtel !
AM : rando Negro Bill Canyon
Fin AM : La Sal mountain loop road (au coucher du soleil)
Jour 18 : 22/09 : Moab > Capitol Reef (nuit Torrey)
Matin: Goblin Valley SP
Midi : balade à Little Egypt
AM : Scenic Drive de Capitol Reef
Fin AM : points de vue Sunset point et Panorama point
Jour 19 : 23/09 : Capitol Reef > Escalante (nuit Escalante)
Matin : rando Cohab Canyon, puis une partie du Burr Trail
AM : rando Calf creek falls + Baignade
Jour 20 : 24/09 : Escalante > Bryce (nuit Tropic)
Matin : Kodachome Basin SP. rando Panorama trail et/ou Grand Parade trail
AM : rando à Mossy cave et à Red Canyon
fin AM : sunset sur Bryce (Sunset Point)
Jour 21 : 25/09 : Bryce (nuit Tropic)
Matin: Lever de soleil sur Bryce (Sunrise Point ou Bryce Point)
Randos combinées (départ de Sunrise point) : Queen's garden trail + Navajo loop + Peekaboo loop puis remontée sur Bryce point et rando Rim Trail jusqu'au point de départ.
AM : repos !
fin AM: sunset sur Bryce (Inspiration Point ?)Jour 22 : 26/09 : Bryce > Cedar Breaks > Valley Of Fire SP > Las Vegas (nuit Las Vegas)
Matin : départ de Tropic vers Cedar Breaks, rando à Cedar Breaks
AM : départ vers Valley of Fire
Fin AM : rando White Domes Trail (partie haute), Jumbles of Rock (partie basse) puis: route vers Las Vegas
Soirée : petite balade sur le strip (fontaines du Bellagio...)
Jour 23 : 27/09 : Las Vegas (nuit Las Vegas)
Matin + AM : balade sur le Strip, visites des Casinos, piscine à l'hôtel, Roller coaster du NY NY...
Fin AM : Stratosphère au coucher du soleil
Soirée : Freemont street experience
Jour 24 : 28/09 : Las Vegas > Death Valley (nuit Stovepipes Wells)
Matin : visite de Red Rock Canyon (Scenic drive) puis départ pour Death Valley
AM : Dante's View, Badwater, Artist Palette, Zabriskie Point au coucher
Jour 25 : 29/09 : Death Valley > Yosémite (nuit Lee Vining)
Matin : sunrise sur les Mesquite Sand Dunes puis route vers Lone Pine, balade dans les Alabama Hills
Midi: route vers Lee Vining
milieu AM : visite de Bodie si possible, sunset sur Mono Lake
Jour 26 : 30/09 : Yosémite (nuit Oakhurst)
Matin : visite de Bodie si pas fait la veille, balade autour de Mono Lake
Midi : Tioga Pass et randos à Tulomne Meadows
AM : Tanaya Lake. Rando Olmsted Point view puis rando dans Yosemite Valley
fin AM : départ vers Glacier Point (Point de vue) pour le sunset
Jour 27 : 01/10 : Yosémite > San Francisco (Nuit San Francisco) = 4h15 sans les arrêts
Matin : balade à Mariposa Grove (Séquoias géants)
Midi : route vers San Francisco
fin AM : arrivée San FranciscoJour 28 : 02/10 : San Francisco (pas de pass transports en commun)
Matin : 49 mile drive : Presidio, vues sur le Golden Gate, Twin peaks + visite à pied des quartiers excentrés de Haight Ashbury, Alamo Square, Castro et Mission, Lombard street + traversée du Bay Bridge
AM : visite d'Alcatraz en soirée
Jour 29 : 03/10 : San Francisco (Pass)
Matin:visite à pied des quartiers de Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill puis Cable car vers Union Square
AM : visite Golden Gate Park et Sunset à Baker beach
Soirée :Twin Peaks avec vue sur la ville de nuit
Jour 30 : 04/10 : San Francisco (Pass)
Matin : Visite à pied des quartiers de Nob Hill, Chinatown, Union Square, Financial District
AM : Monter au dernier étage du Hyatt Regency, du Mark Hopkins hotel au coucher du soleil (« Top of the Marks »), puis en haut Westin St Francis Hotel
Jour 31 : 05/10 : San Francisco (Pass)
Matin :visite des quartiers Ouest à pied : Presidio (Palace of Fine Arts), Marina, Cow Hollow, Pacific Heights
Midi : en voiture : points de vue, Fort Baker et Baker beach, Fort Point
AM : Visite de Sausalito (Vista Point), Bolinas, Mont Tamalpais (vue sur toute la baie de SF...avec de la chance...), Muir Woods NM, Point Bonita (phare)
Sunset à Battery Spencer view (Conzelman Road)
Jour 32 : 06/10 : San Francisco > Carmel (Nuit Monterey)
Matin : visite de Stanford University
AM : visite de Monterey puis Carmel
fin AM : visite de Point Lobos
Jour 33 : 07/10 : Monterey > Santa Monica (nuit Santa Monica) = 6h sans les arrêts
Matin : Big Sur, visite de Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, puis Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo...
