Ça fait plusieurs jours que je lis les diverses discussion sur ce forum pour établir notre circuit de cet été.
J'ai essayé de compiler tous les conseils et avis pour établir une boucle au départ de LA qui intègre le maximum sans faire trop de voiture tous les jours.
Bon je reconnais que nous avons la chance d'avoir 40 jours sur place du 16/7 au 25/8 !
Merci de bien vouloir me donner vos avis et conseils sur cette ébauche de parcours. Je compte ensuite réserver les hôtels ou les campings (à voir ?) de chaque étape.
Pouvez vous me conseiller car, dans un premier temps j'avais beaucoup dilaté les durées et je ne rentrais plus dans les 40 jours : j'ai donc réduit et cette fois il me reste 5 jours.
J'hésite entre ajouter une destination en plus : San diego ou Phoenix ou Sequoîa park ou faire 1 jour en plus au choix :
j5 à Sedona ; j7 au grand canyon ; j9 à Page (et pourquoi ?) ; j14 à moab ; j19 à Bryce canyon ; J21 à Zion ; j26 à Yosemite ; ou à un endroit sur la côte californienne.
Merci pour vos conseils et expériences
paris-> los angeles
J1 los angeles
J2 los angeles
J3 los angeles
J4 los angeles -> sedona (480mi 8h)
J5 sedona
J6 sedona -> Grand canyon (130mi 2h45) ( sunset crater volcan / wupatki NM)
J7 Grand canyon
J8 Grand canyon -> page ( 130 mi 2h30)
J9 page ( lac powel / antelope canyon)
J10 page -> Kayenta ( 130mi 3 h 00) ( Navaro NM / Monument valley)
J11 Kayenta -> cortex (130 mi 2h30 )
J12 cortex ( mesa verde NP)
J13 cortex -> moab ( 170mi 3h30 ) (avec canyon land : the needles)
J14 moab ( canyon land )
J15 moab ( arches NP)
J16 moab -> torrey (160 mi 3h30 )
J17 torrey ( capitol reef)
J18 torrey -> tropic ( 110 mi 3 h00 ) (avec escalante / kodachrome basin)
J19 tropic ( bryce canyon)
J20 tropic -> springdale ( 90mi 2 h 00 ) (avec cedar brak NM)
J21 springdale -> las vegas (160mi 2h40 ) ( avec Zion)
J22 las vegas
J23 las vegas -> fumace creek (150mi 3h00 )
J24 fumace creek ( death valley)
J25 fumace creek -> camping yosemite ??? ( 215 mi 4h40 ) (avec bodie )
J26 yosemite NP
J27 yosemite -> San francisco ( 200mi 4h00)
J28 San francisco
J29 San francisco
J30 San francisco
J31 San francisco
J32 San francisco -> monterey ( 120mi 2 h )
J33 monterey -> moro bay ( 120mi 3h00 ) (avec big sur)
J34 moro bay-> santa barbara ( 140mi 3h10) (avec visite hearst castle)
J35
J36
J37
J38
J39
J40 LA airport
paris
Salut, vue la chance que tu as de partir autant de temps 😊, rajoute une journée à Moab: tu as le Colorado, Fisher Towers, Dead Horse Point State Park... Tu peux aussi inclure Sequoia sans problèmes!
A Page ou alentours, n'oublie pas Horseshoe Bend ou Lee's Ferry.
Peut-être scinder en 2 le parcours sur la route UT 12 avec une nuit du côté d'Escalante.
En 40 jours, ce serait dommage de ne pas monter au Yellowstone.
La plupart des gens ne le font pas, car c'est tres excentré, et ils manquent de temps. Ce n'est pas ton cas.
Yellowstone est un parc splendide, le preferré de beaucoup; va y passer 5 jours ( 4 sur place mini).
Il n'y a que deux façons de vivre sa vie : l'une en faisant comme si rien n'était un miracle, l'autre comme si tout était un miracle.
Quelques mots pour appuyer les avis prècédents, sort vraiment de la boucle classique, tu as le temps !
