trip planner out west

How To Plan A Trip Out West in 2024: Your Complete Guide

Oh, the wild west! Whether you want to road trip along the Kenai Peninsula, spot wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, or stroll through the vibrant Grand Canyon, there's much to explore. But with so much scattered around, is it possible to see it all? Let's break down the steps and start planning your next adventure out west.

From navigating the national parks and diving into history-rich museums to feeling the city buzz and dipping into the rugged coastline, you're spoilt for choice. Whether it's a peaceful retreat or an adrenaline-fueled vacation, there's no doubt you'll find it here. 

But with a hefty handful of things to do in the west, how can you squeeze it all in? Maybe you're heading out on a 7-day trip out west, or perhaps you're thinking about a 3-week road trip… This in-depth guide will take you through everything you need to know. Here's how to plan a trip out west! 

Step 1. Decide when you want to head out west 

How many days do you need for a road trip out west? The answer you're looking for depends highly on you. It's about your preferences, travel style, the attractions you want to see, and the activities you want to do. The best time of year to road trip out west can vary greatly depending on these factors. 

Planning a trip out west any time of the year can offer many pros and cons. Each season hosts unique experiences, like shredding on snowy slopes in winter or hiking in spring.  

The west is well-known for its sublime scenery, and an ideal time to explore is during the shoulder seasons. The springtime showcases a wealth of wildflowers as they surge across the snow-melted mountains. In contrast, the fall brings colorful foliage with a few raindrops. The low season offers backpackers more affordable prices on accommodation and flights too! 

The wintertime offers action-packed events and activities for both snow and sports lovers. If you're interested in skiing or snowboarding, now's the time to shine! Prices can soar around Christmas, so it's not ideal for budget travelers. 

The west's summertime boasts hot and dry weather, making it a stellar time for outdoor activities. Tourism is usually at its height this season, so it may not be ideal for those bound to a strict budget. 

Step 2. Create your ideal travel budget 

If you're planning a trip out west, you're probably left thinking, how much will this cost? Now's the time to construct your very own travel budget. It sounds simple and not so appealing, but it's a crucial step to get more bang for your buck. 

When creating your ideal budget, remember to factor in accommodation, transport, flights, rental car hire, food, etc. Every last detail counts! 

The standard daily budget for travelers out west can differ greatly, depending on your travel style. If you're looking to keep it low cost, stay just outside the popular tourist areas and find budget accommodation in advance. If you're planning to hire a car, remember the money for fuel and tollways!  

Traveling has become more affordable in recent years. You can make the most out of your adventures by using these comprehensive  budget travel tips .  

Step 3. Figure out the must-see destinations 

All right! The United States West is home to an inundating inventory of dazzling destinations. Whether you want to lay low in a coastal town or sweat it out in a national park, a lot goes on on this side of the country. If you're heading out on a road trip out west, here are some top destinations you could add to your itinerary: 

• Yosemite National Park 
• Museum of American West in Denver 
• San Francisco city 
• Rocky Mountain National Park 
• Jackson Hole 
• Getty Center in Los Angeles 
• Yellowstone National Park
• Space Needle in Seattle 
• Beaches in California 
• Zion National Park
• Grand Canyon 

Step 4. Establish your route  

How do you plan on getting around? Are you thinking about a 2-week road trip out west, or would you prefer a 5-day visit? Are you driving a car, campervan, or participating in a group trip? 

Whatever your preference is, there really is no right or wrong way to do it. Plan your route out west, and remember to calculate time, cost, and distance. 

Step 5. Figure out your accommodation 

Out west, there is a huge range of accommodation. Depending on your travel tastes, what you choose can vary greatly. When planning a trip out west, you'll encounter everything from budget hostels to luxury resorts. You can also choose between  Airbnb ,  Couchsurfing,  hostels , sharehouses, and hotels. 

Save yourself time by comparing different hotel options on websites like  Hotels.com . You can even sign up to score hotel deals alerts to save extra money.  

 Step 6. Research some activities and attractions 

Now's the time to ask yourself, what are some of the best things to do out west? Maybe you've seen a photo of a canyon you'd like to conquer, a beach you'd like to bathe on, or a desert spa that's calling your name… 

Whatever you're feeling, get it down on paper! Here are some activities to add to your itinerary out west: 

• Kayak through the Emerald Cove
• Hit the dunes of Las Vegas on an ATV tour
• See Palm Springs from above on the aerial tramway  
• Hike through Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park on a day tour  
• Tour the Grand Canyon 
• Hit the heights of Temecula on a hot-air balloon ride   
• Go on a Napa and Sonoma Wine Country full-day tour  

Step 7. Get down to the nitty gritty  

Now that you know how to plan a trip out west, it's time to get down to business. Get your travel visa and documents organized, and make sure you've got travel insurance too. Being prepared in case things go wrong can bring you great peace of mind. If you need help figuring out what's right for you, take a peek at this insider's guide on the  best travel insurance for 2023 .

Step 8. Start packing  

Packing doesn't have to involve running around your room, frantically fumbling through drawers, throwing clothes everywhere, and screaming, "I can't find anything"… In fact, packing can be quite the opposite. All you need to do is stay organized and pack ahead of time. 

Scan over all the items in this  complete vacation packing list  to ensure you've all the necessities. Keep your clothing organized with  packing cubes  and utilize all the room you have. Heck, even stuff socks and underwear into your shoes! 

When planning a trip out west, there are going to be some long hours spent on the road. To help make your life easier and not break the bank, don't forget these travel essentials: 

• Universal Travel Adapter
• Power Bank  
• Water Bottle  
• Travel Wallet  
• Noise-Cancelling Headphones  
• Hiking Shoes  

Why visit the west? 

This part of the United States is home to some of the most unique landscapes on earth. With rolling hilltops, sandy deserts, vibrant cities, and a whole lot more, there is something to satisfy every type of traveler. 

Rural escapes, stunning scenery, crashing coastlines, and more! 

Now that you know how to plan a trip out west, it's time to take off your serious shoes and slip into something a little more comfortable. Pilot can help you plan the most epic trip, so what are you waiting for? Start the countdown now! 

Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

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How to Plan a Trip Out West (Itinerary Included)

If you’ve ever wanted to plan a trip out West, but feel overwhelmed by the amount of places to go and see, I’m here to (hopefully) ease your anxiety!

When my husband and I started planning our trip out West we were completely frazzled by the amount of information available to us online. While it was all helpful, it almost made it more challenging. It felt like we had to jump back and forth between multiple websites to get all of the details we needed.

I’m here to share our full itinerary from the trip, including hotels, places to eat, hikes and more. I’m hoping you can use this posts as a starting point to plan your trip.

* Please keep in mind we planned far in advance and were able to watch prices to ensure we found the cheapest deals. We booked (almost) everything in May for an October trip!

Basic Overview

Dates: Oct. 19 – Oct. 28, 2017

Transportation: Flights from Cleveland -> Las Vegas, Las Vegas -> Cleveland nonstop via Spirit Airlines. It cost $170 per person, roundtrip. We rented a car via Dollar Car Rental, which is a part of the McCarren Rental Car Center. It cost roughly $25/day to rent the car.

Locations in order: Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park (UT), Page, Grand Canyon National Park (AZ), Las Vegas (NV)

First Stop: Zion National Park [Hotel: Bumbleberry Inn ]

We flew into the Last Vegas airport, rented the car and drove straight to our hotel in Zion. The drive took about 2 hours and 40 minutes. The drive is easy and scenic (if you’re driving during the day). We arrived to the hotel after midnight.

We stayed at the Bumbleberry Inn, which was $90/night. It was one of the cheapest places we could find in the area. We stayed here for three nights. It’s located in Springdale’s downtown area, where you will find almost all of the hotels and places to eat.

The good and bad.  The room was cheap, so as you can imagine it was subpar. We didn’t mind, though, since we only needed it for sleeping and showering. As long as we had a bed, decent WiFi and running water, we didn’t care. The major good: the hotel has it’s own restaurant called Wildcat Willies, where you get a free breakfast every morning as part of your stay. The food was incredible. It is not what you picture when you think of hotel food. This was great for us since we needed a hearty meal to start each day before hiking. The hotel is in walking distance of a market, a lot of other restaurants and a shuttle stop, which you’ll need to take to get in to the park.

Where to eat.  As mentioned above, we ate at Wildcat Willies every morning for breakfast since it was free for us. We also enjoyed a dinner there the first night. It’s relatively cheap and again, delicious! Our second dinner we went across the street to Oscar’s Cafe, a Mexican restaurant. It was cheap but we had giant servings, so we were pretty happy. Just try and get there early – it seems to be one of the more popular places to eat!

Second stop: Bryce Canyon National Park [Hotel:  Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn ]

After we wrapped up our hiking in Zion for the day, we hopped in the car and made the drive to Bryce Canyon, which is about 1 hour and 50 minutes, and we gained an hour driving into Arizona. We arrived a little after 7pm.

Keep in mind while you’re planning that Utah and Arizona are in different time zones. So throughout the trip you may gain or lose an hour, depending on where you’re headed. 

We stayed at the Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn, which was $95/night. There are only two or three hotel options in Bryce Canyon, so I’m guessing you’d end up staying here. Our room was fairly nice and close to the restaurant. We stayed here for two nights.

The good and bad.  The room was nicer than the one in Zion, but this time we did not have complimentary breakfast. The hotel is broken up into several buildings, so if you get the second floor you won’t have to deal with noisy upstairs neighbors. The hotel had a pool and hot tub, which we took advantage of. There’s also a decent market, where we purchased all of our snacks for hiking.

