Bonjour,
Après avoir eu comme premier projet un road trip de Montréal vers la Louisiane pour avril mai prochain, nous avons changé d'idée. L'appel de l'Ouest a été plus fort !😉
Ce sera notre 3e circuit dans l'Ouest Américain et désirons faire de nouvelles découvertes et revoir certains sites que nous avons particulièrement apprécié.
Nous sommes un couple dans la mi-soixantaine, en forme. Nous aimons marcher, faire des circuits mais pas trop exigeants max 3-4 km . Nous adorons les paysages désertiques de l'Ouest.
L'arrivée et le départ : de Las Vegas. Pas que nous aimons particulièrement cette ville 😕, mais de Montréal : meilleurs horaire et prix pour les vols directs! Et meilleures aubaines pour la location de voiture pour nous les canadiens.
Voici le circuit auquel nous avons pensé.
Jour 1: Montreal- Las Vegas. Arrivée en après-midi, prise de la voiture et route jusqu'a Kingman. Courses et nuit à Kingman.
Jour 2: Kingman- Tucson via route 93. Visite Sagaro NP. Nuit à Tucson
Jour 3: Tucson visite Sonora desert Museum et découverte de la ville. Nuit à Tucson
Jour 4: Tucson -Alamogordo. Visite White Sand Dunes, Nuit à Alamogordo.
Jour 5: Alamogordo-Santa Fe. Visite de la ville Nuit à Santa Fe
Jour 6: Visite Tent Rocks et Bandelier, nuit à Santa Fe
Jour 7: Santa Fe _Hollbrook" visite Petrified forest et Painted Desert Nuit à Hollbrook
Jour 8: Hollbrook - Cortez
Jour 9: Visite Mesa Verde NP . ( Nuit à Cortez ou au View à Monument Valley ? (Je penche pour le View, nous avons tellement adoré il y a 2 ans! Mais est-ce pensable d'y arriver vers 17h00 après la visite de Mesa Verde ?)
Jour 10: Cortez ou The View- Moab . Circuit de la route 128 le long du Colorado. Nuit à Moab.
Jour 11: Visite de Canyonlands et DeadHorse. Nuit à Moab.
Jour 12: Moab - Torrey. Gobblin valley et Capitol Reef.
Jour 13: Torrey- Bryce . Visite de Kodachrome basin
Jour14: Bryce, Nous referons sûrement la loop Queens Garden Navajo ! Et nous trainerons sur la Rim trail au coucher du soleil !
Jour 15: Bryce- St Georges. Rien de prévu comme visite. J'air repéré un magnifique hôtel sur les hauteurs et repos et farniente au programme !
Jour 16: St-Georges -Death Valley ( Furnace Creek) visites en fin de journée.
Jour 17: Furnace Creek - Las Vegas ( Visite de certains points de Death Valley tôt le matin , puis retour à Las Vegas.
Jour 18: Avion Las -Vegas Montreal.
Est-ce que ce circuit se tient? Des choses à changer ou à retirer ?
Ma principale crainte: beaucoup de kilométrage. Seul mon conjoint conduira, mais il aime conduire et apprécie les routes dans l'Ouest, (peu de circulation et beauté des paysages).
Je placerais Petrified Forest plutôt en J2: Kingman - Petrified Forest & Painted Desert - Nuit Holbrook
Puis J3 Holbrook - Tucson. Pour Saguaro, tu as le choix entre la partie Est et la partie Ouest du Parc, de chaque côté de la ville. J'ai préféré la partie Ouest, de suite plus vallonnée.
Entre Tucson et White Sands dommage de ne pas avoir le temps de passer par Chiricahua NM est de faire une marche. En vous levant tôt peut être aurez-vous le temps d'y passer et de faire au moins la boucle de Echo Canyon. Garder White Sands pour le sunset et le sunrise le lendemain. Et y faire à tout prix l'Alkali Flat Trail.
J8: Santa Fe - Cortez, la visite de Mesa Verde étant prévue le lendemain tu peux faire un saut à Chaco Culture en route. Ou alors, moins chronophage, allez voir Aztec Ruins dans la petite ville d'Aztec.
Je suppose que tu as déjà visité Arches ?
A St George tu peux tout de même aller jeter un oeil à Snow Canyon tout proche, au sunset.
J16: en partant tôt, passage par Valley Of Fire pour faire Fire Wave et/ou White Domes.
Bonjour,
Après avoir eu comme premier projet un road trip de Montréal vers la Louisiane pour avril mai prochain, nous avons changé d'idée. L'appel de l'Ouest a été plus fort !😉
Ce sera notre 3e circuit dans l'Ouest Américain et désirons faire de nouvelles découvertes et revoir certains sites que nous avons particulièrement apprécié.
