Hi everyone,
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 to everyone for your advice and help.
Hi everyone,
We’re thinking of heading back to the US but we’re still debating the itinerary. We’d love to revisit New York, but after that...? We’ve already explored the East Coast without making it down to Florida. So we’re wondering if we should go there. New Orleans has been catching our eye, and Memphis with its blues-rock vibe is also really appealing. A road trip that would start on the East Coast and head inland/mid-country. Any suggestions?
Or... we’re even considering stretching all the way to the West Coast: - Passing through LA, which we’d ultimately skipped on our West Coast trip, but maybe it’s not the best time to go with all those wildfires that have devastated iconic spots... - Or heading north to Washington and/or Oregon states, or closer, Montana.
Anyway, I’d love to hear your thoughts on what kind of loop we could do in 4 weeks... Given that in 2023, we spent nearly 6 weeks in the West, covering San Francisco, Yosemite, Death Valley, Mammoth Lake, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Page and its surroundings, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce, and Las Vegas.
On that note, I have to give a big shout-out to Thibaut, aka ITAT, for his time and invaluable advice in planning that West Coast trip. Since then, I’ve really enjoyed taking the time to share tips about places I’ve visited! Speaking of which, don’t hesitate to PM me for West Coast advice! Otherwise, I’ll be sharing a recap of that trip in a travel journal—currently in Word—that I’ll post on the forum later. For those interested, I also made a video montage (with clickable chapters in the description) of those 5 weeks here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx8d4ommhv4. Just a heads-up: the Bodie videos aren’t mine (my GoPro died), and the grass was completely green when we passed through, unlike in the video.
Looking forward to your suggestions! !
We’re thinking of heading back to the US but we’re still debating the itinerary. We’d love to revisit New York, but after that...? We’ve already explored the East Coast without making it down to Florida. So we’re wondering if we should go there. New Orleans has been catching our eye, and Memphis with its blues-rock vibe is also really appealing. A road trip that would start on the East Coast and head inland/mid-country. Any suggestions?
Or... we’re even considering stretching all the way to the West Coast: - Passing through LA, which we’d ultimately skipped on our West Coast trip, but maybe it’s not the best time to go with all those wildfires that have devastated iconic spots... - Or heading north to Washington and/or Oregon states, or closer, Montana.
Anyway, I’d love to hear your thoughts on what kind of loop we could do in 4 weeks... Given that in 2023, we spent nearly 6 weeks in the West, covering San Francisco, Yosemite, Death Valley, Mammoth Lake, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Page and its surroundings, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce, and Las Vegas.
On that note, I have to give a big shout-out to Thibaut, aka ITAT, for his time and invaluable advice in planning that West Coast trip. Since then, I’ve really enjoyed taking the time to share tips about places I’ve visited! Speaking of which, don’t hesitate to PM me for West Coast advice! Otherwise, I’ll be sharing a recap of that trip in a travel journal—currently in Word—that I’ll post on the forum later. For those interested, I also made a video montage (with clickable chapters in the description) of those 5 weeks here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx8d4ommhv4. Just a heads-up: the Bodie videos aren’t mine (my GoPro died), and the grass was completely green when we passed through, unlike in the video.
Looking forward to your suggestions! !
Hi there,
Just back from 25 days in May 2025 in the American West—here are some practical tips that might help you plan your trip.
Flight: 2 tickets for 1270 € with British Airways (Lyon-LA, SF-Lyon) SIM card: 12GB from Sim USA for 39 €. Useful for looking up accommodation every late afternoon. 12GB was enough for us. Car rental: Booked with BSP Autos. 21 days = 538 € for a Jeep Compass SUV picked up at LA airport and dropped off at SF airport. An SUV isn’t essential at all, but since we had one, we did take some easy dirt roads. Driving is straightforward, highways are toll-free. Gas: Averaged $3.80/gallon = 1 €/liter. We drove 6700 km and spent $500 on gas. Big price differences between states, and even between stations in the same state. We checked Google Maps/fuel for the best deals. Water: Not recommended to drink tap water. We refilled two 3L bottles regularly at visitor centers in the parks and froze two 1L bottles overnight to keep water cool during the day. Money: Bring cash for tips and gas—sometimes cheaper when paying in cash. Accommodation: Averaged $100/night. Only the first night in LA was booked in advance. For the rest of the trip, we found places to stay (mostly motels outside the parks) near where we were each late afternoon by checking availability on Booking, among others. No issues finding places in May—the advantage was the freedom to improvise. For example, we’d planned to do the loop counterclockwise: LA, Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon. But seeing the forecast (3 days of snow and freezing temps at GC), we headed straight from JT to Las Vegas, did the loop clockwise, and by the time we got back to GC, the weather was perfect. Weather: Aside from the first 3 mixed days, we had perfect weather—20-30°C, except Death Valley (37°C) and SF (15°C). Food: Depends on your appetite. For us, snacks during the day, a bigger meal in the evening, plus miscellaneous extras—our budget was $40/day. Miscellaneous: The "America the Beautiful" pass is a must—80 $. Website: For us, the best site was roadtrippin’. Our itinerary: LA, Joshua Tree, Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Colorado National Monument, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, Natural Bridges, Gooseneck Point, Canyon de Chelly, Painted Desert Park, Petrified Forest Park, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Route 66, LV, Red Rock Canyon Park, Death Valley, Sequoia Park, Yosemite Park, Big Sur-Monterey, San Francisco. 25 days—we didn’t lounge around, but we didn’t rush either. We took time in each park to drive the scenic routes, visit viewpoints, and do at least one hike (max 2 hours) per park.
Happy travels!
