Cet été, grands parcs de l'ouest américain en famille et en camping (2 adultes, 2ados 16 et 12ans). Voici notre programme, avec les durées de séjour et de voyage (j'ai utilisé "mapquest", équivalent de notre "viamichelin"). J'attends vos remarques et suggestions !
Connaissez-vous un hotel sympa, pas cher, bien situé à San Francisco? à Las Vegas?
Des conseils pour ne pas craindre les attaques nocturnes des ours? (mes filles ados utilisent des crèmes de soin de nuit et nous les gonzesses on panique un peu, même si on nous a déjà un peu rassurées).
Merci à tous!
Date étape Camping/hotel
M 15/07 San Francisco (3 nuits)
ME16 SAN FRANCISCO
J 17 SAN FRANCISCO
V 18 San F – Yosémite 4h – 192 miles (3 nuits)
S 19 YOSEMITE
D 20 YOSEMITE
L 21 Yosem – Bodie – Mammoth lake - LONE PINE 4h – 196 miles (1 nuit)
M 22 Lone Pine– DEATH VALLEY - las vegas -boulder Longue journée (2 nuits)
ME23 BOULDER city et LAKE MEAD
J 24 Boulder - grand canyon 4h -251 miles (2 nuits)
V 25 GRAND CANYON
S 26 Grand canyon - lake powell 2h30 – 138 miles (3 nuits)
D 27 Lake powell
L 28 Lake powell
M 29 lake powell -monument valley 3h7min – 140 miles (2 nuits)
ME30 MONUMENT VALLEY
J 31 monument valley – moab and arches national park 3h – 176 miles(3 nuits)
V 1ER/08 ARCHES national park CANYONLANDS
S 2/08 ARCHES national park CANYONLANDS
D 3 moab – salt lake city 3h50 – 234 miles (2 nuits)
L 4 SALT LAKE CITY
M 5 salt lake city - Jackson (Yellowstone) à grand teton sud, une des + belles
voies d’accès (1h30 de Jackson à l’entrée du park)
Jackson – west thumb (camping)
ou salt lake – west YS par Idaho falls mais moins beau 5h – 302 miles
4h46 – 220 miles (5 nuits)
ME 6 SUD YELLOWSTONE Sud- nord : 4h30 – 165 miles
J 7 SUD YELLOWSTONE
V 8 NORD YELLOWSTONE (mammoth hot springs)
S 9 NORD YELLOWSTONE
D 10 depart pour salt lake Au minimum 5h (1 nuit)
L 11 salt lake – Torrey (Bryce canyon national park : capitol reef) 3h38 - (4 nuits)
M 12 BRYCE CANYON (nord)
ME13 Bryce canyon – scenic drive vers Cannonville 2h20 – 98 miles
J 14 BRYCE CANYON (sud)
V 15 Bryce canyon – Zion national park 2h37 – 116 miles (3 nuits)
S 16 ZION
D 17 ZION
L 18 Zion – Las vegas 3 ou 4 h – 163 à 200 miles (2 nuits)
M 19 LAS VEGAS
ME 20 Avion retour Las Vegas - PARIS
à moins que vous soyez de grands randonneurs y a des étapes de 2-3 nuits alors que 1 voire 2 grand max suffisent.
Par exemple Monument Valley 2 nuits c'est au moins une de trop vu que l on fait tres vite le tour.
3 a Lake Powell, vous comptez faire quoi ? louer un bateau ? sinon ca fait long.
Ensuite 2 à Bryce Zion et Grand Canyon si vous faites pleins de rando ca peut permettre de prendre son temps, de pas se speeder.
Avec les nuits récuperer tu peux passer la nuit dans Death Valley.
Pour SF je vais au Grant ca a l air pas mal, mais fait recherche ici tu vas trouver pleins de choses. Pour Vegas compare les hotels et évite le week end.
Oui, nous aimons beaucoup marcher... et prendre notre temps.
Compte tenu des trajets, nous pensons n'arriver à nos destinations qu'en milieu voire fin d'après-midi, ce qui ne laisse ensuite qu'une grande journée et une nuit sur les sites, à Monument Valley par exemple. Quant au Lake Powell, j'ai lu qu'on pouvait s'y baigner, d'où le break, peut-être un peu long : je vais davantage réfléchir et lire les guides pour voir ce qu'on peut faire autour. Louer un bateau...why not, mais nous sommes plutôt voileux : faut voir.Sais-tu si on peut y louer un voilier?
Pour une nuit dans Death Valley, ça me tentait au départ, mais en camping il fait sans doute beaucoup trop chaud : qui a tenté l'expérience en juillet-août?
Merci à tous.
