Bonjour à tous les forumers,
Je me permets de vous solliciter pour avoir des avis, précisions, tuyaux, temps de visites, bonnes astuces et trucs que l’on ne trouve pas forcement dans les guides, pour notre projet de road trip USA East et Nouvelle Angleterre 4 semaines printemps 2013.
Après 3 voyages aux USA dont 2 dans l’Ouest, et le dernier sur la route 66 et retour par le Tennessee, Kentucky et Indiana, nous avons envie de découvrir la cote Est et la nouvelle Angleterre qui a elle seule à l’air de concentrer une bonne partie des curiosités de ce coté de l’atlantique.
Afin d’optimiser le prix des billets d’avion en augmentation depuis 2011, et de s’immerger plus profondément, nous avons projeté de partir du 16 mai au 15 juin 2013.
En sachant que US Airways possède une plateforme sur Philadelphie, et que c’est par cette compagnie que nous avons fait nos 2 précédents voyages, le road trip formant boucle pourrait commencer par cette ville, afin d’éviter un vol intérieur, mais peut démarrer par toute autre destination sur la boucle.
Voici donc le projet d’itinéraire, avec temps de route et distance, les temps de visite étant toujours difficiles à estimer le découpage reste à adapter en fonction de vos remarques et conseils.
Les distances sont indiquées ici en km et non en miles, l’étape soir est précisée par un (s ) après l’abréviation du jour.
jour date destination, visite Etat km jour temps de route jour
V
17.5
Paris Philadelphie
V s 17.5
Philadelphie
Philadelphie
PA
S s 18.5
Princeton
Princeton university
75 52
Hudson river
NY
Tarrytown
Hudson river
NY
Sleepy hollow
Hudson river
NY
Highlands
westpoint Hudson river
NY
Boscobel
Hudson river
NY
D s 19.5
Stockbridge
MA 344 4h 55
the Berkshires
MA
Pittsfield
Hancock shaker village
MA
mount greylock
MA
L s 20.5
Williamstown
MA 68.7 1h40
Mohawk trail
MA
Deerfield
MA
brattleboro
VT
Bennington
green mountains
VT
Manchester
green mountains
VT
Weston
green mountains
VT
M s 21.5
Woodstock
green mountains billing farm
VT 306 5h05
Quechee gorge
VT
Rutland
VT
Middlebury
VT
Fort Ticonderoga
NY
Me s 22.5
Burlington
VT 266 4h10
Shelburn museum
VT
Stowe
VT
Mont Mansfield
VT
Smugglers notch
VT
J s 23.5
Montpelier
VT 143 2h02
St Johnsbury
VT
Mont Washington
NH
Franconia
White mounts
NH
the flume gorge
NH
V s 24.5
Lincoln
Franconia notch, Route Kancamagus
NH 205 3h05
Conway
NH
Augusta
ME
Main coast
ME
S s 25.5
Bar harbor
Acadia NP
ME 450 5h10
loop road
D s 26.5
Camden
ME 171 3h
Pemaquid point
ME
Boothbay harbor
ME
L s 27.5
Portland
ME 211 3h10
wells auto museum
York
ME
M s 28.5
Portsmouth
NH 88.5 1h10
Canterbury shaker village
NH
Gloucester
Cap ann
MA
Salem
MA
Me s 29.5
Boston
MA 293 4h
Cambridge
Harvard university
MA
J s 30.5
Concord et lexington
MA 58.9 1h30
Plymouth
V s 31.5
Sandwich
Cape cod NS
MA 129 1h35
Provincetown
Nantucket
S s 1.6
Sandwich
MA 190 2h15
Newport
RI
Providence
RI
D s 2.6
Mystic
Mystic seaport
CT 326 4h
L s 3.6
Sturbridge
Old sturbridge village
MA 120 1h25
Wethersfield
CT
M s 4.6
Hartford
CT 82.1 1h10
Litchtfield
Litchtfield hills
CT
Me s 5.6
New haven
Yale university
CT 117 1h45
J s 6.6
Cap may
NJ 386 4h26
Wintherthur
DE
Brandy wine valley
PA
V s 7.6
Baltimore
MD 266 3h35
Washington DC
WDC
S s 8.6
Richmond
VA 241 3h05
Monticello
Colonial williamsburg
VA
Colonial Parkway
VA
D s 9.6
Charlottesville
VA 310 3h30
L s 10.6
Cherokee
NC 660 7h
Blue Ridge parkway
M s 11.6
Windson Salem
NC 330 4h
Blue Ridge parkway
Sky line drive
Me s 12.6
Shenandoah NP
VA 418 6h
Front Royal
VA
J s 13.6
Gettysburg
PA 322 4h
Lancaster
PA
V s 14.6
Philadelphie
PA 215 3h
Philadelphie-Paris
Ce projet a été construit après synthèse des infos recueillies dans les guides Michelin USA cote Est, et Nouvelle Angleterre, du guide petit futé Boston et N Angleterre, et de diverses infos sur les forums et sites internes.