Flight: 2 tickets for 1270 € with British Airways (Lyon-LA, SF-Lyon) SIM card: 12GB from Sim USA for 39 €. Useful for looking up accommodation every late afternoon. 12GB was enough for us. Car rental: Booked with BSP Autos. 21 days = 538 € for a Jeep Compass SUV picked up at LA airport and dropped off at SF airport. An SUV isn’t essential at all, but since we had one, we did take some easy dirt roads. Driving is straightforward, highways are toll-free. Gas: Averaged $3.80/gallon = 1 €/liter. We drove 6700 km and spent $500 on gas. Big price differences between states, and even between stations in the same state. We checked Google Maps/fuel for the best deals. Water: Not recommended to drink tap water. We refilled two 3L bottles regularly at visitor centers in the parks and froze two 1L bottles overnight to keep water cool during the day. Money: Bring cash for tips and gas—sometimes cheaper when paying in cash. Accommodation: Averaged $100/night. Only the first night in LA was booked in advance. For the rest of the trip, we found places to stay (mostly motels outside the parks) near where we were each late afternoon by checking availability on Booking, among others. No issues finding places in May—the advantage was the freedom to improvise. For example, we’d planned to do the loop counterclockwise: LA, Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon. But seeing the forecast (3 days of snow and freezing temps at GC), we headed straight from JT to Las Vegas, did the loop clockwise, and by the time we got back to GC, the weather was perfect. Weather: Aside from the first 3 mixed days, we had perfect weather—20-30°C, except Death Valley (37°C) and SF (15°C). Food: Depends on your appetite. For us, snacks during the day, a bigger meal in the evening, plus miscellaneous extras—our budget was $40/day. Miscellaneous: The "America the Beautiful" pass is a must—80 $. Website: For us, the best site was roadtrippin’. Our itinerary: LA, Joshua Tree, Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Colorado National Monument, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, Natural Bridges, Gooseneck Point, Canyon de Chelly, Painted Desert Park, Petrified Forest Park, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Route 66, LV, Red Rock Canyon Park, Death Valley, Sequoia Park, Yosemite Park, Big Sur-Monterey, San Francisco. 25 days—we didn’t lounge around, but we didn’t rush either. We took time in each park to drive the scenic routes, visit viewpoints, and do at least one hike (max 2 hours) per park.
Happy travels!
Hey everyone!
So, I'm in the middle of planning a 3-week road trip, and of course, I have a ton of questions. But first, maybe I should start with the basics:
When: July 5–28, 2025. Who: 4 people (2 teens and 2 adults). How: Flight tickets already booked (LH and United).
Where (overnights): 07/05: Arrival in SF. Night in SF. 07/06: SF. 07/07: SF. 07/08: Early departure? for Yosemite (Mariposa) – question 1. 07/09: Yosemite. 07/10: Mammoth Lake? (Accommodation in the area? Or somewhere else like 2 nights in Death Valley?) – question 2. 07/11: Death Valley. 07/12: LV. 07/13: LV. 07/14: Zion. 07/15: Bryce Canyon. 07/16: Bryce Canyon. 07/17: Moab. 07/18: Moab. 07/19: Moab. 07/20: Monument Valley. 07/21: Page. 07/22: Grand Canyon (better to stay 2 nights in Page or Grand Canyon?) – question 3. 07/23: Grand Canyon. 07/24: Kingman. 07/25: LA. 07/26: LA. 07/27: LA. 07/28: Return to France.
And question 4: For the car rental, I think it’s better to pick it up right when we arrive (to save time). But once we get to LA, should we drop it off at the airport or earlier to avoid being stuck with it (and paying extra for parking)? (We’re staying near Venice Beach for now.)
Anyway, if you spot any other inconsistencies, let me know! But I think it should work—I’ve already read 5 or 6 travel journals, so I’m feeling pretty set. :)
Right now, I’m deep into researching the rental car. I’m tempted to go for the Tahoe, but I’m not sure which site to use... So far, it’s hovering around 2000 €—quite the budget!
So, I'm in the middle of planning a 3-week road trip, and of course, I have a ton of questions. But first, maybe I should start with the basics:
When: July 5–28, 2025. Who: 4 people (2 teens and 2 adults). How: Flight tickets already booked (LH and United).
Where (overnights): 07/05: Arrival in SF. Night in SF. 07/06: SF. 07/07: SF. 07/08: Early departure? for Yosemite (Mariposa) – question 1. 07/09: Yosemite. 07/10: Mammoth Lake? (Accommodation in the area? Or somewhere else like 2 nights in Death Valley?) – question 2. 07/11: Death Valley. 07/12: LV. 07/13: LV. 07/14: Zion. 07/15: Bryce Canyon. 07/16: Bryce Canyon. 07/17: Moab. 07/18: Moab. 07/19: Moab. 07/20: Monument Valley. 07/21: Page. 07/22: Grand Canyon (better to stay 2 nights in Page or Grand Canyon?) – question 3. 07/23: Grand Canyon. 07/24: Kingman. 07/25: LA. 07/26: LA. 07/27: LA. 07/28: Return to France.
And question 4: For the car rental, I think it’s better to pick it up right when we arrive (to save time). But once we get to LA, should we drop it off at the airport or earlier to avoid being stuck with it (and paying extra for parking)? (We’re staying near Venice Beach for now.)
Anyway, if you spot any other inconsistencies, let me know! But I think it should work—I’ve already read 5 or 6 travel journals, so I’m feeling pretty set. :)
Right now, I’m deep into researching the rental car. I’m tempted to go for the Tahoe, but I’m not sure which site to use... So far, it’s hovering around 2000 €—quite the budget!
Hi everyone,
Here’s the itinerary I’ve planned for this summer. I’d love to get your thoughts and recommendations on it. We’ll be 2 adults and a 15-year-old teen.
11/07 Calgary - arrival around 9 PM 12/07 Calgary - exploring the city 13/07 Calgary : Stampede 14/07 (Canmore) Banff - Kananaskis Valley - Town of Canmore - Banff Centre - Upper Hot Spring (pool) 15/07 Banff - Johnston Canyon - Lake Louise - Moraine Lake 16/07 Banff - Banff Gondola with ridge walk (1 km) - Lake Minnewanka 17/07 Yoho (Field) - Herbert Lake - Yoho Valley Road (before Field) - Field - Natural Bridge - Emerald Lake + hike to Takakkaw Falls - night at The Crossing 18/07 Jasper - Icefields Parkway - Herbert Lake - Bow Lake - Peyto Lake viewpoint (15 min from the parking lot) - Saskatchewan River Crossing - Columbia Icefield with the Skywalk - Sunwapta Falls - Goat and Glacier Lookout - Athabasca Falls 19/07 Jasper - Maligne Valley - Medicine Lake - Maligne Lake 20/07 Jasper - Whistlers Peak - Miette Hot Springs 21/07 Wells Gray - Yellowhead Highway 22/07 Wells Gray - Helmcken Falls - Dawson Falls - Spahats Falls - Clearwater Lake 23/07 Hat Creek Ranch 24/07 Whistler 25/07 Whistler 26/07 Nanaimo - Sea to Sky Highway - 1.5-hour ferry 27/07 Nanaimo - North Coast - Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park - Old Country Market - Goats on Roof - McMillan Provincial Park - Cathedral Grove 28/07 Victoria - Kinsol Trestle - Malahat Skywalk 29/07 Victoria - whale watching 30/07 Victoria - Inner Harbour - Chinatown - Fisherman’s Wharf floating houses 31/07 Vancouver - 3-hour ferry 01/08 Vancouver 02/08 Departure
We’re being really careful not to spend more than 3 to 4 hours driving between stops. We want to take our time. Thanks for your input....
Here’s the itinerary I’ve planned for this summer. I’d love to get your thoughts and recommendations on it. We’ll be 2 adults and a 15-year-old teen.
