Nous avons prévu de visiter Valley of Fire avant notre séjour à Las Vegas. Pourriez-vous me dire combien de temps faut-il prévoir pour effectuer la visite du parc ?
Et savez-vous combien de km. fait la Scenic road qui traverse le parc ?
Point de vue balades, j'ai noté qu'il y a le White Domes Trail, j'aurai aimé savoir si c'est un sentier difficile ?
Sinon, connaissez-vous d'autres balades faciles et pas trop longues que nous pourrions faire malgré la chaleur qu'il doit certainement faire dans le parc en plein été ?
Nous sommes passé voir ce parc l'an dernier.
Je dis "passé" car nous voulions faire White Domes Trail. Le problème, c'est qu' il faisait 42° à l'ombre, mais il n'y a pas d'ombre là bas.
Nous avons donc rennoncé à faire cette marche.
Par contre nous avons trouvé le parc magnifique, les couleurs des roches sont variées et exceptionnelles.
Nous sommes resté un peu moins de trois heures dans le parc donc je pense que si vous faites une ou deux petites randonnées, une grosse demi-journée devrait suffire.
Ok, en ce qui nous concerne, nous irons à la fin juillet donc il est possible qu'il fasse encore plus chaud... Bon, je crois qu'on va oubler
les balades...😕
Il est prévu que nous dormions à Overton le soir d'avant, donc nous pourrons visiter le parc en début de matinée.
Je joindrais bien des photos mais je ne sais pas encore faire la manip.🤪
Attention de ne pas confondre les routes dites "Scenic", bon ok dans le coin elles sont rarement désagréables. La plus belle de toutes c'est la Scenic Higway N°12 qui commence (selon le sens) au pied de Red Canyon pour se terminer à Torrey dans Capitole Reef, c'est vraiment le pied.
Ensuite il y a la Scenic Drive dans Capitole Reef, qui permet de découvrir un peu ce parc, très intéressante à faire.
Dans VOF, la route qui fait environ 44 miles, demande de trois à quatre heures, selon le temps que l'on restera sur les sites. Le visitor center est ouvert de 8h30 à 16h30, tous les jours.
Voici ce qu'il est possible de voir en plus des hiéroglyphes.
Nous irons vers la fin du mois de juillet. Il fera certainement chaud c'est sûr, mais quand tu as fait Death Valley avec 52°, tu es vacciné pour le reste...😉
C'est sûr, on a aussi eu droit à plus de 50° fin juillet 2005. Nous sommes sorti de notre car climatisé et on a eu l'impression de se retrouver dans un sauna. Mais le magnifique paysage nous a vite fait oublier ce moment de chaleur intense.
Notre car tout neuf a présenté quelques faiblesses durant plusieurs kilomètres où ça montait bien; car la clime pompait trop de jus. Du coup on nous a pratiquement privé de clime durant une bonne demi-heure.
Cela doit être horrible de tomber en panne dans la région...
Certes il fait très chaud à Valley of Fire en été mais je te conseille quand même d'aller visiter ce magnifique parc du milieu d'après midi au coucher du soleil inclus, quitte à arriver à Las Vegas de nuit 1 heure et demie plus tard.
La scenic road est courte et très jolie, en voici une photo :
(désolé pour la médiocre qualité des photos qui suivent mais ce sont des scans de photos papier)
La balade de White Domes est courte, facile, variée avec des rochers très colorés en fin de journée, en un mot à ne pas manquer. En voici 2 photos :
Juste avant White Dome trail, je te conseille de t'arréter à Rainbow Vista, de prendre le chemin pendant quelques centaines de mètres dans le sable puis de le quitter avant qu'il n'arrive aux roches rouges pour monter sur le slickrock sur ta gauche et t'y balader librement sur les "fins".
A VoF j'aime bien cette curieuse arche dissimulée dans un wash :
A+
www.phschuler.com et www.ouestusa.fr, pour une vision de l'Ouest en dehors des sentiers battus.
Carnet de voyage Ouest USA 2009
Je te remercie pour tes excellents conseils ainsi que pour ces belles photos, même scannées elles rendent très bien.🙂
En fait, nous avions prévu d'y aller le matin car nous passerons la nuit à Overton... Tu penses que je devrais changer nos projets ? Si nous effectuons la visite le matin, les couleurs des roches seront-elles moins belles, plus fades ?
C'est définitivement mieux à partir de la seconde moitié de l'après midi car les belles couleurs chaudes durent plus longtemps qu'après le lever du soleil. Si tu dois y aller le matin, vas y le plus tôt possible car rapidement la lumière deviendra assez "dure" pour la photo même si celle ci reste possible en choisissant bien ses sujets et ses angles.
Philippe
www.phschuler.com et www.ouestusa.fr, pour une vision de l'Ouest en dehors des sentiers battus.
Carnet de voyage Ouest USA 2009
Pour te donner une idée, voici mon programme de Juillet dernier en partant de Vegas :
6h00 : Réveil
8h00 : Entrée de Valley of Fire avec une bonne 1h00 de route.
Le truc c'est d'aller direct au fond du parc vers White Domes. Ne pas s'arrêter, ne rien visiter ( c'est dur 🤪 ) et arriver pour la petite balade de 30mn avant la fournaise. A 9h00, il fait déjà 35° et + 😮
Ainsi on peut faire cette rando facile et sympa. Il suffit ensuite de revenir vers le Visitor Center et l'entrée du parc. La balade vers Mouse Tanks dure 20mn mais moins indispensable.