Where to eat.  There is literally two restaurants in the entire area, so getting dinner the first night was a bit challenging and frustrating. The restaurant connected to the hotel, Cowboy’s Buffet & Steak Room, is big and has a buffet option, but since there are limited places to go it was packed. Try and grab food at an odd time to avoid the crowds.

Third stop: Page, AZ [Hotel:  Best Western View of Lake Powell Hotel ]

We woke up early in Bryce to catch the sunrise and complete our last hike, then left to make our way to Page, AZ where we planned to visit the famous Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. The drive was about 2 hours and 30 minutes. We arrived a little after 4pm.

We stayed at the Best Western View of Lake Powell hotel, which was $100/night. This was the nicest hotel room we stayed in. It had a nice little pool and a decent complimentary continental breakfast buffet. We stayed here for one night.

The good and the bad.  As I mentioned, this hotel was very nice. It had an excellent view of Lake Powell and a clean, welcoming lobby. The room was easily the nicest one we stayed in on the entire trip. We had no complaints!

Where to eat. Since we only stayed one night, I can only offer one suggestion to you: El Tapatio (can you tell we love Mexican?!). Our server was friendly and fun, the margaritas were so good, and the food was great.

Fourth (and last) stop: Grand Canyon National Park [Hotel:  Yavapai Lodge ]

After a long day spent in Page, we hit the road for the Grand Canyon. The drive was about 2 hours and 30 minutes. We arrived around 6:30pm.

We stayed at one of the well-known hotels within the park, Yavapai Lodge, which was $120/night. The room was similar to the one in Bryce Canyon, and it was broken up into buildings the same way. We stayed here for two nights.

The good and the bad.  The cell service in the Grand Canyon is not great, so we were pretty disappointed when we discovered we had no WiFi in our room. The only place you could access it was in the main lobby where the restaurant is, which was about 5 minutes from where we were staying. We were right by a shuttle stop, which was really nice when we were ready to begin hiking.

Where to eat. Restaurants are pretty limited once you’re inside the park and at this point in the trip we were getting lazy, so we ate in the main lodge both nights. It’s set up like a Sheetz, where you go up to a screen and order your food and drinks, then wait for your number to be called. They also had a pasta buffet option if you didn’t feel like waiting. The food was so so.

I hope you found this information useful as you begin to think about or plan your trip. There are plenty of other great places to visit in the area like the Arches, but this was the route we wanted to take in order to see the most with the time we had. We definitely want to take another trip out there! It’s hard to see everything if you don’t have a lot of paid time off (which we don’t).

Share this:

Eat*Drink*Cleveland

Wildcat Willy’s is amazing! We are there every day we were there. We stayed at a B&B though.

juliabszabo

You travel like we do, making sure we catch the deals and trying to find cheap hotels. This is a great guide!

Gordon Naruta

Nice guide! Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

som eof those photos are incredible

This is very helpful, thank you. Do you remember some of the names of hikes you did at each place? We are planning a trip and will have three little kids so trying to find some manageable hikes for them. We will have a 5yo, 3yo, and 8mo

madalynstoner

Zion – Emerald Pool, Weeping Rock, Pa’rus would all be great options with kids! Bryce – I would say the rim trail would be your best bet.. it’s the flattest area. Navajo Loop would be fun too but there is some elevation! Grand Canyon – honestly I think you could really only do the rim trail area. Any other trails take you down the canyon which can become very steep and challenging.

I hope you have a great time!

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Ultimate USA West Coast Road Trip: 7, 10 or 15 Days Itinerary Ideas

Are you looking for the best US west coast road trip itinerary to explore the most beautiful places along the Pacific Coast? Our 7 to 15 days USA West Coast itinerary will help you explore this part of the country from the stunning Grand Canyon to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Visit Hollywood in LA, the Space Needle in Seattle, and gamble in Las Vegas while you road trip the Western USA. Read our ultimate West Coast of USA road trip itinerary now. You may also like our post on Best Places to Visit in the USA .

Welcome to our West Coast road trip planner.

West Coast USA road trip is a grand adventure.

This classic road trip has the ultimate Clint Eastwood Western meets Baywatch vibe.

Drive on lonely, dirt-caked roads and stumble upon mining ghost towns.

Discover millions of years old landscapes and rock formations.

Lose track of time in the utter stillness that surrounds you.

Fall in love with sleepy coastal communities and find your inspiration in Hollywood.

Sunbathe in Malibu and take in the beauty of Big Sur’s rocky coastline. 

But that is not all this trip has to offer.

Unique geographic sites are littered throughout the West Coast road trip map and nature reigns supreme here.

Visit the lowest and driest place in the continent at Death Valley.

Feel dwarfed by the 50 feet tall Saguaro cacti and 350 feet tall coastal redwoods.

Hike in the prehistoric Fern Canyon and explore foggy cities along the Pacific Coast.

Climb up to active volcanoes and experience the earth’s geothermal activities along the Ring of Fire. 

Travel Tip – For a unique West Coast road trip, visit Alaska! Plan the ultimate Alaska road trip around Denali, Fairbanks, and Anchorage.

Walk-through history as it happened and discover momentous lands on the West Coast America road trip.

Explore the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Honor the first pioneers on the California trail at Donner Pass and see the first settlement on the West Coast at Old Town San Diego.

Understand the military importance of the Presidio of San Francisco and the Klondike Gold Rush that led to the fortunes of Seattle.

The USA west coast tour itinerary is an educational experience and perfect for a family summer vacation with kids. 

Epic West Coast Road Trip Itinerary Planner

Planning a West Coast itinerary is not easy.

And that’s why we have created this Ultimate West Coast road trip planner.

Use our suggested road trip route to plan an epic West Coast American road trip.

As always, we have included recommendations to customize this Western USA Itinerary based on your interests and the number of days you have.

Whether you want to begin in Las Vegas or San Diego and end in San Francisco or Seattle, we can help you plan a memorable and epic road trip.

We have linked this guide to our in-depth articles covering the region – Click on the names of cities and natural attractions to read more about them.

7 Day USA West Coast Road Trip

If you have just 7 days, you cannot see the entire West Coast.

You have a few options to either see the southwest and California or plan a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway in the Golden State.

Or see the highlights of the Pacific Northwest.

We have outlined these suggested Western road trip itineraries in this section.

Vegas Grand Canyon LA San Francisco

This West Coast USA tour itinerary covers the most visited attractions of the West Coast from the Grand Canyon to the Golden Gate Bridge.

If you can plan only one trip to the West Coast, then use this route. 

Las Vegas – 2 Days

Begin your West Coast driving trip in Las Vegas .

Explore the attractions of the strip including the beautiful Fountains of Bellagio and the Eiffel Tower ride in Paris Las Vegas.

Watch a concert or Cirque du Soleil show.

Gamble and enjoy the nightlife in Las Vegas.

See the scenic Valley of Fire State Park then head over to the Grand Canyon in the afternoon.

Grand Canyon National Park – 1 Day

Grand Canyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the natural wonders of the world.

It is one of the essential attractions on a road trip to the West Coast.

On a visit, you can see the exhibits about the formation of the canyon at the visitor center and admire the expansive views of the Grand Canyon from the South Rim Drive.

Spot the wildlife in the Grand Canyon including mountain goats and buy Native American arts and crafts at Trading Posts.

If you have time see the beautiful Antelope Canyons in Page. 

Los Angeles – 2 Days

Then head over to Los Angeles .

See the Walk of Stars and the Oriental Theatre in Hollywood.

Take behind the scenes movie studio tours and visit Universal or Disney.

Visit Museum Row on Miracle Mile and admire the art at LACMA and fossils at La Brea Tra Pits.

Walk on the beach and enjoy a sunset on the Pacific Ocean during your road trip on the West Coast. 

San Francisco – 2 Days

End your West Coast trip in San Francisco .

Walk the Golden Gate Bridge and climb down Lombard Street.

Take a ferry to historic Alcatraz Island and admire the San Francisco skyline from Twin Peaks.

Enjoy delicious seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf and the dim sum in Chinatown.

Conclude your trip by wine tasting and shopping in Union Square.

Los Angeles to California via Big Sur

While this road trip is based only in California, it is one of the best west coast road trips.

It has plenty of diverse attractions from world-class cities, stunning natural areas, and sleepy coastal communities.

This road trip is said to be the most scenic in the world for its gorgeous views along the wild coast. 

After exploring the urban attractions of Los Angeles , head up north towards San Francisco along the coast.

Enjoy the beach life in Malibu and Ventura and admire the view of Santa Barbara from the clock house tower.

Feel the trendy vibe in the college town of San Luis Obispo and climb the dunes at Oceano Beach.

Go wine tasting in Paso Robles. 

Big Sur – 2 Days

Then comes the highlight – a drive through stunning Big Sur .

See the elephant seals at San Simeon and visit the Lime Kiln State Park.

Photograph the engineering marvel of Bixby Creek Bridge and see the stunning McWay Falls.

Go antiquing in charming coastal communities like Pismo Beach and Carmel by the Sea and take a whale-watching cruise in Monterey.

See scenic lighthouses along the foggy coast. 

The 90 miles of Big Sur is filled with beautiful beaches and coves.

It has numerous hiking trails along bluffs and campsites right on the beach.

You can see marine life including whales, dolphins, sea otters, sea lions, and a variety of tide pool creatures.

Big Sur is also home to tall coastal redwood trees and blooms with beautiful wildflowers in the spring.

This region is a delight for nature lovers and a delightful stop on road trip USA West Coast.

San Francisco & Yosemite – 3 Days

Get your urban fix in San Francisco and end your West Coast trip USA on a high note at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Then explore the stunning Yosemite National Park and see the legendary granite faces of El Capitan and Half Dome.