11/07 Calgary - arrival around 9 PM 12/07 Calgary - exploring the city 13/07 Calgary : Stampede 14/07 (Canmore) Banff - Kananaskis Valley - Town of Canmore - Banff Centre - Upper Hot Spring (pool) 15/07 Banff - Johnston Canyon - Lake Louise - Moraine Lake 16/07 Banff - Banff Gondola with ridge walk (1 km) - Lake Minnewanka 17/07 Yoho (Field) - Herbert Lake - Yoho Valley Road (before Field) - Field - Natural Bridge - Emerald Lake + hike to Takakkaw Falls - night at The Crossing 18/07 Jasper - Icefields Parkway - Herbert Lake - Bow Lake - Peyto Lake viewpoint (15 min from the parking lot) - Saskatchewan River Crossing - Columbia Icefield with the Skywalk - Sunwapta Falls - Goat and Glacier Lookout - Athabasca Falls 19/07 Jasper - Maligne Valley - Medicine Lake - Maligne Lake 20/07 Jasper - Whistlers Peak - Miette Hot Springs 21/07 Wells Gray - Yellowhead Highway 22/07 Wells Gray - Helmcken Falls - Dawson Falls - Spahats Falls - Clearwater Lake 23/07 Hat Creek Ranch 24/07 Whistler 25/07 Whistler 26/07 Nanaimo - Sea to Sky Highway - 1.5-hour ferry 27/07 Nanaimo - North Coast - Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park - Old Country Market - Goats on Roof - McMillan Provincial Park - Cathedral Grove 28/07 Victoria - Kinsol Trestle - Malahat Skywalk 29/07 Victoria - whale watching 30/07 Victoria - Inner Harbour - Chinatown - Fisherman’s Wharf floating houses 31/07 Vancouver - 3-hour ferry 01/08 Vancouver 02/08 Departure
We’re being really careful not to spend more than 3 to 4 hours driving between stops. We want to take our time. Thanks for your input....
Hi everyone,
Let me introduce myself. I’m 45 and traveling with my husband and my daughter, who’ll be 17 soon. We’re used to road-trip-style vacations, in the US or elsewhere. This will be our 5th trip to the US. We’ve already visited several states: New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Washington DC, Florida, Wyoming, South Dakota, California, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. I’d like to plan another trip starting from Denver to Colorado and New Mexico, which we haven’t explored yet, with a stop in a part of Arizona we haven’t visited before. So, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this itinerary if you’re familiar with the area. We’ll be traveling in the summer of 2026—admittedly not the best time for this route, but it’s the only time we can all get away for long enough. I’m also tied to the dates for Cheyenne Frontier Days, which we want to attend at the start of the trip. Thanks in advance for your input!
Day 1: Departure from Frankfurt > Arrival in Denver around 3 PM. Night in Denver
Day 2: Denver > Cheyenne Quick visit to Denver Drive to Cheyenne in the late afternoon 2-hour drive Night in Cheyenne Day 3: Cheyenne Frontier Days Night in Cheyenne
Day 4: Cheyenne > Estes Park (Rocky Mountains) Frontier Days during the day. Departure in the late afternoon for Estes Park 2-hour drive Night in Estes Park
Day 5: Hiking in the Rocky Mountains Nights in Estes Park
Day 6: Estes Park > Glenwood Springs We’ll take the day to drive the scenic route and stop at various viewpoints. Night in Glenwood Springs
Day 7: Glenwood Springs Hiking the Hanging Lake Trail + relaxing in the hot springs Night in Glenwood Springs
Day 8: Glenwood Springs > Montrose Visit Colorado NM along the way 3.5-hour drive Night in Montrose
Day 9: Black Canyon Night in Montrose
Day 10: Montrose > Farmington Visit Durango (without taking the train), Ouray, or Silverton along the way? 3.5-hour drive Night in Farmington
Day 11: Farmington > Chinle Bisti Badlands until early afternoon 3-hour drive Night in Chinle
Day 12: Chinle > Sedona Canyon de Chelly in the morning 4-hour drive Night in Sedona
Day 13 - 14: Hiking in Sedona Nights in Sedona
Day 15: Sedona > Tucson Saguaro West Park 3.5-hour drive Night at a ranch in Tucson
Day 16 - 17: Tucson City visit in the morning + ranch activities in the afternoon Nights at a ranch in Tucson
Day 18: > Wilcox Chiricahua NP 1-hour drive Night in Wilcox
Day 19: Wilcox > Alamogordo White Sands in the late afternoon 4.5-hour drive Night in Alamogordo
Day 20: Alamogordo > Carlsbad White Sands in the morning Bat viewing in the evening at Carlsbad 4.5-hour drive Night in Carlsbad
Day 21: Carlsbad > Albuquerque Cave visit in the morning Quick stop in Roswell 4.25-hour drive Night in Albuquerque Day 22: Albuquerque > Santa Fe Visit Albuquerque 1-hour drive Night in Santa Fe
Day 23: Santa Fe Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks in the morning Visit Santa Fe in the afternoon Night in Santa Fe
Day 24: Santa Fe Bandelier in the morning Visit Santa Fe in the afternoon Night in Santa Fe
Day 25: Santa Fe > Alamosa Taos Pueblo along the way Great Sand Dunes in the late afternoon Zapata Falls Night in Alamosa
Day 26: Alamosa > Denver 4-hour drive Departure around 7 PM
Looking forward to your suggestions, corrections, and feedback!
Let me introduce myself. I’m 45 and traveling with my husband and my daughter, who’ll be 17 soon. We’re used to road-trip-style vacations, in the US or elsewhere. This will be our 5th trip to the US. We’ve already visited several states: New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Washington DC, Florida, Wyoming, South Dakota, California, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. I’d like to plan another trip starting from Denver to Colorado and New Mexico, which we haven’t explored yet, with a stop in a part of Arizona we haven’t visited before. So, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this itinerary if you’re familiar with the area. We’ll be traveling in the summer of 2026—admittedly not the best time for this route, but it’s the only time we can all get away for long enough. I’m also tied to the dates for Cheyenne Frontier Days, which we want to attend at the start of the trip. Thanks in advance for your input!
