Allez je me lance !
Bonjour à toutes et tous, tout d'abord merci pour le temps que vous m'accorderez. 🙂
J'aurai voulu avoir vos avis concernant la faisabilité de cet itinéraire, ce sera notre 1er voyage chez l'oncle Sam (et très certainement pas le dernier tellement d'états nous attirent).
Nous sommes un jeune couple de 26 et 29 ans (j'en aurai 30 là bas 😎), nous partons du 23 Mai au 10 Juin.
Bon je sais que ça va en faire bondir pas mal mais on évite SF... (entre autre), oui je sais... c'est mal, et au risque de faire rebondir ceux de toute à l'heure cette ville nous attirent pas plus que cela (bien moins que LA en tout cas), et puis au pire ça nous fait une bonne excuse pour y retourner et faire Yosemite avec par exemple, et Moab, et Yellowstone... bon j’arrête je me fait du mal.😉
Petite parenthèse, nous sommes fous de cactées, donc un passage en Arizona nous semble obligatoire. Et fans de cinéma, musique, custom culture, googie, de l'amérique des années 50 (d'où aussi notre attrait pour LA et ses environs).
Les billets d'avion sont déjà prit!
J'hésite à ne rien réservé en camping et hôtel pour qu'on puissent être totalement libres dans notre parcours.
ps: Quelques questions ce sont glisser dans l'itinéraire. 😇
J1
23/05
LAX Arrivée le 23/05 17h > départ le 24/05 au matin (1 nuit à hôtel, pas encore réservé)
Récupération voiture (pas encore réservé), achat glacière, matos camping, passage au Randy's...
J2
24/05
2h de route > Palm Springs
2h de route (entrée par le sud) > Joshua Tree NP
1 nuit au camping Jumbo Rocks au autre...
J3
25/05 Férié !!! Ouvert ???
1h de route > Roy's Motel
1h45 de route > Oatman
1h15 de route > Hackberry General Store
1h de route > Seligman
1h de route > Williams 1 nuit à l’hôtel
J4
26/05
5h de route > Apache Junction
1 nuit au camping Lost Dutchman
Tonto NM, Goldfield Ghost Town, Tortilla Flat...
J5
27/05
1h de route > Phoenix 1 nuit à l’hôtel
Désert Botanical Garden le matin, Brasserie à visiter, journée sur Phoenix..
Tucson ??? Saguaro NP ???
Long arrêt à Sedona ???
J6
28/05
4h de route > Grand Canyon South Rim
1 nuit au camping Mather Point ou autre..
J7
29/05
3h de route > Monument Valley 1 Nuit au camping The View
J8
30/05 (B-day!)
1h de route> Valley Of The Gods (2h)
3h de route > Horseshoe Bend Nuit sur Page ???
J9
31/05
3h de route > Bryce Canyon NP Queen's garden trail - rando 2h - 1 Nuit au camping
J10
01/06
2h de route > Zion NP 1/2 Angel's Landing - rando 2h - 1 Nuit au camping
J11 et 12
02-03/06
3h de route > Las Vegas Arrivée le 02 midi > Départ le 04 matin (2 nuits, au Flamingo - Risque que ça soit complet ??)
J13
04/06 (5h de route)
2h15 de route > Calico Ghost Town
40 min de route > Victorville
1h de route > El Mirage Lake
45min de route > 198th St E, Lancaster Kill Bill Chapel (petit plaisir cinéphile!)
J14
05/06
Universal Studios...
J15
06/06
Hollywood Bld, Beverly Hills, Griffith Obs, Hollywood Sign...
J16
07/06
Pomona Swap Meet au moins toute la matinée...
McDo Downey, LongBeach, Laguna beach...
J17
08/06
1h30 de route > San Diego 1 nuit sur place
Au moins 2 brasseries à visiter 😛
J18
09/06
Départ San Diego après midi et retour sur la coast vers LA à voir suivant le respect de l’itinéraire...
J19
10/06
Matinée à voir....
LAX Décollage avion à 18h25
******
Des choses sont encore à peaufiner (des adresses à rajouter) nottement à partir du J13, à voir aussi si décalage de jour suivant le rythme.
Déjà bravo pour avoir fait des choix cruciaux. Beaucoup veulent visiter en 2 semaines des lieux géographiquement éloignés les uns des autres (et San Francisco, il faut l'avouer, en fait souvent partie ...)
Alors, je n'aurais pas construit l'itinéraire de la même façon...
J'aurais d'abord commencé par San Diego puis Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, ensuite jusqu'à Phoenix, Apache Trail, Sedona puis remontée sur le Grand Canyon.