Yosemite National Park is one of the most visited in the country and worth a visit on a West Coast roadtrip.

To plan this road trip, read our post on the Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary . 

Pacific Northwest Road Trip

Explore the Pacific Northwest on an ultimate road trip through hip cities, scenic drives, and open spaces.

See one of a kind geological landforms and eat plenty of seafood.

Go from the mountains to the beaches and drive through river gorges.

This road trip has plenty of hidden gems and underrated attractions. 

Portland – 2 Days

Begin your road trip in Portland and wrap your head around its ‘weird’ vibe.

Visit attractions such as the Japanese Garden and the Shanghai tunnels.

Eat the city’s famous doughnuts and visit the food truck pods.

Take a photogenic view of the Portland skyline with Mount Hood in the background from Pittock Mansion. 

Columbia River Highway – 1 Day

Then drive along the historic Columbia River Highway.

This scenic route has plenty of waterfalls and small communities.

The scenery here looks stunning in fall.

Visit the beautiful Multnomah Falls and admire the view from the Vista House Museum. 

Optional – Coastal Oregon & Washington

If you have more time, head to the coast and Cannon Beach.

See the beautiful haystacks before heading up towards Astoria.

Spend time admiring the seaport city from the Astoria Tower and understand about the Lewis and Clark Expedition at Fort Clatsop. 

Follow Highway 101 to Olympic National Park in Washington.

The park is a UNESCO Heritage Site and has attractions such as the Hof Rainforest and Sol Duc Hot Springs.

See the beautiful mountain views at Hurricane Ridge then tour the Washington State Capitol at Olympia as part of US road trip on West Coast. 

Also Read: Best Things to do in Washington State

Mt. Rainier National Park – 1 Day

Mt. Rainier National Park is a beautiful paradise in the Cascade mountains.

This active stratovolcano looks scenic when surrounded by wildflowers filled meadows in the summer.

One of the most popular regions to visit in Mt Rainier National Park is Paradise and Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center.

Sunrise road and the visitor center are also scenic and have beautiful trails. 

Tacoma – 1 Day

Then spend a day enjoying the cultural attractions of Tacoma.

A must visit in the city is the Museum of Glass and the Bridge of Glass which connects the museum and downtown Tacoma. This bridge has Dale Chihuly’s artwork.

Other good museums include the LeMay Car Museum and the Washington State History Museum which has a model railroad.

Take a stroll at the scenic Fort Defiance Park in Tacoma before heading to Seattle. 

Seattle – 2 Days

In Seattle , drink lots of coffee and visit the original Starbucks at Pike Place Market.

Visit the Seattle Center and climb up the observation deck of the Space Needle to see beautiful panoramic views of Seattle.

See the Chihuly Garden & Glass and enjoy the exhibits at Pacific Science Center.

Take a whale-watching excursion to the islands in Puget Sound before ending your road trip with a visit to the Museum of Pop Culture.

For more West Coast Road Trip Itinerary 7 days ideas, see our post on Best Road Trips to take along the West Coast . 

10 Day West Coast Road Trip

If you have 10 days to road trip the West Coast USA, then you can see many more attractions along the West Coast.

Here are our favorite comprehensive West Coast road trip ideas for the first time US visitors. 

Vegas to San Francisco via SR 395

While this road trip sounds similar to the one we mentioned earlier, you will be taking the much more scenic route through the Sierra Nevada and eastern California.

See the unique Death Valley National Park and reach Yosemite via the eastern entrance.

Then visit San Francisco and Los Angeles to complete your road trip in USA west coast. 

Explore the highlights of Las Vegas.

Walk along the Las Vegas strip and see the famous casinos including Bellagio, Luxor, Ceaser’s Palace, the Venetian, etc.

Explore the Freemont Street in downtown and take a photo with the Fabulous Las Vegas sign.

Hike the trails in Red Rock Canyon and see the Hoover Dam.

Grand Canyon – 1 Day

Either head for Grand Canyon on your 2nd day in Las Vegas or If you want to make a day trip, see the Grand Canyon from the western rim.

Grand Canyon West is not located in Grand Canyon National Park but on the Hualapai Indian Reservation.

At the western rim, visitors can walk over the glass panels on the Skywalk and see the Grand Canyon spread out before them.  

Death Valley – 1 Day

Then visit Death Valley National Park.

Death Valley is the aridest and hottest place in the country; it is also the lowest.

See the salt flats at Badwater Basin and the panorama from Dante’s View.

Hike along the Salt Creek trail and see the pupfish and sandboard the Mesquite Flat sand dunes. 

Then drive along SR 395 north towards Yosemite.

The best time to drive this road is from summer to fall; the rest of the year you may encounter snow and/or attractions may be closed.

See Alabama Hills, Manzanar historic site, Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake, and enter Yosemite National Park through the eastern entrance.

This entrance is closed during winter and spring.

Yosemite – 1 Day

Drive along the Lee Vining Canyon Scenic Byway.

The road will take you to the Tioga Pass entrance into Yosemite’s high country.

This area is snowed over from late fall to spring but is incredibly scenic in the summer.

See the attractions like Tuolumne Meadows and the panorama at Olmsted Point Overlook.

Then check out the attractions in Yosemite Valley including Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and Half Dome. 

After checking Yosemite, take the drive to San Francisco.

Walk or bike across Golden Gate Bridge and see the attractions in the Presidio of San Francisco including Crissy Fields, Fort Point, Walt Disney Museum, and the Palace of Fine Arts.

See the sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf and devour the chocolate at Ghirardelli Square. 

Big Sur – 1 Day

Take a short day trip through scenic Big Sur before heading to Los Angeles on this west coast of USA road trip.

You will need to leave on day 2 from San Francisco and reach Los Angeles late in the day to get the time for this side trip but it is totally worth it.

Explore Big Sur’s attractions including Bixby Creek Bridge, Pfeiffer Beach, Keyhole Rock, McWay Falls, the redwood groves, and Point Sur Lighthouse. 

In Los Angeles, take a movie studio tour or walk along the iconic Hollywood Blvd.

Snap a photo with the movie stars on the sidewalk and shop on Rodeo Drive.

See the movie star homes in Beverly Hills and see the museums.

Spend time on the Santa Monica Pier and people watch at Venice Beach.

Enjoy the SoCal vibe to make the most of your West Coast America road trip. 

10 Day California Road Trip

Spend the entire time in California, driving down the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to San Diego.

Then explore the state’s desert region of Joshua Tree and Death Valley.

Follow SR 395 through Alabama Hills and Mammoth Lakes to Lake Tahoe. 

San Francisco – 2 Day

Explore the best attractions in San Francisco including the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Lombard Street, and Alcatraz Island.

Take a ride on the historic cable car and dine in popular Fisherman’s Wharf.

San Francisco is very diverse and has something for everyone, whether you are visiting for the first time or a frequent traveler to the city.

Photograph the Victorian architecture and take a day trip out to Muir Woods.

Then drive down south along Pacific Coast Highway towards Big Sur. 

From the urban skyline of San Francisco, the scenery changes quite a bit even before you reach Big Sur.

Highway 1 will take you through communities such as Half Moon Bay and Pescadero before reaching beautiful Monterey.

Spend some time in Monterey at the Cannery Row. See sea lions or take a whale-watching cruise.

Visit the aquarium and hike in Point Lobos then head for Bixby Creek Bridge. 

Visit Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park which is home to the beautiful McWay Falls.

Then visit the purple sand Pfeiffer Beach before checking out scenic landscapes in Garatappa State Park and Andrew Molera State Park.

Enjoy surfing on the crescent-shaped Sand Dollar Beach.

See the Point Sur lighthouse and the elephant seal rookery at San Simeon. 

Los Angeles – 2 Day

Then drive down California’s coast to Los Angeles.

Experience the city’s beach and movie culture.

Take a photo with the Hollywood sign and dine at Michelin starred restaurants.

Relax on the sandy beaches in Malibu and see stunning art at the Getty Center.

Visit the Griffith Observatory and see gorgeous views of the city from above.

Buy fresh produce at the Farmer’s Market and take pictures for the ‘gram at the Broad. 

From Los Angeles, drive to Death Valley National Park.

Located in California’s high desert, Desert Valley is a hostile environment.

This is the driest, lowest, and hottest place in the country.

It is home to stunning salt flats at Badwater Basin, mysterious moving rocks at Racetrack Playa, and unique geological landforms such as Artist’s Palette and Zabriskie Point.

See the nearby ghost town of Rhyolite while leaving Death Valley for Yosemite. 

Yosemite – 2 Days

Take the SR 395 north towards Lake Tahoe.

On your way, you will pass via attractions such as the alien landscape of Alabama Hills, the Museum of Western Film History in Lone Pine, and Bodie, a mining ghost town.

Finally, arrive in Yosemite and take the Lee Vining Tioga Pass Road to Yosemite Valley.

Explore attractions such as Yosemite Falls and Tuolumne Meadows before driving back via the same road to Lake Tahoe. 

Lake Tahoe – 1 Day

The scenic Lake Tahoe is California’s favorite outdoor playground.

The lake is located on the Nevada California border and is stunning blue in the summer.

Take the Lake Tahoe Loop Road trip to explore attractions along the lake.

See Emerald Bay State Park and the Viking Castle.

Bike the famous Flume Trail and enjoy South Lake Tahoe. 

To plan this road trip, read our post on 10 Days in California . 

Portland to San Francisco

Another awesome option is to follow Oregon Highway 101, California Highway 101, and Highway 1 down the Pacific Coast.

