Nous avons planifié en août/sept. 2012 un voyage d'env. de 19 jours en Californie. Je vous lis depuis environ 15 jours et je dois dire que plus je cherche sur le forum et plus je ne sais pas quoi faire lors de notre séjour. 😕 C'est la première fois que nous irons aux USA et nous souhaiterions visiter les sites "typiques" de la californie (SFO, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon et Death Valley).
J'ai préparé un circuit sur la base de recherches sur Internet et sur le forum d'après nos envies. Et nous nous posons beaucoup de questions.... Est-ce réaliste en voiture et pas trop stress? Ou bien que me conseillez-vous? En plus, nous ne savons pas comment organiser 1 nuit au Grand Canyon sans forcément revenir sur Vegas...
Je crois que tous les conseils seront les bienvenus 🙂
Jour 1 arrivée à SFO en fin d'après-midi
Jour 2-4 SFO
Jour 5 SFO - Monterey
Jour 6 Monterey - Santa Barbara
Jour 7 Santa Barbara - Los Angeles
Jour 8 LA
Jour 9 LA
Jour 10 LA - Las Vegas
Jour 11 Las Vegas - Grand Canyon
Jour 12 Grand Canyon - Las Vegas
Jour 13 Las Vegas
Jour 14 Las Vegas - Death Valley
Jour 15 Death Valley
Jour 16 Death Valley - Yosemite Park
Jour 17 Yosemite Park
Jour 18 Yosemite Park - SFO
Jour 19 SFO Retour en début de soirée
Aller directement de LA au Grand Canyon, il est inutile de passer 1 fois à LV
2 nuits à Death Valley , c'est beaucoup si vous n'avez pas d"objectif précis vers des endroits reculés
mais une étape entre DV et Yosemite est nécessaire
Un tour jusqu’à"à Monument Valey aurait été pas mal
bern
USA 2018 - Arizona, chez les indiens... https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9061068;#9061068
USA 2014 – Là où vous n'aviez pas pensé aller https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6769327;#6769327
USA 2012 "Au long du Rio Grande" https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=5290732;#5290732
Si les billets d'avion ne sont pas réservés, éviter de faire une boucle, par exemple arriver à Los Angeles et repartir de San Francisco. Cela vous fera sans doute zapper la côte mais vous permettra de rajouter Monument Valley et Bryce Canyon.
Je ne vois pas d'inconvénient au fait de passer deux fois à Vegas. C'est ce qu'on avait fait en 2009 et c'est ce qu'il y a de mieux à faire si on ne veut pas faire d'une seule traite la route entre LA et Grand Canyon.
Pour le reste, pas d'erreur particulière à ton parcours. 2 nuits à Death Valley c'est pas courant mais c'est ce qu'on a fait cette année au mois de juin et sans faire Racetrack Playa on arrive quand même à remplir ces journées. Il faut savoir que Death Valley est grand et que si tu veux aller faire un tour à Ubehebe Crater, ça prend du temps. Jette un œil à mon blog page Death Valley. Concentrez vos visites autant que possible en début de matinée et début de soirée.
Concernant la période, ça sera de mi-août à début septembre. Pour les vols, cela nous coûte trop cher de d'atterir à SFO ou LA et de repartir d'une autre ville. Eh ouiii, j'ai dû faire un compromis avec mon chéri, c'est de voler avec Swiss (il a horreur des vols en avions...). Après réflexion, arriver à LA nous coûterai bien moins cher que SFO.
Sur la base de vos infos et conseils, j'ai refait le parcours, qu'en pensez-vous? Bien entendu, je peux encore mettre un jour supplémentaire, mais où? On aimerait quand même descendre la côte de SFO à LAX... maintenant au point de vue planification si c'est possible quand même.
Merci pour vos nouvelles remarques :-) et toute belle soirée.
