Mon mari et moi partons visiter l’ouest américain du 09 au 30 avril 2014 soit 22 jours sur place. Les billets d’avion sont déjà pris (oui on a mis la charrue avant les bœufs) avec une arrivée à San Francisco et un départ de Las Vegas. L’idée de départ était de faire la boucle classique SF > LA > LV.
Vu notre rythme de vie effréné pendant toute l’année, on voulait faire ce circuit « tranquillement » et prendre le temps de profiter des villes sans faire trop de km. Seulement je pense que nous avons quand même prévu trop de temps dans chaque grande ville et que notre parcours (ci-dessous) pourrait être optimisé.
J1 à J7 : Visite de SF
J8 :SF > Monterey (nuit à Monterey)
J9 : Monterey > Santa Barbara (nuit à Santa Barbara)
J10 : Santa Barbara > Los Angeles
J11 à J17 : Visite de LA
J18 :Los Angeles > Death Valley (nuit à Death Valley)
J19 : Death Valley > Las Vegas
J20 à J22 : LV
Pour l’instant les options envisagées :
- Rajouter la visite de Yosemite (2 nuits sur place ?) après SF et avant Monterey
- Rajouter une autre ville à visiter (comme par exemple San Diego. mais est-ce vraiment intéressant à voir ?)
- Rajouter le Grand Canyon en fin de parcours (1 nuit sur place ou 2 sont-elles nécessaires ?)
Que pensez-vous de ces options ? Quelles autres étapes sont intéressantes ?
SF - LA: j'y ajouterai 1 jour. Par exemple, faite le chemin Monterey-Santa Barbara en 2 jours.
Si vous aimez les deserts, pourquoi ne pas ajouter Joshua Tree National Park (1 journee, entrer par le sud, sortir par le nord, nuit en dehors du parc, au nord du parc, car je vous conseille d'etre dans la parc pour le coucher du soleil). Et pourquoi pas dormir a Palm Spring la nuit d'avant.
Depuis Vegas, vous pouvez faire une excursion a Valley of Fire.
Yosemite, c'est loin de votre parcours. Surout que la route qui va du Parc a l'est est ferme a cette partie de l'annee.
Depuis San Francisco, il y a plein de visites a la journee (avec voiture), par exemple Napa Valley, ou Point Reyes (quoique la cote souvent sous le brouillard a cette periode de l'annee).
Pour le Grand Canyon, je vous conseille 2 nuits, car c'est un long trajet depuis Vegas.
Moi je rajouterais la boucle des parcs, classique, autour de Vegas. Soit après Death Valley:
Valley Of Fire (Nuit Overton) - Zion - Bryce Canyon (Nuit Tropic) - Page - Monument Valley (Nuit Mexican Hat) - Grand Canyon (Nuit Grand Canyon Village) et retour à Vegas.
Cela serait dommage d'aller dans l'Ouest et de ne pas faire les sites les plus dépaysants!
Trois à 4 nuits à SF et LA sont largement suffisantes.
Oui, mêmes commentaires qu'Itat. Dans votre itinéraire de 3 semaines vous passez beaucoup de temps dans les villes. Est-ce vraiment un choix délibéré de votre part ? Si c'est le cas favorisez San Francisco au détriment de LA mais personnellement et comme beaucoup d'autres voyageurs, allez voir ces fameux parcs nationaux américains ...
Quelques idées d'itinéraires là si ça vous intéresse: http://jeveuxcamperauxusa.blogspot.fr/2011/07/organisation-du-voyage.html
Merci beaucoup pour vos réponses ! Je ne pensais pas en avoir aussi rapidement ;)
SF - LA: j'y ajouterai 1 jour. Par exemple, faite le chemin Monterey-Santa Barbara en 2 jours.
Concrètement, tu penses à quelle étape ?
Si vous aimez les deserts, pourquoi ne pas ajouter Joshua Tree National Park (1 journee, entrer par le sud, sortir par le nord, nuit en dehors du parc, au nord du parc, car je vous conseille d'etre dans la parc pour le coucher du soleil). Et pourquoi pas dormir a Palm Spring la nuit d'avant.
Donc je rajouterai deux nuits entre LA et Death Valley ? Joshua Tree National Park a l'air très beau. C'est une option mais du coup je laisse tomber le GC...
Moi je rajouterais la boucle des parcs, classique, autour de Vegas. Soit après Death Valley:
Valley Of Fire (Nuit Overton) - Zion - Bryce Canyon (Nuit Tropic) - Page - Monument Valley (Nuit Mexican Hat) - Grand Canyon (Nuit Grand Canyon Village) et retour à Vegas.
Cela serait dommage d'aller dans l'Ouest et de ne pas faire les sites les plus dépaysants!
Trois à 4 nuits à SF et LA sont largement suffisantes.
Merci Itat de ton idée. Du coup je rajoute 4 nuits pour cette partie là ? Commet je l'intercale entre LA et LV à ton avis sachant que j'aimerai aussi faire Death Valley (j'avais prévu de faire LA > LV en passant pas Death Valley) ? C'est un véritable casse tête...
