Trip report and practical tips for the American West Coast

Hi there, Just back from 25 days in May 2025 in the American West—here are some practical tips that might help you plan your trip.

Flight: 2 tickets for 1270 € with British Airways (Lyon-LA, SF-Lyon) SIM card: 12GB from Sim USA for 39 €. Useful for looking up accommodation every late afternoon. 12GB was enough for us. Car rental: Booked with BSP Autos. 21 days = 538 € for a Jeep Compass SUV picked up at LA airport and dropped off at SF airport. An SUV isn’t essential at all, but since we had one, we did take some easy dirt roads. Driving is straightforward, highways are toll-free. Gas: Averaged $3.80/gallon = 1 €/liter. We drove 6700 km and spent $500 on gas. Big price differences between states, and even between stations in the same state. We checked Google Maps/fuel for the best deals. Water: Not recommended to drink tap water. We refilled two 3L bottles regularly at visitor centers in the parks and froze two 1L bottles overnight to keep water cool during the day. Money: Bring cash for tips and gas—sometimes cheaper when paying in cash. Accommodation: Averaged $100/night. Only the first night in LA was booked in advance. For the rest of the trip, we found places to stay (mostly motels outside the parks) near where we were each late afternoon by checking availability on Booking, among others. No issues finding places in May—the advantage was the freedom to improvise. For example, we’d planned to do the loop counterclockwise: LA, Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon. But seeing the forecast (3 days of snow and freezing temps at GC), we headed straight from JT to Las Vegas, did the loop clockwise, and by the time we got back to GC, the weather was perfect. Weather: Aside from the first 3 mixed days, we had perfect weather—20-30°C, except Death Valley (37°C) and SF (15°C). Food: Depends on your appetite. For us, snacks during the day, a bigger meal in the evening, plus miscellaneous extras—our budget was $40/day. Miscellaneous: The "America the Beautiful" pass is a must—80 $. Website: For us, the best site was roadtrippin’. Our itinerary: LA, Joshua Tree, Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Colorado National Monument, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, Natural Bridges, Gooseneck Point, Canyon de Chelly, Painted Desert Park, Petrified Forest Park, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Route 66, LV, Red Rock Canyon Park, Death Valley, Sequoia Park, Yosemite Park, Big Sur-Monterey, San Francisco. 25 days—we didn’t lounge around, but we didn’t rush either. We took time in each park to drive the scenic routes, visit viewpoints, and do at least one hike (max 2 hours) per park.

Happy travels!

Thanks for the feedback! Actually, traveling in May is a plus for improvising depending on the weather. I only book one night in a hotel—the night I arrive.

After that, I camp and occasionally treat myself to a motel to freshen up.

For the SIM card, I recommend Free instead—they offer a card for 19.99 € (+10 € for the SIM card). The card is only valid for one month and isn’t renewable afterward. It gives you 35GB of data in the US. You have to get it at the kiosks directly in Free stores.

With 35GB, I easily last 25 days without any issues, using it almost constantly (GPS, social media, downloading drone videos, etc.). I’ve never had trouble connecting pretty much anywhere, except in extreme locations.

Otherwise, what an amazing road trip! Well done!... Do you have any feedback on Black Canyon of the Gunnison?... I’ve never been and was wondering if it’s worth it?...

Then I camp and every now and then I go clean up in a motel.

Just so you know, if you don’t already, I saw showers/toilets in a Laundry area in West Yellowstone, kind of like what you find on French highways for truckers. Not sure if that’s common across the States, though.

Hi there,

I’m joining Usafan—what a great road trip, well done!!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Canyon de Chelly. I’m planning a little solo round trip and debating whether to go, since I’ll be driving alone and need to make some choices!

Otherwise, no SIM card for me—I’m with Free, and everything’s included in my plan. As for food, it’s restaurants every day—I’m a foodie! 😛

Hi there, in response to Usafan and Biggie, I’d say the two canyons are different—Gunnison is very narrow with a river, deep, mineral-rich with marble-like rock, and wild. Canyon de Chelly is more open, cultivated, and inhabited (access is only possible with a Navajo guide), with beautiful red rock. As for whether to go or not, it’s hard to say because everyone experiences travel differently. Both were on our route, and we really enjoyed visiting them.

This was our first road trip in the U.S., and we were blown away by the beauty and diversity of the parks and landscapes. So much so that we’re considering another road trip in September, from Denver to Seattle, including Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Grand Teton, Glacier, Montana, Oregon, etc. You two seem to have a lot of experience in the U.S.—what do you think of this route? Is it as diverse and different as what we just saw? And in September, will it still be possible to travel without reservations and without too many visitors in the parks? Any tips, advice, or feedback from your experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I’ve never driven all the way to Glacier. But I’ve done Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Mount Rushmore, yes.

Mount Rushmore is nice, but let’s be real—it’s small and you’ll have seen everything in an hour. That said, it’s iconic, so it’s a must for US fans. Since you’re in the area, I’d also recommend checking out Crazy Horse.

If you’re coming from Denver, I’d suggest taking a detour to Badlands National Park. I found the drive between Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore *reeeeally* long—almost 9 hours. So I split it into two days. The stop in Cody was pretty meh...

Watch out—at Yellowstone, it was only 6°C in September as soon as the sun went down. And the hotels were nearly fully booked and *super* expensive! Yellowstone is magical, especially early in the morning when there’s mist. Don’t sleep in—get there early to see the mist lift. I spent forever just watching the bison in their element.

My absolute favorite was Grand Teton, no question. Way fewer tourists and so magical with the horses in the fields and Jackson Lake at the foot of the mountains... just wow!

I took advantage of the trip from San Francisco to stop by Lake Tahoe and Bonneville Salt Flats, and I didn’t regret it at all. It was amazing. Not to mention Virginia City.

If you’re heading toward Portland or Seattle, you *have* to detour to Crater Lake.

If you like driving, you’ll be fine. But there are quite a few long stretches...

Thanks for your reply!!

True, everyone’s experience is different... so I’ll have to make some choices, since I’m not sure I can handle driving alone on a long round trip. Oh well, that’ll be a good excuse to go back 😉

For my part, I didn’t do Rushmore, Oregon, or Seattle... but I’ve been to Montana twice (from Denver, but flying!). And I went to Glacier!! Generally, we choose to land as close as possible to make the most of it without too much driving.

I agree (again!) with Usafan—Yellowstone is a magical place, and besides the mist, another reason to get up early is the wildlife, which is much more active. Except for the bison, which are everywhere, and what a joy to watch them—it feels like being in a live nature documentary!

As I said earlier, everyone’s experience is different, and I must admit I fell in love with Montana . In terms of diversity, I think it’s less varied than what you’ve just done, but just as breathtaking.

In September, watch out for the weather! Usafan had 6°C (43°F) in Yellowstone in September, and we had to scrape the windshield one morning (also in September, in 2022). And at Glacier, at the end of August 2024, it snowed—the park’s main road, Going-to-the-Sun Road, was closed for a whole day.

I’m not sure if it’s really possible to book accommodations day by day in September—the options are limited, especially on the east side of Glacier, and some shops/restaurants start closing as early as mid-September. Also, to enter certain areas of the park, you need a reservation: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/vehicle-reservations. Plus, there are roadworks at Many Glacier until spring 2026, so access will be difficult.

There are fewer visitors in September since kids are back in school, but it’s still busy, and parking lots fill up fast (some areas of Glacier are very popular).

I highly recommend the Beartooth and Chief Joseph highways—stunning landscapes!

Be careful when driving in the evening or at night—Montana, Wyoming, and I assume Idaho too have a lot of wildlife around!