Tu as le choix selon tes gouts, la fréquentation à cette période, la chaleur ++ dans le sud entre :
Yellowstone 4 jours pleins sur place
Cody
Région de Denver avec Rocky Mountains
Moab 3 jours pleins sur place
Passage par Durango, Ouray entre Moab et Monument Valley
Nouveau Mexique avec Tucson, Bisbee, Tombstone, White Sands
San Diego
Pour ce qui est de ton planning :
Los Angeles 2 jours pleins peuvent être suffisant
1 jour plein à Death Valley en été, la chaleur limite pas mal les activités en pleine journée
J25 trop speed, faire étape vers Lee Vining
un grand merci pour vos réponses! et oui nous avons de la chance ma femme et moi de pouvoir faire ce voyage...ça met d'autant plus la pression pour ne pas le rater car on ne sais pas si on pourra le refaire un jour.
Mais vos réponses me pose d'autres questions. En effet, nous ne voulions pas rouler tous les jours (avoir la chance de pouvoir prendre notre temps) et limiter au possible les heures de voiture par jour. Donc la solution yellowstone ou nouveau mexique à priori ça ajoute des km ? et ça "utilise" 4 jours d'un coup !
Nouvelles Questions sussitées :
1/ si on va vers le nouveau mexique et cody la visite de phoenix est-elle interressante ?
2/ le passage par durango ouray : je ne comprends pas c'est à l'est de mesa verdé on ne peut donc pas le faire lors du trajet entre monument valley et moab ?
3/ pour san Diego les avis sont partagé sur VF ?
4/ J25 pourquoi trop speed ? pourquoi faire une étape à lee Vining qui est d'apres google maps à 1 h 30 de yosemite ?
une autre question est de savoir pour la cote ouest : quel est le vrai intérêt ...et la météo : en parcourant les forums on s'aperçoit qu'il y a souvent du brouillard et une météo pas chaude chaude !
C'est dur de faire des choix lorsqu'on ne connait pas du tout.
Donc merci à tous les forumeurs(es)
Attention : à moins que vous ne parliez d'un autre Cody que je ne connais pas, Cody est près de Yellowstone, au Wyoming, et pas en Arizona.
Les avis sont partagés sur San Diego ? Moi je dis : courez-y ! C'est une ville superbe et reposante !
La 12 qui relie Torrey et Tropic est vraiment très jolie (paraît-il). Puisque vous avez le temps, je suppose qu'on vous a proposé de scinder le trajet pour mieux en profiter et la découvrir plus en profondeur. 🙂
Circuit dans l'Ouest : http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2744058
Floride-Louisiane : http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=3536861
Une semaine à New York : http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=4550454
New York, again http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=5593646
Effectivement, faire Yellowstone serait une possibilité. A condition que ce ne soit pas au détriment d'autre chose, et que ça ne vous fasse pas survoler des lieux où vous aviez prévus de rester un peu plus longtemps pour y randonner par exemple
Que ce soit en 15j ou 40j, les choix sont toujours difficiles c'est sûr!
Je n'émettais que des idées, à toi et ta moitié de voir selon vos préférences ...
Pour le 1 : Phoenix tu peux traverser sans t'arrêter, par contre il y a une belle route le Apache Trail mais qui mène un peu loin de ton trajet. Attention Cody n'est pas au Nouveau Mexique mais dans le Wyoming.
Pour le 2 : Ca pourrait donner ceci : http://maps.google.fr/...522, 5.350342&z=8 Une parenthèse, il vaut mieux coucher à Mexican Hat ou Monument Valley même selon le budget, mais Kayenta c'est triste et peu reluisant.
Pour le 3 : Si tu as lu les différents avis, et lu quelques guides, toi seul peut choisir.
Pour le J25 : Ton projet c'est ça http://maps.google.fr/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=furnace+creek&daddr=Bodie, +Mono, +Californie, +%C3%89tats-Unis+d'Am%C3%A9rique+to:yosemite+village&hl=fr&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=37.265635, -118.006735&sspn=3.331023, 5.350342&ie=UTF8&ll=37.26531, -118.328247&spn=3.331023, 5.350342&z=8, plus de 8h de route sans les stops pour visites, Bodie vaut 2h sur place, la Tioga mérite deux trois stops sans rando soit 2h30 environ, c'est trop en un jour je trouve.
bonsoir
en effet pour le jour 25 je ne sais pas comment j'ai fait pour trouver 215 mi !!!
je revois ma copie...et vais rentrer plus en détail dans le déroulement de chaque journée.
Nous ne pensons pas ajouter yellowstone car ça fait un peu loin. On préfère faire plus en détail ou nous nous trouvons.
Peut être un autre voyage ?
Pour le 2 ok mais pas grand chose dans les guides (routard un peu et rien dans le bleu) mais ça semble intéressant. Mais dans ce cas on ne pourra plus faire canyon land (the needles) en allant vers Moab.
