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!!
Hi there,
I know these aren’t the most popular destinations on the forum, but I thought I’d give it a shot.
I’d love to do a road trip loop next April, and I really want to visit Nashville and Memphis first.
Browsing the forum, I saw that Atlanta / Memphis / Nashville / Charlotte / Charleston / Savannah / Atlanta might be a good route. But I’m only planning to go for 14 days, and it seems like that might be too much. What do you think?
I mostly want to enjoy the music scene in the area and pass through the Smoky Mountains. I know I won’t have much time to stop for hiking, but oh well...
I’m saving Louisiana and New Orleans for another trip.
Thanks to anyone who can help me map out my route and make the most of this part of the U.S. that I don’t know at all yet.
Hello everyone, and a big THANK YOU to all the travelers who took the time to reply to my last post and tell me that doing South India in 28 days was a sweet utopia. My dear friends, you were absolutely right.
After 4 days in Goa, I settled for exploring all of Karnataka and its beautiful UNESCO-listed temples, and I loved it.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu will have to wait until next year when I can take 6 weeks off.
But the purpose of this post is to ask you which guide or website would be best to prepare for the BLUES TRAIL I’d like to do in September or October 2025 over a month: 3 weeks to travel the route, enjoy Nashville a bit too, and the last week to explore Louisiana. I saw that *Le Routard* has a guide on Louisiana. Where else can I find more info?
Thanks so much for your help. Take care of yourselves and happy travels. Régine
But the purpose of this post is to ask you which guide or website would be best to prepare for the BLUES TRAIL I’d like to do in September or October 2025 over a month: 3 weeks to travel the route, enjoy Nashville a bit too, and the last week to explore Louisiana. I saw that *Le Routard* has a guide on Louisiana. Where else can I find more info?
Thanks so much for your help. Take care of yourselves and happy travels. Régine
Hello,
After much hesitation about the direction, we finally bought our flight tickets (we splurged on Premium): it’ll be a 15-day road trip starting from Los Angeles in June 2025. We want to do our "farewell tour" by saying goodbye one last time to the landscapes of the "Grand Circle" that amazed and fascinated us during 4 trips between 2008 and 2012.
Practical question for choosing a vehicle (possibly a Toyota RAV4 from Alamo): should we opt for the GPS supplement (over 200 € for 15 days; they only "gift" the second driver)?
In our previous trips, we didn’t have one, and we don’t really remember struggling in L.A., San Francisco, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, or Denver. It would mainly be useful for driving through Los Angeles at the start and end of the trip, but not really elsewhere...
On the other hand, I’m thinking that there must be few vehicles without GPS in service in the U.S. these days, and maybe an upgrade at pickup isn’t out of the question (?). If that doesn’t happen and we have last-minute regrets, can we change our minds and take the option without being too financially penalized compared to booking in advance?
That’s the (very 😉) little dilemma of the moment. Thanks for your insights and advice!
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.
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.
Hello,
we rented a car with Alamo that we’ll pick up in Las Vegas.
However, for the basic rental, it’s not clear whether there’s a deductible in case of damage...
For the included CDW, they just state this, and it doesn’t help much if the basic CDW includes a zero deductible:
Thanks if you’ve had any feedback or clarifications that could help me.
The Damage Waiver (DW) is not insurance. Purchasing the DW is optional and not required to rent a vehicle. You may also purchase optional DW for an additional fee. If you purchase DW, we agree, subject to the actions listed in the rental agreement that void the DW, to contractually release you from all or part of the costs resulting from damage, loss, or theft of the vehicle. The Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) is not valid for damages occurring in Mexico. Before deciding whether to purchase LDW, it is recommended that you consult your insurer or a representative of your credit card company to determine if, in the event of damage or theft of the vehicle, you are protected against costs arising from such incidents and if you benefit from a deductible waiver. For rentals in California, the cost of collision damage waiver (CDW) ranges from $16.99 to $500.00 per day depending on the type of vehicle rented."
The Damage Waiver (DW) is not insurance. Purchasing the DW is optional and not required to rent a vehicle. You may also purchase optional DW for an additional fee. If you purchase DW, we agree, subject to the actions listed in the rental agreement that void the DW, to contractually release you from all or part of the costs resulting from damage, loss, or theft of the vehicle. The Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) is not valid for damages occurring in Mexico. Before deciding whether to purchase LDW, it is recommended that you consult your insurer or a representative of your credit card company to determine if, in the event of damage or theft of the vehicle, you are protected against costs arising from such incidents and if you benefit from a deductible waiver. For rentals in California, the cost of collision damage waiver (CDW) ranges from $16.99 to $500.00 per day depending on the type of vehicle rented."