Tiffy85
Jour 1 Zurich - LAX (fin d'après-midi)Jour 2LAXJour 3LAXJour 4LAX - Grand Canyon (mais où dormir?)Jour 5Grand Canyon - Monument Valley (mais où dormir?)Jour 6Monument Valley - Las VegasJour 7Las VegasJour 8Las Vegas - Death ValleyJour 9Death Valley - ?Jour 10? - Yosemite Park (mais où dormir?)Jour 11Yosemite Park - SFOJour 12SFOJour 13SFOJour 14SFOJour 15SFO - MontereyJour 16Monterey - Santa BarbaraJour 17Santa Barbara - LAXJour 18LAX - Zürich (début de soirée)
Pour les vols, cela nous coûte trop cher de d'atterir à SFO ou LA et de repartir d'une autre ville
Hello
Avez-vous coché la case multi-destinations et pas fait les simulations avec 2 allers simples. Il n'y a pas de différence ou presque entre un vol multi-destinations et un vol aller retour. Il m'est même arrivé qu'un vol multi-destinations soit moins cher qu'un aller retour!
Grand Canyon (mais où dormir?)
Grand Canyon Village dans le Parc.
Monument Valley (mais où dormir?)
Par ordre décroissant de prix mais du coup du plus près au plus loin 😛: The View - Goulding's Lodge - Un Motel à Mexican Hat
Jour 6Monument Valley - Las Vegas
Là ça va pas du tout trop grosse journée de route. Vous passez par Page et Zion (et dommage de louper Bryce à quelques encablures de là...). A choisir, c'est bien plus dépayasnt que la Côte Pacifique (qui plus est sous le brouillard 😛).
?Jour 10?
Étape à Lee Vining avec visite de Bodie.
Yosemite Park (mais où dormir?)
El Portal, il y a deux motels: le Cedar Lodge et le Yosemite View.
Pour le moment, je le redis, la boucle vous fait faire beaucoup trop de kilomètres... En 16 jours pleins sur place seulement c'est trop ambitieux.
Faites des simulations en cliquant "multidestinations" sur expedia par exemple.
Nous avons plusieurs fois volé avec Swiss et c'est une des compagnies les moins chères lorsque l'on prend un vol avec escale en Europe : ex Bruxelles/Zurich/USA.
En revanche les vols directs risquent d'être plus chers.... et oui c'est ainsi !
Mon sentiment à propos de votre circuit c'est qu'il me parait fort ambitieux pour 19 jours.
Comme dit plus haut mieux vaudrait arriver à SF et repartir de LA ou inversement.
Autre possibilité : arriver à Las Vegas et repartir de LA en faisant Las Vegas, Death valley/Yosemite/SF/Santa Barbara/ LA ou inversement. La route entre Las Vegas et LA est norme et longue, autant l'éviter.
Autre chose : Faites des recherches sur ce que vous voulez voir et posez vous la question de savoir si 2 jours à LA ce n'est pas trop par apport à SF par exemple !
Bonne prépa 🙂
Carnet de voyage cliquer ICI
" Fais de ta vie un rêve, et d'un rêve, une réalité" St Exupéry
Effectivement, je suis encore une novice dans la réservation des vols outre-atlantiques 😕. A part quelques vols en Europe et une fois en Afrique organisé par une agence intermédiaire, c'est ma première expérience avec ce genre d'aventure.
Alors oui, je confirme. Cliquer sur "destinations multi-vols" nous revient au même prix que d'atterir ou de décoler du même aéroport. MERCI 😊.
Sur la base de vos conseils, de la calculation des km et de recherches sur le net, nous avons modifié notre parcours et renoncons à la côte pacifique pour privilégier la nature.
Le voici une nouvelle fois et j'espère que ça sera le bon plus au moins 🤪. Car vos conseils me font vraiment utiles, car sinon j'aurai certainement réserver qqlch de surréaliste en 18/19 jours.
