Pour commencer, bravo a tous pour ce super forum. J’y ai trouve plein de bons conseils pratiques, et une bonne ambiance ! 🙂
J’organise un road trip a la « Thelma & Louise » de 10 jours a travers le Southwest des US fin aout. On veut faire un boucle a partir de Las Vegas pour aller visiter les parcs nationaux… itineraire assez classique et incontounable donc. Pour l’instant on n’a que les vols et les resas hotels pour Vegas.
Voila notre ebauche d’itineraire. N’hesitez pas a commenter ! Au fait, vaut-il mieux faire cette boucle dans un sens plutot que l'autre?
On va rouler en moyenne 2h30 par jour (en general le matin). Les temps de route sont approximatifs, je me suis basee sur les indications de maps.google.com
D’ailleurs, que preferez-vous ? Rouler le matin jusqu'à la prochaine etape, y passer la journee et dormir dans le coin, pour reprendre la route le lendemain matin. Ou l’inverse ? (c-a-d rouler en fin de journee/soiree jusqu'à la prochaine etape, et etre sur place le lendemain pour demarrer des visites)
jeudi 21 aout - Vegas
Arrivee tard a VEGAS – nuit au Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Vendredi 22 aout : Vegas -- Route66/Williams
Matinee a Vegas (pour profiter du 4 etoiles quand meme !)
Location voiture
3h30 de route jusqu’a Williams, avec arrets sur le chemin (hoover dam, Kingman, Chloride, Seligman)
Nuit a Williams (The Canyon Motel ? )
Samedi 23 aout : Grand Canyon
1 bonne heure de route vers Grand Canyon (South Rim)
Rando, tour en helico
Nuit a GC
Pour dormir a GC, evidemment tout est déjà plein… Je vais tenter le Seven Mile Lodge a Tusayan. Avez-vous d’autres suggestions ?
dimanche 24 aout : Page / Lake Powell
2h45 de route vers Page
Upper Antelope Canyon
Lake Powell (baignade, bateau sur le lac)
Points de vues sur le lac : scenic view, lone rock, Horsheshoe Bend
Nuit a Page
Lundi 25 aout : Monument Valley
Matin : re-Lake Powell ?
3h30 de route, avec notamment traversee de Navajo National Monument, Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods et Goosenecks
Nuit a Bluff ou Mexican Hat
Mardi 26 aout : Arches ou Canyonlands
2h de route vers Moab
Arches National Park ou Canyonlands
Tour en avion au depart de Canyonlands ?
Nuit a Moab
Mercredi 27 aout : Arches ou Canyonlands
Deja sur place (pas de route le matin)
Arches National Park ou Canyonlands
Tour en avion au depart de Canyonlands ?
2h de route pour passer la nuit vers Hanksville (pour se rapprocher de Capitol Reef)
Jeudi 28 aout : Capitol Reef
Env 1h de route vers Capitof Reef
Visite parc
Route « Scenic byway 128 » (c'est a double -sens cette route? elle se prend ou ?)
Nuit a Torrey et a Teasdale
Vendredi 29 aout : Bryce
2h30 de route vers Bryce Canyon
Visite parc
Nuit a Panguitch, ou Tropic (ou Kanab)
Samedi 30 aout : Zion
2h de route vers Zion National Park
Visite parc
Nuit dans les environs (Rockville, Springdale, Mount Carmel ou Glendale)
Dimanche 31 aout : retour Vegas
2h45 de route vers Las Vegas
Rendre voiture a l’arrivee
Chambre double au Imperial Palace
Lundi 1er sept : Vegas - retour New York
Derniere journee a Las Vegas
Vol a 4pm pour NYC
Je ne suis pas une experte de l'Ouest des USA, mais je pars dans 3 jours avec un programme à peu près semblable au tien (avec en plus Mesa Verde et Canyon de Chelly, mais je pars 14 jours).
La seule différence c'est que je le fais dans l'autre sens, mais je ne sais vraiment pas si ça a de l'importance.
Quelques remarques sur ton programme : moi, je préfère faire la route le matin et visiter le reste de la journée. comme ça, tu peux vraiment profiter des parcs et voir les couchers de soleils (notamment à Bryce, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon...) le 25, j'irai directement en direction de Monument Valley. Avant la visite du parc, tu peux faire Goosenecks, Valley of the Gods et Muley Point Overlook. je ferai Canyonlands le 26. Le 27, visite de Arches et nuit sur place. Le 28, départ pour CApitol Reef et visite l'apm. la scenic drive de Capitol Reef est une route que l'on fait en aller-retour (20 miles en tout environ). Elle commence près du Visitor Center, sur l'UT24. entre Zion et LV, tu peux passer par Valley of Fire. Mais peut-être que tu préfèrera rentrer directement sur LV pour + profiter de la ville...
Bien ficelé pour çi peut de jours.
Saches que dans les pacs pour vraiment en profiter il faut randonner.
Certaines ballades ne font que quelques mn.
