j'ai demandé conseils il y a quelques semaines sur ce forum, ce qui m'a bien aidé et permis de reconstruire notre voyage mais j'aimerai encore une fois avoir vos avis et conseils pour le meilleur séjour possible.
Nous arrivons le 16 mai, à 21h à LA.
Le samedi 19 départ sur San Diego
Le 20 ou 21 départ sur Vegas (avez vous des hotels a suggerer?tout reste très cher malgré l'arrivée le lundi)
Le 22 Départ sur Grand Canyon, (nuit à Vegas ou sur place?).
Le 23 départ pour Bryce Canyon (où dormir..?)
Le 24 départ pour Yosemite
Le 25 départ pour SF pour 3 jours.
Le 28 départ pour Carmel/Monterey
Le 29 Départ pour Santa Barbara ou autre..?
Le 30 retour sur LA pour dernière nuit (vol le matin)
Retour sur Paris, snif!
Nous avons bien évidemment une voiture en location et beaucoup de kms à faire mais jeunes et valeureux...!
Bref, ndans l'attente de vos conseils...
merci d'avance
Martial et Steph
Le 22 Départ sur Grand Canyon, (nuit à Vegas ou sur place?).
Si tu pars le 22 au matin de Vegas, avec environ 5h30 de route je te conseillerais de dormir sur place, car 10 heures de route dans la meme journee c'est pas genial, surtout qu'il faut quand meme passer un minimum de temps dans le parc...Donc je dirais depart de Vegas tres tot le matin, visite de Grand Canyon et nuit sur place. Et puis pour quelle raison retournerais tu sur Vegas puisque tu vas a Bryce ensuite?
Le 22 Départ sur Grand Canyon, (nuit à Vegas ou sur place?).
Le 23 départ pour Bryce Canyon (où dormir..?) Le 23, le depart ce fait d'ou, de Grand Canyon? Pourquoi veux tu aller a Bryce Canyon, tu ne le visite pas? Meme en partant le matin, tu as quand meme 6 a 7 heures de route sans arret, avec un peu de chance tu arriveras dans le parc avant la nuit...Mais certainement pas a temps pour le visiter.
Le 24 départ pour Yosemite Idem pour Yosemite...Tu pars de Bryce canyon le 24, tu fais environs 15 heures de route...Au mieux tu arrive a minuit pour repartir le lendemain a SF...As tu regarde sur mapquest ou un autre site les temps de routes?
Le 25 départ pour SF pour 3 jours.
La partie entre Las vegas et San Francisco est completement irrealisable...🤪
Quelques exemples de temps de route:
Las Vegas - Grand Canyon = 5h30
Grand Canyon - Bryce canyon = 6h
Yosemite - Bryce Canyon = 15h
Las vegas - Yosemite = 9h
Yosemite - San Fransico = 4h30
San Diego - las vegas = 5h (mais compte le double a cause de la circulation).
Pour tous ces temps de route, rajoute environ 20% de plus (pause pipi, circulation..)
En 14 jours, tu as juste le temps de faire les parcs autour de Las Vegas mais certainement pas le circuits que tu as prevu.
Si c'est pour tout faire au pas de charge, je me répète, autant prendre un abonnement à PlaneteTV ou National Geographic ! Ça vous permettra de passer plus de temps en Californie et ça vous évitera une grand débauche d'énergie pour contre-la-montre perdu d'avance.
N'oubliez quand même pas qu'en arrivant vous aurez huit heures de décalage horaire. Selon les individus, ce décalage nécessite un temps d'adaptation plus ou moins important.
Dans votre cas, l'arrivée à 21 heures à LA vous est favorable. Seulement à peine 48 heures de récupération pour vous jeter sur les routes. Avec la chaleur, les longues distances et les paysages désertiques, ce n'est pas l'idéal même si le plaisir de la conduite est réel dans ces vastes étendues ! Pour un court séjour, il y a un équation difficile à résoudre ! 🙂
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness, all foes to real understanding. Likewise, tolerance, or broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in our little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. -- Mark Twain
c'est tout l'année qu'il y a 9 heures de décalage a LA😛
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness, all foes to real understanding. Likewise, tolerance, or broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in our little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. -- Mark Twain
Bonjour
dans ton itinéraire je constate l'absence de Monument Valley cae qui est vraiment dommage; par contre les 2 nuits à San Diego sont superflues; je te suggère: supprimer les 2 nuitées à san Diego passer une nuitée à Monument valley prevoir une escale d'une nuitée entre Brice et yosemite car le trajet serait trop long d'une seule trotte
"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"
Sans voulloir te contrarier, rajouter Monument Valley a ce parcours deja surcharge (meme en enlevant deux nuits a San Diego) n'est pas une solution.