Jour 1 Zurich-LAX
Jour 2 LAX
Jour 3 LAX
Jour 4 LAX - Calico Ghost Town
Jour 5 Calico - Grand Canyon (nuitée dans le parc)
Jour 6 Visite de Grand Canyon
Jour 7 Grand Canyon - Monument Valley (nuitée à Mexican Hat suite au conseil reçu)
Jour 8 Mexican Hat - Page (Visite du Lake Powell)
Jour 9 Page - Tropic (Visite Bryce Canyon)
Jour 10 Tropic - Las Vegas
Jour 11 Las Vegas
Jour 12 Las Vegas - Lee Vining (conseil reçu et visite de Death Valley)
Jour 13 Lee Vining - Yosemite Park
Jour 14 Visite Yosemite Park
Jour 15 Yosemite Park - SFO
Jour 16 SFO
Jour 17 SFO
Jour 18 SFO - Zurich
Voili 🙂... Merci pour vos nouveaux conseils et de surtout vous avoir pris le temps de me lire.
Voilà c'est déjà beaucoup mieux 😉. Le J12 reste quand même beaucoup trop chargé. A mon avis, fais sauter le J4, rejoignez directement le Grand Canyon. Pour une vraie ville fantôme, visitez Bodie à quelques miles de Lee Vining. Reportez la journée gagnée en faisant Vegas - Death Valley puis Death Valley - Lee Vining avec visite de Bodie.
Pour affiner tes visites tu peux jeter un œil sur mon site aux pages Los Angeles, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Death Valley.
Mon conseil :
Eviter Calico : Surfait , et surtout ne dormez pas là !🙁
Rendez-vous directement à Las Vegas par exemple.
Passez une journée à visiter Bryce Canyon plutôt que le Grand Canyon. La balade est beaucoup plus belle.
A Page, prenez le temps de visiter le upper Antelope Canyon à la visite de 10h30 pour voir les rayons de soleil venir carresser les entrailles du canyon, c'est féérique. Il y a de quoi faire à Page pour une journée, croyez moi ! Vous pouvez aussi aller voir le point de vue à Horse shoes bend et faire un tour en bateau sur le lac en fin de jourée, pour le coucher du soleil...
Rendez-vous directement à Bryce ensuite. Prenez la journée pour visiter (le matin) et vous reposer (l'AM).
Au lieu de Lee Vining, vous avez un petit motel très sympa à Bridgeport, le VIRGINIA CREEK SETTLEMENT, style western mais attention, très peu de chambres, donc réservation impérative. Cela vous permettra de découvrir dès le lendemain matin la ville fantôme de BODIE, une vraie ville fantôme : Génial. voir ICI
Tout comme ITAT je trouve que le jour 12 est long à moins de partir très tôt pour traverser Death Valley car la route jusqu'à Lee Vining est monotone.
Peut-être pouvez-vous sacrifier une journée à LA ?
Bonne prépa.
" Fais de ta vie un rêve, et d'un rêve, une réalité" St Exupéry
Tu dois absolument prevoir une viste de San Francisco.
Consulte le site suivant pour des infos pratique sur la ville:
www.sanfranciscobestof.com
regarde la rubrique excursions
La highway 1 est absolument à faire! Monterrey, Santa Cruz sont des villes à faire.
Dans le nord de San Francisco se trouve le Marin County. Sausalito, tiburon, Napa et Sonoma sont aussi des endroits à visiter.
Bonne visite!
Bonsoir à tous et mille mercis pour vos réponses. Vos conseils sont vraiment utiles 🙂.
Nous avons passé entre hier et aujourd'hui 4 heures à planifier le circuit de 19 jours sur la base de différents conseils et surtout nos envies... Bien entendu, les avis sont souvent différents dus au vécu de chacun d'entre vous. Cependant, on espère que ce circuit est réalisable et tient la route 😛. On arrive à env. 3120 km sans LA.