Hi there,
We decided this week to use our miles for a trip to Phoenix. We're putting our itinerary together in a hurry, and it's not coming together at all. I'd really appreciate some help if possible, please.
Back in 2007, we did a classic trip: LA, Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce, Zion, Las Vegas, Yosemite, and San Francisco. This time, we only have two weeks and don’t want to rush from one place to another...
(*-sites not yet visited) Arriving in Phoenix tomorrow morning - Monday the 14th - and leaving for Paris on Monday the 29th. - 14/09: Phoenix* - 2 nights to recover from the trip > Heard Museum, Botanical Garden, Downtown... - 16th: Flagstaff* (Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot Nat. Monument along the way) - 17th-20th: 3 nights at Grand Canyon - Maswik And here’s where it starts getting really messy: - 21st, 22nd... Monument Valley - 23rd... Canyon de Chelly* - 24th, 25th: Petrified Forest, Painted Desert* - 26th-27th: Sedona* - lots of hiking options - 28th: Evening in Phoenix, flight at 3 PM
If Monument Valley isn’t very doable this week because of rain, maybe it’d be better to go somewhere else, like straight to Canyon de Chelly, or even completely different—Zion (great hikes), Valley of Fire, Las Vegas, a night somewhere to break up the drive, Sedona, and then depart from Phoenix. Since this trip is last-minute, we’re a bit disorganized and would really appreciate any advice. Aside from Phoenix and the Grand Canyon, we haven’t booked any hotels yet, so it’s still flexible.
Thanks so much in advance!! Ruby
Back in 2007, we did a classic trip: LA, Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce, Zion, Las Vegas, Yosemite, and San Francisco. This time, we only have two weeks and don’t want to rush from one place to another...
(*-sites not yet visited) Arriving in Phoenix tomorrow morning - Monday the 14th - and leaving for Paris on Monday the 29th. - 14/09: Phoenix* - 2 nights to recover from the trip > Heard Museum, Botanical Garden, Downtown... - 16th: Flagstaff* (Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot Nat. Monument along the way) - 17th-20th: 3 nights at Grand Canyon - Maswik And here’s where it starts getting really messy: - 21st, 22nd... Monument Valley - 23rd... Canyon de Chelly* - 24th, 25th: Petrified Forest, Painted Desert* - 26th-27th: Sedona* - lots of hiking options - 28th: Evening in Phoenix, flight at 3 PM
If Monument Valley isn’t very doable this week because of rain, maybe it’d be better to go somewhere else, like straight to Canyon de Chelly, or even completely different—Zion (great hikes), Valley of Fire, Las Vegas, a night somewhere to break up the drive, Sedona, and then depart from Phoenix. Since this trip is last-minute, we’re a bit disorganized and would really appreciate any advice. Aside from Phoenix and the Grand Canyon, we haven’t booked any hotels yet, so it’s still flexible.
Thanks so much in advance!! Ruby
Hi,
Bad news for foreign visitors 🙁. No info yet on when this will take effect or the cost of the Beautiful Pass, currently at $80.
United States: Donald Trump raises national park entry fees... for foreigners
Not exactly the best Independence Day news 🙁
Bad news for foreign visitors 🙁. No info yet on when this will take effect or the cost of the Beautiful Pass, currently at $80.
United States: Donald Trump raises national park entry fees... for foreigners
Not exactly the best Independence Day news 🙁
We're planning a trip through Louisiana and would love to do a food and history tour led by a guide—but I’m only finding options in English. Do any of you have recommendations for an experience where the guide spoke French and the food was good?
Thanks for your help
Hi there,
We’d like to explore New Orleans on our own. Travel agencies keep pushing car rentals, but we’d rather get around using public transportation. Any tips would be much appreciated!
Chantal
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?

Hi everyone,
I’m traveling with my family to LAS VEGAS to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Are there taxis or buses running from the Strip to the Fremont Street Experience on the evening of December 31, 2024?
I’m traveling with my family to LAS VEGAS to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Are there taxis or buses running from the Strip to the Fremont Street Experience on the evening of December 31, 2024?