A zion l'incontournable c'est Angel's Landing, mais il faut compter 3h30 . A arches fait délicate arche 45 mn
45 minutes ??? Pour faire 5 km ?? Tu marches à quelle allure ?
Non, sérieusement, il faut compter environ 2 heures pour faire le trail menant à Delicate Arch (aller-retour) (sans compter le temps que tu passes à admirer l'arche...).
Pour dormir a GC, evidemment tout est déjà plein… Je vais tenter le Seven Mile Lodge a Tusayan. Avez-vous d’autres suggestions ?
Essaye le red rock canyon de Tusayan.
Lundi 25 aout : Monument Valley
Matin : re-Lake Powell ?
Re Lake Powell ou va faire un tour à Natural Bridges National Monument
3h30 de route, avec notamment traversee de Navajo National Monument, Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods et Goosenecks
Si tu le matin tu re-Lake Powell ou Natural Bridges National Monument, privilegie Monument Valley
Nuit a Bluff ou Mexican Hat
Personellement, je te conseille la nuit à Mexican hat: au san juan inn et diner au resto de mexican hat lodge 😛
Comme le dit dommm063, la monter vers delicate ARCH est de 2 heurs A/R... floyd77, tu ne confond pas avec la rando qui te permet seulement d'appercevoir l'arche sans vraiment pouvoir le toucher ...
Ciao,
Docteurp
compte rendu USA 2007 ( 1ère partie) : http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=1566395;
compte rendu USA 2007 ( 2ème partie ) :
http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=1566407;
Delicate Arche, on y monte en ~ 45 minutes (dépend si on s'arrête beaucoup en route ou pas), on peut y rester 1 à 2h et en redescendre en 30 minutes 😉 (on l'a fait en juin aussi et je ne suis pas une randonneuse très rapide ! surtout avec la chaleur qui plombe bien même à 18h 😛)
@+
Vnoa
"A la liberté de provocation, répond la liberté d'objection"
"Les cons, ça ose tout. C'est même à ça qu'on les reconnaît"
"Le con ne perd jamais son temps, il perd celui des autres"
Carnet de Voyage: De Mile High City à Sin City (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada) -> voir mon profil
Alors la je crois que c'est 45mn montée . Et il ne faut pas y aller trop tard au couché du soleil car trop de monde et la lumiere n'est pas au mieux à cause des ombres
Salut
C'est quoi pour toi les environs de Hanksville ?
C'est déja plus petit que mon quartier alors les environs j'ai du mal à imaginer
Sinon Bluff plutôt que Mexican Hat
salut, préférer Bluff city à mexican hatt! et ne pas arriver trop tard le soir, sous peine de ne rien avoir!
les hotels sont rares là-bas! et y a aussi un bon restau indien à la sortie de bluff city!
pour delicate arch, je l'ai monté en 20 min, mais en marchant très très vite! pour ne pas louper le coucher de soleil! 😉 mais tout le monde n'est pas aussi fou! 45 min ca doit se faire tranquillement!
"si je devais être une voie de communication, je préférerais être celle que suivent les ruisseaux de montagnes et les rivières parnassiennes plutôt que celle qu'empruntent les égouts de la ville" HD Thoreau
En fait j'avais confondu les Scenic Byways 12 (capitole reef-bryce) et 128 (au depart de moab)...
J'ai encore pas mal d'hesitations sur le programme des journees du 26/27/28 : beaucoup de route et de choses a faire... Le 26 : pour Canyonlands, je n'aurai probablement pas le temps de visiter the Needles ET Island in the sky la meme journee ? surtout si on veut faire un tour en avion... Le 27 : Arches + route 128, et avancer jusqu'a Hanksville, vu que le lendemain il y a pas mal de route a faire Le 28 : Capitol Reef + scenic byway 12 et ce qu'il y a voir sur la route
Bref, je ne sais pas si c'est realiste tout ca... L'objectif bien sur n'est pas pas de faire un maximum de choses et de courrir partout :)
merci :))
jeudi 21 aout - Vegas
Arrivee tard a VEGAS – nuit au Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Vendredi 22 aout : Vegas -- Route66/Williams
Depart de Vegas vers 13h
Route en passant par Hoover dam, Kingman, Chloride, Seligman
Nuit a Williams
Samedi 23 aout : Grand Canyon
1h route vers Grand Canyon (South Rim)
Rando
Tour en helico ?
Route --> nuit a Tuba City
dimanche 24 aout : Page / Lake Powell
1h30 de route vers Page
Sur la route : Horseshoe Bend
Upper Antelope Canyon (a 11h ?)
APREM Lake Powell (baignade, bateau sur le lac)
Nuit a Page
Lundi 25 aout : Monument Valley
Matin : re-Lake Powell ?
Aprem/soiree : Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, Goosenecks, Muley Point Overlook.