Jour 1 Zurich - LA (arrivée vers 16h)
Jour 2 LA
Jour 3 LA
Jour 4 LA - Kingman
Jour 5 Kingman - Grand Canyon
Jour 6 Grand Canyon - Mexican Hat (visite Momunent Valley)
Jour 7 Mexican Hat - Page (Horsesho Bend, Lake Powell)
Jour 8 Page - Bryce Canyon
Jour 9 Visite Bryce Canyon (histoire aussi d'avoir une journée tranquille et nous avons vraiment envie d'y passer la journée complète après avoir lu les commentaires sur le site)
Jour 10 Bryce Canyon - Las Vegas
Jour 11 Las Vegas
Jour 12 Las Vegas - Death Valley (nuitée Stovepipes Wells)
Jour 13 Fin de la traversée de Death Valley, route vers Bodie et visite (nuitée à Bridgeport, si nous pouvons encore y réserver une chambre)
Jour 14 Bridgeport - Yosemite
Jour 15 Visite de Yosemite
Jour 16 Yosemite - SFO
Jour 17 SFO
Jour 18 SFO
Jour 19 SFO - Zurich (départ du vol vers 19h)
Qu'en pensez-vous ? Et vous les experts de l'Ouest Américain 😉😉😉???
Merci merci merci beaucoup à vous tous pour vos remarques :-)))))
Nous est conscients que peut-être d'ici août prochain, 1 ou 2 points pourraient changer. Mais d'avoir l'oeil d'un expert de l'ouest Américain nous pousse définitivement à reserver les vols aux dates prévues 🙂. Merci encore et à bientôt pour de nouvelles infos 😎.
Je suis actuellement dans la Sonoma Valley (au dessus de San Francisco) avec mon copain, pour 4 mois. Nous avons donc décidé de visiter cette partie de la…
Je suis étudiant en Design Graphique actuellement en stage à New York. Ma copine et moi avons prévu un road-trip en Californie en Septembre. Ne connaissant pas…
Nous partons mon ami et moi a San Francisco au mois d'avril pour 10 jours. Cependant, nous aurions aimé sortir un peu de la ville, c'est a dire nous rendre au…
Le voyage en Californie arrive à grands pas, mais il reste encore beaucoup d'incertitudes... Les conseils des connaiseurs de cet endroit seront d'une grande…
J'aimerai avoir votre avis sur le circuit que j'ai prévu de faire cet été avec mon copain. Quelques précisions: - les billets d'avion ne sont pas reservés -…
Hello! The itinerary is pretty much set for August 2026. Yeah, I know it’s gonna be *super* hot. But it’s the only time we can get away.
So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas.
Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026:
Car rental – check,
Hotels – check,
Itinerary – almost check,
Photo gear – check,
Budget – check, 🤪
Meal planning – meh, we’ll see...
Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.
And now, without too much detail...
Fort Worth:
The Longhorns and the Stockyards;
JR’s ranch (for the missus);
Medal of Honor Museum – Arlington.
Houston and NASA Space Center:
See the Gulf of Mexico/America.
San Antonio and the missions.
Fort Stockton for an overnight stop.
El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains:
El Paso and White Sands.
Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum:
Tombstone, Bisbee.
Phoenix:
Still working on the program.
Sedona:
Round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) – we’ll decide on the spot.
Albuquerque:
Santa Fe,
Turquoise Trail,
Los Alamos.
Amarillo via Route 66:
Old Route 66 in the city;
Big Texas Ranch Steak 😏.
Dallas:
JFK Museum;
Perot Museum;
West End district.
And through it all – the road, the road, and more road!!!
We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state (we’re not exactly spring chickens).
hi everyone
I’m planning a world trip and I’m looking for great tips on accommodation in the United States.
Do you have any good deals to share, please?
thanks
Hello everyone! Really damaged due to flooding caused by runoff after forest fires (a total mess!), does anyone in this friendly forum have any updates on the Apache Trail between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Dam? Is there still a section of the road that’s tough to navigate?
We're leaving at the end of June and will be driving the route between Buffalo and Cody. We’ve already booked our accommodations and a rodeo in Cody, but during the day, we’ll be driving between the two and I’m unsure about the itinerary.
Which route do you think is the most pleasant, interesting, or scenic between:
- The northern route via Highway 14 with Sheridan, Lowell, etc.
- The southern route with Highways 16/20/14, passing by Loaf Mountain Overlook, Powder River Pass, Ten Sleep Canyon...
We’ll be in a car, so we should be able to drive on any road.
Thanks for your input!