Le reste se fait en voiture donc la chaleur à + de 40° vers 10h00 est gérable. C'est plutôt la lumière qui devient trop crue et pénalise les photos. Les couleurs et les reliefs sont en effet maginfiques.
A 11h30, je repartais vers Las Vegas. IL fera 47° dans l'après-midi 😇😇😇😇
Je suis passé cet été septembre par le valley of fire state park.
Je confirme les propos de sedonax pour r��aliser de belles photos, mais aussi celles de tous les autres... Valleyr of fire state park est un vrai micro ondes à ciel ouvert! j'ai fait la ballade de mouse tank vers 10h-11h et la chaleur était étouffante, limite supportable tellement elle était violente.
Mais les couleurs sont marquantes et c'est un petit parc qui permet un détour sympa quand par exemple tu fais Végas-Zion...J'essaie de te mettre qq photos.
A bientôt,
Les cons, ça ose tout, c'est même à ça qu'on les reconnait. Audiard, "Les tontons flingueurs".
Personnellement je l'ai fait l'après-midi début septembre...
C'est clair qu'il ne faut pas craindre la chaleur... 🤪
Mais en partant équipé: chapeau, lunettes, crème solaire... et surtout BEAUCOUP d'eau, ça le fait bien... 😎
Ne pas espérer progresser très vite, le trajet est assez court (loop d'un mile environ si je me souviens bien), et se fait en une bonne heure... Probablement moitié moins de temps si tu le fais "à la fraîche".
Maybe you should be a little more afraid of me than you are right now.
Nous aussi, avons projet de passer dans la vallee of fire le matin ou le soir .....une question à quelle heure le soleil se couche !!!! Nous nous y allons début juillet.
Merci
http://fr.weather.com/weather/climatology/USNV0049?dayofyear=245
Apres il faut choisir le bon jour, ça te donnera l'heure du lever et coucher de soleil à Vegas, ça peut t'aider pour Valley of Fire, il ne doit y avoir que quelques minutes de décallage car légèrement plus à l'est
Pour voir les galeries de photos allez sur mon profil
Il faut pas oublier de faire le petit loop en gravillons ( OK même en voiture ) à l'entrée du parc qui va vers Arch Rock ( brochure du parc ici : http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm ). Donc si on y va le matin, c'est à faire en dernier avant de quitter le parc.
merci pour ce post très intéressant, je voudrais savoir si en Avril, il serait possible de faire valley of fire et red rock canyon dans la meme journée sans trop courir non plus (départ et retour à LV) ?
Merci pour ta réponse et ces belles photos ainsi que pour ton programme détaillé avec les horaires et tout...😉🙂
Il est certain que si nous devons visiter ce parc le matin, nous suivrons tes conseils en allant directement faire la balade de Whites Domes avant
la grosse chaleur...😎
Une question pratique...
Nous avions envisagé de faire VOF dès le lendemain de notre arrivée, en fin d'après midi... mais je ne suis pas certains qu'on décole de Las Vegas dès notre arrivée.. je pense qu'on restera à Las Vegas toute cette 1ere journée..
Par contre, nous partons le surlendemain de notre arrivée pour Springdale, donc nous pouvons faire VOF tôt le matin..
Si nous partons de Las Vegas vers 6 heures, y-a-t-il un endroit avant d'arriver à VOF où nous puissions prendre un bon petit déj et acheter de l'eau... car j'ai pas envie de faire un petit dej à 6 heures à Vegas.. mieux vaut faire la route et s'arrêter vite fait avant VOF...
Mais à priori, pas de ville ou "village" sur l'I15 entre Vegas et VOF sur les cartes... et en suivant la route via Google Earth, ça à l'air bien désert... donc, je ne voudrais pas arriver à VOF le ventre creux et sans rien à boire !!!!
merci de votre aide
Y'a beaucoup de station-services sur les 20 premiers kms en sortant de Vegas et des sorties avec des fast-food mais j'ai pas testé ce cas. Après c'est effectivement la zone 🤪
Par hasard, j'ai fait le plein + boissons à la sortie vers le circuit ( speedway en dialecte local 😛 ) et tu tombes sur un parking avec des centaines de Ford Mustang customisées car c'est aussi l'usine du préparateur Shelby ( http://www.shelbyautos.com/index.asp ), le créateur également de la fameuse Cobra.
Juste pour le fun en passant quoi 😎
Pour les fans, on peut visiter le musée et l'usine tous les jours de la semaine à 10h30 .
Merci pour ta réponse super rapide (comme d'hab !! 😎)
en fait, j'ai l'impression en suivant l'itinéraire sur Google Earth, qu'il y a un gros batiment qui pourrait bien être une station service avec certainement de quoi prendre un petit déj juste à la sortie de l'I15 en direction de VOF... mais bon pas certaine ... Sur l'image satelitte, on voit un parking avec des camions ... ça serait bien, quelques kilometres avant VOF
Sinon, à VOF, rien du tout : pas un visitor centor et un petit magasion où il y aurait de quoi se dépanner ??? au cas ou....
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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).
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!
I’m currently looking for well-located hotels near points of interest in the cities below. I’ve found a few, but the prices are really high.
Could any of you share some great addresses in the following cities?
- Los Angeles
- Las Vegas
- San Francisco
Also, do you have a preferred airline for domestic flights? If so, which one?