L’objectif de ce road trip n’est pas de voir peu de chose dans le détail, mais plutôt comme dans notre philosophie de voyage d’avoir une vision globale d’une zone géographique, avec une préférence pour les curiosités naturelles, les visites de plein air, la culture américaine en générale, en ne visitant que l’essentiel des grandes villes et en laissant de côté une bonne partie des musées dont ceux d’art (peinture, sculpture, art moderne) qui ne sont pas dans nos centres d’intérêt. Les musées que nous privilégions vous l’aurez compris sont ceux plutôt sur l’histoire américaine, de plein air ou les musées automobiles.
De manière générale, les activités de plein air, la rando, le shoping, le farniente ne sont pas non plus les priorités du voyage, le principal pour nous étant de découvrir l’essentiel des états traversés sans passer à coté d’un incontournable que nous aurions pu oublier ou sous estimer dans notre programme.
La dernière semaine sur les états New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginie, Caroline, Pennsylvanie, demande surement à être « paufinée » un peu plus.
New York valant surement à elle seule plusieurs jours de visite, a volontairement été écartée de la programmation de ce road trip afin de ne pas impacter le timing qui pourrait s’avérer déjà à première vue un peu serré.
Mais avec un kilométrage prévisionnel de 6800 km sur 4 semaines il me semble que cela est jouable en regard des voyages précédents avec une moyenne de 2000 km parcourus par semaine.
Nous nous posons les questions suivantes :
La vallée de l’Hudson mérite-t-elle vraiment le détour ?
Est il judicieux de visiter les différentes Université ou est-il préférable d’en privilégier 1 et zapper les autres ? La quelle choisir Harvard, Princeton, Yale… ?
Est il judicieux de visiter les deux villages shaker, Hancock ou Canterbury ou un seul suffit?
Dans l’attente de vos commentaires, conseils et remarques, et vous souhaitant d’agréables voyages, bien cordialement.
Jean Maurice
Voyager c'est la seule dépense enrichissante.
Travel with an Airstream travel trailer, and See more, Do more, Live more
j'arrive ici par l'intermédiaire de ton autre post... ici, le contenu n'est pas facile à digérer, visuellement parlant. Peut être que reporter ce parcours dans un fichier exel, puis en faire une capture d'écran pour affichage ici, nous permettrait de t'aider...
@+
Suivez les sympathiques pérégrinations routières de deux accros du voyage sur www.lavoiturejaune.com
Comme ça, à l'emporte-pièce, je n'ai pas visité Princeton mais j'ai visité il y a quelques années Harvard et j'avais adoré http://www.harvard.edu/visitors, il faut vérifier les dates de votre séjour pour connaître si oui ou non ils acceptent des visites le jour planifié.
Même chose pour West Point, il faut vous assurer que vous pouvez visiter le jour où vous planifiez y être. La vallée de la Hudson est belle et il y a plusieurs coins intéressants mais vous pouvez sillonner la vallée (de part et d'autre de la rivière) tout en demeurant dans un endroit précis, 2 jours p-e max.
Battleboro, Middlebury, Bennington, 1 heure chaque endroit max, même chose pour Rutland à moins que vous ne vouliez vous rendre à Killington. Manchester pourrait être un bon arrêt car quelques outlets intéressants et joli village.
Un des trois villages mentionnés soit Hancock, Shaker ou Canterbury, un seul suffirait mais Sturbridge, oui plus animé et kitsch mais c'est le plus intéressant des 4 à mon avis.