I’m almost done planning our September road trip. After our 3-night visit to Sequoia, we’ll have a stopover night in Coalinga (to break up the drive). We’ll be staying two nights in Monterey and would like to stop along the way to visit one side of Pinnacles National Park. We’re torn between the West entrance and the East entrance, and we’d like to do a short hike of no more than 2 hours since we don’t want to arrive too late in Monterey.
This park is split into two distinct zones with no connection between them, and the mileage from Coalinga to Monterey is pretty much the same for both. Which area do you recommend visiting—east or west? And which route is the most scenic?
I’ve spotted two short hikes:
- East: Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop
- West: Balconies Cliffs Cave Loop
Has anyone been there, or do you have another hike to suggest?
Thanks in advance, and have a great afternoon!
Marcalamar 🙂
After our first trip as a young couple to the West in 2007 (yes, that doesn’t make us any younger!), we’re planning to go back in 2028, but this time as a family of four! (We have two boys who’ll be 5½ and 13 years old in the summer of 2028.)
Our plan is to combine a few big cities (SF and LA, maybe San Diego) with national parks and state parks, mostly!
Ideally, we’d like to leave at the end of June and head back to France around July 19–20, so we can enjoy the first week of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Since we already did the "loop" in 2007, there are must-see places we absolutely want to revisit—and especially share with our kids: Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and above all, the Grand Canyon, which is still the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen on Earth!
On the other hand, some places didn’t leave a big impression on us for various reasons, so we’re not making them a priority: Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, for example.
We’re planning ahead, but might as well be smart about it😏
Do you have any tips for a fun and doable itinerary over about 20–25 days with kids, without rushing?
Hi everyone! 🙂
Just a quick question about King Canyon and Sequoia National Park.
Before our night in Miramonte, we plan to visit King Canyon. The next stop will be two nights in Three Rivers to explore Sequoia National Park. I wanted to go all the way to Roaring River Falls on the King Canyon Scenic Byway and then turn back to head to Miramonte. Since we’re coming from Oakhurst, Google Maps says it’s 300 km and 5 hours of driving. Since we also want to hike to see the sequoias (Big Stump Area and Grand Grove) before tackling the King Canyon Scenic Byway, the timing’s going to be tight. How far do you recommend going before turning back to miss as few points of interest as possible on the King Canyon Scenic Byway? Thanks for your advice, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
Hi everyone!
After years of hoping, waiting, planning, then changing, saving, and searching for the best possible route... we're FINALLY off this summer for a 5-week road trip in the West.
I had planned a trip to Colorado in 2021 but canceled due to COVID, so with time passing and my eldest’s high school graduation approaching fast, I figured it was now or never!
Anyway, the itinerary has been modified and extended to please everyone (I’m no longer the only one making decisions!!)
Here’s our final route:
Day 1 - 7/12/2026 - Brussels / Los Angeles
Day 2 - 7/13/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 3 - 7/14/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 4 - 7/15/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 5 - 7/16/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 6 - 7/17/2026 - Los Angeles / Kingman
Day 7 - 7/18/2026 - Kingman / Grand Canyon
Day 8 - 7/19/2026 - Grand Canyon / Page
Day 9 - 7/20/2026 - Page
Day 10 - 7/21/2026 - Page / Monument Valley
Day 11 - 7/22/2026 - Monument Valley / Durango
Day 12 - 7/23/2026 - Durango
Day 13 - 7/24/2026 - Durango
Day 14 - 7/25/2026 - Durango
Day 15 - 7/26/2026 - Durango / Glenwood Springs
Day 16 - 7/27/2026 - Glenwood Springs
Day 17 - 7/28/2026 - Glenwood Springs / Moab
Day 18 - 7/29/2026 - Moab
Day 19 - 7/30/2026 - Moab
Day 20 - 7/31/2026 - Moab
Day 21 - 8/1/2026 - Moab
Day 22 - 8/2/2026 - Moab / Vernal
Day 23 - 8/3/2026 - Vernal / Grand Teton
Day 24 - 8/4/2026 - Grand Teton
Day 25 - 8/5/2026 - Grand Teton / Cody
Day 26 - 8/6/2026 - Cody / Yellowstone
Day 27 - 8/7/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 28 - 8/8/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 29 - 8/9/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 30 - 8/10/2026 - Yellowstone / Salt Lake City
Day 31 - 8/11/2026 - Salt Lake City / Bryce Canyon
Day 32 - 8/12/2026 - Bryce Canyon / Zion
Day 33 - 8/13/2026 - Zion
Day 34 - 8/14/2026 - Zion
Day 35 - 8/15/2026 - Zion / Las Vegas
Day 36 - 8/16/2026 - Las Vegas
Day 37 - 8/17/2026 - Las Vegas / Los Angeles
Day 38 - 8/18/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 39 - 8/19/2026 - Los Angeles / Brussels
Day 40 - 8/20/2026 - Brussels / Home
We’ll be alternating between house swaps, motels, and campgrounds. I’ve booked all the accommodations (except the campground at Bryce since sunset bookings open only 14 days in advance) and the first activities, as well as the most touristy ones.
