bonjour à tous!!!
nous partons a 4 dans quelques semaines pour 15 jours dans les parcs americains. je suis en train de voir pour réserver les hotels mais j'ai beaucoup de mal à evaluer le temps que prennent les parcs et les trajets, et surtout du mal a enlever un ou deux endroits du programme qui me semble un peu trop chargé!
voici l'itineraire envisagé par rapport à ce que j'ai pu voir dans le forum :
J1 : Arrivée à San Francisco vers 18h00 et visite de San Francisco
J2 : Visite San Francisco
J3 : Visite San Francisco + route monterrey
J4 : Yosemite
J5 : Yosemite - Lone Pine (ou Mamoth lake) BRIDGEPORT / BODIE / MONO LAKE
J6 : Lone Pine - Las Vegas (avec Death Valley)
J7 : Las Vegas - Grand Canyon
J8 : Grand Canyon - Monument Valley
J9 : Monument Valley - Page (lake powell, Antelop Canyon, Horseshoe Bend)
J10 : Page -Canyon De Chelly
J11Chelly moab Canyonlands
J12 arch
J13 capitol reef Bryce
J11 : Bryce - Zion
J14: Zion - Las Vegas
J15 avion de LV
par avance, un grand merci à tous pour vos conseils et à ce trés bon site!
Je n'ai pas fait la même boucle donc ne suis pas en mesure de me prononcer sur tout.
Antelop canyon est à faire absolument le matin.
Le principal intérêt, à mon goût du lake powell, est d'aller jusq'au rainbow bridge et les départs se font tôt le matin et durent une bonne partie de la journée.
Bonjour,
Je trouve le programme un peu chargé 😕
Le detour à Monterey n'a pas trop d'interet, autant filer directement à Yosemite.
1 jour pour la visite de San Fransisco c'est vraiment peu, mais peut etre que vous voulez privilegier les parcs ;)
Je ne sais pas quand tu pars, mais ne tarde pas trop à chercher des hebergements. A Yosemite par ex. Ca peut te faire chambouler un programme ...
Sinon, il y a un souci dans tes jours sur la fin..tu fais J13 J11 J14 J15.... du coup tu as 16 jours de voyage? La partie finale de Moab à Las Vegas est rapide...1/2 journée dans chaque parc c'est peu mais bon. Sinon deux jours pleins à Moab c'est bien comme quelqu'un te l'a conseillé (en enlevant le canyon de Chelly).
On revient des Etats-Unis : 5 semaines dans l'Ouest, en camping-car et avec nos 3 ados.
Il faut, à mon avis, accorder au moins 3-4 jours à SF (penser aux pulls :on y a eu froid !).
Avez vous l'intention de juste passer voir les sites ou de les découvrir davantage en y faisant des randos ?
Nous avons fait des randos magnifiques à Yosemite (temps idéal mais moustiques) et Grand Canyon (très chaud); Bodie se visite en une demi-journée (on l'a fait sous un ciel noir et la pluie : ça accentuait son aspect fantomatique); Mono Lake mérite -à mon sens- juste un arrêt et Tahoe est bien mieux (baignade à Sand Harbor); Las Vegas est à voir juste pour apprécier davantage encore les parcs (on est passé, mais on ne s'est pas arrêtés : le grand cirque, le bruit, la foule : ce n'est pas notre truc); Monument Valley est impressionnant mais on ne peut pas s'y ballader; comme le dit Aurélie28, le principal intérêt, du lake powell, est d'aller jusqu'au rainbow bridge : est ce que ça vaut vraiment le coup ? Arrêtez vous plutôt à Natural Bridges : les "ponts" naturels y sont magnifiques et les randos très sympas ! Death Valley : on l'a finallement zappée : trop chaud; on a préféré reporter le temps qu'on devait y consacrer à Sequoïa (on n'a pas regretté !). Horseshoe bend : tout comme Dead horse point : à voir (1h pour Horseshoe bend: ce n' est qu'un point de vue), c'est extra. Zion : on a été un peu déçus (peut-être aussi qu'on avait vu tellement de merveilles avant qu'on était blasés ?!).
Notre top 4 : Antelop : fabuleux (choisir si possible la visite de 11h)
Bryce Canyon : incroyable (faire une balade au centre des hoodoos). En avant gout, passer d'abord à Cedar Break N.M. : plus petit mais tout aussi fascinant.
Arches : Delicate Arch est notre préférée, mais Landscape Arch est aussi impressionnante...
Canyonland pour Islands in the Sky et Mesa Arch.
On a aussi beaucoup apprécié Santa Fe et Taos (et les villages pueblos), Valley of Fire, Kodachrome Basin, Mesa Verde...on en a encore plein les mirettes !