Et de là le circuit tel que tu l'as prévu jusqu'à Los Angeles. Il me semble que c'est plus logique. Certes tu rates la route 66, mais tu peux la faire sur le trajet Vegas - Los Angeles, en tout cas à partir d'Oatman. Donc en clair ça te fait rater seulement la partie entre Kingman et Seligman, rien de grave 😎
Tucson et Saguaro me semblent pas casables dans ton itinéraire. Sedona oui 😉
Entre Zion et Vegas n'oublie pas Valley Of Fire State Park.
Merci pour ton analyse, merci c'est vrai que j'ai virer pas mal de truc (je voulais même faire Albuqueque au début! 🤪) et figures toi que j'avais fait un itinéraire dans le sens que tu dis, et ce qui me gênait c'était aussi cette longue distance entre Joshua NP et Phoenix (bon ok c'est pas plus long que Phoenix > GC presque 2 fois, mais c'est ptet plus jolie de ce côté non ?), outre le fait que oui, ça me coupe en 2 la partie "journée Route 66" et l'idée de la faire dans une même journée et en début de voyage me plait bien.
Merci pour Valley Of Fire SP, je me l'avais noter puis oublier de le caler dedans, le mieux c'est entre Zion et Vegas ou c'est jouable de le faire dans une journée prévu sur Vegas sans trop se bousculer non plus ?
J'ai fais deux voyages en Californie et je crois n'avoir vu que la moitié alors que tu sautes San Francisco ne me surprend pas du tout . Trop trop de choses a voir .
Le vol est trop important dans un voyage pour ne regarder que le prix.
Essaies de caser Valley of the Gods avant Monument Valley, sinon VOG risque de te paraître """" plus fade"""- et de tt façon, tu dois faire marche arrière pour y aller-
A Page, tu peux voir aussi Antelope Canyon- le lower par exemple--le lac et le barrage-Il y a bc de choses a voir autour de Page--
Effectivement Tucson me paraît éloigné ds ton circuit- mais tu verras déjà bc de cactées autour d'Apache Junction-
Mais c'est ton voyage et ce n'est que mon avis
Pour Valley of the Gods oui tout dépendra je pense de l'heure à laquelle on partira de GC, car faut le temps d'y aller, de faire le tour de VoG, de revenir sur MV pour le sunset (et j'aimerai vraiment choper une place au View Campground, sans réservé du coup... s'pas gagner vous pensez ?).
Pour Tucson oui c'est surtout pour le Saguaro NP que je me pose la question, car on adore les cactus mais vu qu'on compte faire l'Apache Trail je me demande si ça vaut le coup juste pour ça, encore une fois y'a tellement de choses à voir...
Pour les alentours de Page faut que je me penche sur la question, c'est sur qu'il faudrait faire 1 jour complet mais bon..
Pff je suis même pas encore parti que je veux déjà y retourner. 😏
La route entre Joshua Tree NP et Phoenix n'est pas si longue que ça, à condition de faire la visite du Parc du Nord (Yucca Valley) vers le Sud (Cottonwood Entrance)
Du coup je te suggère aussi de remplacer la visite de Calico par Pioneertown située pas très loin de Yucca Valley.
Je vois que tu passes par Joshua Tree Nt Park et là, tu vas en voir plein de cactus même si certains prennent d'autres noms -
De Phoenix au Saguaro, tu as environ 2h de route aller - une grosse partie par hwy-- donc a toi de voir le temps qu'il te restera-- comme de tt façon tu ne loges pas de ce coté là--faut 4h plus la visite bien sur-
Merci pour vos messages, ça me tient quand même pas mal à cœur de faire le plus possible de l'historic road 66 😊, Kingman et Seligman compris..., alors à moins de faire Seligman entre Sedona et GC; et puis faire un tour à Kingman après Vegas... mais au final ça fait pas gagner de temps et fait faire du détour.
Bon j'oublie l'idée de Tucson et du Saguaro NP, au pire on verra le jour même sur place 😏
Bonjour Sebastien,
Pourquoi ne pas aller directement jusqu'a Phoenix AZ et de la faire les autres visites.
Je crois que vous perdez du temps en choisissant le parcourt que vous proposez.
Je pense que vous devriez revoir vos temps de trajets qui me semblent trop optimistes.
Pour la Route 66, voyez mon blog en bas de page.
Pour le trajet San Diego LA, arretez vous a San Juan Capistrano et visitez la Mission.
Amities
Alex
http://durandale2.blogspot.com/
How heavy do I journey on the way,
When what I seek (my weary travel’s end)
Shakespeare sonnet 50, vers 1- 2.
