Comme tous les néophites de ce site, je vous ai beaucoup lus avant de pondre notre circuit (j'espère que ça se voit !)... que je soumets à votre immense sagesse😏.
Mes contraintes: nous sommes 4 (ma femme et moi avec deux garçons de 16 et 11 ans) nous ne voulons pas trop courir (j'ai la moyenne la plus faible du monde en km/j: 172!😎). on adore les parcs: ma femme et les grands préfèrent le style parcs d'attraction et moi le style parc naturel🤪. Je cherche désespérément l'équilibre, pour ma santé mentale pendant le séjour🏴☠️... nous voulons aussi passer dans des coins inintéressants pour tâter de l'ouest profond et sans maquillage on veut (le beurre, l'argent du beurre...) absolument passer à San Diego, LA (vite), Las Vegas mais ne pas trop rouler😐. on veut passer plusieurs jours à SF et San Diego on veut voir des avions et des porte avions, acheter des tas de trucs américains, manger des hamburgers dans des booths, mettre "riders on the storm" sur la route dans le désert, voir le grand canyon au coucher du soleil, serrer la main de Clint Eastwood, caresser un phoque, passer dans un sequoia....
Bref, j'ai assassiné Yosemite et Death Valley pour pouvoir résoudre cette quadrature du cercle. L'idéal aurait été de prendre un billet arrivée L Vegas et retour SF...mais c'est trop tard😕. J'ai aussi tordu le cou au camping car dont nous rêvions (pôvre, pas beaucoup de fans sur le site...) trop lent et cher.
Il reste donc la substantifique moelle de mes cogitations fébriles dans la belle liste ci dessous avec tous les renseignements qui vous permettront de vous lâcher (merci d'avance de me faire du mal !)
J1 : Toulouse>>San francisco : Arrivée 13h05 le 2 Juillet. Recherche hotel et récupération
J2 : San francisco>>Three Rivers (Kings Canyon)/ 426km/ 4h20/ Récup Voiture et route avant 10h. Visite Sequoia et Kings Canyon/ Lodge Kings Canyon
J3 : Three Rivers (Kings Canyon)>>Edwards/ 301km/ 3h10/ Rando, visite parc Kings puis en fin de journée départ vers Edwards / Motel Edwards
J4 : Edwards>>Las Vegas / 333km/ 3h10/ Visite base Edwards de 10h à 11h30 puis route vers Vegas/ Hotel Casino à Vegas
J5 : Las Vegas>>Bryce Canyon)/ 422km/ 4h10/ Départ vers Bryce Canyon dans l'après midi/ lodge Bryce Canyon
J6 : Bryce Canyon/ Rando, visite parc/ lodge Bryce Canyon
J7 : Bryce Canyon>>North Rim (Gd Canyon)/ 258km/ 3h20/ Visite, ballades/ lodge Gd Canyon
J8 : North Rim (Gd Canyon)>>Page/ 194km/ 2h40 Antelope Canyon et ballades/ Motel Page
J9 : Page>>Kayenta (Monument Valley)/ 160km/ 2h10/ Visite de monument valley à cheval/ Motel Monument Valley
J10 : Kayenta (Monument Valley)>>Needles/ 576km/ 5h40/ arrêt Flagstaff, route 66…/ Motel Needles
J11 : Needles>>San Diego/512km/ 5h/ Route 66, Bagdad Café!, arrivée soirée San Diego et Visite vieille ville/ Hotel San Diego
J12 : San Diego/ Visite San Diego Seaworld/ Hotel San Diego
J13 : San Diego/ Visite San Diego, Balboa Parc, Legoland/ Hotel San Diego
J14 : San Diego/ Visite Nimitz, flotte et plage/ Hotel San Diego
J15/ San Diego>>Los Angeles/ 194km/ 2h/ Visite LA après midi et restau dodo/ Hotel Universal
J16 : Los Angeles>>Santa Barbara / 152km/ 1h40/ Visite Universal matin et départ am pour Santa Barbara, .Plage/ Motel Santa Barbara
J17 : Santa Barbara/ Plage et plongée/ Motel Santa Barbara
J18 : Santa Barbara>>San Luis Obispo/ 170km/ 1h45/ Route côtière le soir, tranquille, avec stops/ Motel San Luis Obispo
J19 : San Luis Obispo>>Carmel/ 243km/ 2h30/ Visite, glandouille/ Motel Carmel ou Monterey
J20 : Carmel>>San Francisco/ 192km/ 2h10/ Départ matin, ballade SF après midi/ Hotel SF
J21 : San Francisco/ Ballades ext SF: Napa, Muir woods…/ Hotel SF
J22 : San Francisco/ Ballades dans SF/ Hotel SF
J23 : San Francisco/ Ballades dans SF/ Hotel SF
J24 : San Francisco/ Départ 15h10
TOTAUX : 4131km et 19h45 de route
PS: pour le 4 juillet, nous serons entre Kings Canyon et Edwards; pas terrible pour le feu d'artifice…
Ben c'est un peu déstabilisant comme circuit parce que tu expliques bien tes contraintes et chacun est libre ... mais quand à l'arrivée et sur 25 jours, le bilan c'est :
Grand Canyon ( et que la rive Nord ) + Bryce + Monument Valley et Sequoia .... comme grands parcs, je me dis qu'on passe quand même à côté de l'Ouest Américain .... mais qu'on aura fait la côte californienne en définitive.