I’m currently putting together my day-by-day roadbook and having some trouble planning certain days, like in LA or Las Vegas. Choosing hikes isn’t easy either—it’s tough to decide!
We’re really excited but could definitely use your help with choices and optimizations!!
Hello.
I’d like to travel along I-15N from San Diego to Las Vegas with my mom, who’s 67. We’ve explored Northern California and the California Coast over the past two years and now want to continue through the desert.
There are several attractions along the way:
- Mormon Rocks
- Desert Discovery Center and visit the Old Woman meteorite
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Mojave Desert
- Mojave National Preserve
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Silverwood Lake
My mom has back issues that prevent her from hiking or walking on trails with elevation changes. Is it possible to visit these places by car, or are the routes flat enough?
I’d love for her to experience the desert with an itinerary adapted to her condition. I’m also open to other points of interest that aren’t mentioned. We have 3-4 days for the trip, so we’re not in a rush—just want to explore.
I’d love to take a road trip and visit Nova Scotia. I’d appreciate some info on the best cities to see and the most interesting spots. The trip should last about 10 to 15 days, staying in hotels or motels. Thanks in advance!
We’re being relocated to Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
We’ll be taking the flight from Nantes to Montreal and then from Montreal to Saint Pierre.
Could you recommend a hotel near the departure terminal that allows dogs?
Hi,
My 16-year-old son is flying to Grand Rapids with other kids his age. There’s a layover in Detroit. There’s no unaccompanied minor service available. Is it pretty easy to navigate Detroit Airport to catch the connecting flight to Grand Rapids (domestic flight)? There are several of them who speak English well.
Thanks for your replies,
Good evening, everyone! 🙂
Just a few last questions to wrap up our Lake Tahoe visit plans.
**Parking:**
We’d like to walk to Eagle Falls and then Eagle Lake. I’ve spotted two parking lots that seem close to each other and give access to the trailhead. Where and how do we pay for entry to Emerald Bay State Park and Inspiration Point?
**Viewpoints on the East Side:**
Are most of the viewpoints (Balancing Rock, Granite Cave, Bonsai Rock, etc.) right by the road, or do you have to hike to reach them?
**Donner Memorial State Park:**
Is it worth making a detour to Truckee to visit this park and the Truckee historic downtown?
Hi there. I'm shocked by the price of the Upper Antelope Canyon tour—$175 for less than an hour… You might say, "if you can’t afford it…" But the real question is whether it’s really worth it, because $350 for two makes me feel like I’m getting ripped off. For those who’ve done both Lower and Upper, can you tell me if the price difference is really justified? Thanks
Hi everyone! 🙂
As you can see, we're heading back from September 6th to the 27th.
Everything’s booked for September—flights, accommodations, and the car. As I plan, I’ll be asking the experts for help. This is our second trip to California, but most of the stops are new to us.
We’ll start directly from San Francisco to our first overnight stop, Davis, before heading to Lassen Volcanic Park for 4 nights. Our flight lands at 12:50 PM.