Los Angeles - Death Valley avec une nuit à l'intérieur de la Death Valley: soit Furnace Creek, soit Stovepipe Wells.
Puis:
Death Valley - Valley Of Fire ou Death Valley Of Fire - Zion avec nuit à Overton si vous privilégiez Valley Of Fire, ou Springdale si vous privilégiez Zion.
Ensuite Zion - Bryce - Nuit Tropic
Bryce - Page (Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon) - Nuit Page
Page - Monument Valley - Nuit Mexican Hat
Mexican Hat - Grand Canyon - Nuit Grand Canyon Village
Grand Canyon - Route 66 entre Williams et Kingman - Nuits à Vegas
Oui je me rend compte qu'on a prévu trop de temps dans les villes. Au départ c'était un choix (quand nous allons à NY nous restons une semaine ou plus sans s'ennuyer). Je voulais vraiment prendre le temps de les découvrir. Mais là effectivement 4 à 5 jours paraissent suffisants
Moi aussi je vs conseillerais de faire un tour du côté des parcs nationaux, surtout au vu du nombre de jours dont vs disposez.
Une suggestion:
J1 : arrivée San Francisco
J2 : San Francisco
J3 : San Francisco
J4 : San Francisco
J5 : San Francisco - Yosemite
J6 : Yosemite
J7 : Yosemite – Monterey
J8 : Monterey – Santa Barbara
J9 : Santa Barbara – LA
J10 : LA
J11 : LA
J12 : LA – Death Valley
J13 : Death Valley – Las Vegas
J14 : Las Vegas
J15 : Las Vegas
J16 : Las Vegas – Grand Canyon
J17 : Grand Canyon – Page
J18 : Page
J19 : Page – Bryce Canyon
J20 : Bryce Canyon
J21 : Bryce – Zion
J22 : Zion – Valley of Fire – Las Vegas
J23 : vol retour
En J17: vs pouvez envisager de dormir une 2ème nuit au Grand Canyon et alors ne dormir qu'une seule nuit à Page le lendemain , surtout que, comme il est prévu de loger 2 nuits à Bryce, vs pouvez vs permettre de passer encore une bonne partie du J 19 à Page et de n'arriver à Bryce qu'en fin de journée.
Tout ça est à affiner en fonction des chose que vs voulez voir/faire
Si vs voulez aller à Monument Valley, il faut retirer un jour qq part (à Las Vegas par exemple)
Si vs voulez gagner 2 jours pour rester plus longtemps ds les villes, vs zappez la visite du Yosemite
2 jours suffisent-ils réellement pour LA ? Zut, je pensais qu'il y avait plus de trucs à faire :(
Apparemment, au vu de vos réponses, il vaut mieux privilégier SF à LA.
Mais merci en tout cas pour ta proposition de circuit !
J'y vois un peu plus clair. Pour l'instant je suis partie sur 5 j à SF et 4 LA ce qui me laisse environ 5 jours pour faire une boucle des parcs autour de Vegas (Death Valley - Bryce - ...). Est-ce que ça vous semble jouable ?
Quel est le mieux : intercaler les 2/3 j à LV entre Death Valley et Zion ou les mettre en fin de boucle, au retour de Monument Valley ?
Pour passer 5 jours à SF et 4 jours à LA, vs êtes obligée de zapper Yosemite et Death Valley🤪
J1 : arrivée San Francisco
J2 : San Francisco
J3 : San Francisco
J4 : San Francisco
J5 : San Francisco
J6 : San Francisco
J7 : San Francisco – Monterey
J8 : Monterey – Santa Barbara
J9 : Santa Barbara – LA
J10 : LA
J11 : LA
J12 : LA
J13 : LA – Las Vegas
J14 : Las Vegas
J15 : Las Vegas
J16 : Las Vegas – Grand Canyon
J17 : Grand Canyon – Page
J18 : Page
J19 : Page – Bryce Canyon
J20 : Bryce Canyon
J21 : Bryce – Zion
J22 : Zion – Valley of Fire – Las Vegas
J23 : vol retour
"Quel est le mieux : intercaler les 2/3 j à LV entre Death Valley et Zion ou les mettre en fin de boucle, au retour de Monument Valley ? "
A vs de voir si vs préférez vs reposer à Las Vegas en fin de 2ème semaine ou en fin de parcours (quoique , moi perso, j'ai tjs trouvé que Las Vegas était une ville fatigante où arpenter le Strip et les immenses hôtels-casinos n'était pas de tout repos... au contraire🤪. D'autant qu'il n'est pas garanti à 100% que les magnifiques piscines extérieures des grands hôtels-casinos soient ouvertes en avril : les 19-20-21 avril 2010, elles étaient ttes fermées et tt le monde se promenaient avec un très gros pull🤪)
Los Angeles - Death Valley avec une nuit à l'intérieur de la Death Valley: soit Furnace Creek, soit Stovepipe Wells.
Puis:
Death Valley - Valley Of Fire ou Death Valley Of Fire - Zion avec nuit à Overton si vous privilégiez Valley Of Fire, ou Springdale si vous privilégiez Zion.