C'est sûr que ta moyenne est bonne puisque tu passes la moitié de tes vacances entre San Diego et San Francisco. Pour une fois, le peu de kms n'est pas vraiment un atout 😕
Pour commencer, tes temps de route ne sont pas bons... compte largement plus..( surtout si tu veux faire une petite photo et au moins un arrêt pipi tous les jours😛)
J1... recherche d'hotel: très mauvaise idée.. A San Francisco, on arrive en ayant déjà retenu son hotel, quelque soit la saison🙂
J2: tu ne peux pas faire tout ce chemin ET visiter ces deux parcs.
tu ne zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz pas a Three rivers, car c'est au sud de ton parcours du jour.. tu devrais essayer de te reposer au nord du parc, soit vers Fresno.
le lendemain tu visites ces deux parcs et tu zzzzzzzz a Three rivers.
Donc on en revient au même, mais dans l'ordre
Edwards?? ça se visite??c'est un nouveau parc d'attraction🤪
enfin, chaucun a ses petites lubies
J5: si tu pars vers Bryce, en fin d'apres midi, tu n'y arriveras pas pour le diner, et encore moins pour le rodéo du Ruby's inn et peut être pas non plus pour dormir (ben oui, vu l'heure tardive le motelier, aura déjà débité ta carte et relouer ta chambre à un type arrivé lui a l'heure)
J10 et 11... c'est une blague... il me semble que tu as dit que tu ne voulais pas faire beaucoup de voiture...
et par la même occasion, tu es passé devant le grand canyon sans le voir..😐
J16:on ne visite pas Universal 'le matin', mais toute la journée.d'une part a cause du prix, et d'autre part, le matin, on arrive juste a passer le péage du parking, puis celui du parc, (il n'y a pas que toi qui a l'idée d'y aller ce jour là... a moins que tu ne joues les stars et que tu le réserves pour toi tout seul) et on est a midi, devant les restos, sans avoir encore rien vu.et si tu repars à ce moment là, tes enfants vont changer definitivement de parents.
Tu glandouilles beaucoup du jour 16 a 20... alors que tu as beaucoup raté de choses les semaines passées... là, tu peux recuperer des jours pour les parcs... par exemple Yosemite, Zion, Death Valley (pourquoi zapper l'endroit, qui est different de tous les autres parcs?), Grand Canyon, et j'ai une petite lueur d'espoir pour Moab tout de même, car en 24 jours, tu devrais pouvoir aussi caser ça.
Tu n'es pas trop fidele a ton cahier des charges, car tu ne vas pas tater l'ouest profond, etant donné que tu seras dans ta voiture assez souvent. et pour le sans maquillage, c'est rate aussi, car les endroits où tu restes le plus sont Las Vegas, LA, la côte jusqu'a San Luis Obispo, et les parcs d'attractions.. c'est pas top nature profonde...😏
Le Sequoia dans lequel on peut passer s'est ecrouler il y a une dizaine d'années peut être... mais la photo circule toujours sur les brochures des TO..
carresser un phoque, c'est interdit par la loi Californienne..
Clint...il est enfermé loin des touristes certainement.
là pour l'argent, pas de problème, tu vas le voir passer de ton porte monnaie vers......toutes sortes de caisses enregistreuses..
pour le beurre il va fondre dans le désert Mojave et la cremière, ça m'étonnerait bien qu'elle accepte de faire un tel circuit.🙂
Tu devrais prévoir quelques aménagements a ton ébauche ;
Vu les rapports sado maso que tu tentes d'établir (et je te vois assez doué), je suppose que le contact ne sera pas coupé au premier coup de fouet... et que tu vas nous lâcher d'autres projets sur lesquels nous pourrons fondre toutes griffes dehors.
ceci dit, avec une bonne carte, tu y arriveras mieux, qu'avec un joliciel qui ne sait même pas que les humains s'arrêtent au bord des routes pour faire pipi et prendre des photos... et même pour admirer tout bêtement le paysage (si si je t'assure, j'en ai vu quelques uns😛)
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
Je t'ai lu (ton site est très bien fait😉) et: on fait la mecque: Bryce (et on tourne autour du caillou une journée!) on passe à côté de Zion (qui n'est intéressant que si on y randonne sérieusement, dixit les sages) on voit le grand Canyon, et j'avais (mal?) compris que North Rim est mieux parce que nettement moins bondé. Est ce moins beau (ceci expliquerait cela...)?? On passe à Page (Antelope canyon) On voit des grand narbres (mais FabienneCA a deraciné celui avec un trou au milieu...)