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
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! !
We’re two couples planning a 15-day road trip in Louisiana. Do you think 15 days is too long? I’ve seen on some sites that a week is enough.
Can we extend our trip to include Texas, or is that unrealistic?
Thanks for your help!😊
Hi everyone!
First time for me in the States from March 24 to April 7, 2025—only 15 days, so choices have to be made. I want to explore part of the West, but obviously planning the route is the trickiest part, so here’s what I’ve come up with and where I have doubts:
-Leaving Paris for LA
1 or 2 nights to visit
-Heading to Vegas, where one couple would go by motorcycle (they’re fans and want the thrill of Route 66) and another by plane (I won’t linger here either—1 or 2 days max!)
Then, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, all by rental car for everyone, so the motorcycle gets returned in Vegas.
Now here’s where it gets tricky: either I continue the road trip through the big parks to finish in San Francisco (but it doesn’t seem like the best time—might be too cold), or I head down to San Diego for the return flight. But which itinerary? Kingman, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, and San Diego—does that make sense? Is it better to go back to Vegas to take a plane or drive the whole way?
So many questions—your help and advice would be super welcome! Thanks in advance, Anne from Périgord Noir
Now here’s where it gets tricky: either I continue the road trip through the big parks to finish in San Francisco (but it doesn’t seem like the best time—might be too cold), or I head down to San Diego for the return flight. But which itinerary? Kingman, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, and San Diego—does that make sense? Is it better to go back to Vegas to take a plane or drive the whole way?
So many questions—your help and advice would be super welcome! Thanks in advance, Anne from Périgord Noir
Hi everyone,
After already exploring the West, which was amazing, I’ve got a new plan—I’d like to visit Texas and Tennessee.
I want to start in Las Vegas, revisit Monument Valley, and head toward Dallas, stopping in Albuquerque and other cool spots along the way.
Then, I’ll leave Dallas for Nashville, with several stops in between—any suggestions on where to go?
Do you think 20 days is enough for this trip?
Thanks for your input!
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
Hi everyone,
Quick question—I’m heading to New York soon and I’d love to know if you guys have any recommendations for websites where I can buy concert tickets?
Quick question—I’m heading to New York soon and I’d love to know if you guys have any recommendations for websites where I can buy concert tickets?
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).
Return to France: Dallas-Montpellier via CDG.
Cheers!
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).
Return to France: Dallas-Montpellier via CDG.
Cheers!
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
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 Tutti !
Encore assez éloignée mais la date approche.
En résumé,
Esta Check Tickets AF Check Parking Longue durée Montpellier Check Location Auto via Hertz BSP Check Arrosage du citronnier en notre absence check Plus de chats check Vérification niveau d'eau piscine check Régime alimentaire préparatoire en cours Check List finale en cours Matos photos, Z8 + 24/70+70/200 + Panasonic compact + DJI Pocket 3 + Dashcam voiture check Road Book, en cours. Analyse météo en cours. (Feux de Forêts à suivre) A prévoir : Levé tôt pour les photos sur place (5/6heures locales)
31 Juillet Montpellier-CDG-Dallas Hôtel Fort Worth et Walmart
1er Aout Stockyards, les vaches, les boutiques, les restos... Soir, Old Town si pas fatigués.
2 Aout Musée Medal of Honor Ranch JR pour Madame Soir, Old Town si pas fatigués.
3 Aout Vers Houston On prend l'air au bord de l'eau
4 Aout Space center + golfe du Mexique ou d'Amérique selon les gouts.
5 Aout Vers San Antonio Photos soir Alamo
6 Aout Le tour des missions en vélo (enfin on verra)
7 Aout Vers Fort Stockton pour nuit étape Soirée en ville ou apéro hôtel au frais
8 aout Vers El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains Old city le soir, apéro light