AM : Visite de Santa Barbara
Soirée : balade et sunset sur Santa Monica
Jour 34 : 08/10 : Vol Los Angeles-Paris
programme à adapter suivant l'heure du vol
Bonjour
Juste sur vos jours 25 26.
Ca me semble dur de partir de DV le midi et de vouloir visiter BODIE L'AM. Il y a quand même 5h de route Jusqu'a lee vining.
Et je crois que le Parc de BODIE ferme assez tot.
A mon avis, vs pouvez rassembler les visites de la DV sur la veille et partir plus tot le jour 25
Car le lendemain, jour 26, ca fait quand meme beaucoup de routes sur YOSEMITE pour y inclure BODIE
Enfin, un motel tres sympa à FISH CAMP , juste avant OAKHURST : le NARROW GAUGE HOTEL....
L'idée de faire mariposa groves le matin est tres bonne car il n'y a personne...On l'a fait juste avnt de partir pour SFO, c'etait genial, alors que la veille AM, tous les parkings etaient complets.
Merci pour ta réponse, effectivement ça risque d'être compliqué le timing de ces deux jours, il faudrait que je zappe les Alabama Hills pour être sûre de pouvoir fair Bodie le jour 25 ce qui serait bien plus pratique que le lendemain.
Les horaires d'ouverture de Bodie sont très restreints en septembre, et encore plus en octobre !
Cependant, difficile de savoir quels sont les horaires car ils diffèrent selon les sites internets...
Sur http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=509 , il est indiqué
Open year around.
9 am to 6 pm in summer;
10 am to 3 pm in winter (begining October 1, 2009 through late spring 2010), or as posted.
Ce serait donc ouvert de 9h à 18h en septembre
Mais les infos datent de l'année dernière...
Sur http://www.bodie.com/qa.asp
"Are there rangers in the park year-round? What are the park hours during the year?"
Rangers are in the park all year. The museum/bookstore is open from May to October. Below is the park schedule:
March 1st to the Friday before Memorial Day: 10:00am to 3:00pm OR AS POSTED Saturday before Memorial Day to Mid-September: 8:00am to 6:00pm OR AS POSTED Mid-September to Mid-October: 8:00am to 4:00pm OR AS POSTED Mid-October to October 31st: 10:00am to 3:00pm OR AS POSTED November 1st to the end of February: 10:00am to 3:00pm OR AS POSTED
Ce serait donc ouvert de 8h à 16h d'après ce site...
Comment savoir qui dit vrai ? 🤪
Super pour Mariposa Grove le matin, ça me plait comme info 🙂
Le Narrow Gauge Inn a l'air bien mais il est un peu cher pour nous 😊
Du coup, on envisage de passer par Cedar Breaks à la place.
Très bonne idée, ce parc étant peu fréquenté mais très intéressant (voir notre carnet). vérifier tout de m^me si pas de pb d'enneigement à cette époque.
sunset à Shoshone point
Vous allez adorer, vous serez seuls.
AM: Paria Movie set et rando Yellow Rock
Attention au bas de la CCR, demander aux rangers son état.
Sunrise à Mesa Arch
Si vous ne couchez pas sur place, attention aux limitations de vitesse, le shérif est sur ses gardes 😉😎😎😎
Partition Arch (partie haute du parc)
Rendus là, pourquoi ne pas pousser jusqu'à Double O arch, tranquille, peinard, retour idem, plutôt que de retourner à Moab ? Si vous avez suffisamment à boire, c'est ce que je ferais. Au pire, n'allez qu'au Visitor Center
En tout cas, beau programme et bonne préparation. Vous allez vous éclater.