Nous revenons tout juste d'un séjour de 15 jours aux usa, et voici mes comm sur ton circuit:
J1: arrivée 18h SF et visite de la ville: n'espère pas en voir trop, car avec le décalage horaire à 20h tu es KO! Et le temps de récup les bagagaes, aller prendre la voiture, tu peux compter une bonne heure suivant la queue!
J2: SF : nous on a eu le même temps que toi pour visiter SF (mais arrivés plus tôt le 1er jour) et ça nous a suffit. Le J2 à 6h du mat tu es réveillé (merci le Jet Lag!) donc t'en voies un max cette journée à là
J5: Monolake: àla base on vouliat s'y baigner, mais quand t'arrives et tu vois la tronche du lac, tu déchantes vite!! Prends bien ton temps à Bodie, c'est génial! ON ne savait pas mais l'entrée de parc est payante, 9$ je crois. Ah oui et si tu emmène ton tomtom français et qu'il te demande si tu veux éviter les voies pavées, dis-lui oui si tu n'as pas un 4*4!! C'était moi au volant, et mon doux copain a eu des sueurs froides sur ce chemin bien meridque ;-)
J8: monument Valley: 2 heures ça suffit pour faire le tour du circuit et prendre des photos à chaque point de vue, puis avoir le temps de profiter de la lumière du coucher de soleil depuis le VC.
J9: Page - Antelope Canyon (upper): eh bien contrairement à plein de gens je n'ai pas du tout apprécié le upper antelope canyon, tout simplement car trop de monde!! Les gens se poussent pour prendre des photos à tout va, moi ça me saoule ça! par contre je reconnais que le site est tout de même merveilleux à la visite de 11h! (à ne faire que s'il vraiment bien beau, car nous le temps était mitigé, et on a eu que quelques rayons de soleil!!)
J11: Canyonlands est très grand. Nous on l'a visité par les airs dans un coucou auprès de la société Redtails, une super souvenirs et en qq heures tu as vu tout le parc. Mais les rando ne sont pas trop possibles en faisant ainsi... (ben oui, on ne peut pas tout avoir non plus!!)
J12: Arches: Fais à tout prix la rando pour aller voie Delicate Arch au tomber du soleil, tu n'en sera pas déçu, et la rando n'est pas du tout dure, nous en 40 minutes on y était!
J13 : Capitole reef - Bryce et J13+1: Bryce - Zion: quand visites-tu ces 3 parcs? As-tu prévu des rando?
A ta dispo pour d'autres questions si tu le souhaites, et surtout profitez bien 😎
Laetitia
merci bcp à tous pour ces conseils!grace a vos infos jai enlevé chelly monterrey zion las vegas, et hesitations sur la death valley!!
jai rajouté les endroits à faire dans chaque parc
jai essayé de reserver l'hotel pour yosemite. je pensais reserver sur motel 6 ou super 8 pour tout le circuit mais pour yosemite ça a lair loin et pas top. quelqun' a testé le HousekeepingCamp, CurryVillage, yosemitebug?
J1 : Arrivée à San Francisco vers 18h00
J2 : Visite San Francisco (lever tot jet lag!!!!)
J3 : Visite San Francisco
J4 : Yosemite
Yosemite Valley Les sequoias géants de Giant sequoias Grove Glacier Point La route menant au Tioga Pass Descendre le col Tioga pour appercevoir Mono LakeJ5 : Yosemite - (ou Mamoth lake) / BODIE
J6 : Death Valley
Badwater Zabriskie Point dunes Mesquite près de Stovepipe Wells Dantes View
J7 : Grand Canyon (Highway 64 view points, Bright Angel point et le Point Imperial)
J8 : Grand Canyon - Page (lake powell, Antelop Canyon a 11h, Horseshoe Bend)
J9 : Page - Monument Valley (coucher de soleil VC)
le Valley Drive) Les "Three Sisters" Le John Ford Point Artist's PointJ10 :Monument Valley - Dead horse point - Moab
J11 : moab = Canyonlands
Needles Overlook +/-Nature trails Island in the Sky =le Grand View point Overlook+ Green River Overlook Mesa Arch J12 : archBalanced Rock Double Arch Delicate Arch = rando pour aller voie Delicate Arch au tomber du soleil, Park Avenue (au minimum le Viewpoint) Landscape Arch The Windows-->capitol reef
scenic Drive (13 Km)
Le Goosenecks Overlook Les divers points de vues et attraction le long de la Freemont River Waterpocket Fold au Sud
J13 : capitol reef -Cedar Break N.M - Bryce
J14: bryce - Las Vegas de nuit
Sunrise point Sunset Point Inspiration Point Bryce Point Paria View
J15 avion de LV
enfin je suis preneur de tous infos concernant des hotel pas cher sur la route!!!
merci 1000 fois!
le J4 n'est pas du tout possible. Yosemite est vraiment un très grand parc!