Nous sommes un couple dans la mi-soixantaine, en forme. Nous aimons marcher, faire des circuits mais pas trop exigeants max 3-4 km . Nous adorons les paysages désertiques de l'Ouest.
L'arrivée et le départ : de Las Vegas. Pas que nous aimons particulièrement cette ville 😕, mais de Montréal : meilleurs horaire et prix pour les vols directs! Et meilleures aubaines pour la location de voiture pour nous les canadiens.
Voici le circuit auquel nous avons pensé.
Jour 1: Montreal- Las Vegas. Arrivée en après-midi, prise de la voiture et route jusqu'a Kingman. Courses et nuit à Kingman.
Jour 2: Kingman- Tucson via route 93. Visite Sagaro NP. Nuit à Tucson
Jour 3: Tucson visite Sonora desert Museum et découverte de la ville. Nuit à Tucson
Jour 4: Tucson -Alamogordo. Visite White Sand Dunes, Nuit à Alamogordo.
Jour 5: Alamogordo-Santa Fe. Visite de la ville Nuit à Santa Fe
Jour 6: Visite Tent Rocks et Bandelier, nuit à Santa Fe
Jour 7: Santa Fe _Hollbrook" visite Petrified forest et Painted Desert Nuit à Hollbrook
Jour 8: Hollbrook - Cortez
Jour 9: Visite Mesa Verde NP . ( Nuit à Cortez ou au View à Monument Valley ? (Je penche pour le View, nous avons tellement adoré il y a 2 ans! Mais est-ce pensable d'y arriver vers 17h00 après la visite de Mesa Verde ?)
Jour 10: Cortez ou The View- Moab . Circuit de la route 128 le long du Colorado. Nuit à Moab.
Jour 11: Visite de Canyonlands et DeadHorse. Nuit à Moab.
Jour 12: Moab - Torrey. Gobblin valley et Capitol Reef.
Jour 13: Torrey- Bryce . Visite de Kodachrome basin
Jour14: Bryce, Nous referons sûrement la loop Queens Garden Navajo ! Et nous trainerons sur la Rim trail au coucher du soleil !
Jour 15: Bryce- St Georges. Rien de prévu comme visite. J'air repéré un magnifique hôtel sur les hauteurs et repos et farniente au programme !
Jour 16: St-Georges -Death Valley ( Furnace Creek) visites en fin de journée.
Jour 17: Furnace Creek - Las Vegas ( Visite de certains points de Death Valley tôt le matin , puis retour à Las Vegas.
Jour 18: Avion Las -Vegas Montreal.
Est-ce que ce circuit se tient? Des choses à changer ou à retirer ?
Ma principale crainte: beaucoup de kilométrage. Seul mon conjoint conduira, mais il aime conduire et apprécie les routes dans l'Ouest, (peu de circulation et beauté des paysages).
J'attends vos commentaires.
Merci
Bonjour Helene,
Je pense que vous avez chisi un excellent parcours, par contre je voudrais vous suggerer un petit changement.
Depuis Santa Fe, au lieu de fredescendre vers Holbrook, remontez vers le Nord et visitez Chaco Canyon. Si cela vous tente je vous dirai comment y acceder. De la allez a Mesa Verde, Mesa verde et Chaco Canyon on beaucoup en commun puisque c'est le meme peuple qui vivait dans ces deux endroits. Mesa Verde demande toute une journee, surtout si vous faites les visites guidees (Indispensables pour bien comprendre) Petrified Forest et Painted Desert se traversent et cela ne prend pas trop longtemps.
Si cette suggestion vous interesse, je vous enverrai quelques photos sur Chaco Canyon (Un de mes endroits favoris)
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.
Petrified Forest et Painted Desert se traversent et cela ne prend pas trop longtemps.
Nous avons démarré à quasiment 11h et fini à 17h et sans rando (voir ici et pourtant il y en a 😉), donc je ne trouve pas que ça se fasse si rapidement que ça. Mais peut-être que nous trainons trop 😎 ?
ah ouais quand meme vous avez pris le temps 😉
Je suis passé par petrified forest cette année j'y ai passé environ 2/3 heures.Je ne pense pas qu'il y'ai de grosse rando à faire du moins nous n'en avons pas fait.
C'est pas un parc qui est tres grand et qui vous marquera à jamais mais c'est à voir si on est dans le secteur.
On y peut y voir bois petrifié , petroglyth et ruine indienne.
Pas de randos effectivement, pas de belles marches comme Giant Logs (700 mètres), Long Logs (2.6km), Agate House (3.2km), Crystal Forest (800 mètres), Blue Mesa (1.6km), Puerco Pueblo (500 mètres), le Rim Trail de Painted Desert (environ 1.5 km)
Donc il y a de quoi, du reste, il serait dommage de ne faire que "traverser" ce parc.