Vous ne mentionnez pas si vous avez fait des réservations pour le camping: en été, en Amérique, les régions que vous indiquées sont envahies..par les américains.. qui ont aussi leurs vacances scolaires...Nous, nous étions en octobre 2007 à Las Vegas et pour 2 nuits--(nous avons passé 2 semaines dans l'ouest surtout pour visiter des parcs nationaux. )--et il nous a été là difficile de trouver un hotel à prix abordable! et bien situé: ne pas oublier que Las Vegas est une très grande ville dont la rue principale oú sont les points d'attractions(tous les grands hotels et casinos à l'architecture époustoufflante) a une longueur de+de 3 km et en été, il y fait très chaud. Il y a des bus qui déservent les hotels qui sont sur la rue principale....les prix des hotels du vendredi au lundi matin sont exhorbitants! finalement nous avons atterri à Circus Circus: un trou!!Chambre triste dans des batiments "annexes"vieux et tristounets!En tout cas, il faut faire absolument et dés maintenant faire une réservation, c'est plus sûr ! toujours faire des réservations pour les campings le week-end!!il y a quelques années nous étions aux USA en été, et cela n'a pas été facile de trouver de la place sur les campings du vendredi au dimanche soir!
P.S:si vous voulez faire du shopping avant de quitter l'Amérique, Las Vegas a un village outlet immense!
Nous allons en effet réserver des emplacements dans les campings des parcs nationaux (Yosemite, grand canyon, yellowstone, monument valley...) dès que le service sera ouvert.
Peut-être est-il nécessaire de le faire également pour Zion et Bryce canyon? Dans quels parcs avons-nous des chances de trouver des places au pied levé?
Quant aux hotels, nous pensons réserver pour l'arrivée à San Francisco. Si Las Vegas est trop cher, nous essaierons de camper vers lake mead...(mais le dernier jour, nous aurions aimé le passer en ville : je vais entamer mes recherches d'hébergement dès maintenant).
En tout cas, nous évitons les fins de semaine à Las Vegas.
Cela fait plaisir de voir des gens qui prennent leur temps mais qq remarques tt de meme : 1journée entiere a MV c BEAUCOUP TROP! vous compter faire quoi: faire un tour en voiture+jeep+cheval? et encore ca remplira pas la journée. En 2h vous aurez tout vu sauf a rajouter une expédition spéciale et l'intérêt de MV est son couché et levé du soleil. dc vous pouvez largement réduire MV a une nuit believe me ! 3nuits a page?! oh l'horreur ! si vous louez un bateau 1jrnée OK(attention c HORS DE PRIX !!! pr le voilier je ne sais pas...pas bcp de vent qd meme la bas!). si vous voulez voir antelope canyon+horseshoebend 1matinée OK. pr vous baignez 2h OK mais plus??? vous voulez cramer? imaginez vous un desert et un pointd'eau (certes tres grand) au beau milieu...sans ombre sans aucuuuuuuuuune ombre ! en fait en juillet/aout c vraiment un des endroits les plus CHAUDS du southwest et nous nous n'avons meme pas u le courage de nous baigner tellement la chaleur nous etouffait, on essayait plutot desespérement de trouver des places a l'ombre pour dejeuner et encore il faisait vraiment chaud j'ai u un coup de chaleur la bas :(. (mais ilya un grand walmart pr se refroidir, lol, ainsi que le barrage a visiter !). Sincerement la aussi a moins de faire 4tour en bateau, 1nuit max 2 est suffisante !
concernant les campings, vous trouverez tjs de la place, mais mieux vaut reserver zion et grand canyon oui c sur. MV j'en suis pas persuadée a vous de voir :p (yellowstone et yosemite je n'y étais pas..)
sinon si vous cherchez où rajouter vos nuits "gagnées" par MV et page, vous avez le choix et voici qq idées (parmis tant d'autre) : Moab serait une tres bonne id(meme si vous avez deja 3nuits) (et une occasion de dormir aux fishertowers)ou bien visiter le Natural Bridges NM qui a un camping plutot sympa (pas de résa nécessaire dc vous pourrez tjs décider sur place) Faire un ptit tour a Navajo NM (d'ailleurs leur camping est gratuit...et tres bien entretenu je précise) pkoi ne pas aller a Capitol Reef? c'est splendide :) randonner et dormir une nuit a Calf Creek le camping est au bord de l'eau...bcp de charme :) snow canyon est vraiment génial aussi et c'est sur votre route ;DDDD. Camping tres tres chaud mais à l'ombre sosu les roches et tres peu de touristes, d'excellentes petites et moyenne rando a faire, vraiment super !
Voici un itinéraire similaire que j'avais proposé à quelqu'un d'autre sur ce forum, mais tourné diffèremment... car je trouve (mais c'est perso) que la boucle dans ce sens est mieux (elle permet de commencer par Zion qui s'apprécie plus en début de parcours car peut-être le moins impressionnant) et qui permet d'alterner chaleur et endroit un peu plus "frais" (Yellowstone - Yosemite)...
Le parcours initial faisait 27 jours... mais je le modifie en rajoutant des étapes pour 5 semaines... c'est clair que c'est la durée idéale pour voir un max sans courir...