Si je fais le tour par Moab, je rallonge énormément le circuit (n'oublie pas que l'on vient de et on retourne à SF, mea culpa😕)...
Avec un circuit SF/SF quels sont les parcs que tu me recommandes absolument de ne pas louper (ma femme et moi nous avons déjà fait Yosemite et les enfants aiment bien marcher mais préfèreront les parcs d'attraction si je leur met le marché en mains).
Bref, je pousse un cri de desespoir 😮+😕 dans l'attente de tes enseignements...
Je vais faire une boucle de SF à SF et entre les deux je passe par Moab 😉
Zion oui évidemment c'est les Narrows qui sont "le plus" pour ceux qui aiment marcher dans l'eau, je l'ai fait plusieurs fois et j'y retournerai cet été. Mais c'est aussi des balades sympas sans se prendre pour Sylvain Tesson ou la famille Poussin. Non Zion c'est magnifique même sans marcher, bien que tout de même c'est nettement mieux si on randonne 😎.
Il y a encore des arbres à trou dans Sequioa ou Kings Canyon, si si, Fabienne ne les a pas tous coupés.
Pour les parcs d'attractions, si tu passes par Las Vegas, les gamins seront servis. Il y a Wet'n Wild pour les jeux d'eau, mais aussi le grand huit autour de l'hôtel New York, où les manéges du Stratosphère, ou les pistes de kart en face du Rio et bien d'autres encore, LV c'est pour le jeu, donc faut les faire jouer 😉.
Sinon pour les parcs il faudrait faire un détour par Moab et aller sur Arches en randos pour voir des arches superbes qui plairont aux enfants surtout que les sentiers sont sur des rochers assez facile à escalader et cela les amusera beaucoup tout en faisant une balade très sympa.
Canyonland toujours sur Moab, avec de superbes vues sur le Colorado ou la Green river.
Monument Valley, bien évidemment, puis Antelope et une balade sur le lac Powell en jet boat pour secouer ces petits.
Bref il ne manque pas d'activité dans la région pour les grands et les plus jeunes.
Si tu peux ( veux ) réduire la partie Californie et San Diego, tu peux arriver à une boucle SF > L.A + San Diego > Grd Canyon > Monument Valley > Moab > Bryce + Zion > Las Vegas > Death Valley > Yosemite ou Sequoia > SF
Pour pas dégoûter ceux qui ne veulent pas faire trop de randonnées ( et j'ai les mêmes à la maison 😎 ), on n'est pas obligés d'arriver le soir pour s'y consacrer toute la journée suivante + 2ème nuit.
Tu arrives la veille + visite le lendemain matin + dejeuner et route vers prochaine étape. Le + important étant d'optimiser entre les 2 étapes surtout. Tu visites ainsi au meilleur moment avant la chaleur et la foule.
Avec ce genre de rythme, tout le monde y trouve son compte et ça te laisse suffisament de jours pour boucler la boucle 🙂
Tu as ton cahier des charges, mais tu fait surtout la cote ouest les villes et pas ou mal les parcs. Si tes choix sont vraiment clairs dans ta tête, tu devrais les assumer totalement, et te concentrer sur la Californie et nevada ( SF, Yosemite, Sequoia, death valley, Vegas, San Diego et L.A). De Vegas faire une excursion au Grand Canyon et ce sera bien.
OU tu veux faire des parcs et la tu zappes le sud Californie et de Vegas tu reprends le circuit GC, MV, Moab, Bryce etc....
PS: pour Fabienne on peut toujours passer dans un sequoia ( il ya 2ans en tous cas) mais cet arbre est au nord de SF entre redwood NP et SF à leggett, c'est vraiment touristique mais why not.
J'etais dans la même région il y a deux ans🙂... fabuleux..pour moi l'endroit à ne pas louper, mais c'est vrai que c'est très exentré des parcs 'habituels' et par consequent des foules de touristes... mais qu'est ce que c'est beau
Mais a Sequoia, pas vu de Sequoia troué... mais je n'ai pas tout vérifié faute de temps😛😛
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
Ceci est mon tout premier post sur le forum donc je pense qu'une petite présentation de notre projet est de rigueur: Je m'appelle Emilie, j'ai 21 ans,…
Je me présente: Arnaud 45 ans, marié et deux ados (garçon de 17 ans et fille de 14 ans). En lisant depuis de longs mois les différentes discussions échangées…
Voici donc (pour ceux qui ont suivi mes aventures surtout lol), mon circuit modifié à l’aide de vos conseils. Il s’agit d’un itinéraire pour 3 femmes entre 25…
Nous allons rendre visite en mai 2014 à notre fille qui étudie à Wilmington (Caroline du Nord). Notre avion arrive et part de cette ville. Nous resterons…
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?
😐