You will be treated to stunning coastal views, rock formations, sandy beaches, waterfalls, marine life, coastal towns, whale watching, lots of history, and fresh seafood on this West Coast USA itinerary 10 days. 

Also Read the full post here: Portland to San Francisco Road Trip Itinerary

Start this amazing road trip down the coast in Portland.

The city is best for foodies and you should sample local doughnuts and ice creams as well as food truck pods in the city.

Visit the independent bookstore Powell City of Books and tour the underground tunnels.

Visit Portland’s beautiful gardens including the International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, and the Lan Su Chinese Garden.

See the beautiful views along the waterfront. 

Columbia River Gorge – 1 Day

Take a day trip to Columbia River Gorge via the Historic Columbia River Highway.

The road is extremely scenic and has many attractions including waterfalls.

The most popular waterfall by far is the stunning two-tiered Multnomah Falls.

Walk up to Benson Bridge and see the iconic falls up close.

Visit the Multnomah Falls Lodge Visitor Center before driving all the way to Mount Hood to enjoy your trip. 

Northern Oregon Coast – 1 Day

Then it is time to head down to the coast.

Spend a day exploring the attractions of the northern Oregon Coast.

Start at the beautiful seaport city of Astoria. See the Goonies filming locations.

Then head down to Ecola State Park and Cannon Beach .

Take the iconic photo of Cannon Beach sea-stacks from the state park.

Have fun on the beach, then visit the Tillamook Cheese Factory and try the fresh cheeses. 

Central Oregon Coast – 1 Day

There are many things to do on Oregon’s central coast.

Visit the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area and enjoy the stunning views.

Hike through old-growth forests of giant Sitka spruce and see the Devil’s Churn.

You can also whale watch from the shores.

Explore the scenic towns of Yachats, Florence, and Newport, which is home to the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Visit the Devil’s Punchbowl area and see the unique geological formation.

Tour the charming Yaquina Head Lighthouse and Heceta Head Lighthouse. 

Southern Oregon Coast – 1 Day

Continue the drive down Highway 101 through Southern Oregon.

Take a short scenic road trip along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.

This 12-mile long route has plenty of panoramic coastal views and pullouts to enjoy them.

See the lighthouses at Cape Arago, Cape Blanco, and Pelican Bay.

In southern Oregon, you can also see the giant coastal redwoods along the Oregon Redwoods Trail.

The southern coast also has lots of breweries and is a great place to drink craft beer. 

Northern California Coast – 2 Days

Then cross over the border into northern California.

Northern California is the best place to have a variety of redwood experiences including drive-through trees and single log cabins.

Use the two days to explore attractions such as the Avenue of the Giants, the Fern Canyon hike, the Glass Beach at Fort Bragg, the coastal city of Mendocino, and Point Reyes.

Eat the oysters at Tomales Bay and see the Birds filming locale in Bodega Bay.

Read our North California road trip itinerary to plan your 2 days in North California. 

Make your way down to the northern California city of San Francisco.

See the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and take the tour to Alcatraz Island.

See the famous federal prison and know about the prisoners incarcerated here including Al Capone.

See the oriental architecture in Chinatown and the murals in Balmy Alley.

Drive down twisting Lombard Street and dine at the Ferry Market Building.

See the city of San Francisco from the Marin Headlands and enjoy the laid back vibe of Sausalito. 

West Coast USA itinerary 2 weeks

If you have 2 weeks, then you are in for the treat of a lifetime.

You are going to drive through ever-changing landscapes and explore the diversity of the West Coast.

Start your road trip at the Canadian border near Seattle and go south till you reach the Mexican border in San Diego.

This USA west coast itinerary 2 weeks is the ultimate road trip adventure. 

While you won’t get time to see all of the natural attractions including Mt. Rainier, Columbia River Gorge, Yosemite, Big Sur, and Coastal Oregon-Northern California coast, we recommend picking a few of the attractions you most want to visit and dividing your days accordingly for this West Coast road trip 2 weeks. 

Start your 2-week West coast USA itinerary in the Emerald City of Seattle .

It is known for its coffee houses, wet winter season, and the iconic Space Needle.

Try out the city’s famous attractions and tour the Seattle Underground.

Visit the Chinatown-International District and enjoy shopping for knick-knacks and souvenirs.

Eat dishes such as pho, noodles, and Ramen.

Visit the Seattle Museum of Art and the free Olympic Sculpture Park along the waterfront.

Read our guide on Seattle to plan your trip. 

Optional: Mount Rainier National Park – 1 Day

Mount Rainier National Park is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Pacific Northwest.

The National Park is very close to Seattle and hence easy to see on a day trip.

If you are visiting from July to September, check out the Sunrise Visitor Center and hike the Sunrise Nature Trail or Sunrise Rim Trail.

During the rest of the year, visit the Paradise area and the Henry M Jackson Visitor Center.

The views from the Paradise area are also equally stunning and you can see the active volcanic peak of Mt Rainier, wildflowers, wildlife, and glaciers. 

Then make your way south to the hip and trendy city of Portland.

The Willamette River runs through this city and Tom McCall Waterfront Park is located along the river.

Check out the park and its memorials before checking out Portland’s attractions including the Portland Art Museum, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and the Pittock Mansion.

Take a hike through Forest Park and discover the Witch’s Castle!

Go on a food spree and eat unique dishes all around the city. 

Optional: Historic Columbia River Gorge – 1 Day

It’s time for a historic trip down the Columbia River Gorge.

Take the scenic Columbia River Highway from Portland to Mt. Hood and explore the attractions along the 75-mile long route.

Start in the town of Troutdale and visit the historic McMenamins brewpub.

Then stop at the beautiful Multnomah Falls Scenic area. Hike along the falls and other famous hiking trails in the area.

See the panoramic views from Crown Point.

At the end of the road, continue along the Mt Hood Scenic Byway.

Return to Portland for the next part of the trip. 

Optional: Coastal Oregon and Northern California coast – 2 to 3 days

You can either drive down the coast for which you will need at least one additional day without stopping anywhere or fly from Portland to San Francisco for a fly and drive West Coast itinerary.

If you are driving, we recommend devoting 2 to 3 days to this stretch which is filled with redwoods, beautiful lighthouses, charming coastal cities, and more. 

In Oregon, must-see stops include Astoria, Cannon Beach, Tillamook Creamery, Yachats, Heceta Head Lighthouse, Devil’s Punchbowl, Cape Perpetua, and Samuel H Boardman Scenic Byway.

Read our post on Coastal Oregon road trip itinerary to know more about these attractions and plan the trip. 

In Northern California, some of the must-visit attractions include Redwood National and State Parks, Russian River, Avenue of the Giants, Leggett drive-through redwood tree, Napa/Sonoma County, Point Reyes, etc.

To see all the attractions, read our Northern California road trip guide. 

In the city, see the best things to do in San Francisco including the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Lombard Street, Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium, California Academy of the Sciences, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and other attractions.

Take a day trip to Napa or Sonoma wine counties and go wine tasting, see the geyser in Calistoga, check out the Bay area attractions in neighboring San Jose and Palo Alto, or see the redwood trees at Muir Woods in case you missed them further up the coast. 

Optional: Yosemite National Park – 1 Day

If you want to see the beauty of the Sierra Nevadas and the Sequoia trees, then go on a day trip to Yosemite National Park.

This is one of the most visited national parks in the country and has amazing scenery.

Start your visit in the Yosemite Village and see the valley.

See the highlights of Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, etc.

Drive around the national park and see the famous views of Tunnel View, Valley View, Glacier Point Road, and Olmsted Point Overlook.

See the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia trees and see the wildflowers on Tuolumne Meadows. 

Optional: Big Sur – 1 Day

Welcome to beautiful, bold Big Sur.

The beauty of California’s unspoiled central Coast has inspired artists, poets, and writers.

This is the place to visit for secluded beaches, lots of marine wildlife, tide pools, hiking trails on the coast, and waterfalls.

Visit small charming communities like Carmel by the Sea, Pismo Beach, and Morro Bay to understand and appreciate the relaxed life here. 

Then head down to Los Angeles and enjoy some of the best sunsets of your life.

The city is pretty huge and most of the landmark tourist attractions aren’t concentrated in one place but you can easily get cabs and rideshares to get around the city.

Start your day at Hollywood in Central LA and see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Kodak Theatre which hosts the Academy Awards, and the Hollywood Museum which has movie props, scripts, and costumes.

See other attractions including Griffith Park and Observatory, Getty Villa, Rodeo Drive, and the museums. 

Optional: Anaheim – 1 Day

If you have kids or adults in your party that love theme parks, then make the stop at Anaheim.

Our favorites are the Disney theme parks – Disneyland and California Adventure.

Disneyland is perfect for younger kids who want to meet Mickey and friends and the princesses while California Adventure is more for older kids who like roller coasters and other thrill rides.

You can also visit Universal Studios to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

There are many other theme parks in Anaheim besides Disney and Universal and you are in for a fun day. 

San Diego – 2 Days

End your road trip in the sunny city of San Diego .

It is known for its warm sun, mild weather, and inviting beaches.

Explore Old Town San Diego and its historic buildings.

Eat delicious Mexican cuisine and walk along the waterfront Embarcadero.

Explore Balboa Park and its attractions.

See the museums housed in historical buildings and take a day trip either to Coronado island or the sunny beaches in La Jolla. 

USA West Coast itinerary 3 weeks

In 3 weeks you can cover a whole lot of the country.

Drive from border to border along the Pacific Coast, then make a beeline for the southwest.

Visit one of a kind attractions such as Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Monument Valley.

