Je me présente je suis Célia, toute nouvelle inscrite sur le site ! 🙂 Cela fait un mois que je passe mon temps à lire les carnets de route et cela me fait vraiment rêver ! J'ai donc décidé d'ouvrir une discussion pour que vous me donniez votre avis sur l'itinéraire que j'ai imaginé. J'ai une idée de mon itinéraire dans les grandes lignes, mais je n'arrive pas à m'organiser .. J'ai passé de nombreuses heures à lire vos carnets de voyage mais je ne m'en sors pas...
Avec mon copain, nous nous sommes dits que pour la fin de nos études nous allions faire un voyage aux Etats-Unis. J'ai donc commencé à me renseigner, au début j'étais plus partie pour faire un circuit organisé style Nouvelles Frontières, et en tombant sur votre site, avec tous les conseils et les témoignages qu'on y trouve, nous avons plutôt décidé d'organiser nous même notre road trip !
Notre idée est de faire un voyage de 21 jours, allant de San Francisco à Los Angeles.
Voici donc le parcours:
J1: Vol Toulouse / San Francisco
J2-J3: San Francisco
J4: San Francisco / Yosemite Park
J5: Yosemite Park
J6: Yosemite Park / Las Vegas
J7-J8: Las Vegas
J9: Las Vegas / Zion NP
J10: Zion NP / Bryce Canyon
J11: Bryce Canyon
J12: Bryce Canyon / Arches NP
J13: Arches NP
J14: Arches NP / Monument Valley
J15: Monument Valley / Grand Canyon
J16: Grand Canyon
J17: Grand Canyon / Kingman
J18: Kingman / Los Angeles
J19-20: Los Angeles
J21: Vol Los Angeles / Toulouse
Mon parcours est-il faisable? Qu'est ce que vous en pensez? N'hésitez pas, je suis loin d'être une spécialiste, car c'est le premier voyage que j'organise ^^.
J'aurais besoin aussi de conseils car dans les parcs ( Yosemite, Zion NP, Bryce Canyon, Arches NP) nous aimerions faire des randonnées, mais j'ai le vertige.. Quelles randonnées nous conseillez-vous ? 🙂
Ton circuit doit avoir lieu entre la mi juin et la fin octobre pour qu'il soit notamment réalisable au niveau de Yosemite.
Après corrections des quelques erreurs, ça donnerait ceci:
J1: Vol Toulouse / San Francisco
J2-J3: San Francisco
J4: San Francisco / Yosemite Park - Nuit El Portal ou Curry Village
J5: Yosemite Park - Nuit Lee Vining ou Bridgeport
J6: Yosemite Park - Death Valley - Nuit Furnace Creek ou Stovepipe Wells
J7: Death Valley - Las Vegas
J8: Las Vegas
J9: Las Vegas
J10: Las Vegas - Valley Of Fire - Zion NP - Bryce Canyon - Nuit Bryce City ou Tropic
J11: Bryce Canyon - Nuit Bryce City ou Tropic
J12: Bryce Canyon - Route 12 - Capitol Reef - Nuit Torrey ou Caineville
J13: Capitol Reef - Goblin Valley - Little Wild Horse Canyon - Nuit Moab
J14: Arches NP - Nuit Moab
J16: Canyonlands et Dead Horse Point - Nuit Moab
J15: Moab - Monument Valley - Nuit Mexican Hat
J16: Mexican Hat - Grand Canyon - Nuit Grand Canyon Village ou Tusayan
J17: Grand Canyon - Route 66 - Kingman
J18: Kingman - Oatman - Los Angeles
J19-20: Los Angeles
J21: Vol Los Angeles / Toulouse
Randonnées et visites:
Yosemite: Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome, Yosemite Valley (chutes d'eau), Olmsted Point sur la Tioga Rd
Death Valley: Mesquite Sand Dunes, Mosaic Canyon, Badwater, Artsit Drive, Dvils Gulf Course, Zabriski Point, Dantes View
Valley Of Fire: Scenic Drive, Fire Wave
Zion: Canyon Overlook
Bryce: Navajo Loop, Queen's Garden, Peek A Boo Loop
Capitol Reef: Sunset Point, Cassidy Arch
Arches: Devils Garden, Sand Dune Arch, The Windows, Delicate Arch
Canyonlands: Mesa Arch, Grandview Point, White Rim Overlook, Green River Overlook
Grand Canyon: Hermit's Trail, South Kaibaba Trail jusqu'à Cedar Ridge ou Skeleton Point
Je supprimerais un jour ou deux dans les villes (SF, Vegas, LA) pour le rajouter à Moab et davantage profiter d'Arches et de Canyonlands. De même je trouve domage de ne pas faire une incursion dans Sequoia NP.