Je t'accorde que l'absence de Monument Valley est vraiment domage, mais ce qui est bien plus domage, c'est de visiter plusieurs parcs de l'ouest de nuit...Donc je ne vois pas l'interet de rajouter Monument Valley ni une nuit entre Yosemite et Bryce, puisqu'il n'aura le temps de ne visiter aucun de ces 3 parcs. 🤪
Je pense plutot qu'il serait preferable de sauter quelques etapes afin de pouvoir visiter quelque chose durant ce sejour...
Pour le 2 nuits a San Diego, je suis d'accord avec toi. Mais meme en supprimant ces nuits la, ca ne reequilibre pas le sejour. En 14 jours, il faut vraiment se limiter a une petite region ou bien avoir un vol retour d'une ville differente de l'aller.
🙁 ok donc je suis vraiment nulle en kms, vivement que mon homme rentre et s'en charge!bref San diego on doit y passer une nuit pour voir des amis, mais je peux faire sauter la 2nde nuit.En revanche, je sais que monument est sublime mais ca semble très loin encore de Grand Canyon donc comment faire?
Grand Canyon - nuit sur place
Monument valley
Rejoindre Bryce Canyon
Yosemite
SF...
aie aie aie je suis perdue!merci de tous vos conseils!autre chose : avez vous des adresses d'hotels sympas pour dormir dans les parcs svp?
Tu n'as pas le temps en 14 jours de faire tout ca...
Aide toi de mapquest pour evaluer les distances entre les differents endroits et compte au minimum 1 jour complet de visite pour les parc (c'est a dire du matin au soir). Les distances sont ecrites en miles mais aussi en temps de route, pas besoin de ton homme pour te faire une idee 😉
Arriver dans un parc a 16 ou 17 heure et repartir le matin n'a vraiment aucun interet.
Le parcours que tu veux faire se fait en 3 semaine minimum (en speedant)...
😎 merci de tous ces précieux conseils, bon alors si je supprime des parcs mais que nous ne prenons pas de vols interieurs, quel itinéraire "idéal" me conseilles tu?
je vais te faire une confidence: j'ai fait un trajet semblable en moins de 14jours, de surcroit en plein hiver!
Le trajet GC-Monument valley je l'ai fait le soir apres le coucher du soleil, avec arrivée près de MV en pleine nuit et j'ai pu visiter le Parc de jour; j'ai refait la mème chose entre MV et Bryce; je t'assure que j'ai profité pleinement des parcs sans rien rater.
Toi qui vis aux USA, ça te parait facile d'y revenir, mais pour ceux qui font 1 voyage transatlantique ils savent qu'ils ne vont pas revenir de sitot!
comme dit la chanson "on a toute la vie pour nous amuser, on a toute la mort pour nous reposer"
amicalement
"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"
ce que j'ai fait personnellement: j'ai pas passé de nuitée au Grand Canyon; juste après le coucher du soleil, j'ai repris ma route pour Monument valley; ça valait vraiment la peine!
"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"
Si tu as pu profiter des parcs de nuits c'est cool mais je doute qu'ils pourront voir grand chose...
je vais te faire une confidence: j'ai fait un trajet semblable en moins de 14jours, de surcroit en plein hiver!
Qu'appeles tu par trajet semblable? Un tour des parcs de moins de 14 jours en fesant une boucle Las Vegas-Las Vegas ou bien une arrivee LA, Sans Diego, tour des parcs, San Francisco et au final LA?
La premiere option est possible, la seconde non. Meme si elle etait possible, niveau temps de route, elle serait completement ridicule.
Le trajet GC-Monument valley je l'ai fait le soir apres le coucher du soleil, avec arrivée près de MV en pleine nuit et j'ai pu visiter le Parc de jour
Pour le visiter de jour, il faut avoir prevu d'y passer du temps, en journee! Ce n'est pas le cas pour eux car ils doivent filer dessuite pour Bruce, arriver de nuit a Bryce et filer dessuite pour yosemite, arriver de nuit a Yosemite et filer dessuite pour SF...Non vraiment meme en se cassant la tete c'est impossible a realiser (ou carement inutile).
comme dit la chanson "on a toute la vie pour nous amuser, on a toute la mort pour nous reposer"
En parlant de repos, ils en auront vraiment besoin si ils decident de faire ce circuit...