Bonjour Alex,
Aller directement a Phoenix j'avais regarder mais ça fait un bon gros trajet de 6h de route (même en partant de San Diego).
Et faire ça dès le 1er jour je sais pas... ou alors, faire au moins Joshua avant.
Tous mes temps de trajet ? Sur google maps j'ai pas sélectionner d'éviter les grandes routes, j'aurai peu être du ? (mais là ça risque de doubler le temps total ! 🤪 ).
Bon je vais rebucher tout ça. 😄
En partant fin mai début juin, pensez vous qu'il soit indispensable de réserver les campings dans les parcs ?
(du moins ceux réservable et qui me tente 😏 bien!)
Bonjour Sebastien,
Camping, la je suis incapable de vous renseigner car je ne campe pas😄
Si apres avoir visite Joshua Park vous allez directement a Phoenix AZ, vous aurez un Freeway I-10 qui est une tres bonne route.
Entre Joshua Park et Phoenix vous n'aurez rien a visiter a moins que vous decidiez de faire un grand detour.
Amities
Alex
http://durandale2.blogspot.com/
How heavy do I journey on the way,
When what I seek (my weary travel’s end)
Shakespeare sonnet 50, vers 1- 2.
Bonsoir,
Étant donner qu'on arrive le week end du Memorial Day j'ai un peu peur pour la nuit à Joshua Tree NP (le dimanche 24 Mai) où l'on aimerai bien camper.
A quelle heure pensez-vous qu'il faille arriver pour être sur de trouver une place dans un de ses campings ?
Sachant que ce jour là on viendra de Redondo Beach (nuit au Motel) puis passage à Palm Springs avant Joshua, ça vous parait plus judicieux de supprimer Palm Springs ? (où l'on à rien de spécial de prévu finalement, juste s'y promener...)
Bonsoir Sebastien,
Depuis Redondo Beach vous pouvez prendre le Freeway pour aller a Joshua qui est la route la plus direct.
Vous pouvez prendre un autre parcourt plus interessant, le voici.
Depuis Redondo Beach:
Prenez le Fwy 1-405 South jusqu'au Fwy I-5 South.
Prenez le Fwy I-5 jusqu'au Ortega Hwy 74, sortie 82.
Prendre Ortega Hwy jusqu'au bout. L'arrivee vers Salton Sea est formidable.
Tourner a droite sur Grand Ave jusqu'au bout.
Tourner a gauche sur Clinto Keith Rd jusqu'au Fwy I-15 South.
Prendre le Hwy 79 Temecula Pkwy jusqu'au Hwy 371.
Prendre a gauche le Hwy 371 jusqu'au Hwy 74 jusqu'au Fwy I-10 vers Palm Springs.
Vous passerez a Anza, un membre de ma famille y possede un ranch.
Je pense que ce parcourt prendra a peu pres de deux a trois heures de plus que le Fwy direct.
Pour les camping je ne peu vous renseigner car je ne fais pas de camping.
Amities
Alex
http://durandale2.blogspot.com/
How heavy do I journey on the way,
When what I seek (my weary travel’s end)
Shakespeare sonnet 50, vers 1- 2.
Tu veux faire quoi a Palm Springs ? Il n'y a RIEN a faire a Palm Springs ! Par contre, ne passer que 2h a Zion est un blaspheme.
Disons qu'au départ c'était pour combler un peu la journée, et puis on y passe pas très loin donc on pensait s'y arrêter, au moins pour manger et flâner 1h ou 2...
Pour Zion j'ai juste noter ça pour l'instant car je ne me suis pas encore trop penché sur la carte des randos à faire, mais nous y passerons presque une journée entière pas d’inquiétude. 😏
Merci Alex pour les info sur l'itinéraire, je vais étudier ça.
Je suis en préparation d'un itineraire de roadtrip pour l année prochaine début septembre, et j'aimerais quelques avis sur mon premier projet que voici. J1:…
Ceci est mon tout premier post sur le forum donc je pense qu'une petite présentation de notre projet est de rigueur: Nous sommes une famille de 4, moi Rachel…
Je suis en pleine préparation pour mon séjour dans l'ouest américain pour l'été prochain et j'aurai souhaité avoir vos avis et conseils. nous partons 17 jours,…
Nous prévoyons de partir a 2 dans l'ouest américain du 15 octobre au 1er novembre, et j'aimerais avoir votre avis sur l'itinéraire que j'ai prévu. J1: Vol…
Nous partons dans l'ouest américain pour la deuxième fois en septembre prochain. La première fois nous avions vu Grand Canyon et Monument Valley, entre…
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!