Comme vous serez dans le Vermont au printemps, oui il y aura de l'eau à Quechee Gorge (j'y suis allée en été et c'était à sec) et c'est le bon moment pour visiter mais dépendant du mois où vous y serez, je ne sais pas si ce sera ouvert toutefois la petite ville est intéressante avec de jolies boutiques.
Le nord du Mass avec Williamstown, Stockbridge, les Berkshires et surtout Deerfield, vous aimerez mais quelques heures suffisent pour les deux premières petites villes.
Montpelier et St. Johnsbury, un arrêt en passant sans plus sauf si vous voulez visiter les carrières de marbre à Barre (tout à côté de Montpelier) ou vous arrêter dans une cabane à sucre si vous êtes là au bon moment.
Franconia, le Mont Washington, the Flume, oui et surtout le Kancamagus, de toute beauté.
Le Musée Shelburne, oui, vous pouvez y passer toute la journée en été, au printemps je ne sais ce qui sera ouvert, à vérifier avec eux.
Augusta, Maine, il n'y a rien là, il faut descendre vers la côte pour apprécier le Maine. Tous les autres endroits au Maine que vous mentionnez, oui. Encore une fois, les activités en ces endroits seront de beaucoup réduites vu le temps de l'année.
Le Cap Ann, Gloucester, Rockport, Salem mais surtout Marblehead, oui, oui et oui ainsi que le Cap Cod, Newport et quelques jolis villages de la côte atlantique dans le Connecticut en plus de Mystic et Winterthur .
J'en ai sûrement oublié des bouts. J'aimerais encore une fois vous mentionner que plusieurs des endroits ci-haut seront 'dormants' à cause du temps de l'année où vous visiterez, faites une bonne recherche pour connaître les temps d'ouverture.
Merci pour les remarques, je vais tenter l'insertion du programme en "image", les copier coller à partir de tableaux Word ou excel semblant incompatible avec la mise en page des posts. Ci dessous donc le programme de notre projet de voyage
Merci d'avance pour vos réponses
cordialement
Jean Maurice
Voyager c'est la seule dépense enrichissante.
Travel with an Airstream travel trailer, and See more, Do more, Live more
Merci pour toutes tes précisions sur les temps de visite et la consolidation de nos choix de visite.
A la lecture de tes différents posts c'est toujours un plaisir de te lire et profiter des informations lus dans les discussions précédentes.
J'ai effectivement constaté sur les horaires d'ouverture que la période n'était pas encore la pleine saison.
Le temps vraisemblablement peut aussi être changeant ou frais à cette saison, le sens de visite de la boucle pourrait peut-être être inversé en commançant par la boucle au sud de Philadelphie, puis remonter vers le nord et la cote du Maine, pour finir par le Vermont et la vallée de l'Hudson.
Quel est ton avis?
Ne risquons nous pas d'avoir de la neige et d'être pénalisés dans les whites mountains les 23 et 24 mai?
Encore merci
Jean Maurice
Voyager c'est la seule dépense enrichissante.
Travel with an Airstream travel trailer, and See more, Do more, Live more
Bonne idée que de commencer par le sud, et il est fort possible qu'il y ait de la neige (mais peu probable) dans les hauteurs du Mont Washington, de Cannon Mountain, etc.Je parle ici des montagnes vertes du New Hampshire parce que plus hautes (enfin je le crois) que les montagnes blanches du Vermont.Je vais m'informer à des amis de Rutland, VT à savoir si il y a beaucoup de neige fin mai mais j'en doute. Je vous reviens.
Nous avons en projet de passer 3 semaines dans l'Ouest Américain à partir du 15 septembre 2013 (nous sommes un couple), entre Denver et San Francisco. Nous…
Voilà depuis quelques mois, nous préparons à 2 notre autotour pour l'ouest américain Premier grand voyage pour moi (mais pas pour monsieur lol), bref beaucoup…
Voilà avec ma chérie, nous avons prévu de faire un voyage d'un peu plus de deux semaines sur la côte ouest des USA, en 2013 (grosso modo départ le 28 mai,…
Comme beaucoup d'autres avant moi, je viens ici pour avoir l'opinion des voyageurs expérimentés de ce site. J'ai passé pas mal de temps sur ce forum afin…
Je sais qu'il y a déjà beaucoup de poste sur ce sujet mais je souhaite votre avis sur mon projet... Je fais 3 mois d'école à Olympia de fevrier à mai 2012…
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!