Bon programme, bien préparé (peut-être un peu trop précis à mon sens, mais les aléas traditionnels ajouteront la pointe d'imprévu nécessaire).
Quelques remarques au hasard.
Six Flags ??? Quelle idée bizarre. Il y a tellement mieux à faire de son temps un peu plus tard !
route 66 à Flagstaff et Williams : N'y perd pas trop de temps (une traversée rapide de l'agglomération de Williams par la route au lieu de l'autoroute devrait être suffisant). Mais j'aime bien la gare de Flagstaff (surtout si passe en mme temps un train de plusieurs km).
J8 : retour de Lee Ferry sur Page. Le faire assez tard. Le paysage est merveilleux avec le soleil couchant. Le sunset sur le lac, tu le feras un jour suivant.
The Wave : tu devrais pouvoir participer à 3 tirages.
Wahweap Hoodoos : c'est un must. Ne pas le prévoir seulement en tant que plan B.
J14 : Dead horse Point SP au sunset . Je ne vois pas bien comment tu vas y aller si tu reviens par Shafer Trail et Potash Road dans l'AM (faire aussi le détour jusqu'à Musselman Arch). Par ailleurs, je pense que ce serait mieux de le voir (avec des voiture sur la piste en bas) avant de faire avant de faire le Shafer Trail. Ca fait fantasmer. Le seul intéret de Dead horse Point le soir : ne pas payer le SP, car il n'y a plus de rangers à cette heure là.
Le survol de Canyonlands (avec tous ses à-cotés : rte vers aéroport, attente, ...) prend quasiment la matinée.
J19 : plutôt que Little Egypt, je préfèrerai little wild horse canyon (proche de Goblin SP).
J25 : sera dur à tenir.
J32 parait trop tendue. Shunte Stanford.
De l'Alaska à l'Arizona : contrastes. Voir https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=4396533#4396533
Dans la vie, le pire qui pourrait nous arriver serait qu'il ne nous arrive rien !
OK merci Alain-Pierre pour ces compléments d'information.
Je suis retournée voir ton carnet (que j'ai déjà lu deux fois🙂) pour voir Cedar Breaks, effectivement c'est tentant, joli lot de consolation si on ne peut pas faire Zion 🙂😉
Je vais étudier les balades à faire de plus près.
Merci Bousquet pour toutes tes remarques, effectivement c'est assez cadré mais on sait bien que certaines de nos visites prévues sauteront, on adaptera tout ça en fonction des coups de coeur du jour, de la météo...en tous cas on saura toujours quoi faire 😎
Pour Six flags, je ne te le fais pas dire ! mais je l'ai vendu à mon homme pour le décider pour faire ce voyage, et il n'en démord pas...🤪😉
Bon, c'est pas comme si on avait que 15 jours de voyage, on en profite bien par ailleurs !
OK c'est noté tout cela, et pour Williams et Flagstaff, nous n'y passerons pas des heures.
Euh oui concernant la journée 14 c'est un peu le bazar encore mon programme, j'ai ajouté Shafer Trail et Potash mais je ne sais pas encore comment intégrer tout ça avec DHP et Mesa Arch au sunset, ça colle pas...
Dans quel sens prendre Shafer trail d'ailleurs, j'ai lu pleins de posts sur le sujet mais j'avoue être un peu perdue...on est pas des pros du 4x4 et ça a l'air impressionnant...
Effectivement, Little Wild Horse Canyon est au programme, j'ai oublié de le rajouter.
On sautera LIttel Egypt si pas le temps.
OK pour J25, on avisera.
Pour J32, on partira tôt de SF et la visite de Stanford sera rapide, au pire, elle sautera en cas de timing serré !
Le seul intéret de Dead horse Point le soir : ne pas payer le SP, car il n'y a plus de rangers à cette heure là.
j'ai souvenir d'un récit qui parlait d'un shérif qui avait laissé un message sur le pare-brise sans "ticket" et signalant avoir relevé le numéro d'immatriculation. Risquer de se payer une prune pour économiser 10 $ ! 😉
On sautera LIttel Egypt si pas le temps.
Je trouve ça dommage, mais tu peux le faire "assez rapidement" car pas loin de la route. après, cela dépend des gouts et envies de chacun et du trajet (nous passions devant.
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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!