Here’s our itinerary:
Day 1: Davis – overnight stop
Day 2: Red Bluff – exploring Lassen Volcanic Park (scenic drive to Lake Helen)
Day 3: Susanville – scenic drive through the park via the South Entrance, points of interest, and hikes
Day 4: Susanville – Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes hike
Day 5: Susanville – Warner Valley (hikes)
Day 6: South Lake Tahoe
Day 7: South Lake Tahoe
Day 8: Mammoth Lake
Day 9: Mammoth Lake
Day 10: El Portal via Tioga Road
Day 11: El Portal
Day 12: El Portal
Day 13: Oakhurst
Day 14: Miramonte
Day 15: Three Rivers
Day 16: Three Rivers
Day 17: Coalinga
Day 18: Monterey
Day 19: Monterey
Day 20: San Francisco
Day 21: San Francisco
Day 22: Departure
For hikes in Lassen Volcanic Park, I’ve planned:
Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake (Day 2)
Paradise Meadow (maybe not going all the way), Devastated Area, and the loop around Reflection and Manzanita Lakes (Day 3)
Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes (Day 4)
Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Spring Lake (Day 5)
I’ve read there are trails to access the trailheads for Cinder Cone (11 km) and Warner Valley. Are these easy trails for an SUV?
Are there any other must-see spots or things we shouldn’t miss?
That’s where I’m at for now. Thanks for your replies, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
I’m a total USA addict. I’ve already done several road trips, including the East Coast and West Coast.
I’m here today because I’m planning to go back for another road trip on the West Coast. Possibly with one of my sisters and a couple of friends. It’s still just a plan for now, but I’m working on an itinerary in the meantime. Ideally, I’d leave in 2026, but I don’t have the exact dates yet—maybe April-May or September-October.
My last trip to the West Coast was in September 2014. We went for 2 weeks, but this time it’d be 3 weeks. What made me want to go back was simply a colleague who just left today. As I’m writing this, he’s on the plane. I’m so happy for him, but now all I can think about is going back.
Since I recently went to NY, I noticed that prices have really gone up. I assume the same is true for the West Coast? For 2 people over 3 weeks, what budget should I expect? We’re the type to watch our spending and find great tips.
I think we’ll arrive in San Francisco like the first time and leave from either Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
Thanks for advising me on the booking—should I reserve a room in the hotel or go for a cabin for the best view?
Should I get breakfast or not?
What do you think of the restaurant?
Hello, if the off-the-beaten-path enthusiasts are still around 😉, I’d love some info on tackling these trails. I’m not super familiar with the rules, risks, or what to expect—I’m looking for firsthand experience from folks who’ve done it on their own once or multiple times.
Hi everyone!
I’m planning a week-long family trip to NYC in October 2026. The focus is on museums and soaking up the New York vibe. I’ve been checking Airbnb, but the prices in Manhattan are through the roof. Since I don’t know NYC well, is it "wise" to look outside Manhattan? Any neighborhoods you’d recommend?
After our first trip to the West, we’d love to go back to see other must-see spots!
The stay would be from May 11 to 20, 2026—it’s short, but hey...
M11: Lyon to Las Vegas (overnight in Vegas)
T12: Route 66 – overnight in Grand Canyon (GC)
W13: Visit GC – overnight in Page
Th14: Visit Antelope Canyon / Horseshoe Bend – overnight in Monument Valley (MV)
F15: Visit MV – overnight in Moab
Sa16: Visit Arches / Dead Horse Point – overnight in Bryce
Su17: Visit Bryce – overnight in Zion
M18: Visit Zion / Valley of Fire – overnight in Vegas
Tu19: Return flight
What do you think? Could we add one more night somewhere? We’re not big hikers, so we’ll mostly explore the parks using shuttles.
Also, we’re all set—passports are good. Do you think one classic Visa card and one premium Visa card will be enough for coverage?
Thanks so much for your feedback, and happy holidays!
Hi North America forum crew,
Just a little post that might interest some of you:
Travelers to the United States | Photo Now Mandatory Upon Entry and Exit | La Presse
I assume many of you already know, but the America the Beautiful annual pass, which was $80, will increase to $250 starting January 1, 2026.