Day 1: Departure from Frankfurt > Arrival in Denver around 3 PM. Night in Denver
Day 2: Denver > Cheyenne Quick visit to Denver Drive to Cheyenne in the late afternoon 2-hour drive Night in Cheyenne Day 3: Cheyenne Frontier Days Night in Cheyenne
Day 4: Cheyenne > Estes Park (Rocky Mountains) Frontier Days during the day. Departure in the late afternoon for Estes Park 2-hour drive Night in Estes Park
Day 5: Hiking in the Rocky Mountains Nights in Estes Park
Day 6: Estes Park > Glenwood Springs We’ll take the day to drive the scenic route and stop at various viewpoints. Night in Glenwood Springs
Day 7: Glenwood Springs Hiking the Hanging Lake Trail + relaxing in the hot springs Night in Glenwood Springs
Day 8: Glenwood Springs > Montrose Visit Colorado NM along the way 3.5-hour drive Night in Montrose
Day 9: Black Canyon Night in Montrose
Day 10: Montrose > Farmington Visit Durango (without taking the train), Ouray, or Silverton along the way? 3.5-hour drive Night in Farmington
Day 11: Farmington > Chinle Bisti Badlands until early afternoon 3-hour drive Night in Chinle
Day 12: Chinle > Sedona Canyon de Chelly in the morning 4-hour drive Night in Sedona
Day 13 - 14: Hiking in Sedona Nights in Sedona
Day 15: Sedona > Tucson Saguaro West Park 3.5-hour drive Night at a ranch in Tucson
Day 16 - 17: Tucson City visit in the morning + ranch activities in the afternoon Nights at a ranch in Tucson
Day 18: > Wilcox Chiricahua NP 1-hour drive Night in Wilcox
Day 19: Wilcox > Alamogordo White Sands in the late afternoon 4.5-hour drive Night in Alamogordo
Day 20: Alamogordo > Carlsbad White Sands in the morning Bat viewing in the evening at Carlsbad 4.5-hour drive Night in Carlsbad
Day 21: Carlsbad > Albuquerque Cave visit in the morning Quick stop in Roswell 4.25-hour drive Night in Albuquerque Day 22: Albuquerque > Santa Fe Visit Albuquerque 1-hour drive Night in Santa Fe
Day 23: Santa Fe Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks in the morning Visit Santa Fe in the afternoon Night in Santa Fe
Day 24: Santa Fe Bandelier in the morning Visit Santa Fe in the afternoon Night in Santa Fe
Day 25: Santa Fe > Alamosa Taos Pueblo along the way Great Sand Dunes in the late afternoon Zapata Falls Night in Alamosa
Day 26: Alamosa > Denver 4-hour drive Departure around 7 PM
Looking forward to your suggestions, corrections, and feedback!
Hi everyone,
I’m planning a three-week road trip in the American West, starting from Las Vegas, roughly following the two-week itinerary here. I like the loop idea, but since I’ve got an extra week, I’m wondering if it’s better to take time for a break in a city or just spread out the stops a bit. Is it worth staying a few days in another big city like Denver to break up the drive? I like cities, but nothing’s really inspiring me. I’m also hesitant about Canyonlands National Park: is it really worth two days or more, or is it less impressive than others like Arches or Bryce Canyon? If any of you have done a longer road trip in this region, I’d love your advice on where to extend the trip, where to relax a bit, and which lesser-known spots are worth the detour. Thanks!
Hi there,
Alright, here’s my own road book for 3 weeks (late June – mid-July 2025) — looking forward to your feedback!
We’re not hikers or hardcore adventurers, so I’ve focused the itinerary on what we consider the essentials. We’re flying into SF and out of Las Vegas (because of airfare prices!) and also because I’m skipping Yosemite (doesn’t really tempt us). I’m planning a day trip to Death Valley from LV (been there before — it lets you see the highlights, and that was enough for me at the time). We’re not going as far as Canyon de Chelly — already done, and it didn’t really wow me. Just to note, this is pretty similar to a trip I’ve done before that worked well for us, but I’m open to tweaking it based on your suggestions. The duration (23 days) isn’t flexible — even one extra day sends the ticket prices skyrocketing.
Here’s what it looks like: Day 1: Arrival in SF Day 2 – Day 4: SF Day 5: Monterey (the Aquarium and the bay) – Overnight in Monterey Day 6 – Day 7: Drive down Highway 1 to Los Angeles – Overnight Day 6, e.g., in St. Simeon or nearby, and Day 7 in LA Day 8 – Day 9: LA (possibly an extra day) – Overnights in LA Day 10: Drive to Kingman and sightseeing – Overnight in Kingman Day 11: Drive to Grand Canyon and start exploring GC – Overnight in Tusayan Day 12: Explore GC – Overnight in Tusayan Day 13: Drive to Monument Valley and visit – Overnight nearby (Mexican Hat, Kayenta, etc.) Day 14: More sightseeing in the area (Valley of the Gods, Gooseneck Park) and drive to Mesa Verde – Overnight in Cortez Day 15: Visit Mesa Verde – Overnight in Cortez Day 16: Drive to Page and sightseeing – Overnight in Page Day 17: Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend – Overnight in Page Day 18: Drive to Bryce Canyon NP and start exploring Bryce – Overnight in the area! Day 19: Explore Bryce => Question: It’s a 2.5-hour drive from Page to Bryce. If we leave early, can we see the highlights of Bryce on Day 18 and skip Day 19? I’ll admit, I don’t remember much (it was back in 2009!) Day 20: Drive to Las Vegas with stops along the way (a quick detour to Zion just to say we’ve been, Valley of Fire) – Overnight in LV Day 21: LV; Cirque du Soleil show in the evening – Overnight in LV Day 22: Day trip to Death Valley (or a lazy day and outlet shopping!) – Overnight in LV Day 23: Flight back at 4:10 PM, which still gives us time to enjoy the morning.
What do you think? Best regards,
Alright, here’s my own road book for 3 weeks (late June – mid-July 2025) — looking forward to your feedback!
We’re not hikers or hardcore adventurers, so I’ve focused the itinerary on what we consider the essentials. We’re flying into SF and out of Las Vegas (because of airfare prices!) and also because I’m skipping Yosemite (doesn’t really tempt us). I’m planning a day trip to Death Valley from LV (been there before — it lets you see the highlights, and that was enough for me at the time). We’re not going as far as Canyon de Chelly — already done, and it didn’t really wow me. Just to note, this is pretty similar to a trip I’ve done before that worked well for us, but I’m open to tweaking it based on your suggestions. The duration (23 days) isn’t flexible — even one extra day sends the ticket prices skyrocketing.