Ensuite Zion - Bryce - Nuit Tropic
Bryce - Page (Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon) - Nuit Page
Page - Monument Valley - Nuit Mexican Hat
Mexican Hat - Grand Canyon - Nuit Grand Canyon Village
Grand Canyon - Route 66 entre Williams et Kingman - Nuits à Vegas
@++
Ce circuit me plaît bien mais reste un peu trop long. Si vous deviez retirer un parc (oui je sais, c'est toujours un crève cœur...) ou une étape ce serait lequel/ laquelle ?
J1 : arrivée San Francisco
J2 : San Francisco
J3 : San Francisco
J4 : San Francisco
J5 : San Francisco
J6 : San Francisco
J7 : San Francisco – Monterey
J8 : Monterey – Santa Barbara
J9 : Santa Barbara – LA
J10 : LA
J11 : LA
J12 : LA
J13 : LA – Death Valley
J14 : Death Valley – Valley of Fire – Overton
J15 : Overton – Zion
J16 : Zion – Bryce Canyon
J17 : Bryce – Page
J18 : Page – Monument Valley
J19 : Monument Valley – Grand Canyon
J20 : Grand Canyon – Las Vegas
J21 : Las Vegas
J22 : Las Vegas
J23 : vol retour
Le tour ds les parcs est compressé au maximum, mais si vs ne randonnez pas longuement, ça ira.
Si vs voulez encore gagner 1 jour, zappez Zion et faites en J15: Overton – Zion – Bryce (avec passage rapide ds Zion: uniquement la petite balade "Canyon Overolok trail" qui ne démarre pas de la scenic drive mais bien de la rte 9 qui traverse Zion NP sans y pénétrer)
Le circuit de Jacqueline est bien monté car il répond aux attentes de Sabtphx qui voulait privilégier la visite des villes.
Si quelqu'un vient aux USA d'abord pour ses parcs alors il faut prendre des jours sur SF et LA pour les placer autre part dans des parcs justement.
Pour toi qui aime Vegas, ça peut être la même logique ...
Oui c'est vrai qu'il correspond pafaitement à ce que je cherche car comme tu l'as dit, je voudrais privilégier les villes. Mais du coup je me demande si le nombre de jours prévus à LA suffit. Cependant, au vu des renseignements que je prends, ce n'est pas une ville où on reste forcément longtemps...
Bon au pire, j'y retournerai plus longtemps...😉
Hi there,
We're thinking of driving Route 66 from Chicago to LA in fall 2027 or spring 2028 for about a month.
From what I've found, it doesn't exist everywhere anymore, but that's okay! We're happy to take detours along the way. We're open to visiting less touristy or even completely off-the-beaten-path spots.
Are there any websites dedicated to this road trip?
I'd love any tips and advice for this journey—accommodations, vehicle rental, the pros and cons.
Thanks in advance!
Hi fellow travelers, do you think there’s a real benefit to spending 2-3 days in Yosemite when I’ll already be spending a week in Banff and Jasper in the Canadian Rockies? Won’t it feel a bit redundant? I’m asking because Yosemite is expensive (I’d go with an agency from SF, staying in a cabin, since I’ll be solo and without a car) and apparently packed.
Thanks for your feedback!
Hello! The itinerary is pretty much set for August 2026. Yeah, I know it’s gonna be *super* hot. But it’s the only time we can get away.
So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas.
Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026:
Car rental – check,
Hotels – check,
Itinerary – almost check,
Photo gear – check,
Budget – check, 🤪
Meal planning – meh, we’ll see...
Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.
And now, without too much detail...
Fort Worth:
The Longhorns and the Stockyards;
JR’s ranch (for the missus);
Medal of Honor Museum – Arlington.
Houston and NASA Space Center:
See the Gulf of Mexico/America.
San Antonio and the missions.
Fort Stockton for an overnight stop.
El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains:
El Paso and White Sands.
Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum:
Tombstone, Bisbee.
Phoenix:
Still working on the program.
Sedona:
Round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) – we’ll decide on the spot.
Albuquerque:
Santa Fe,
Turquoise Trail,
Los Alamos.
Amarillo via Route 66:
Old Route 66 in the city;
Big Texas Ranch Steak 😏.
Dallas:
JFK Museum;
Perot Museum;
West End district.
And through it all – the road, the road, and more road!!!
We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state (we’re not exactly spring chickens).
Hello!
We’ll be arriving in Montreal on October 21st for a 3-day stay.
After that, we’re heading to Sherbrooke to visit our daughter, who’s studying at the university there. We’ll spend 3 days with her, and then, since she has a break that week, we’re taking her along for 3 days in Quebec City.
We’ve planned to visit Montmorency Falls and Île d'Orléans.
I’d love to hear what route you’d recommend for the drive from Sherbrooke to Quebec City—we’ll have the whole day to take it easy.
If you have any other recommendations, I’m all ears!
A little disappointed that the fall colors will be over by then, but the dates couldn’t be helped. Thanks in advance for your tips!
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!
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
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