Nuit a Bluff
Mardi 26 aout : Canyonlands
2h de route vers Moab
The needles
Island in the sky
Dead horse point Tour en avion de 1 ou 2h --> que faire en priorite si pas possible tout faire en 1 journee ? Nuit a Moab
Mercredi 27 aout : Arches
MATIN : Arches National Park
APREM : « Scenic byway 128 » (Moab à Cisco) puis route non-stop
Nuit a Hanksville
Jeudi 28 aout : Capitol Reef / Scenic Byway 12
Visite Capitol Reef parc
Cathedral Valley
Scenic Drive au Waterpocket fold
Route -- National Scenic Byway 12 (que voir en priorite sur la route ? Boulder, Escalante, Kodachrome ?)
Nuit a Tropic ?
Vendredi 29 aout : Bryce
Bryce Canyon
Nuit a Glendale
Samedi 30 aout : Zion
ZION
Nuit a Rockville ou Springdale
Dimanche 31 aout : retour Vegas
Visite Valley of fire sur le route
Arrivee Las Vegas avant 13h
Chambre double au Imperial Palace
Lundi 1er sept : Vegas - retour New York
Derniere journee a Las Vegas
Vol a 4pm pour NYC
Mardi 26 aout : Canyonlands
2h de route vers Moab
The needles
Island in the sky
Dead horse point Tour en avion de 1 ou 2h --> que faire en priorite si pas possible tout faire en 1 journee ? Nuit a Moab Je ne pense pas que faire The Needles + Island in the sky dans la même journée soit possible. The Needles vaut surtout pour les randonnées. Préfères donc Island in the Sky.
Mercredi 27 aout : Arches
MATIN : Arches National Park
APREM : « Scenic byway 128 » (Moab à Cisco) puis route non-stop
Nuit a Hanksville Dure dure la journée !! La visite de Arches NP risque de se faire un pas de charge... en tout cas, vérifie le temps qu'il faut pour faire Moab > Hanksville (environ 3 heures). donc en partant en fin d'apm, c jouable...
Jeudi 28 aout : Capitol Reef / Scenic Byway 12
Visite Capitol Reef parc
Cathedral Valley
Scenic Drive au Waterpocket fold
Route -- National Scenic Byway 12 (que voir en priorite sur la route ? Boulder, Escalante, Kodachrome ?)
Nuit a Tropic ?
Oula !! La journée me semble impossible. Cathedral Valley, ça demande presque une journée complète il me semble. Ajouter la descente dans la Waterpocket Fold + la Scenic Drive 12 et la visite de CR avant, c'est pas possible !
Bonjour
c'est dommage de rater le coucher de soleil sur le Grand Canyon!
au 22 aout tu ferais mieux de continuer directement sur le Grand Canyon plutot que de passer la nuit à Williams, ville de peu d'interet. Ce sera plus cher, mais ça vaut la peine. Comme cela t'a été suggéré, essaie le "Red Feather Lodge", il est vraiment pas mal.
Tu rates aussi le coucher de soleil sur Monument Valley, ce qui est immanquable! Ce que je te suggère: au 24 aout, plutot que de passer la nuit à Page, partir en fin d'après midi pour MV; tu peux ainsi passer le nuit du 25 à Moab (plutot qu'à Bluff) et de profiter plus amplement de cette magnifique région .
"lorsqu'au crépuscule de ma vie je me retournerai, je dirai: c'est moi qui ai vécu et non un ètre factice créé par mes ennuis et mes regrets"
J'envisage un nouveau voyage et en recherchant une idée d'itinéraire je suis tombée sur la route 89 proposé ici Cet itinéraire traverse les Etats-Unis du Nord…
Cet été, je pars faire un petit road trip de deux semaines en californie (13 jours sur place exactement) avec cet itinéraire: Los Angeles - Route 66 - Grand…
Nouveau sur ce forum, cela fait quand même pas mal de temps que je le parcoure pour préparer mon road trip. J'ai pu lire pas mal de sujet sur la route 66 déjà…
Nous allons a San Francisco fin mai début juin. Que nous suggérez vous pour la route des vins californien (vallée de Napa je crois)? avez vous des arrêts à…
Voilà quelques jours que je lis et relis les differents postes sur les états-unis et cela me donne de plus en plus envie de partir! tout d'abord, petit résumé…
Bonjour à tous,
Nous avons organisé un voyage (couple retraité) fin août -première quinzaine de septembre dans l'ouest canadien.
Circuit classique : arrivée à Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Clearwater, Whistler, île de Vancouver, départ de Vancouver.
Je sais que vous ne lisez pas plus que moi dans la boule de cristal, aussi je ne vous demande évidemment pas quelle sera la situation au niveau des incendies dans un mois...
Mais si certains d'entre vous pouvaient me dire si, ACTUELLEMENT, il y a de grosses difficultés, non seulement pour les habitants, évidemment, mais pour les touristes ?
Nous hésitons en effet à tenter le coup ou à annuler ce qui peut encore l'être.
Nous ne sommes pas jeunes, et n'avons plus la flexibilité d'autrefois...
Merci mille fois à ceux qui, sur place ou y ayant des contacts, pourront nous aider à prendre cette décision !
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