Experience the best of Western USA on this epic road trip. 

If you look at the West Coast America road trip map, you will be covering an L shaped section of the western USA.  

To plan this road trip, follow our suggested route for the 2-week itinerary up to Los Angeles.

Then take the route to Las Vegas from Death Valley.

From Las Vegas, embark on a week-long southwest road trip to the Grand Canyon and beyond.

The itinerary will follow the route as follows:

There is no better place than Seattle to start your West Coast 3 week road trip itinerary.

You will begin near the northern border in Canada and explore the most vibrant city of the Pacific Northwest.

See iconic attractions of the Greater Seattle area including the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Pike Place Market, and Seattle Waterfront.

Understand the history of Seattle and the Klondike Gold Rush at Historic Pioneer Square neighborhood.

Read our Seattle itinerary guide to plan your trip. 

Optional Mount Rainier National Park – 1 Day

After seeing Seattle, drive to Mt. Rainier National Park which is located to the southwest of Seattle.

The drive takes about 2.5 hours and is incredibly scenic.

At the end is your destination, the iconic Mt. Rainier. This is an active stratovolcano in the Cascade ranges.

At the national park visitor centers, you can see exhibits about the volcanic activity, plants, and animals in the National Park.

Then enjoy hiking along the park trails and enjoy the waterfalls in the Paradise region.

If the roads are open, drive to Sunrise Visitor Center to see Mt. Rainier from a different vantage point. 

Your next destination is Portland. Start your visit in Washington Park.

This urban park is home to Oregon’s many attractions including the Oregon Zoo, Portland Children’s Museum, and the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum.

It also has expansive gardens including the International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, and the Hoyt Arboretum.

See the famous Pittock Mansion and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Visit the local Farmers Market, hike in Forest Park, and walk across the beautiful historic St. John’s Bridge. 

Today, you will be visiting one of the best places to see on the West Coast – the stunning Multnomah Falls.

The falls are 620 feet tall and are the tallest waterfall in the state.

The falls cascade from the basalt cliffs in two tiers.

The charming Benson Bridge overlooks the base of the first tier and has an excellent vantage point over the falls.

After seeing the falls, check out Hood River and other falls including Horsetail Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, etc.

Then drive down to San Francisco. 

As we mentioned before, spend 2 to 3 days on the course from Portland to San Francisco.

Start at the Lewis and Clark Expedition Site in Fort Clatsop in Astoria.

See the beautiful view from Ecola State Park and visit the Tillamook Creamery.

Hike Cape Perpetua Scenic Area and the Devil’s Punchbowl near Yachats.

See the cities of Newport and Florence before heading into Northern California.

In Northern California, hike in Fern Canyon in Prairie Creek Redwood State Park and drive through the fog-covered Redwood Highway.

Sport elks and the other wildlife and view the scenic lighthouse in Crescent City.

Admire the Victorian architecture of Old Town Eureka and see the beautiful glass beach at Fort Bragg.

Read our Coastal Oregon road trip itinerary and Northern California road trip itinerary to plan a trip along this route.

Meander your way down the coast to the amazing city of San Francisco.

Enjoy its hip vibe.

If this is your multiple visit to the city, then discover hidden attractions such as the Grateful Dead house in Haight Ashbury neighborhood , the 16th Avenue tiled steps, and Mission Dolores Park in Mission District.

Eat your way around the egg tarts in Chinatown, Mission-style burritos, and sourdough clam chowder soup at Boudin’s Bakery. 

Yosemite National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful places to visit on the West Coast.

Take the scenic Highway 140 through Mariposa to Yosemite Valley.

Visit the museum and take a stroll around Yosemite Village.

Then explore the valley and its major attractions.

You can also see the valley on a guided tour given by the park rangers if you have less time.

Drive up to Tunnel View and see the beautiful panorama of El Capitan, Half Dome, and the Bridalveil falls.

Hike in the valley and explore the park’s wildlife before coming back to the coast. 

Optional: Big Sur – 2 Days

The drive through Big Sur is one of the most beautiful road trips in the world.

You will be driving parallel to the rugged coast and have awesome views of the coastal cliffs and the blue water of the Pacific Ocean.

There are many hiking trails and natural areas along the road including Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Garatappa State Park, Lime Kiln State Park, etc.

Beautiful waterfalls, hidden beaches, and coves surround this area.

Stay at Big Sur village and enjoy the stunning beauty of Big Sur. 

Optional: Channel Island National Park

Channel Islands National Park is one of the least visited National Parks in the country.

Located off the coast of California, the park comprises five islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Visitors can either take a ferry or a plane to the Channel Islands, with the ferry being the more economical option.

The trips depart from Ventura where the park visitor center is also located. 

Two of the most visited islands include Santa Cruz and Anacapa Island.

On Anacapa Island, visitors can hike to Inspiration Point to get stunning views of the islands.

The lighthouse on Anacapa Island is also worth a visit.

In Santa Cruz, visitors can see sea caves including the Painted Cave.

The Channel Islands are also popular for diving among the kelp forests and seeing wildlife including seals and sea birds. 

From Ventura make the trip down along the Pacific Coast Highway to Los Angeles.

This is the second-largest city in the country and a must-visit while road tripping the West Coast.

Its many attractions include watching movie stars shop on Rodeo Drive, seeing their homes in Beverly Hills, taking a movie studio tour including Warner Brothers, Sony, and Paramount.

The city is a top cultural destination and has many noteworthy museums including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the La Brea Tar Pits, the Getty Center, Getty Villa, and the Broad.

Also must try are the several renowned restaurants in Los Angeles. 

Anaheim – 1 Day

Anaheim, located in Orange County, is home to California’s theme parks.

The city also has sports stadiums as well as many free things to do besides theme parks.

In Anaheim, you will find Disney Parks, Universal Studios, Knotts Berry Farm, etc.

Foodies must visit the Anaheim Packing House, a renovated food hall.

Other free things to do include taking a stroll through the historic district and seeing the architecture and famous buildings. 

Optional: Death Valley National Park – 1 Day

After seeing Los Angeles and Anaheim, make the trip towards the southwest to the Sin City of Las Vegas.

Along the way, you can make the detour to Death Valley National Park.

As we mentioned, this is a park of extreme landscapes and weather.

It is the lowest, driest, and hottest place in the country. Death Valley is famous for its salt flats at Badwater Basin.

Other things to see at Death Valley include the Harmony Borax trail, the Mesquite Flats sand dunes, Artist’s Drive, and the 360-degree panorama at Dante’s View. 

Now it’s time to road trip the Death Valley Scenic Byway to Las Vegas.

The city is most famous for its casinos and the strip attractions including Bellagio Fountains, the volcano at Mirage, the canals at the Venetian, etc.

Other than the Las Vegas strip attractions, you can also check out hidden gems in Vegas including the Mob Museum, the Neon Museum, Discovery Children’s Museum.

Also, take the time to explore outdoor Las Vegas including Seven Magic Mountains, Red Rock Canyon, and Valley of Fire State Park. 

Zion National Park – 1 Day

From Las Vegas, visit the stunning Zion National Park.

After checking out the Visitor Center, take the shuttle or drive along the Zion Scenic Drive.

This drive is spectacular and has stunning views of the red rock canyon landscape.

Hike along popular short trails such as the Emerald Pools, the Riverside Walk, and the Weeping Rock.

Or spend half a day to more strenuous hikes such as the Narrows or Angels Landing.

The hikes will show you stunning views of the Zion Canyon and the Virgin River through different vantage points. 

Optional: Bryce Canyon National Park – 1 Day

Bryce Canyon National Park is one of Utah’s most underrated National Parks.

It is famous for its spire-shaped hoodoo rock formations caused by weathering due to wind and rain.

In the famous area known as the Bryce amphitheater, you can see a variety of these hoodoo formations.

Hike the rim trail to see the hoodoos from above and hike down into the canyon using the Navajo Loop Trail to see the hoodoos from below.

Road trip the 21 miles long Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive and see the canyon from the lookout points. 

Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend – 1 Day

Another must on an epic West Coast road trip USA!

The Antelope Canyons in Page, Arizona are the most beautiful slot canyons in the world.

The canyons are made of red sandstone and formed due to weathering.

The floodwaters from millions of years ago have left beautiful swirling patterns on the canyon walls and seeing the Canyons just as the sunlight lights them up is a delight.

Another popular attraction in Page is Horseshoe Bend overlook.

Here the Colorado River forms a beautiful horseshoe-shaped meander.

Visitors can see the scenic Horseshoe Bend from an observation platform. 

Optional: Monument Valley – 1 Day

If you have time, then venture into the beautiful landscape of Monument Valley on your road trip US West Coast.

This red sand desert region located in Arizona is probably one of the most photographed spots in the country.

Monument Valley has a fascinating landscape of red sandstone buttes that reach up towards the sky.

You can see all of these buttes on a scenic drive through Monument Valley. 

The views of the buttes are awesome and otherworldly.

Monument Valley is also a popular filming location and the movie Forrest Gump was filmed here. 

Grand Canyon National Park – 2 Days

End your memorable adventure in the Grand Canyon National Park.

The Grand Canyon is a majestic natural wonder and you will seldom see anything comparable to its vast scale ever again.

The Colorado River formed the Grand Canyon over millions of years of weathering action.

Visit the South Rim and enter the park through the popular Grand Canyon Village.

Check out the visitor center exhibits about the geological formation of the canyon and its natural resources.

Then go to Yavapai Point to see one of the most amazing viewpoints of the canyon.

Hike the rim trail and drive all the way to Desert View Watchtower. 