Je détaille tout ça et merci et certainement à bientôt car plus on approfondit plus on se pose de questions.
Et je me dis qu'il faut se dépêcher pour pouvoir réserver les hôtels au plus tôt ?
Nous avons "retravaillé" notre parcours grâce aux divers conseil du forum.
Nous n'avons pas pris l'option yellowstone (pour une prochaine fois !) mais avons dilaté Moab page +passge par durango ouray...(merci pour le conseil)
Par contre je bloque sur l'étape entre las vegas et yosemite. J'ai prévu 2 jours mais je bloque sur l'ordre des choses à voir et sur les temps à passer.
J'ai pris en considération les diverses remarques et diverses discutions sur VF : j'arrive à cette nouvelle mouture :
16/07/09 paris A los angeles
17/07/09 los angeles : hollywwood bd + sunst bd + beverly hills + malibu ( gretty villa) et santa monica le soir
18/07/09 los angeles : Getty center à santa monica + brentwood + UCLA + venice beach +universal studio + traversée de downtown + visite LACMA (?)
19/07/09 los angeles A sedona (480mi 8h) JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
20/07/09 sedona : Oak Creek Canyon (12miN), silde rock state park, Tuzigoot National Monument, Montezuma Castle NM+ Montezuma Welll (25mi), Verde Canyon (et son petit train) +bell rock + jerome
21/07/09 sedona : West Clear Creek ou Wet Beaver Creek
22/07/09 sedona A Grand canyon (130mi 2h45) sunset crater volcano NM (2h) / wupatki NM (1h30)
23/07/09 Grand canyon :south kaibab to cedar ridge(3h) + Pipe Creek to Bright Angel(1h30)+ Shoshone Point (1h)
24/07/09 Grand canyon A page (130 mi 2h30) passer par lees ferry (resto) (1h + 1 h) et navajo bridge
25/07/09 page lac powel + barrage + Waterholes Canyon(2h)
26/07/09 page antelope canyon lower 2h + upper 2h / Horseshoe Bend (1h)
27/07/09 page A mexican hat (130mi 3 h) Navaro NM (2 h) + Monument valley au couché de soleil (1/2j)
28/07/09 mexican hat A cortex (130 mi 2h30) Goosenecks(1h) + valley of the gods (1h30)
29/07/09 cortex mesa verde NP
30/07/09 cortex A ouray (117 mi 2h30) durano + silverton (howardsville+mines+animas forks ghost towm (2h) + ouray (bain chaud)
31/07/09 ouray A moab ( 150mi 4h50 par naturita ou 209 mi 3h50 par grd junction) + detour par telluride? (40mi + 1h visite)
01/08/09 moab canyon land wilson arches
02/08/09 moab canyon land : the needles
03/08/09 moab arches NP
04/08/09 moab A torrey (160 mi 3h30) : GOBLIN VALLEY STATE PARK (1h30 + rando 2h)
05/08/09 torrey capitol reef = goosenecks + fruita + Hickman Bridge (2h) + Scenic Drive
06/08/09 torrey A tropic (110 mi 3 h00) escalante petrified forest /
07/08/09 tropic bryce canyon + kodachrome basin (2h)
08/08/09 tropic bryce canyon + mossy cave (1h) +red canyon (1h)
09/08/09 tropic A springdale (direct 90mi 2 h 00 / 142 mi 3h30 par cedar) cedar brak NM + zion
10/08/09 springdale A las vegas (160mi 2h40) Zion + valley of fire
11/08/09 las vegas strip + downtown + outlet
12/08/09 las vegas strip + downtown + outlet
13/08/09 las vegas A Furnace Creek (150mi 3h00) rhyolite (1h ??)+ goldwell open air museum + baileu's hot spring + death valley
14/08/09 Furnace Creek A lee vinning (220mi 4h40) death valley + lone pine +bishop + mammoth lakes + devil's postpile NM + june lake loop (2h) + lac mono de la south tufa reserve (2h)+ bodie state historie park(2h)
15/08/09 lee vinning A yosemite (70mi 2 h00) yosemite NP
16/08/09 yosemite
17/08/09 yosemite A San francisco (200mi 4h00) sonoma valley (visite cave vin)
18/08/09 San francisco
19/08/09 San francisco alcatraz
20/08/09 San francisco
21/08/09 San francisco
22/08/09 San francisco A monterey (120mi 2 h) sunset drive + 17 miles drive (bof) +aquarium(3h)
23/08/09 monterey A moro bay (120mi 3h00) big sur + hearst castle
24/08/09 moro bay A santa barbara (140mi 3h10)
25/08/09 santa barbara A LA airport (120 mi 2h00)
26/08/09 paris
Voilà, j'attends vos remarques et vos retour d'expériences pour faire évoluer les choses. (surtout sur Sédona et San Francisco trop long ?)