Here’s what it looks like: Day 1: Arrival in SF Day 2 – Day 4: SF Day 5: Monterey (the Aquarium and the bay) – Overnight in Monterey Day 6 – Day 7: Drive down Highway 1 to Los Angeles – Overnight Day 6, e.g., in St. Simeon or nearby, and Day 7 in LA Day 8 – Day 9: LA (possibly an extra day) – Overnights in LA Day 10: Drive to Kingman and sightseeing – Overnight in Kingman Day 11: Drive to Grand Canyon and start exploring GC – Overnight in Tusayan Day 12: Explore GC – Overnight in Tusayan Day 13: Drive to Monument Valley and visit – Overnight nearby (Mexican Hat, Kayenta, etc.) Day 14: More sightseeing in the area (Valley of the Gods, Gooseneck Park) and drive to Mesa Verde – Overnight in Cortez Day 15: Visit Mesa Verde – Overnight in Cortez Day 16: Drive to Page and sightseeing – Overnight in Page Day 17: Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend – Overnight in Page Day 18: Drive to Bryce Canyon NP and start exploring Bryce – Overnight in the area! Day 19: Explore Bryce => Question: It’s a 2.5-hour drive from Page to Bryce. If we leave early, can we see the highlights of Bryce on Day 18 and skip Day 19? I’ll admit, I don’t remember much (it was back in 2009!) Day 20: Drive to Las Vegas with stops along the way (a quick detour to Zion just to say we’ve been, Valley of Fire) – Overnight in LV Day 21: LV; Cirque du Soleil show in the evening – Overnight in LV Day 22: Day trip to Death Valley (or a lazy day and outlet shopping!) – Overnight in LV Day 23: Flight back at 4:10 PM, which still gives us time to enjoy the morning.
What do you think? Best regards,
Hi everyone,
I’m planning a trip to Canada this fall. I have 19 days total. The trip will start in Quebec, then continue to Gaspésie, New Brunswick, and finally Nova Scotia. I’ve already mapped out my itinerary, and it only leaves me with 3 days (including the departure day) in Nova Scotia. We’ll be flying out of Halifax for the return. That’s really not much time—just enough to see Halifax and the surrounding area.
I’d love to hear your thoughts: would it be better to cut some days from Gaspésie or New Brunswick to have more time in Nova Scotia? Do you think I’d be missing out by not spending more time in the region?
Thanks in advance to anyone who’s visited these parts and takes the time to reply.
I’m planning a trip to Canada this fall. I have 19 days total. The trip will start in Quebec, then continue to Gaspésie, New Brunswick, and finally Nova Scotia. I’ve already mapped out my itinerary, and it only leaves me with 3 days (including the departure day) in Nova Scotia. We’ll be flying out of Halifax for the return. That’s really not much time—just enough to see Halifax and the surrounding area.
I’d love to hear your thoughts: would it be better to cut some days from Gaspésie or New Brunswick to have more time in Nova Scotia? Do you think I’d be missing out by not spending more time in the region?
Thanks in advance to anyone who’s visited these parts and takes the time to reply.
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Florida at the end of October with our 2- and 4-year-olds. I’d love to get your thoughts on the itinerary we’re considering.
Since we’re traveling with little ones, we’re keeping the number of stops limited to make things easier for them and avoid packing and unpacking every day.
Here’s the plan so far: Day 1: Land in Orlando at 6 PM Day 2: Orlando (rest day) Day 3: Disney World (Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party starting at 4 PM, so we’ll pick one Disney park for the day) Day 4: Orlando > Anna Maria Island (stopping in St. Petersburg) Day 5: Anna Maria Island Day 6: Anna Maria Island > Fort Myers or Naples Day 7: Fort Myers or Naples Day 8: Visit Sanibel and stay overnight in Fort Myers or Naples Day 9: Fort Myers or Naples > Miami (via Shark Valley) Day 10: Miami Day 11: Miami > Keys (stopping in the Everglades?) Day 12: Day trip to Key West Day 13: Keys Day 14: Keys and return to the airport in the evening for our flight
For the Keys, I was thinking Marathon or Islamorada might be a good base with kids—less driving on the last day, too. What do you think?
For the 3 nights in Fort Myers or Naples, where do you think is better to stay? We’d like to spend one day on Sanibel and the rest relaxing. We’ve only planned 2 nights in Miami. Is that a mistake? Should we cut one night from Naples/Fort Myers to add an extra night in Miami? If so, maybe skip Sanibel. Also, does ending in the Keys instead of Miami seem like a bad idea? We’d be staying in Marathon or Islamorada, which keeps prices more reasonable since it’s a weekday. Plus, it lets us break up the drive from Naples to the Keys without adding an extra stop near the Everglades, which would mean another hotel change for the kids.
Thanks so much for your help!
Caroline
We’re heading to Florida at the end of October with our 2- and 4-year-olds. I’d love to get your thoughts on the itinerary we’re considering.
Since we’re traveling with little ones, we’re keeping the number of stops limited to make things easier for them and avoid packing and unpacking every day.
Here’s the plan so far: Day 1: Land in Orlando at 6 PM Day 2: Orlando (rest day) Day 3: Disney World (Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party starting at 4 PM, so we’ll pick one Disney park for the day) Day 4: Orlando > Anna Maria Island (stopping in St. Petersburg) Day 5: Anna Maria Island Day 6: Anna Maria Island > Fort Myers or Naples Day 7: Fort Myers or Naples Day 8: Visit Sanibel and stay overnight in Fort Myers or Naples Day 9: Fort Myers or Naples > Miami (via Shark Valley) Day 10: Miami Day 11: Miami > Keys (stopping in the Everglades?) Day 12: Day trip to Key West Day 13: Keys Day 14: Keys and return to the airport in the evening for our flight
For the Keys, I was thinking Marathon or Islamorada might be a good base with kids—less driving on the last day, too. What do you think?
For the 3 nights in Fort Myers or Naples, where do you think is better to stay? We’d like to spend one day on Sanibel and the rest relaxing. We’ve only planned 2 nights in Miami. Is that a mistake? Should we cut one night from Naples/Fort Myers to add an extra night in Miami? If so, maybe skip Sanibel. Also, does ending in the Keys instead of Miami seem like a bad idea? We’d be staying in Marathon or Islamorada, which keeps prices more reasonable since it’s a weekday. Plus, it lets us break up the drive from Naples to the Keys without adding an extra stop near the Everglades, which would mean another hotel change for the kids.
Thanks so much for your help!
Caroline
Hi everyone! 🙂
A little request for help from those who’ve stayed in Sedona—we’ll have almost 3 full days there. I’ve done some research on different sites, but I’m still confused.
It seems that some spots require, in addition to the America the Beautiful Pass (which we’ll already have from the start of our road trip), the Red Rock Day Pass since they’re within Red Rock State Park. This would be for park and parking lot maintenance.
Here are the hikes we’re eyeing: Boynton Canyon, Devil’s Bridge, Birthday Cave, Airport Mesa, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Crescent Moon Ranch.
We won’t be able to do all of them—we’ll have to choose 🤔 and cut some 😢.
On top of that, there are the two scenic drives: Red Rock Scenic Byway and Oak Creek Scenic Drive.
Does the America the Beautiful Pass cover everything, or do we also need the Red Rock Day Pass? And if we do, which hikes require it?