9 Aout White Sand aux aurores et Musée Espace Alamogordo Scénic drive El Paso le soir après ou avant apéro.
10 Aout Vers Tucson Old city le soir, apéro light
11 Aout Prima Air Museum Old Tucson Studios Old city le soir, apéro light
12 Aout Tombstone Bisbee
13 Aout Sagaro National Park Old city le soir, apéro light
14 Aout Vers Sedona par Apache Trail ou Roosevelt Dam par l'Est Old city le soir, apéro light
15 Aout Road Trip Sedona, Flagstaff, Williams et retour Couché de soleil Airport
16 Aout Une virée sur Grand Canyon déjà vu mais on y retourne. Une boucle de balade
17 Aout Anniversaire de mon épouse surnommée le Prime Minister. Si j'oublie, je suis mort. Vers Albuquerque. Ce n'est pas à coté. Old city le soir, apéro light
18 Aout Santa Fe et retour par Los Alamos à voir.
19 Aout Albuquerque City. Musée des Snakes !!! Au pays des Crotales !
20 Aout Vers Amarillo Old city le soir, apéro light 6th Street et apéro
21 Aout Musées et Big Texas Ranch Steak !!! Old city le soir, apéro light si digestion terminée
22 Aout Vers Dallas Old city le soir, apéro light
23 Aout Musée JFK Et divers
24 aout Dallas Downtown en cours d'évaluation
25 Aout Retour France
26 Aout Arrivée Montpellier.
Et de toute façon, tout est modulable au jour le jour.
Il va faire chaud, c'est sûr. Sieste prévue de tout façon. Nous n'avons plus vingt ans ...
Tchuuss.
Encore assez éloignée mais la date approche.
En résumé,
Esta Check Tickets AF Check Parking Longue durée Montpellier Check Location Auto via Hertz BSP Check Arrosage du citronnier en notre absence check Plus de chats check Vérification niveau d'eau piscine check Régime alimentaire préparatoire en cours Check List finale en cours Matos photos, Z8 + 24/70+70/200 + Panasonic compact + DJI Pocket 3 + Dashcam voiture check Road Book, en cours. Analyse météo en cours. (Feux de Forêts à suivre) A prévoir : Levé tôt pour les photos sur place (5/6heures locales)
31 Juillet Montpellier-CDG-Dallas Hôtel Fort Worth et Walmart
1er Aout Stockyards, les vaches, les boutiques, les restos... Soir, Old Town si pas fatigués.
2 Aout Musée Medal of Honor Ranch JR pour Madame Soir, Old Town si pas fatigués.
3 Aout Vers Houston On prend l'air au bord de l'eau
4 Aout Space center + golfe du Mexique ou d'Amérique selon les gouts.
5 Aout Vers San Antonio Photos soir Alamo
6 Aout Le tour des missions en vélo (enfin on verra)
7 Aout Vers Fort Stockton pour nuit étape Soirée en ville ou apéro hôtel au frais
8 aout Vers El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains Old city le soir, apéro light
9 Aout White Sand aux aurores et Musée Espace Alamogordo Scénic drive El Paso le soir après ou avant apéro.
10 Aout Vers Tucson Old city le soir, apéro light
11 Aout Prima Air Museum Old Tucson Studios Old city le soir, apéro light
12 Aout Tombstone Bisbee
13 Aout Sagaro National Park Old city le soir, apéro light
14 Aout Vers Sedona par Apache Trail ou Roosevelt Dam par l'Est Old city le soir, apéro light
15 Aout Road Trip Sedona, Flagstaff, Williams et retour Couché de soleil Airport
16 Aout Une virée sur Grand Canyon déjà vu mais on y retourne. Une boucle de balade
17 Aout Anniversaire de mon épouse surnommée le Prime Minister. Si j'oublie, je suis mort. Vers Albuquerque. Ce n'est pas à coté. Old city le soir, apéro light
18 Aout Santa Fe et retour par Los Alamos à voir.
19 Aout Albuquerque City. Musée des Snakes !!! Au pays des Crotales !
20 Aout Vers Amarillo Old city le soir, apéro light 6th Street et apéro
21 Aout Musées et Big Texas Ranch Steak !!! Old city le soir, apéro light si digestion terminée
22 Aout Vers Dallas Old city le soir, apéro light
23 Aout Musée JFK Et divers
24 aout Dallas Downtown en cours d'évaluation
25 Aout Retour France
26 Aout Arrivée Montpellier.
Et de toute façon, tout est modulable au jour le jour.
Il va faire chaud, c'est sûr. Sieste prévue de tout façon. Nous n'avons plus vingt ans ...
Tchuuss.
Dans tes "check", tu ne prévois pas le repérage des points GPS pour te faciliter la tâche sur place?