So if you're planning to travel before the end of December 2026, it's in your best interest to buy your pass in December 2025, since it will still cost $80 and be valid until the end of December 2026 if you purchase it in December 2025.
This price increase only applies to non-U.S. residents.
Additionally, for those who planned to visit just one park, a $100 surcharge per person will apply to access a list of 11 national parks...
For example, if there are 4 of you in a car, you’ll have to pay $35 + $400,
which comes to $435 to visit one of the 11 parks on the list (I don’t have all of them... Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc.).
Total madness.
The goal is to push people who only visit one park into buying the annual pass.
Last point: free entry days are over for non-residents!
Hi everyone, I’m traveling to Los Angeles and would like to rent a vehicle at the airport. However, I have a Boursobank Ultim deferred debit card, so I’d love to know if it’s possible for those who’ve experienced this recently. Thanks for the info!
I’m planning a week in S.F. in April 2026 and I can’t figure out how to tell the cable cars—of which I understand there are three lines—apart from the trams, which I think number seven. I can’t find their individual numbers or routes anywhere.
Could someone shed some light on this for me? Thanks in advance.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2026 full of amazing travels.
Cheers,
Régine
Hi,
I’m planning a road trip through the American national parks starting from Denver in June 2026.
The price of the pass is jumping from 80 € to 250 € on January 1st, 2026!!!
Is it possible to buy the pass online before the end of the year to lock in the 80 € rate? If so, where and how do I go about it?
Thanks for your tips.
Arnale
I’m planning a road trip for July 2026 in northern Florida. Could you let me know if my itinerary makes sense?
Day 1: Orlando
Day 2: Amelia Island
Day 3: Amelia Island
Day 4: Tallahassee
Day 5: Panama City Beach
Day 6: Panama City Beach (visit to Destin)
Day 7: Crystal River (stop in Cedar Key on the way)
Day 8: Crystal River
Day 9: Anna Maria (stop in Clearwater)
Day 10: Anna Maria (St. Pete)
Day 11: Anna Maria
Day 12: Orlando
Day 13: Orlando
Day 14: Orlando
Day 15: Departure
We just finished 9 days in the American West and wanted to share our experience because we had an amazing time.
I know some of you might ask, why use an agency? Honestly, we didn’t really feel like doing all the driving and planning, especially since we didn’t know the area at all. And since our English isn’t great, having French-speaking guides was a big comfort.
We found Emmanuelle and Isabelle, and wow, they were fantastic. It was just the two of us with them, so it was a truly VIP, ultra-personalized experience. They treated us like royalty from start to finish. These two live in Las Vegas and know the region like the back of their hand. They told us they’ve spent over 15 years exploring every corner of the American West, and it really shows. Their knowledge of geology, park history, and local anecdotes is just impressive. It’s nothing like someone reciting a memorized script. They answer all your questions and really adapt to what you want to see or do.
What we really loved: the vehicle was super comfortable, and the little details made a difference—like snacks and even a homemade cake! Though, to be fair, we devoured the cake right away, so that counts.
Since they know the sites inside out, they took us at the right times to avoid crowds. So we could enjoy peaceful picnics at Grand Canyon viewpoints without being packed in with 200 people. Plus, on top of the must-see spots, they showed us some hidden gems that were absolutely stunning—places we never would’ve found on our own. They’re true locals who know all the best tips.
The service was really personalized. They adapted to our pace and preferences, and we could stop whenever we wanted to take photos. It’s the luxury of being in a small private group—you’re not just a number on a big bus.
In short, we really felt like we were traveling with friends rather than professional guides. Everything’s included in the price (hotel pickup, meals, park entries, etc.), so the value for money is fair.
We loved it so much that we’re already planning to come back next year to explore other areas with them. I think we’ve caught the American West bug—it’s all we can think about, and we can’t wait to return.
If you’re looking for a French-speaking tour with real personalized service and guides who know the region like no one else, we highly recommend them. We had unforgettable moments. They also design road trips for those who don’t want a guide. And they handled our hotel reservations in Las Vegas too. If you want genuine advice from friendly locals, we’re giving them a 200% recommendation!