Thanks for your answers, and have a great afternoon! marcalamar 🙂
A little request for help from those who’ve stayed in Sedona—we’ll have almost 3 full days there. I’ve done some research on different sites, but I’m still confused.
It seems that some spots require, in addition to the America the Beautiful Pass (which we’ll already have from the start of our road trip), the Red Rock Day Pass since they’re within Red Rock State Park. This would be for park and parking lot maintenance.
Here are the hikes we’re eyeing: Boynton Canyon, Devil’s Bridge, Birthday Cave, Airport Mesa, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Crescent Moon Ranch.
We won’t be able to do all of them—we’ll have to choose 🤔 and cut some 😢.
On top of that, there are the two scenic drives: Red Rock Scenic Byway and Oak Creek Scenic Drive.
Does the America the Beautiful Pass cover everything, or do we also need the Red Rock Day Pass? And if we do, which hikes require it?
Thanks for your answers, and have a great afternoon! marcalamar 🙂
Hi everyone! 🙂
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 🙂
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,
I’m planning to visit Monument Valley next Saturday after 3 days at the Grand Canyon. I saw on navajonationparks.org that some roads can be tricky during rainy periods. Is anyone there right now who could tell me what the road conditions are like in the park and whether it’s impassable with a regular rental car?
Thanks so much in advance,
Ruby
hi, I'm looking for itinerary ideas starting and ending in Seattle. Of course, I'd like to see at least Yellowstone Park, Mount Rushmore, Devil’s Tower, the town of Cody for a rodeo, and the bison...
If anyone has any suggestions—without taking the same route twice, of course—I’d love to hear them!
Best regards,
Mâchouille
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 there,
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!
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!
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to the Pacific Northwest (USA) and Western Canada this summer. We’ve made some progress planning, but we still have a few questions.
Our trip is mostly nature-focused—hiking, wildlife spotting (ideally bears, orcas/whales, otters, etc.), mountains, forests—and a few days in cities, though we’re not big on museums.
We’re looking at flying into Seattle (cheaper than Vancouver), then renting a car and staying in Airbnbs.
A few years ago, we traveled through eastern Canada/USA (Halifax/Montréal/Boston/Halifax) and ended up driving *way* too much and switching accommodations too often. This time, we’d like to settle in a bit more.
Here’s our current plan:
- 2 nights in Seattle to avoid hitting the road right after the flight. One day for a quick city visit, then we’ll leave early after the second night. -> Heading to Olympic National Park from the south.
- 4 nights near Olympic National Park, likely around Forks. -> Then to Port Angeles and a ferry to Vancouver Island via Victoria (maybe 1 night there).
- 7 nights in Port Alberni, which seems like a central base for exploring Vancouver Island (Tofino, Pacific Rim, Cathedral Grove, etc.). We really want to enjoy the area without constantly packing and unpacking.
The issue is, that brings us to 13–14 nights, and we’d like to spend 2 in Vancouver.
We’re wondering if we should head farther north on the island and add a few more days, or reduce our stay in Port Alberni to explore the north as well.
After that, we’d have about a week left. We’re considering a detour near the Canadian Rockies, then slowly making our way back to Seattle via North Cascades National Park.
Anyway, we’d love your input on all this!
Thanks for your suggestions,
Emilie and Thomas
We’re heading to the Pacific Northwest (USA) and Western Canada this summer. We’ve made some progress planning, but we still have a few questions.
Our trip is mostly nature-focused—hiking, wildlife spotting (ideally bears, orcas/whales, otters, etc.), mountains, forests—and a few days in cities, though we’re not big on museums.
We’re looking at flying into Seattle (cheaper than Vancouver), then renting a car and staying in Airbnbs.
A few years ago, we traveled through eastern Canada/USA (Halifax/Montréal/Boston/Halifax) and ended up driving *way* too much and switching accommodations too often. This time, we’d like to settle in a bit more.
Here’s our current plan:
- 2 nights in Seattle to avoid hitting the road right after the flight. One day for a quick city visit, then we’ll leave early after the second night. -> Heading to Olympic National Park from the south.
- 4 nights near Olympic National Park, likely around Forks. -> Then to Port Angeles and a ferry to Vancouver Island via Victoria (maybe 1 night there).
- 7 nights in Port Alberni, which seems like a central base for exploring Vancouver Island (Tofino, Pacific Rim, Cathedral Grove, etc.). We really want to enjoy the area without constantly packing and unpacking.
The issue is, that brings us to 13–14 nights, and we’d like to spend 2 in Vancouver.
We’re wondering if we should head farther north on the island and add a few more days, or reduce our stay in Port Alberni to explore the north as well.
After that, we’d have about a week left. We’re considering a detour near the Canadian Rockies, then slowly making our way back to Seattle via North Cascades National Park.
Anyway, we’d love your input on all this!
Thanks for your suggestions,
Emilie and Thomas
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.
Thanks so much. The trip would be in fall 2026
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.
Thanks so much. The trip would be in fall 2026
Hi everyone, does anyone know how to get from Victoria to Tofino without a car? (ferry? Bus?)
And once in Tofino, is it easy to get to Pacific Rim Park still without a car?
Also, how do you get to Vancouver from Tofino afterward?
Finally, do you know of any budget-friendly accommodation in Tofino?
Thanks so much for your help!
Hi everyone,
We’re planning to head to Québec on June 11th (departing from CDG) and return around July 3rd, leaving from Toronto—so about 3 weeks there, traveling by rental car.
We’re thinking of stopping in Ottawa to visit a friend.
We’d love to see the "must-see" spots, but not *too* many, along with nature, parks, some short hikes, canoeing, a seaplane ride, and wrapping up with Niagara Falls.
Do you think we can fit all that into the time we have?
What are the spots you’d recommend not missing along our route?
Is a short trip to Gaspésie at the start of our trip worth considering?
Anyway, as you’ve probably guessed, we’re still in the early planning stages and aren’t quite sure how to organize everything 🤪
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice!
Hello,
As always when you're impulsive, you do things first and ask questions later 😇
I booked a round-trip to NYC (Newark) from 10/17 to 11/01, 2025 at a good price. Now I need to figure out what to do 😎
The initial idea was to go to Nashville. Why? I don’t really know. For info, we’ve already been to NYC and Washington D.C.
That said, I opened an Excel sheet and put this together:
D1: Arrival at Newark around 9 PM. Pick up car and overnight near the airport D2/3: Philadelphia D4: Lancaster (Amish Village) then drive to Shenandoah NP. Overnight in the northern part of the park (Front Royal?) D5: Scenic road - Overnight in Charlottesville D6: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Troutville D7: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Boone D8: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Asheville D9: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Gatlinburg D10: Smoky Mountains - Overnight in Gatlinburg
That’s where things get tricky.