De plus pouvez vous m'indiquer les villes ou il faut absolument réserver les hébergements sachant que je voudrais créer le minimum de point fixe pour garder une souplesse maximum !
Si c'est possible ?
merci
Ton voyage prend forme !
Comme déjà dit Universal Studio occupe minimum 5/6h.
Fait un coucher de soleil sur LA depuis l'Observatoire à Griffith Park, c'est grandiose.
La journée LA/Sedona par Joshua Tree va être longue selon ton itinéraire dans le Park.
Telluride mérite un détour, touristique et un peu chicos, mais sympa.
Rien à dire sur le reste de ton trajet, Sedona vaut son jour plein si tu randonnes un peu, et San Francisco vaut largement 4 jours pleins.
Vers Sonoma, il y a un jeyser qui éclabousse toutes les 30min environs : oldfaithfulgeyser.com
Pour ce qui est des réservations, c'est toujours le problème de sentir prisonnier d'un timing, mais si tu réserves sur les sites même des hotels/motels, tu peux annuler selon les sites de 2jours avant jusqu'à la veille parfois et cela sans frais !
A la période ou tu y vas, c'est très fréquenté, si tu veux certains hotels précis notamment dans ou près des Parks, réserve vite, idem pour les grandes villes, c'est plus pratique que de chercher parfois tard à LA, SF.
L'an dernier sur deux mois j'avais pratiquement tout réserver, j'ai annulé sans problèmes 4 endroits différents afin de modifier le trajet.
merci pour tous tes conseils. :
je suis d'accord pour le trajet LA sédona mais bon ce sera le début des vacances et on sera préssé de rejoindre les parcs !
Par contre à ton avis 2 jours entiers à Sedona est-ce trop ?
on tend vers la solution mais ....il faut toujours affiner !
par contre effectivement je crois que je vais me mettre à la recherche des hébergements....donc parcourir d'autres topics !
Pour Sedona, il y a de quoi s'occuper 2 jours avec les randos et activités prévues, par contre à la Période ou tu y vas Zion est très fréquenté et l'accés est exclusivement fait par des navettes ce qui prend du temps, à voir selon ce que tu veux y faire ...
Bonjour Frangil,
Quelle chance de pouvoir partir 40 jours !!!! Ca fait rêver une majorité d'entre nous je pense... 😎
Organiser un voyage, c'est faire inévitablement des choix. Et je trouve courageux de zapper Yellowstone. Le Routard écrit "Arriver à Yellowstone après avoir traversé Gran Teton, c'est comme passer par le jardin d'Eden avant d'accéder au Paradis". Ca ne vous tente vraiment pas ????? 😇
Pour revenir au sujet, je te conseillerai de réserver dans les hauts lieux touristiques. Je pars en septembre et j'ai pas mal d'hotels recommandés par VF qui sont déjà complets. Alors, à ta période... 😕 Et si tu veux réserver à l'intérieur des parcs, c'est pris d'assaut.
Si tu veux te garder un peu de latitude, la plupart des hotels acceptent les annulations quelques jours avant.
Si, à certains endroits, tu veux assister au coucher de soleil, je trouve plus simple d'avoir son hôtel réservé.
Nous nous sommes décidés, cet été nous avons décidé de retourner aux USA, notre dernier voyage dans l'Ouest Américain datant de 2017. A l'époque j'avais…
Après avoir du renoncer à notre projet 2020 dans l’ouest américain suite à l’annulation des vols de fin juin et avec l’actualité actuelle non propice aux…
Nous sommes une famille avec deux adolescents (15 et 17) et nous préparons un voyage de 14 jours Denver - Yellowstone - Denver pour août 2020. Nous avons déjà…
Vais effectuer un road trip de San Fransisco a LA en Avril prochain (2020) en couple avec 3 ados! je cherche les meilleurs plan hébergements en particuliers…
J'ai la chance de pouvoir aller 4 jours à Las Vegas pour des conférences/... début Février et je souhaiterais en profiter pour visiter la région en y ajoutant…
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!