Optional – Phoenix

After seeing the Grand Canyon, you can either drive to Las Vegas or Los Angeles for the return flight or to see even more of the country, drive to Phoenix.

The route will take you through many attractions including historic Flagstaff on Route 66, the beautiful red rock landscape of Sedona, and the ghost town of Jerome.

In Phoenix, you can experience the beauty of Arizona’s deserts at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

In spring and early summer, the cacti will be blooming with beautiful colorful flowers.

Hike up to Camelback mountain for iconic views of the city.

Take the kids to see the Phoenix zoo.

The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is also lots of fun for youngsters.

See the OdySea Aquarium and enjoy learning science at the Arizona Science Center. 

Art lovers should visit the Phoenix Art Museum to see Renaissance-era art and the Heard Museum to understand the Native American culture.

See the unique Musical Instrument Museum and the Hohokam Native ruins at the Pueblo Grande Archeological Park & Museum.

Architecture lovers should visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in nearby Scottsdale. 

4 Week USA West Coast Road Trip Itinerary

If you have an entire month for the USA road trip on the West Coast , then we really envy you!

Very few lucky souls have that kind of time and even we hope to go on such a grand adventure one day. 

With 4 weeks in hand, follow our same route as above except take time to see each and every optional attraction.

Stop in cities like Bend in Oregon and Santa Barbara in California while coming down the coast. 

Drive south all the way down to San Diego before you venture into the Californian desert and American southwest.

See Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park both before going to Las Vegas. 

In Las Vegas, see Lake Mead and Hoover Dam plus the area’s outdoor attractions.

Spend two or more days in Zion and hike all its trails including the famous Narrows hike along the Virgin River.

Make the detour to Grand Canyon north rim after seeing Bryce if the roads are open. 

See both the upper and lower Antelope Canyons in Page.

Spend a day cruising on Lake Powell and see the Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

Camp in Monument Valley to see its dark sky and the silhouette of the buttes at night. 

In the Grand Canyon National Park, hike all the way down via the Bright Angel Trail or go river rafting in the Colorado River.

Get a permit and hike to the beautiful Havasupai Falls.

Drive down to Phoenix and spend some time exploring the Grand Canyon State on an epic Arizona road trip through Saguaro National Park and Petrified Forest National Park.

These are just a few ideas to make your road trip better!

The USA West Coast road trip is an adventure of a lifetime.

This road trip is more American than any road trip could ever be.

If you have any trip planning questions, let us know in the comments.

Planning a 10-Day West Coast USA Road Trip Itinerary

Home | Travel | North America | United States | Planning a 10-Day West Coast USA Road Trip Itinerary

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Traveling along the West Coast of the United States  had been in my head since the day I found out I’d be moving there for work. Who hasn’t dreamed about a road trip across the Western US? For me, the landscapes that automatically come to mind are the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Death Valley among others, as we have seen again and again in a bunch of movies.

Grand Canyon

In addition to nature, the American West Coast also offers you visits to symbolic cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

My favorite part of this trip was definitely the National Parks where natural wonders of this incredible country are concentrated within. I had been taking note of them on a  Western US  map   for a long time so that I could visit them as soon as I had the chance.

That’s how I started planning the 10-day West Coast USA road trip that we took in August.

THIS WAS OUR 10-DAY WEST COAST USA ITINERARY:

Our 10-day West Coast USA road trip itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Las Vegas.  Beginning of our 10-day West Coast USA Road Trip.
• Day 2: Monument Valley + Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend.  The most popular places in the Western USA.
• Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park. One of the less touristic national park in the West Coast USA.
• Day 4: Zion Canyon National Park. One of the places we like the most during our 10-day West Coast USA trip.
• Day 5: Grand Canyon,  a must-visit place on the West Coast.
• Day 6: Mojave National Preserve + Death Valley,  the best of our 10-day West Coast Itinerary.
• Day 7: Yosemite Valley, the best attraction in the Western USA.
• Day 8: Upper Yosemite Falls,  the best hike of our West Coast America road trip.
• Day 9: Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. You cannot skip this highlight of West Coast USA:
• Day 10: Return flight from San Francisco.  En of our 10-day Western US trip.

If a Western US road trip is also one of your dreams, you will find everything you need to prepare your trip here:

• 10-day West Coast USA Road Trip

Best places to visit in West Coast America

• Our West Coast USA 10-day itinerary
• How to plan a self-drive trip to the Western US

How much does it cost a West Coast USA trip?

• Map of Western US

10-day west coast USA road trip

One of the first things I am sure you will be wondering about is how long a West Coast trip could take. My opinion is that you could be discovering the American West Coast for months and would still have things to do.

Death Valley – Zabriskie Point

When looking at a West Coast USA map, it may initially seem that the best tourist destinations are close to each other. However, distances in this country are huge, and you will spend a lot of time on the road during your trip.

Keep in mind that the US public transportation system is very scarce outside of the big cities, so the only practical option is to rent a car and prepare for a West Coast USA driving holiday.

On our West Coast USA road trip, more than ¼ of the trip was spent driving and still, along with the Canadian Rockies trip , it was one of the best trips of our life.

Another highly recommended option is to take a West Coast RV trip , as this country offers all kind of facilities for those who like to travel with their motorhome. You can check the best RV rental companies in the USA here.

Although it takes a long time to travel across the West Coast in depth, if you don’t have too many days or prefer to combine them, I encourage you to spend in West Coast America at least 10 days.

Grand Canyon – Plateau Point

There are thousands of West Coast USA tours you can take, so the first thing you have to choose is a few must-see places. It may seem complicated to plan this trip at first, especially when you do not have much time.

To help you choose your perfect West Coast America itinerary, you will discover the main tourist attractions in this section. Then, you can design the West Coast USA holiday itinerary that best suits your needs.

I suggest that as you read through this article, write down  the things to do in West Coast America  that interest you most on a map to help determine the best itinerary.

SAN FRANCISCO

If you like to visit cities, one of the places you cannot miss on the West Coast America is San Francisco. This popular city of California, is characterized by the steep slopes and the well-known Lombard street.

The most popular thing to do in San Francisco is visiting the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the most famous bridges in the US and a classic in many American films, as seen in Godzilla and Superman.

In addition, another interesting activity to do is visiting the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary whose best-known prisoner was Al Capone. It was said that nobody could escape from this maximum-security prison island since the only way was by swimming almost two kilometers in cold and treacherous waters.

If you are visiting this city, stay in one of the best hotels in San Francisco.

Las Vegas,  also known as “Sin City”, is one of the American classics famous for its countless casinos, open container laws (aka public drinking), and legalized prostitution in nearby counties.

The largest city in the state of Nevada welcomes both domestic and global tourism, where vice is a right. It is not surprising to hear the old saying: What happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas.

Welcome Las Vegas

Whether you like gambling or not, it is a must-see Western American city. It is also a good place to celebrate your (fake) wedding if being married by Elvis is also one of your dreams. Here you can find the ultimate list of things to do in Las Vegas.

If you are visiting this city make sure you know where to stay in Las Vegas , since its hotels are some of the most amazing in the World.

Do not miss our Guide TO THINGS to do in las vegas

• Los Angeles

Los Angeles , also known as LA, is the most populous city on the West Coast of USA. The City of Broken Dreams and Hollywood stars is located in California.

The Walk of Fame and the Hollywood sign are probably the main tourist attractions in Los Angeles , although a visit to Santa Monica , the beach where Baywatch was filmed, is also recommended.

Another place of interest is the Warner Bros. studios , where you can visit the film sets of a lot of movies, as well as Venice , where the canals remind you of those from the Italian city with the same name.

LA is a stop that you cannot miss on your 10-day West Coast US trip if you happen to enjoy both cities and film. You can find where to stay in Los Angeles here.

Do not miss our Guide TO THINGS TO DO IN LOS ANGELES

Grand canyon.

If we had to choose just a single place to start, visiting the Grand Canyon  would probably be the first that we recommend to do in West Coast USA.

The Grand Canyon is in Arizona and was shaped by the Colorado River over millions of years. In some points, the Canyon reaches a depth of more than 5250 feet.

Grand Canyon – Helicopter Tour

If you don’t have much time, taking a Grand Canyon helicopter tour is a good option, as we told you in that article about our experience. However, if you have several days, I advise going down the canyon  through one of the many different hikes to discover the Colorado River.

Do not miss our Guide TO THINGS TO DO IN GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK and best places to stay in Grand canyon

Havasu falls.

If you like adventure, visiting the Havasu Falls is an essential of West Coast USA.

The Havasu Falls, along with others in the area, belong to the Havasupai Indian Reservation and are guarded by a tribe of Native Americans. They are inaccessible by car, so you must be in excellent physical condition to visit as you will be hiking in and out.

Plan well in advance for your visit, since you will need a permit that usually runs out shortly after the beginning of the  reservation  period which starts in February of each year. In addition to the permit, you will have to book a camping spot, as it is mandatory to stay there when visiting the falls.

SANTA BARBARA

Back at the coastal area, Santa Bárbara, located 150 kilometers north of Los Angeles, can be another interesting stop.

The main beach largely resembles Santa Mónica, except Santa Bárbara is not as popular.

However, Santa Bárbara is not just a beach: its architecture with Hispanic colonial roots is an important tourist attraction.

MONUMENT VALLEY

Between Utah and Arizona, Monument Valley is another one of the supernatural landscapes in the American West. It is a huge valley where very interesting geological formations rose with reddish colors. This was also a scene featured in many classic western films.

Monument Valley

This desert valley is located within the Navajo Nation, a territory that belongs to the Navajo natives who are responsible for both maintenance of the reserve and collection of entrance fees, which is not included in the US National Parks pass.