If I add 2 nights in Nashville, it really tightens up the end of the trip in terms of mileage.
I thought about doing:
D11/12: Nashville D13: Mammoth Cave > Lexington D14: Fayetteville D15: X D16: Drive back to Newark.
But honestly, I’m not happy with the end.
So I thought about adding Gettysburg by adjusting things and shortening D4, which I felt was too packed: D1: Arrival at Newark around 9 PM. Pick up car and overnight near the airport D2/3: Philadelphia D4: Lancaster (Amish Village) - Overnight in York D5: Gettysburg - Overnight in Front Royal D6: Shenandoah NP Scenic Road - Overnight in Charlottesville D7: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Troutville D8: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Boone D9: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Asheville D10: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Gatlinburg D11: Smoky Mountains - Overnight in Gatlinburg
This leaves me with 5 days to get back to NYC. Maybe via the coast?
What do you think?
I booked a round-trip to NYC (Newark) from 10/17 to 11/01, 2025 at a good price. Now I need to figure out what to do 😎
The initial idea was to go to Nashville. Why? I don’t really know. For info, we’ve already been to NYC and Washington D.C.
That said, I opened an Excel sheet and put this together:
D1: Arrival at Newark around 9 PM. Pick up car and overnight near the airport D2/3: Philadelphia D4: Lancaster (Amish Village) then drive to Shenandoah NP. Overnight in the northern part of the park (Front Royal?) D5: Scenic road - Overnight in Charlottesville D6: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Troutville D7: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Boone D8: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Asheville D9: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Gatlinburg D10: Smoky Mountains - Overnight in Gatlinburg
That’s where things get tricky.
If I add 2 nights in Nashville, it really tightens up the end of the trip in terms of mileage.
I thought about doing:
D11/12: Nashville D13: Mammoth Cave > Lexington D14: Fayetteville D15: X D16: Drive back to Newark.
But honestly, I’m not happy with the end.
So I thought about adding Gettysburg by adjusting things and shortening D4, which I felt was too packed: D1: Arrival at Newark around 9 PM. Pick up car and overnight near the airport D2/3: Philadelphia D4: Lancaster (Amish Village) - Overnight in York D5: Gettysburg - Overnight in Front Royal D6: Shenandoah NP Scenic Road - Overnight in Charlottesville D7: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Troutville D8: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Boone D9: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Asheville D10: Blue Ridge Parkway - Overnight in Gatlinburg D11: Smoky Mountains - Overnight in Gatlinburg
This leaves me with 5 days to get back to NYC. Maybe via the coast?
What do you think?
Hello,
This isn’t our first trip to the USA, which explains why some "classic" spots are missing from this itinerary.
Could you let me know if anything should be changed, and also share your best recommendations for where to stay and how many nights to spend in each place?
We’re leaving in early September and will be there for 13 days, no kids.
Thanks in advance for your feedback, tips, and great deals!
Arrival in L.A.
Joshua Tree
Flagstaff
Grand Canyon
Bryce Canyon
Zion Ntl. Park
Las Vegas (stopover)
Sequoia Ntl. Park
San Simeon
Santa Barbara (2 nights)
L.A. airport
We were lucky enough to explore the American West a few years ago... a VERY fond travel memory. The urge to return to the USA is calling us...
We're heading out in August with our two grown sons: 21 and 18 years old.
We want to discover another part of the US and I found this itinerary on a website:
Day 1 - New Orleans Day 2 - New Orleans Day 3 - Natchez Day 4 - Dallas Day 5 - Dallas Day 6 - Dallas Day 7 - Austin Day 8 - Austin Day 9 - San Antonio Day 10 - San Antonio Day 11 - Houston Day 12 - Houston - NASA Day 13 - Lake Charles Day 14 - Lake Charles Day 15 - Lafayette Day 16 - Lafayette - White Castle Day 17 - White Castle - Vacherie (Oak Alley) Day 18 - New Orleans Day 19 - New Orleans Does this seem like too many cities?
We love: big landscapes, museums, history, and shopping.
What do you think?
Gaetano
We're heading out in August with our two grown sons: 21 and 18 years old.
We want to discover another part of the US and I found this itinerary on a website:
Day 1 - New Orleans Day 2 - New Orleans Day 3 - Natchez Day 4 - Dallas Day 5 - Dallas Day 6 - Dallas Day 7 - Austin Day 8 - Austin Day 9 - San Antonio Day 10 - San Antonio Day 11 - Houston Day 12 - Houston - NASA Day 13 - Lake Charles Day 14 - Lake Charles Day 15 - Lafayette Day 16 - Lafayette - White Castle Day 17 - White Castle - Vacherie (Oak Alley) Day 18 - New Orleans Day 19 - New Orleans Does this seem like too many cities?
We love: big landscapes, museums, history, and shopping.
What do you think?
Gaetano
Hello Everyone!!
Is this American West dream finally going to come true? Illness and the loss of loved ones have forced us to cancel this trip several times over the past few years...
Here’s the rough outline I’m sharing with you—feel free to give constructive feedback!!
From April 20, 2025, to May 5, 2025, that’s 14 days on-site excluding flights.
D20: Flight from Lyon to Phoenix, night in Phoenix L21: Phoenix (visit the zoo, city, Apache Trail? The road is apparently closed??) night in Sedona M22: Sedona, night in Sedona M23: Depart for GC, visit GC, night in GC (no accommodation booked yet, same goes for the following visits) J24: Drive to MV, visit MV, night in Mexican Hat or? V25: End of MV, drive to Page, night in Page S26: Page—Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, night in Page D27: Drive to Bryce, visit Bryce, night? L28: End of Bryce, depart for Zion (I’m wondering if it’s worth visiting Zion at the end of April—since the park is at high altitude, is there a risk of snow? Temperatures?) If we skip Zion, could we plan 2 days for Arches before heading to Bryce? Night in Springdale if Zion, otherwise drive to Valley of Fire, night? M29: Valley of Fire, then drive to LV, night in LV M30: Morning in LV, then drive to Death Valley, night in Furnace Creek? J1: Visit Death Valley, return to LV, night in LV And then we have 3 days left... where should we add them? More time in Arches and Zion? An extra day in Sedona? In Page? We’re not big hikers, so we won’t spend more than a day in each park.
Just to clarify: passports and ESTA are all set!!
Thanks for your advice! Best regards, Christophe
Is this American West dream finally going to come true? Illness and the loss of loved ones have forced us to cancel this trip several times over the past few years...
Here’s the rough outline I’m sharing with you—feel free to give constructive feedback!!
From April 20, 2025, to May 5, 2025, that’s 14 days on-site excluding flights.