J1 - Vol pour Las Vegas
J2 : Las Vegas : départ tôt le matin. En principe cela ne pose aucun problème car avec le décallage horaire, je t'assure qu'à 6 heures du mat, tu es en pleine forme - Visite de Valley of Fire (le plus tôt possible car il y fait très chaud) et route pour Zion (début de visite) - nuit à Springdale
J3 : Visite de Zion - Nuit
J4 : Zion fin et route vers Bryce : coucher à Tropic ou Bryce. Début de visite et coucher de soleil
J5 : Bryce - nuit
J6 : Route 12 : éventuellement Kodachrome Basin, Devil's Garden - Nuit à Escalante
J7 : Burr Trail et Capitol Reef : nuit à Torrey
J8 : route vers Salt Lake City (350 kms - 4 heures) Nuit à Salt Lake City
J9 : Salt Lake City
J10 : Salt Lake City - Jackson Hole
J11 :Jackson Hole - Grant Teton - Grant Village (Yellowstone)
J12 : Yellowstone - nuit à Gardiner
J13 : Yellowstone - West Yellowstone
J14 : Yellowstone - West Yellowstone
J15 : Yellowstone - Grand Teton - Jackson Hole
J16 : Jackson Hole - Vernal (460 kms - 6 h00)
J17 : Vernal - Moab (370 kms - 4h30)
J18 : Moab
J19 : Moab
J20 : Moab
soit 3 jours et demi pour visiter le secteur Arches, Canyonlands, Fisher Tower...
J21 : Moab - Chinle : nuit
J22 : Canyon de Chelly et route vers Mexican Hat, Gooseneck et éventuellement Valley of Gods : nuit à Mexican Hat ou Goulding's Lodge
J23 : Monument Valley et route vers Page - Visite points de vue lac Powel
J24 : Page - Antelope Canyon et route vers Grand Canyon - début visite et coucher soleil- Nuit
J25 : Grand canyon
J26 : Grand Canyon, et route vers Las Vegas
J27 : Las Vegas
J28 : Las Vegas
J29 : Death Valley
J30 : Death Valley Mammoth lakes
J31 : Yosemite via Tioga Pass - nuit à El Portal (entrée ouest Yosemite)
J32 : Yosemite (séquioa géants)
J33 : route vers San Francisco
J34 : San Francisco
J35 : San Francisco
J36 : San Francisco
J37 : retour
Merci Sally pour ces remarques constructives : je te remercie d'avoir lu mon message avec autant d'attention. Tes suggestions nous seront précieuses et vont nous permettre d'améliorer le programme. Côté Monument Valley, j'avais en effet pensé à la réserve (gloups, j'aime pas ce mot) Navajo, Capitol Reef était aussi dans mes idées.
Dans le coin du lake Powell : puisque nous campons, ne vaut-il pas mieux rester 3 nuits dans le même camping pour effectuer les visites que tu suggères, en rayonnant ? ... Nous gagnerions ainsi du temps et de l'énergie sur l'installation... Peut-être devrais-je affiner mes calculs de Kilométrage.
D'autres idées?
Intéressante l'idée d'alterner chaud/froid. Merci aussi pour les suggestions d'étapes. Z'allez voir : grâce à vous tous, on va concocter un séjour au top!
Ben oui : nous sommes conscients d'avoir beaucoup de chance ! Alors promis, on vous fait un carnet de voyage au retour, pour partager...
Pourquoi pas LA ? parce qu'à part les studios...qu'y a-t-il à voir? J'ai pensé que cela nous ajoutait beaucoup de route pour juste une grande ville...😕pff...
Tu connais LA ? Cela vaut-il vraiment le coup d'y aller quand même ? Nous aimons prendre notre temps là où nous passons, alors...puis la circulation, on n'aime pas...
Mais tu nous fais hésiter. (à savoir, nous avons nos billets Paris/SF et Las Vegas/Paris)
😉Qui va nous convaincre que nous avons tort?
Il y a plein de trucs à voir, déjà ses différentes plages (Venice, Malibu, Santa Monica); ses buildings (dont le fameux du film Die Hard); Hollywood Blvd (le théâtre chinois, le Walk Of Fame, ses boutiques, ses empreintes de stars, la mythique tour Capitol Records sur Vine Street); le Griffith Park (avec vue imprenable sur L.A. que l'on peut admirer dans de nombreux films); Sunset Blvd (où l'on trouve le plus fameux magasin d'instruments, avec un walk of fame dédié aux musiciens de rock et blues; les clubs dont le sympathique House Of Blues); on peut aussi s'amuser dans de gigantesques parcs d'attractions (Universal Studios, Disneyland)...
Avec une voiture, tu peux aussi faire des virées dans le périmètre de L.A.
Bref, Los Angeles vaut largement le détour et ceci sur plusieurs jours. 😎
Et Las Vegas est à 4h de L.A. en voiture, donc tout à fait jouable !
Honnêtement, avec cinq semaines et le magnifique tour que tu prépares, ce serait dommage d'oublier L.A.
Mais c'est à toi de voir...
(Désolé d'instaurer le doute sur ton itinéraire)... 😉
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!