J'y étais resté une grosse demi-journée en octobre 2012. Très beau parc !
J'ai trouvé la partie painted desert pas terrible , peut etre du au soleil , je sais pas mais en tout cas il y'a mieux dans l'ouet que cette partie du parc niveau couleur.
"Petrified Forest et Painted Desert se traversent et cela ne prend pas trop longtemps."
😮
4 heures est qd même un minimum (3h pour Petrified Forest et 1h pour Painted Desert)
La traversée de ce parc fait déjà 35km
Et il faut au moins randonner sur Blue Mesa et Long Logs pour avoir un bon aperçu du parc
Ouest USA 2009 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2800143#2800143
5ème trip USA, 09/2013 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6186946#6186946
"J'ai trouvé la partie painted desert pas terrible , peut etre du au soleil"
Oui, la luminosité est importante (comme d'hab...) sinon les couleurs des badlands paraissent fades
Il est conseillé de commencer l'après midi par l'entrée sud de Petrified Forest et de terminer par Painted Desert en fin d'après midi pour y bénéficier du sunset.
Ou aller à Painted Desert tôt le matin (c'est seulement à 20min de route à partir de Holbrook)
Ouest USA 2009 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2800143#2800143
5ème trip USA, 09/2013 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6186946#6186946
"Petrified Forest et Painted Desert se traversent et cela ne prend pas trop longtemps."
😮
4 heures est qd même un minimum (3h pour Petrified Forest et 1h pour Painted Desert)
La traversée de ce parc fait déjà 35km
Et il faut au moins randonner sur Blue Mesa et Long Logs pour avoir un bon aperçu du parc
Bonsoir,
Bien sur que Petrified Forest et painted Desert ont leur charme et oui c'est une bonne idee de s'y arreter.
Je pensais que notre ami internaute avec son temps limite, comme tous ceux qui vont pour 3 semaines, pouvait faire l'arret a Chaco Canyon puisqu'il compte s'arreter a Mesa Verde.
Mes suggestions ne sont qu'a titre d'information et je laisse a chacun le soin de decider selon ses gouts et ses affinitees.
Tout ce que je souhaite a tous ceux qui viennent visiter cette partie des USA c'est de faire un fabuleux voyage en esperant qu'il mettent a profit toutes les infos postees sur ce site.
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.
Je ne sais pas si tu connais deja Canyon de Chelly. Sinon, je conseille un petit detour ver Chinle afin de visiter ce site. Il ne faut pas rater Spider Rock.
Merci pour les suggestions. Je regarde cela de plus près.
Pour ce qui est de faire Petrified Forest en J2, cela est une option très intéressante intéressante.
Et oui, nous avons déjà fait Arches. J'aimerais bien y retourner, mais je devrais alors rajouter une journée à Moab et dans ce cas zapper Death Valley que nous n'avons pas fait.
Valley of Fire, j'y avais pensé, mais cela dépendra de la ''calor''😛 J'ai peur qu'en fin mai, il fasse déjà trop chaud en début de matinée ! Nous y étions passé fin septembre lors de notre premier périple dans l'Ouest et nous avions trouvé que le parc portait très bien son nom.... une vrai fournaise !
En passant, ton site :'' Organiser son voyage son voyage aux Usa'' est vraiment super ! 🙂 C'est ma référence !
Je retourne calculer mes kilométrages et soumettre le nouveau planning à mon ''conducteur chéri''😎
Je cherche actuellement durée, tracé, points GPS pour Onyx Bridge, peu d'infos trouvées! En as-tu plus précisément?
Par avance merci!
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
Super, merci Aquilegia, c'est exactement ce qu'il me fallait😉
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
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Hello everyone,
We’ve planned a trip (retired couple) for late August to the first half of September in Western Canada.
Classic itinerary: arrival in Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Clearwater, Whistler, Vancouver Island, departure from Vancouver.
I know you can’t see into the future any better than I can, so I’m obviously not asking what the wildfire situation will be like in a month...
But if any of you could let me know if, CURRENTLY, there are major difficulties—not just for locals, of course, but for tourists as well?
We’re hesitating between taking the chance or canceling what we still can.
We’re not young anymore and don’t have the flexibility we once did...
A thousand thanks to those of you on the ground or with contacts there who can help us make this decision!
A friend is renting a car for an upcoming trip during the All Saints' holiday.
Nowadays, all rental cars come with GPS, but do you know if you can use it without paying for the GPS rental? I have no idea since I always use my own!
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).
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?
We went as a family to Mount Rushmore in 2023, where my son bought a multi-function pocket knife like the one below with his name engraved—'NOAH'.
Unfortunately, he just lost it, and he was really attached to it. So, if there’s a kind soul passing by Mount Rushmore who could bring one back for me (I’d obviously cover all costs), that would be amazing for my son.
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 🙂
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