D20: Flight from Lyon to Phoenix, night in Phoenix L21: Phoenix (visit the zoo, city, Apache Trail? The road is apparently closed??) night in Sedona M22: Sedona, night in Sedona M23: Depart for GC, visit GC, night in GC (no accommodation booked yet, same goes for the following visits) J24: Drive to MV, visit MV, night in Mexican Hat or? V25: End of MV, drive to Page, night in Page S26: Page—Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, night in Page D27: Drive to Bryce, visit Bryce, night? L28: End of Bryce, depart for Zion (I’m wondering if it’s worth visiting Zion at the end of April—since the park is at high altitude, is there a risk of snow? Temperatures?) If we skip Zion, could we plan 2 days for Arches before heading to Bryce? Night in Springdale if Zion, otherwise drive to Valley of Fire, night? M29: Valley of Fire, then drive to LV, night in LV M30: Morning in LV, then drive to Death Valley, night in Furnace Creek? J1: Visit Death Valley, return to LV, night in LV And then we have 3 days left... where should we add them? More time in Arches and Zion? An extra day in Sedona? In Page? We’re not big hikers, so we won’t spend more than a day in each park.
Just to clarify: passports and ESTA are all set!!
Thanks for your advice! Best regards, Christophe
Hi everyone,
We’ve been racking our brains for cool ideas/itineraries for our vacation since, whether due to tourist crowds or unsuitable weather in the destination country, summer options aren’t endless (especially since we’re always forced to take most of our vacation time in July/August)...
We thought about combining a short stretch of the U.S. East Coast with Montréal/Niagara Falls/Toronto. The lakes look really pretty, but we’re worried it might feel a bit too familiar, and time-wise, it could get tight (we’d rather not spend our whole trip on the road). Still, we’re also considering a road trip in Western Canada.
What do you think of the plan below? We can add two extra nights somewhere if needed.
Thanks so much in advance!
Have a great day!
Day 1: Arrival in Boston – Night in Boston Day 2: Boston – Night in Boston Day 3: Boston – Night in Boston Day 4: Cambridge / Harvard – Night in Boston Day 5: Salem – Night in Boston Day 6: Newport – Night in Newport Day 7: Newport – Night in Newport Day 8: Cape Cod – Night in Cape Cod Day 9: Cape Cod – Night in Cape Cod Day 10: Flight to Toronto from Boston – Night in Toronto Day 11: Niagara Falls – Night in Toronto Day 12: Toronto-Ottawa – Night in Ottawa Day 13: Parc Omega – Night in Montréal Day 14: Montréal – Night in Montréal Day 15: Montréal – Night in Montréal Day 16: Montréal – Night in Montréal Day 17: Montréal – Night in Montréal
We’ve been racking our brains for cool ideas/itineraries for our vacation since, whether due to tourist crowds or unsuitable weather in the destination country, summer options aren’t endless (especially since we’re always forced to take most of our vacation time in July/August)...
We thought about combining a short stretch of the U.S. East Coast with Montréal/Niagara Falls/Toronto. The lakes look really pretty, but we’re worried it might feel a bit too familiar, and time-wise, it could get tight (we’d rather not spend our whole trip on the road). Still, we’re also considering a road trip in Western Canada.
What do you think of the plan below? We can add two extra nights somewhere if needed.
Thanks so much in advance!
Have a great day!
Day 1: Arrival in Boston – Night in Boston Day 2: Boston – Night in Boston Day 3: Boston – Night in Boston Day 4: Cambridge / Harvard – Night in Boston Day 5: Salem – Night in Boston Day 6: Newport – Night in Newport Day 7: Newport – Night in Newport Day 8: Cape Cod – Night in Cape Cod Day 9: Cape Cod – Night in Cape Cod Day 10: Flight to Toronto from Boston – Night in Toronto Day 11: Niagara Falls – Night in Toronto Day 12: Toronto-Ottawa – Night in Ottawa Day 13: Parc Omega – Night in Montréal Day 14: Montréal – Night in Montréal Day 15: Montréal – Night in Montréal Day 16: Montréal – Night in Montréal Day 17: Montréal – Night in Montréal
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?
Thanks in advance for your tips! 🙂
**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?
Thanks in advance for your tips! 🙂
Hi everyone.
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!
That’s all for now.
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!
That’s all for now.
Hi everyone! I’m planning to spend about a week in Vancouver in September. I’d love all your tips for exploring the city to the fullest, plus recommendations for well-located hotels that are safe and not too expensive—since I’m traveling solo, it’s frustrating that rooms often cost the same whether it’s for one or two people...
Also, what are some great things to do outside Vancouver once I’m there?
Thanks for your suggestions!
Also, what are some great things to do outside Vancouver once I’m there?
Thanks for your suggestions!
Hello hello,
After several trips to the American West, we’ve booked our next tickets to Texas!!! We’ll be leaving in mid-October and arriving in Dallas.
After reading several forums/blogs about Texas, I sketched out what our road trip might look like. But here’s the thing—big snag on Day 13!!!
Could you please help me with this plan? Let me know if my draft seems doable or if, on the contrary, the timing is too tight, if I’ve missed any important spots, etc.
We’re traveling as a family with our little ones (3 and 9 years old). We’re not big fans of big cities—we prefer hitting the road, doing hikes, driving on backroads, and we’d love to spend Halloween in a small, friendly town to really experience it.
Here’s my itinerary:
Dallas (overnight since we arrive at 8:30 PM)
Dallas/Fort Worth (overnight in FW or nearby)
FW/Amarillo (overnight in Amarillo)
Amarillo (another night in Amarillo)
Amarillo/Palo Duro Canyon SP/Roswell (overnight nearby or in Roswell)
Roswell (another night?)
Roswell/White Sands (overnight nearby)
White Sands/Carlsbad (overnight nearby)
Carlsbad/Guadalupe Mountains (overnight nearby)
Guadalupe Mountains/Marfa/Alpine (overnight in Alpine)
Alpine/Terlingua (3 nights)
Big Bend NP
Big Bend NP
Big Bend NP/???
And that’s where things get tricky…
What should we do next?
I was thinking of Lost Maple State Park—probably gorgeous with fall colors.
Then head back up to San Antonio, explore the Hill Country, stop in Waco, and make our way back to Dallas?
My husband, though, would love to take a detour to Lafayette, stopping in Houston to visit the Space Center.
Thanks so much for your help! :)
Have a great weekend,
Marie
After days of reading, I've put together the following route... the issue is that we can't find many travelers who've done this exact itinerary. We've already done a road trip on the West Coast.
My round-trip ticket to New Orleans is booked—it's my home base.
What do you think? Too much time spent in some stops, not enough in others? Could I get your thoughts?
My round-trip ticket to New Orleans is booked—it's my home base.
What do you think? Too much time spent in some stops, not enough in others? Could I get your thoughts?