A Yosemite la randonnée des chutes (Vernal et Nevada) grimpe bien mais n'est pas vertigineuse. Eviter évidemment la grande randonnée du Half dome ou les courtes promenades sur les boulders.
Les balades classiques de Bryce (Navajo ou Peekaboo loops) non plus.
A Zion, éviter Angels Landing (mais c'est dommage), il y a plein d'autres promenades à faire.
A Arches, il y a quantité de balades faciles (courtes et longues). Parmi les musts, seul le point d'arrivée de Delicate Arch peut impressionner, mais ça vaut bigrement le coup et on peut se tenir un peu en retrait et renoncer à faire le tour jusqu'en dessous de l'arche tout en ayant la vue superbe. Eviter Devils Garden.
A Canyonlands (secteur Needles) la Chesler Park Loop est longue mais pas difficile.
Oui je pensais à fin aout-septembre pour qu'il y ait un peu moins de monde dans les parcs.
Merci beaucoup, vu comme ça cela fait beaucoup plus organisé, quand on voit les carnets de route, mais en fait c'est super dur à organiser quand on ne s'y connait pas.. ^^
Juste j'aimerais faire plusieurs randonnées à Zion je pense donc que je vais enlever un jour à Las Vegas.
Oui je vais plutot me baser sur l'itinéraire que Itat m'a conseillé, mais en enlevant un jour à Las Vegas pour le passer à Zion NP.
Je me rend bien compte que je vais rater de superbes randonnées à cause de ce fichu vertige.. 🤪 Mais j'essayerai de prendre sur moi, surtout pour Delicate Arch! Avec toutes les photos que j'ai vu et tous les temoignages, je ne peux pas rater ça ^^
Angel's Langing, j'ai vu plusieurs photos c'est sur je ne pourrais pas la faire, mais pour Observation Point je n'ai pas vu trop d'avis.. Quelles sont les difficultés ? C'est du même type que Angel's Langing?
Non, c'est quand même moins vertigineux au niveau du sentier ! Mais ça grimpe, tout dépend ton aptitude à la rando !
Après je ne connais pas non plus ton degré de vertige, perso je n'en souffre pas donc je ne suis pas de très bon conseil à ce sujet 😕. J'imagine que faire la rando de Observation Point et ne pas pouvoir en profiter à l'arrivée, ça doit être rageant 🤪
Je marche bien , mais je n'ai jamais fait de randonnées à proprement dit et mon copain non plus, je pense donc qu'on peut l'enlever de notre liste aussi ^^ Du coup, finalement c'est vrai que passer une journée à Zion mais ne pouvoir rien y faire de particulier ce n'est pas très utile..
Tu as l'air d’être super connaisseur des Etats-Unis, tu as déjà fait beaucoup de voyages là bas?
Devils Garden à Arches, si ma mémoire est bonne, oblige à marcher assez longuement sur un "fin", c'est-à-dire une roche arrondie et relativement large (3 ou 4m ?) mais avec du vide à droite et à gauche
et il y a un passage où il faut se hisser:
Ca peut impressionner (même si ça n'est pas difficile), tout dépend de son degré de susceptibilité au vertige.
Angel's Langing, j'ai vu plusieurs photos c'est sur je ne pourrais pas la faire, mais pour Observation Point je n'ai pas vu trop d'avis.. Quelles sont les difficultés ? C'est du même type que Angel's Langing?
