Voilà, nous partons, moi et ma copine (26 ans tous les 2) le 1er Août à Los Angeles, pour un voyage de 19 jours dans l'Ouest Américain. Nous avons loué un cabriolet à distance (que nous récupererons à Los Angeles), et nous avons juste réservé la première nuit d'hôtel sur place.
Je viens vers vous car j'ai beaucoup de mal à "fabriquer" notre itinéraire, sachant qu'il y a beaucoup d'avis différents. L'un d'entre vous serait-il capable de nous dessiner un itinéraire le plus sympa possible, afin de revenir avec plein d'étoiles dans les yeux.
Vous allez me dire, qu'est-ce que veut dire "sympa" pour vous ? Et bien, nos critères seraient :
1) Faire un mix entre les grandes villes américaines (LA, Las Vegas, San Francisco), les grands espaces mythiques, les parcs nationaux, et la côte du pacifique
2) Pas passer toute la journée dans la voiture (c'est à dire 400 km par jour maximum)
3) Pouvoir voir le plus de choses possibles sans courir tout le temps, mais sans oublier de coins à voir absolument !
4) Rester 2-3 jours dans un endroit s'il y a vraiment plein de choses à faire
Mon deuxième souci concerne l'hébergement. Je n'ai pas voulu réserver quoi que ce soit à l'avance (ne sachant pas combien de temps je souhaite rester dans un endroit, et souhaitant fonctionner à l'envie, pour se dire : "tiens, j'adore cet endroit, ce soir, on y reste un jour de plus"). Cependant, aux dires de messages du forum et de l'avis d'une copine travaillant dans une agence de voyages, il semble que cela va être relativement simple de trouver de la place dans les grandes villes, mais dans les parcs nationaux, cela va être très très dur. Qu'en penses-vous ? Y a -til des combines pour trouver une chambre dans les parcs ? Pensez-vous qu'il serait judicieux d'acheter sur place une tente pas chère et d'aller dans des campings ?
Après recherches, voici ce à quoi nous avons pensé :
Jour 1 (01/08) : Los Angeles
Jour 2 (02/08) : Santa Monica / Santa Barbara / Guadalupe /Big Sur / Monterey
Jour 3 /4 /5: Monterey / San Francisco
(Lake Tahoe ?)
Jour 6/7 : Parc Yosemite
Jour 8 : Sequoia park
Jour 9 : Kings Canyon National Park / Death valley
Jour 10 : Death Valley / Las Vegas
Jour 11ou 12 :Las Vegas : Zion National Park / Bryce Canyon
Jour 13 : (Lake Powell/Page) /Monument Valley
Jour 14 : Grand Canyon-
Jour 15 : Las Vegas
Jour 16 : Désert de Mojave
Jour 17/18 : Los Angeles
ou :
Jour 15 : Flagstaff / Phoenix
Jour 16 : San Diego
Jour 17/18 : Los Angeles
Nous hésitons pour la dernière partie. Qu'en pensez-vous ? Autre point : le passage par le Sequoia park nous rallonge. Est-il vraiment indispensable d'y passer ?
NB : voici le lien Google Maps pour l'itineraire :
Je trouve que l'iténéraire est pas mal chargé. Tout est grand en Californie si vous n'avez jamais mis les pieds.
En voiture, c'est tres long en montant la cote de Santa Barbara longeant vers le haut vers Monterey puis San Francisco.
SF est aussi une grande ville et beaucoup de choses a visiter, fishermanwharf, alcatraz, golden gate, rue serpentée, maisons victoriennes ...
N'oubliez pas que Yosemete Park est immense aussi, vous pouvez acceder du parc vers le Lake Tahoe qui est magnifique et vous tombez
dans l'etat Nevada, mais la route est petite est beaucoup de cote a monter.
Las Vegas est immense, Grand Canyons, Death Valley, Monument Valley est pas mal loin, il faudrait parcourir l'arizona sur la 40 et arriver dans le New Mexico, méchante route que je me suis moi meme poigné par les patrouilles de nuit.
Bref, c'est un marathon que vous allez réaliser que sur place, il faudrait couper des endroits. C'est mon avis personnel car je connais bien la Californie. Los Angeles, Malibu, Beverly hills, Venice beach, Sunset Boulevard, c'est beaucoup de route en voiture aussi
🙂 Bonjour, je reviens d'un séjour en famille, d'un périple de 19 Jours dans l'Ouest Américain, et je confirme que votre programme est un peu trop chargé si voulez éviter de faire de la voiture plus d'une 1/2 journée. Je pense 2 ou 3 jours à San Francisco c'est bien. Si vous souhaitez faire les parcs, c'est sans doute mieux d'en faire moins mais de dormir deux ou trois nuits (Zion, Yosemite, Bryce...) et bien profiter du cadre, des promenades, mais la réservation à l'avance est nécessaire. Deux jours à Las Vegas pour en faire le tour et voir au moins un spectacle.