The best time to photograph the valley is during sunrise when the sun is behind the monuments, or during sunset when the monuments are illuminated by the last rays of the sun. In addition, there are different hiking trails that bring you closer to the main monuments of the valley, or you can even take a Jeep tour with one of the Navajo guides.

Do not miss our Guide TO THINGS TO Do IN Monument Valley and WHERE TO STAY IN MONUMENT VALLEY

Page: antelope canyon and horseshoe bend.

Page is a town inside the Navajo Indian Reservation, located in Arizona.

The most interesting attraction here is the Antelope Canyon , a geological feature formed by consecutive floods throughout history, which eroded narrow labyrinths of sandy rock into its terrain.

Antelope Canyon

Do not miss our Guide to antelope canyon TOURS

In addition, if you visit Page, you cannot miss a sunset in  Horseshoe Bend, which is named after its shape. It is probably the most famous bend of the Colorado River.

Horseshoe Bend

Do not miss our Guide to VISIT horseshoe bend

Here we leave you the best guide to know where to stay in Page.

The Wave in Arizona is another attraction to see in Western America.

To see this solidified wave-shaped dune, you must have a permit issued  four months in advance and by lottery (only 20 visitors per day are allowed).

It is one of the few virgin wonders that remain in the United States, so if you missed the date of the draw, it is always a good idea to check if someone has canceled his or her tour on the calendar. Visit this booking website both to participate in the lottery and to check the calendar.

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Bryce Canyon National Park is a reserve located in Utah and is popular for the peculiar rock formations also known as “Hoodoos”. This park should be included in any Western US National Parks itinerary.

Due to the reddish color of the terrain, the best time to contemplate the main amphitheater viewpoint is at sunrise and sunset.

Bryce Canyon

There are also several hiking trails that will take you through the formations, where you can discover some with very interesting forms and names like Thor’s Hammer or Queen Victoria.

Do not miss THE BEST HIKES IN bryce canyon and the BEST PLACES TO STAY IN BRYCE

Close to the Mexican border, we will find San Diego, the second largest city in the state south of Los Angeles

This city is a good stop on your 10-day West Coast US road trip if you are more interested in beach areas. La Jolla Cove is the most popular beach and you can find all kinds of wildlife including sea lions there.

In addition to the beach, there are other places of interest, such as Old Town San Diego, where you can find original buildings of the first Spaniards that arrived here, and Balboa Park, where many museums are concentrated, or the Coronado Island , where you can find the best views of the city.

ZION NATIONAL PARK

In Utah, one of the most important landmarks of the state is  Zion National Park, where the main interest here is an 800-meter-deep canyon carved into the reddish terrain for 24 kilometers by the Virgin River.

There are different hikes that you can take in this park. One of the most popular is Angels Landing, where you can get a full view of the canyon after three hours of hiking and up the Via Ferrata section.

Zion Canyon

Another longer route is The Narrows , which can be completed in 8 hours or done over several days. The route goes through the narrow gorges carved in by the virgin river, so you always need to check river flow the day before at the visitor’s center, and also to get water shoes.

Do not miss THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO IN zion national park and WHERE TO STAY IN ZION NATIONAL PARK

Joshua tree national park.

Located in a desert area in southern California, Joshua Tree National Park stands out for its unique rocks and mountain shapes.

Although its name comes from the unique Joshua Tree , what makes this park really interesting are the infinite rock-climbing possibilities .

Whether or not you are a climber, if you decide to visit Joshua Tree National Park on your West Coast USA trip over 10 days, you will experience the feeling of finding yourself on another planet.

DEATH VALLEY

On your 10-day West Coast America self-driving tour, you cannot miss the Death Valley that is located in California.

Death Valley

This immense desert is famous for Badwater, a dry area with the highest negative elevation within North America, situated at 262 feet below sea level. In addition, it is one of the hottest places on earth during summer, with a maximum recorded temperature of 58ºC.

Zabriskie Point

If you are going to cross it, be sure to fill the fuel tank and bring plenty of water to survive the extreme desert temperatures during the day.

Do not miss tHE bEST tHINGS TO DO IN Death Valley and where to stay in Death Valley

Mojave national preserve.

The Mojave Desert  spreads across Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley, Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA) and the Mojave National Preserve.

While you will find Joshua trees all over in this vast extension of land, the world’s highest concentration is located within the Mojave National Preserve .

Mojave Desert

In addition to the flora, the fauna is abundant and diverse, from reptiles like snakes, lizards, and turtles to mammals like bobcats or hares.

Do not miss WHAT TO DO IN mojave desert

Arches national park.

Arches National Park , located in Utah, has the highest concentration of stone arches in the world, however, there is no record of how many arches there are in this extension. This is the reason why it’s one of the most beautiful places to visit in Utah.

In addition, we can find another type of geological formations that defy gravity here, such as the Balanced Rock, a rock that seems to be falling at any time, yet has been standing for thousands of years in the same position.

The best way to go across Arches National Park is through a park ranger-guided tour that takes you to the purest and most virgin area of the park, where you cannot access on your own. You can book it here.

This park is one of the most acclaimed by photographers since the impossible shapes of the arches are very easy to use in any composition.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

An essential stop in West Coast USA is Yosemite National Park , located in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California.

This park is remarkable for two of the most important climbing sites in the United States and the world: the big granite walls of El Capitan and the Half Dome. In addition, we can find the American Giant Sequoia, one of the largest trees in the world, as well as extensive fauna that includes raccoons and black bears in this park.

Yosemite Valley

If you are a lover of nature, outdoor activities, and camping , this is surely going to be one of your favorite places near West Coast of the United States.

Do not miss all you have to do in Yosemite and WHERE TO STAY IN YOSEMITE

Sequoia national park.

In Sequoia National Park, you can find the largest concentration of giant sequoias in the world. These are grouped within what is known as the Giant Forest.

The park is located about 10000 feet above sea level, a critical altitude for this type of trees to grow. However, it may be closed during the winter because of the snow.

In addition, here we can find the giant sequoia known as General Sherman standing at 275 feet. While it is the largest single-stem tree, the Hyperion , located in Redwood National Park, California, stands taller at 379 feet as the tallest living tree known in the world.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is the oldest national park in the United States. It stands out for the incredible volcanic activity in the area and for the abundant fauna that inhabits the park: buffalo, grizzly bears, black bears, moose… If you want to enjoy the authentic American wildlife and landscapes with a smell of sulfur taken from another world, Yellowstone is an essential place to visit on the American West Coast.

I didn’t visit it during my first trip to the West Coast in the United States in 10 days, but during my next trip in which I toured Yellowstone and Grand Teton for 10 days, a great plan if you are looking for an alternative itinerary.

Check WHAT TO DO IN YELLOWSTONE and WHERE TO STAY IN YELLOWSTONE

Grand teton national park.

The mountains of Grand Teton National Park are one of the most haunted landscapes by photographers on the West Coast. If you like wildlife, hiking, and want to flee the typical 10-day US West Coast itineraries , I recommend visiting this national park that promises a quiet vacation away from the masses even in peak tourist season.

Grand Teton adjoins Yellowstone National Park, so taking a 10-day tour of the US West Coast combining these two parks is quite popular.

Check what to do in grand teton and WHERE TO STAY IN GRAND TETON

Our 10-day west coast usa itinerary.

As we stated above, our West Coast USA trip was focused on national parks and all the natural wonders of this area in North America.

Cities in the west coast are for sure some interesting destinations, but, without a doubt, if we had had more than 10 days to travel the American West Coast, we would have kept exploring the natural places that this country offers, each one so different and full of contrasts.

DAY 1 – West Coast America Trip: FLIGHT TO LAS VEGAS

We arrived in Las Vegas at noon, picked up the rental car and made a quick route to see the highlights of the city.

After a mandatory stop to make the classic photo with the Welcome Las Vegas sign, we headed to Monument Valley (6 hours driving) where we spent our first night.

DAY 2 – West Coast America Trip: DAWN IN MONUMENT VALLEY + ANTELOPE CANYON + HORSESHOE BEND

We photographed the sunrise in Monument Valley to see the incredible geological formations of the Navajo Reservation tinted in beautiful reddish colors.

Monument Valley (Our 10-day West Coast USA Road Trip)

In the morning we went to Antelope Canyon , in Page (2 hours driving) to take both the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon tours.

Antelope Canyon (Our 10-day West Coast USA Trip)

In the afternoon we had a rest at  Lake Powell. Then we went to Horseshoe Bend from where we watched and photographed an unforgettable sunset.

Horseshoe Bend (Our 10-day Western US Road Trip)

We drove 2.5 hours until our next stop on our 10-day route along the West Coast.

DAY 3 – West Coast America Trip: BRYCE canyon NATIONAL PARK

We woke up in Bryce Canyon National Park , where we took pictures of the twilight from Sunrise Point overlooking the amphitheater.

We hiked the Rim Trail, seeing different Hoodoos as Thor’s Hammer.

Bryce Canyon (Our 10-day WesternUSA Road Trip)

At night, we returned to photograph the amphitheater under the Perseid Meteor Shower, and camped inside the park.

Bryce Canyon – Sunrise Overlook

DAY 4 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: ZION NATIONAL PARK

We arrived in Springdale (2 hours driving), parked our car and took the shuttle to Zion National Park.

We did the Angels Landing trail to get the best views of the valley.

Zion National Park (Our 10-day West Coast USA Road Trip)

In the afternoon, we drove 4 hours to the next stop on our 10-day Western US trip.

DAY 5 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: GRAND CANYON

We watched the sunrise at the Grand Canyon from Mather Point in probably the most epic light display we have ever seen during a sunrise.