Toi qui vis aux USA, ça te parait facile d'y revenir, mais pour ceux qui font 1 voyage transatlantique ils savent qu'ils ne vont pas revenir de sitot!
Mes conseils ici ne sont pas bases sur ma situation personelle, mais sur les possibilites et les envies evoquees par la pesronne qui pose une question...
tu as mal compris le sens de mon message: ce sont les trajets que j'ai fait de nuit et donc j'ai pu visiter les parcs de jour.
J'ai fait presque le mème itinéraire qu'ils se proposent de faire, la seule différence c'est que les trajets LA-LV et LV-SF je les ai fait par avion; pour aller à yosemite j'ai fait un aller retour à partir de SF.
Enfin ne prends surtout pas mal mes propos "toi qui vit aux USA", je lis souvent les messages que tu écris et je sais qu'ils sont pertinents et très utiles pour ceux qui les lisent
Cordialement
"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"
Quels sont tes imperatifs? Une nuit a Sans Diego et un vol LA-LA, c'est tout?
Pour trouver le circuit ideal, il faut egalement savoir quels sont tes preferances (nature, ville...) car il faut vraiment faire un choix.
A savoir que si tu visite San Francisco, il faut au minimum 2 jours (3 mais le temps te manque vraiment)
Yosemite National Parc, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon = 1 journee si aucune randonee.
Las vegas = 1 journee + une soiree.
Monument Valley = 3heures si tu veux faire la piste (je ne vois pas d'interet a y aller pour regarder le parc du visitor center et repartir).
Bien que j'ai adore San Francisco et Yosemite, je te conseillerais de laisser tomber cette partie de ton voyage et de faire plutot un circuit dans le genre:
Los Angeles /San Diego / Las vegas / Grand Canyon / Monument Valley / Bryce Canyon / Zion (tu y passes) / Las vegas / Death Valley (si tu as du temps, car c'est pas vraiment sur ton trajet) / Los Angeles.
Si tu tiens absolument a voir San Francisco et Yosemite, il faudra que tu te limite a la californie.
Entre Monument Valley et Bryce Canyon, tu passe par Page et tu peux accorder une demie journee de visite:
Antelope Canyon qui est superbe, a faire absolument a midi pour la lumiere Horse Shoes Bend qui est un magnifique point de vue Et egalements les differents points de vues du Lac Powell.
😉 ok alors nos impératifs sont LA aller et retour et passages S.diego et SF obligés
nous on n'est pas trop natures mais plutot bien citadins mais venant sur ce beau territoire (et comme le dit plus haut Lindberg, on ne vient pas souvent et on ne risque pas de revenir rapidement) on aurait voulu profiter pour voir au moins un parc et le Grand Canyon.
Donc on a déjà réservé nos 3 nuits du 16 au 19 matin à LA ensuite le 19 on le passe à San Diego et le 20 on est prêt pour Vegas.
As tu d'autres suggestions?
merci encore!vos conseils sont vriament précieux pour une pauvre citadine et nulle en calcul de distances...😛
Oupss! j'ai pas reflechi au fait que tu pouvais faire San Diego-Grand Canyon sans passer par Las vegas en 9 heures de route...Vu que tu va revenir a las Vegas apres Zion, c'est stupide d'y aller 2 fois.
Donc dans l'idee de circuit que je t'ai propose il faut changer ce detail (qui a de l'importance niveau timing!)
J1 Los Angeles
J2 Los Angeles
J3 depart pour San Diego / Nuit a san Diego
J4 depart de San diego pour Grand Canyon 9 heures de route / Nuit a Grand Canyon
J5 Visite de Grand Canyon / Nuit sur la route de Bryce ou a Grand Canyon
J6 Route vers Bryce Canyon avec visite rapide de Page (les points de vue et si tu as le temps Antelope Canyon)/Nuit a Bryce Canyon
J7 Visite de Bryce Canyon/ Nuit a ou sur la route vers Zion
J8 Visite de Zion puis 3 heures de route vers LV / Nuit a Las vegas
J9 Visite de las vegas/ Nuit a las vegas (Peut etre Zapper cette journee et caser Monument Valley entre Grand Canyon et Bryce en speedant)
J10 Depart vers San Francisco, environ 9 heures de route/nuit a san francisco
J11 Sans Francisco/ Nuit a san Francisco
J12 San Fransico /Nuit a san Fransico
J13 Descente vers LA par la route 1 (magnifique et a faire absolument en journee)
J14 Los Angeles
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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).
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!