Tu peux faire à la rigeur en un jour:
Yosemite Valley le matin: si tu arrives tôt tu auras le temps de faire qq promenades / rando: bridalveil fall, lower yosemite falls et Vernall Falls qui te raffraichit à fond!
Ensuite route dans le Sud pour les séquoisa géants, puis route jusqu'au Glacier Point pour le coucher de soleil.
S'arreter à Tunnel View est plus qu'un MUST, de tout notre séjour il est dans mon top 3 des meilleurs points de vue ;-)
Et le J5 pour aller à Bodie c'est là que tu passes par la Tioga Road, avec arrêt à Olmstead Point, Tenaya Lake, Tuolume Meadows, puis Mono Lake.
J6: Death Valley: tu as le temps d'aller à Badwater, et juste avant il y a Devils Golf Course qui est sympa à voir.
Faites Artists' Drive, tu en prends les yeux!!!
J10 :Monument Valley - Dead horse point - Moab : vu que tu auras fait Monu Valley la veille, je ne pense pas que tu y retourne encore ce jour. Donc à part DH Point pour le coucher de soleil, vous allez faire quoi cette journée? Tu peux déjà aller voir les arches si tu le souhaite.
Sur la route juste après Monu Valley tu auras Valley of the Gods, qui est un mini Monument Valley, nous on avait vraiment apprécié, mais on n'avait pas encore vu Monu Valley. Toi tu l'aura déjà vu, donc peut-être que Valley of the Gods te paraitra ridicule à côté!
J12: Nous la journée à Arches on a eu le temps de faire:Rando à Landscape Arch et toutes les arches du coin, et retour par le Primitive Trail: 4h de rando avec de bons arrêts. Franchement le Primitive Trail j'en ai chié, je ne sais pas qui a dit sur le forum que c'était facile mais moi j'ai trouvé ça dur! Mais bon je suis contente: "je l'ai fait!"Tous les points de vue sur la route en descendant dans le SudPiscine 1.5h à Moab :-) (euh ah oui et aussi se faire arrêter par un ranger pour excès de vitesse!!)Windows Sections et Double Arch (mais pas eu le temps de faire la rando!)Rando Delicate ArchSouper au Moab's Brewery conseillé sur ce forum, que je conseille à mon tour ;-)Vous allez à Capitole reef le même soir?? Si oui vous n'allez rien voir du paysage..!
J14: Bryce: tu l'aura surement lu sur le forum, faites la rando Queen's Garden Trail, c'est juste magnifique!! Et remontez par le Navajo Loop. Tu as toutes les cartes de toutes les rando au Visitor Center de chaque parc, sinon les ranger te le donnent dès que tu entres dans le parc.
je confirme :
Yosemite est très grand...et très beau : ce serait dommage de ne pas y randonner...Tunnel view : grandiose.
Valley of the Gods : c'est un peu comme Bryce et Cedar Break : c'est la mise en bouche! Ce mini Monument Valley est vraiment superbe: on l'a préféré à Monument Valley lui même, mais c'est peut-être parce qu'on l'a vu en 1er !
On a aussi visité Arches sur une journée -intensive- : Landscape Arch et toutes les arches autour et retour par le Primitive Trail : pas si facile. On a enchaîné les points de vue sur la route en descendant dans le Sud puis Windows Sections et Double Arch et enfin rando Delicate Arch.
Bryce : la rando Queen's Garden Trail avec remontée par le Navajo Loop : fabuleux. Une de nos randos préférées
J4 : Yosemite
Yosemite ValleyLes sequoias géants de Giant sequoias GroveGlacier PointLa route menant au Tioga PassDescendre le col Tioga pour appercevoir Mono LakeBizarre comme ordre de visite.et impossible au point de vue durée de trajet
Je vs conseillerai :
J4 SFO -> Merced-> Oakhurst -> Yosemite par l'entrée sud : Visite des Sequoias de Mariposa groves -> Glacier point -> arrivée dans la vallée.
Là 2 options : dormir dans le parc ou à El portal . Difficile de prendre la Tioga pass, car ce sera dejà tres tard.
(si vs prenez la TIOGA PASS, vs arrivez à Lee vining pour voir MonoLake. Vs n'allez pas retourner à Yosemite ensuite.)
merci bcp pour ces infos!
je pars dans 5 jours (trop hate!!) et en revoyant mon plaaning je me pose un question : est ce qu'il y a une difference entre commencer la boucle coté GC ou par zion/bryce? merci
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Nous préparons un voyage à 4 adultes pour mai-juin 2010, entre New York et le Canada. Nous avons envisagé une arrivée à New York, passer 3 ou 4 jours sur…
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!