Non , pas de points GPS. Je balade simplement pas de randos. Je suis un vieil instructeur topo, donc je me sers de cartes plutôt. Mais je retiens ta remarque. Why not. Cdt.
Non , pas de points GPS. Je balade simplement pas de randos. Je suis un vieil instructeur topo, donc je me sers de cartes plutôt. Mais je retiens ta remarque. Why not. Cdt.
Dans tes "check", tu ne prévois pas le repérage des points GPS pour te faciliter la tâche sur place?
Ca impressionne toujours une road map comme celle-ci à lire…il y des bornes et des bornes, mais c’est aussi pour ça que l’on fait se genre de truc…..et de vrai paysages de dingue…..
Ca impressionne toujours une road map comme celle-ci à lire...il y des bornes et des bornes, mais c’est aussi pour ça que l’on fait se genre de truc.....et de vrai paysages de dingue.....
Yes ! Je privilégie les routes secondaires pour les balades. Et surtout pour la 66 entre Albuquerque et Amarillo.
La Dashcam est prévue pour les routes sympas et les photos lors des arrêts impromptus ou programmés. Chaque jour (en ce moment), je prépare ma route sur Google Maps pour repérer les lieux à voir.
Tout est quasiment prêt. Sauf que je viens de vérifier mes billets AF et je rentre de Paris CDG vers Montpellier en TGV au lieu d'un vol ! J'ai du m....r à un moment où je ne n'ai pas été assez concentré. Je vais donc passer la journée au téléphone pour tenter d'y voir plus clair... 🤪
Une galère de plus...
Yes ! Je privilégie les routes secondaires pour les balades. Et surtout pour la 66 entre Albuquerque et Amarillo.
La Dashcam est prévue pour les routes sympas et les photos lors des arrêts impromptus ou programmés. Chaque jour (en ce moment), je prépare ma route sur Google Maps pour repérer les lieux à voir.
Tout est quasiment prêt. Sauf que je viens de vérifier mes billets AF et je rentre de Paris CDG vers Montpellier en TGV au lieu d'un vol ! J'ai du m....r à un moment où je ne n'ai pas été assez concentré. Je vais donc passer la journée au téléphone pour tenter d'y voir plus clair... 🤪
Une galère de plus...
À Albuquerque je recommande le Sandia Peak Tramway, c’est un téléphérique qui monte dans les montagnes, très belle vue et bonne fraîcheur si canicule en bas……
Un musée de vieilles voitures a l’air bien à Santa Rosa sur la 40 ….ou le Bill’s Backyard à Amarillo …mais pas vu, ma femme faisant maintenant un refus d’obstacle pour la 66……pouf pouf
Have fun !!!!!!
Un musée de vieilles voitures a l’air bien à Santa Rosa sur la 40 ….ou le Bill’s Backyard à Amarillo …mais pas vu, ma femme faisant maintenant un refus d’obstacle pour la 66……pouf pouf
Have fun !!!!!!
À Albuquerque je recommande le Sandia Peak Tramway, c’est un téléphérique qui monte dans les montagnes, très belle vue et bonne fraîcheur si canicule en bas......
Un musée de vieilles voitures a l’air bien à Santa Rosa sur la 40 ....ou le Bill’s Backyard à Amarillo ...mais pas vu, ma femme faisant maintenant un refus d’obstacle pour la 66......pouf pouf
Have fun !!!!!!
Je prends les infos.
Au passage, mon souci avec le retour CDG/MPT réglé ce matin avec AF. C'était une erreur de ma part. Mauvaise lecture des propositions de vols disponibles. Bref, une rallonge de 850 euros pour le changement TGV vers Vol direct. Je ne me voyais rentrer en TGV avec 4 valoches et un sac de voyage !! 😉
Un musée de vieilles voitures a l’air bien à Santa Rosa sur la 40 ....ou le Bill’s Backyard à Amarillo ...mais pas vu, ma femme faisant maintenant un refus d’obstacle pour la 66......pouf pouf
Have fun !!!!!!
Je prends les infos.
Au passage, mon souci avec le retour CDG/MPT réglé ce matin avec AF. C'était une erreur de ma part. Mauvaise lecture des propositions de vols disponibles. Bref, une rallonge de 850 euros pour le changement TGV vers Vol direct. Je ne me voyais rentrer en TGV avec 4 valoches et un sac de voyage !! 😉