Je ne souffre pas non plus du vertige mais ayant fait les deux, c'est clair qu'Observation Point est beaucoup plus adaptée pour toi. A la fin d'Angel's Landing, on marche sur une crête appareillée d'une chaîne. C'est ce qui fait le charme de cette rando mais ça peut être très (trop) impressionnant pour certaines personnes.
A Observation Point, rien de tout cela, tu marches tout le temps sur un sentier avec une paroi en permanence à côté de toi, il n'y a qu'à la fin quand tu découvres le panorama que ça peut poser problème mais tu n'es pas obligée non plus de te rapprocher du vide. Tu peux l'apprécier tranquillement assise avec du recul:
Pour compléter le message de l'ami Jean le supplément conducteur de moins de 25 ans est, à ce jour, de 25 $ par jour, ce qui n'est pas négligeable dans le budget et les frais de drop off peuvent représenter 300 à 400 $ selon les villes et les états.
Bonne journée toulousaine à toi.
Si le chemin est difficile, le difficile est le chemin.
Ah oui je n'aurais pas pensé que ce serait aussi cher ! Il a 22 ans, mais vu qu'on ne compte pas partir avant au moins 2 ans, peut être on attendra son anniversaire du coup ^^'
Je commence a regarder maintenant pour savoir ou aller, savoir combien il faudrait qu'on mette de côté. Et puis c'est super sympa s'organiser tout ca ^^
Pour un voyage comme cela, vous pensez qu'il faut un budget de combien a peu près ? Pour la nourriture, l'essence ?
Il faut emmener à peu près combien la bas en plus du budget ?
alors ça, tout dépend de ce que tu comptes faire, manger etc ...
Perso, sur place je ne dépense pas grand chose 😮, toutes mes activités sont gratuites (hormis le pass des parcs nationaux 80$ et pour entrer dans certains State Parks) et question nourriture mes pique-nique ne me coûtent guère cher. Reste le carburant, où tu peux regarder les prix ici: http://www.californiagasprices.com/tripcalculator.aspx
Bien entendu, l'expérience des uns ne fait pas forcément l'affaire (ou le bonheur!) des autres, mais je tiens à vous raconter le dernier séjour à Zion
- tout d'abord, une évidence, Zion se visite de l'intérieur, en marchant. Pas de view points comme au Grand Canyon ou à Bryce par exemple.
J'ai déjà du mal à me hisser au sommet d'un champignon, alors Angel's Landing , pffff.
Ben oui, mais, comme j'aime randonner et que ce trail est un des plus attractifs de l'Ouest, un beau matin, l'an dernier, je l'ai fait!
Tout ça, finalement, c'est quand même un peu dans la tête! Essayez!!! Il n'y aucun danger, les grosses chaînes sont bien arrimées, les passages délicats assez peu nombreux et, comme on est assez occupé avec les mains et les pieds et la vision de l'itinéraire, pas de place pour le vertige. La première partie jusqu'à Scout Lookout n'offre aucune difficulté, c'est un sentier assez large. Après ... après, il vous restera 1/2 mile pour dominer la bête 😎
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Hello everyone,
We’ve planned a trip (retired couple) for late August to the first half of September in Western Canada.
Classic itinerary: arrival in Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Clearwater, Whistler, Vancouver Island, departure from Vancouver.
I know you can’t see into the future any better than I can, so I’m obviously not asking what the wildfire situation will be like in a month...
But if any of you could let me know if, CURRENTLY, there are major difficulties—not just for locals, of course, but for tourists as well?
We’re hesitating between taking the chance or canceling what we still can.
We’re not young anymore and don’t have the flexibility we once did...
A thousand thanks to those of you on the ground or with contacts there who can help us make this decision!
A friend is renting a car for an upcoming trip during the All Saints' holiday.
Nowadays, all rental cars come with GPS, but do you know if you can use it without paying for the GPS rental? I have no idea since I always use my own!
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).
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?
We went as a family to Mount Rushmore in 2023, where my son bought a multi-function pocket knife like the one below with his name engraved—'NOAH'.
Unfortunately, he just lost it, and he was really attached to it. So, if there’s a kind soul passing by Mount Rushmore who could bring one back for me (I’d obviously cover all costs), that would be amazing for my son.
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 🙂
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