Nous avons beaucoup aimé San Diego, la baie, la vieille ville (style méxicain), le port avec l'USS Midway et de nombreux quartiers agréables, pour cette ville sans doute plus agréable que Los Angeles. A voir également, Bodie - ville fantome non loin de l'entrée de Yosemite.
Bref, il est difficile de tout concilier en 19 jours, et certains choix seront sans doute nécessaire
Attention, tu ne veux pas faire trop de bagnole, mais la tu vas en bouffer des kilometres. Deux choses l'une, si tu veux en profiter un max, réduit ton parcours ou augmente la durée de ton voyage. En voulant en voir de trop, tu risques de ne pas prendre de plaisir.
En un mois, voila le parcours que nous avions suivis : Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Glamith, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Moab, Arches Park, Salt Lake City, Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas Sequoia Park, Yosemite, Bodie, Sacramento, Sonoma Valley et Sausalito San Francisco
Bonjour
à mon avis il faut supprimer l'étape J8 à Sequoia Park (les sequoias tu en verras à Yosemite), ça te permettrait d'arriver à J9 à Las vegas, d'y passer 2 nuits avant de repartir pour la boucle Zion-Bryce-Page-MValley-GCanyon
"lorsqu'au crépuscule de ma vie je me retournerai, je dirai: c'est moi qui ai vécu et non un ètre factice créé par mes ennuis et mes regrets"
Bonjour
ça dépend de ce que le terme "gros" désigne:
si tu parles hauteur, effectivement le général depasse de 20mètres Grizzly Giant
mais si tu parles épaisseur, c'est Grizzly qui gagne (30m de circonférence)
ceci étant dit, les séquoias ne sont pas les plus hauts arbres au monde, car les Coastal Redwoods au nord de San Francisco le sont encore plus (mais ils sont éffilés)
"lorsqu'au crépuscule de ma vie je me retournerai, je dirai: c'est moi qui ai vécu et non un ètre factice créé par mes ennuis et mes regrets"
Je te comfirme que Shermann a une circonférence supérieur :
General Sherman (tree) From Wikipedia,
General Sherman is the name of a Giant Sequoia. It is one of the tallest Giant Sequoia trees in the world with a height of about 275 feet (84.8 metres). Although not the tallest tree in the world (coastal redwood being taller), it is the biggest in terms of volume, making it the world's largest known single organism by volume. As of 2002, the volume of its trunk measured about 1487 cubic meters. The tree is located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in the United States, east of Visalia, California. The tree is believed to be between 2, 300 and 2, 700 years old.[1]
It was named after General William Tecumseh Sherman, American Civil War leader, by naturalist James Wolverton in 1879. Wolverton had served as a Lieutenant in the 9th Indiana Cavalry under Sherman. The tree was identified as the largest in a 1931 dispute with the nearby General Grant tree, after which wood volume was the widely accepted determining factor.[2]
In January 2006 the largest branch on the tree, seen most commonly in older photos as an "L" or "golf club" shape protruding from about 1/4th down the trunk, broke off. No one was present for the incident, but the branch, which had a diameter of over 2 m (6 feet) and a length of over 30 m (100 feet), bigger than most trees, smashed part of the enclosing fence and cratered the walkway pavement surrounding the sequoia. This is not believed to be indicative of any abnormalities with General Sherman's health, and may even be a natural defense mechanism against adverse weather conditions.[3] The branch loss did not change the General Sherman's status as the largest tree as its size has been calculated using measurements of trunk volume, excluding branches.
Measuring over 115 meters, the Hyperion in Redwood National Park is currently the world's tallest tree. Also, whereas the General Sherman tree is the largest Giant Sequoia (its common name), Lost Monarch is the largest known Sequoia (a genus name). Sequoia is the Coastal redwood genus name, and Sequoiadendron is the Giant Sequoia genus name.
Metres Feet Height above base[4] 84.8 277.9
Circumference at ground[4] 32.12 105.6
Maximum diameter at base[4] 12.1 39.5
Diameter 1.5 m above base[4] 9.25 30.1
Diameter 18 m (60') above base[4] 6.2 20.5
Diameter 55 m (180') above base[4] 5.3 17.0
Diameter of largest branch[4] 2.6 7.1
Height of first large branch above the base[4] 43.5 135.0
Average crown spread[4] 35.0 110.0
Estimated bole volume (m³.ft³)[5] 1, 486.0 52, 500.0
Et pour etre complet :
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mariposa Grove est un bosquet de séquoias géants situé près de Wawona, en Californie, dans la partie sud-ouest du parc national de Yosemite. Découvert en 1857 par Galen Clark et Milton Mann, le bosquet doit son nom au comté de Mariposa. Il constitue le plus grand groupe de séquoias géants du parc et compte plusieurs centaines de séquoias adultes, dont deux sont parmi les vingt-cinq plus grands du monde. Le plus ancien d'entre eux est le séquoia "Grizzly Giant", âgé de 1900-2400 ans et mesurant 63 mètres de haut. Sa base très renflée porte sa circonférence à 28 m.
Le General Sherman est un séquoia géant situé dans le Parc national Sequoia (Californie, É.-U.) à la position 36°34′55″N, 118°45′04″W. C'est l'arbre le plus imposant du monde (et parfois considéré comme l'organisme vivant le plus imposant qui existe) de par les 1487 m³ de son tronc. Son âge est estimé à environ 2200 ans.
C'est en 1879 que le naturaliste James Wolverton le baptise General Sherman en l'honneur du Général William Tecumseh Sherman. Plus tard, l'association socialiste utopique Kawea Colony, qui s'établit près de l'arbre autour de 1880 le rebaptise Karl Marx. Ce n'est qu'en 1931, que l'arbre est reconnu comme le plus grand du monde, après une controverse l'opposant à un autre séquoia géant voisin, le General Grant. Désormais, c'est le volume de bois qui est retenu comme le critère le plus important.
finalement nos propos se rejoignent! le General est l'un des plus hauts sequoias au monde mais les Redwoods sont encore plus hauts
d'apres tes chiffres, le Général aurait le plus gros volume en m2
merci de tes infos
bien à toi
"lorsqu'au crépuscule de ma vie je me retournerai, je dirai: c'est moi qui ai vécu et non un ètre factice créé par mes ennuis et mes regrets"
Nous préparons avec mon mari, le voyage que toi pour cet été !
J'ai les meme préocupations que toi à un an d'intervalle, je profite donc de ton expérience
a savoir : j'hésite aussi à faire le détour pour Séquoia Park finalement tu y es allé ? si oui ca valait le coup ? si non tu l'as regreté ?
pour nous meme phylosophie, aucune réservation pour pouvoir profiter du 'je m'y plais j'y reste" as tu eu des problème pour te loger ?
Non, je ne suis pas allé à Sequoia Park mais nous avons vu des sequoias géant au sud de Yosemite, et ils valaient le détour. Certains sont réellement impressionants. Donc pour moi pas de regret !
Concernant la réservation, je suis plus mitigé. En fait, 5-6 jours avant de partir, j'ai eu un peu peur de galérer la bas, alors j'ai réservé pour à peu près la moitié des destinations. Pour le reste, nous n'avons pas trop eu de mal à trouver. Cependant, voici mes conseils :
1) réserver à Las Vegas. Nous n'avions pas réservé, et nous avons tout de même pu obtenir une très belle chambre au Luxor pour 2 jours, mais il nous a fallu réserver dans le hall de l'hôtel au téléphone pour pouvoir ensuite faire la queue et s'enregistrer. C'était pas facile ! (NB : nous avons essuyé un refus dans 2 autres hôtels juste avant celui-là)
2) Réserver à Yosemite : il y a tellement de monde que les campings et résidences étaient tous complets quand nous sommes arrivés. Le parc est immense et il nous a fallu trouver à l'extérieur : plan galère !
bonjour, peut-etre avez-vous lu mes messages postés aujourd"hui à des parents désireux de partir aux USA cote ouest ! nous l'avons fait en 21 jours avec un couple d'amis, )arrivée San-Francisco (2jours sur place) Yosémites(hotel dans le parc pas trop cher)(attention que 2 sorties nous avons pris celle pour la Vallée de la mort et avons loupé séquoia parc), Vallée de la Mort, Monuments Vallée, Las Vegas (2 jours) Grand Canyon, Lac Powell, Brice Canyon, (je ne suis pas sur de l'ordre exact regardez sur une carte) Route66 (un petit bout ou nous avons trouvé Bagdad Café bien perdu mais sympa !) Los Angelès (2 jours) avec voiture louée en france prise à San-Francisco et rendue à Los Angelès sans frais suplémentaires (HERTZ) partout nous avons trouvé des petits motels pas chers (il y en a vraiment partout !!! les prendre avant l'entrée des parcs c'est moins cher) avec chambre à 2 lits (ce qui a réduit notre budget) aux USA il est possible de visiter la chambre avant ce qui évite les surprises, mais motels toujours simples et propres et accueil super sympa pour les repas nous allions dans les petits resto ou fast-foods, nous avons également utilisé le guide du routard bien pratique. Bon voyage me contacter si besoin
Merci pour ta réponse rapide, bon ça confirme mon choix de zapper séquoia park.
pour les résas, ne sachant pas quel jour exact nous seront à vegas, je pense que nous réservons sur place mais quelques jours à l'avance, !
merci encore pour tes infos.
bonne journée
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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!