Grand Canyon (Our trip to West Coast USA for 10 days)

In the morning we take this tour , as we tell you in this article about Grand Canyon helicopter rides . Without a doubt, I enjoyed my visit the most.

In the afternoon, we descended the first section of the Bright Angel Trailhead trail.

In the evening we drove to the next stop of our 10-day Western US trip, Mojave National Preserve (4 hours driving), where we spent one of the best nights of our life camping in the wild desert.

Mojave National Preserve

DAY 6 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: MOJAVE DESERT + DEATH VALLEY

We photographed the first sun rays of the day through the branches of the Joshua trees in the Mojave National Preserve.

We filled the tank to cross the Death Valley and made stops at the main viewpoints.

Death Valley (Our 10-day West Coast USA Self-drive Trip)

We arrived at Yosemite National Park where we set up a bivouac to spend the night in order to get accommodation the next morning at the historic Camp 4.

This day we drove a total of 10 hours, more driving hours than any other day of the entire trip.

DAY 7 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Once settled in Yosemite National Park valley we went to discover the main viewpoints of the valley, from which we would photograph the last sunrises and sunsets of our 10-day trip to the West Coast USA.

Yosemite (Our 10-day West Coast USA holidays)

We took the opportunity to enjoy the real camp life,  cooked on the bonfire at night and raccoon watched with our campmates so they didn’t eat our food.

DAY 8 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

On the eighth day, we did the most strenuous hike of our 10-day West Coast USA trip. We climbed to the Upper Yosemite Falls, where we had a bath in one of its natural pools.

Yosemite Falls (Our 10-day West Coast USA vacations)

In the afternoon we took refuge in the tent as a hail storm fell – remember that weather in Yosemite, like any high mountains, is quite unpredictable even during summer season.

DAY 9 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

On our 9th day, we decided to try one of the small hiking trails in Yosemite National Park, such as the hike that takes you to Bridal Veil Falls or the Taft Point viewpoint.

In the afternoon we visited Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, where we could see these giant trees.

Tuolumne Grove (Our 10-day West Coast USA self-drive holidays)

DAY 10 – WEST COAST AMERICA TRIP: FLIGHT BACK FROM SAN FRANCISCO

We left Yosemite National Park to head to San Francisco , where we took our return flight home.

Our initial idea was to have the last day to discover the city. However, we liked Yosemite so much that we ended up leaving just enough time to catch the flight back. It took us 4 hours to get to the airport.

How to plan an self-drive trip to the Western US

Although many travel agencies offer West Coast USA holiday packages, this destination seems more appropriate to be planned on your own (unless you are interested in photography and decide to take a photo tour to the West Coast America ).

In any case, we will explain step by step how you can plan a trip to the West Coast USA on your own in this section:

• Choose your best West Coast USA itinerary
• Plan how to get to West Coast USA
• Get your US tourist visa
• Hire the best travel insurance for traveling to the United States
• Book a rental car
• Buy America the Beautiful Pass to enter the US National Parks for free
• Book the best accommodation  on the West Coast

HOW TO CHOOSE THE best West Coast USA itinerary

From the previous section where we highlighted the best places to visit in Western US, choose 8 (if taking a 10-day West Coast road trip) or 15 places (if taking a 20-day trip) that interest you most.

Jot them down on a map of  West Coast USA (I suggest using  Google MyMaps ).

Connect the different points and check on our map below to see if there is any tourist attraction that is on your way or that you can easily reach.

Finally, check that the driving hours are compatible with the itinerary or else leave them out of your list.

Driving in the West Coast USA

Do not be frustrated, no matter how long you stay on the West Coast, you will always leave something to explore for the next trip 😉

how to get to the West Coast of USA

In order to define our itinerary, we must know how to get to the Western US.

The best way is by flying to one of the following three airports:

• San Francisco

If you want to find cheap flights to the West Coast , the best time to book them is 3 months in advance. You can find here the best cheap flights hacks . My favorite search engine is Kiwi.com.

Also, if you want to visit too many places in the West and do not have much time, I suggest that you do a one-way trip , starting at a different airport from where you will return home through. This will increase the travel budget a bit, but you don’t get to travel to the Western US every day, do you?

VISA FOR THE UNITED STATES

There are two ways to travel as a tourist to the United States. If you belong to one of these countries you can travel to the US without a visa, but must obtain a travel authorization called “ESTA”.

HOW TO PROCESS THE ESTA

The ESTA is very easy to obtain. Simply fill out the application form on iVisa and you will receive the approval in about 6 hours by email.

We have a step-by-step guide on how to apply for the ESTA to the USA.

HOW TO PROCESS TOURIST VISA B2

If you do not have a passport from one of the countries mentioned above, you need a B2 visa to travel as a tourist to the United States.

This type of visa is more difficult to obtain. In addition to preparing the required documentation which proves that you are not going to travel to the United States with the intention of living or working, you will have to go through an interview at the embassy.

A more extensive explanation of how to process this visa can be found on the US Department of State website.

TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR THE UNITED STATES

Living in the USA, I know how important is to have good travel insurance for the USA. Since health care cost in this country is very high, hospitalization without insurance can easily make your bill rise above $100,000.

So when we moved here, we bought long-stay travel insurance , although we are currently using annual multi-trip insurance.

Death Valley dunes

Although I always recommend buying the best travel insurance wherever you go, you must have extraordinary coverage for the US (never consider hiring anything that covers below $30,000 if you travel to the United States).

You can get the best quality-price insurance with Heymondo .

5% OFF your travel insurance

western USA car rental

As we have said, the only practical way to travel the Western United States is by renting a car.

Driving in Death Valley

If you do not have too much time, consider taking a  one-way instead of a round-trip  along the West. We picked up the car in Vegas and left it in San Francisco. Although this meant an increase in the budget because of the drop off-fee, we were able to visit more places during our 10-day West Coast trip.

The cheapest way to rent a car is using DiscoverCars , where we hired the rental car in Las Vegas.

FIND CHEAP RENTAL CARS IN THE US

ANNUAL NATIONAL PARKS PASS – AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

If you are planning a Western US National Parks itinerary, I recommend that you buy an annual America the Beautiful pass.

This pass allows access to all US National Parks, as well as other state parks.

The pass is valid for one year from when it is purchased and covers entry for one vehicle with up to 5 passengers. Display pass by hanging it over the rear-view mirror).

In addition, the pass is issued for two owners who must sign behind the card to use. A very good option is to buy the annual pass, leave one signature blank, and resell it to a second owner at the end of your Western USA tour.

Even if you don’t resell the pass, you will get your money’s worth just by visiting 3 or 4 National Parks (Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Yosemite …).

The pass can be purchased online from here or directly at the ticket office of the first national park you visit.

ACCOMMODATION ON THE WEST COAST US

It is difficult to find cheap and very good quality hotels at the same time on West Coast America. Therefore we will try to help you by listing the best places to stay, considering different budgets, tastes, and needs.

Best accommodation in West Coast USA

Keep in mind that accommodation will be one of the major expenses of your trip to  West Coast America. On the other hand, sometimes a good hotel can even be one of the best attractions you can enjoy during your trip.

WHERE TO STAY IN SAN FRANCISCO

• HI San Francisco Downtown Hostel: Hostel in the heart of San Francisco that has both shared and private rooms at a very low price. Free WIFI. Includes breakfast and a kitchen for those who want to cook.
• Buena Vista Motor Inn: Hotel with complimentary parking in the middle of Lombard street. Wi-Fi and breakfast included. Totally safe area to walk at night. Just a short walk from Fisherman’s Wharf.

Guide on where to stay in San Francisco

WHERE TO STAY IN LAS VEGAS

• Venetian:  Venice-themed casino resort with gondoliers included.
• Circus Circus: Casino hotel with circus theme, with its own indoor amusement park that runs throughout the year.
• Stratosphere:  Casino hotel that includes vertigo attractions at 350 meters high.
• Bellagio: Inspired by Italy, it is one of the most luxurious resort and casinos in Las Vegas.
• New York – New York:   Resort casino inspired by the big city where we can find a miniature statue of liberty.
• Paris Las Vegas:   Perfect casino hotel for honeymoon or couple trips with miniature Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.
• Excalibur:  You will find yourself in the Middle Ages in this casino resort within its castles.
• Planet Hollywood:  Modern hotel and casino where you will feel the essence of the West Coast.

Guide on where to stay in Las Vegas

WHERE TO STAY IN LOS ANGELES

• Hollywood Travelodge:  Located very close to the walk of fame. Includes breakfast, Wi-Fi and free parking.
• Samesun Venice Beach:  The best option if you want to enjoy the Venice boardwalk and its beach. They have bicycle rental service.
• Cal Mar Hotel Suites:  If you prefer to be close to Santa Monica beach this option is very well priced.

Guide on where to stay in Los Angeles

WHERE TO STAY IN GRAND CANYON

If we visit the South Rim, the most touristic edge of the Grand Canyon, it is quite important to stay in the Grand Canyon Village, since two of the main attractions of this jewel of Western US is their sunrise and sunset. So, the closer we are to the edge, the easier it will be for us.

We camped in the Grand Canyon, at the  Mather Campground on the South Rim.

If you prefer to stay at a hotel, all accommodations at Grand Canyon Village are run by the company   Xanterra ,  and you can make reservations on whose website.

Guide on where to stay in Grand Canyon

WHERE TO STAY IN PAGE

• Hyatt Place Page Lake Powell: This hotel is located in the center of Page. As it is highly valued, you will have to book it well in advance, since rooms tend to run out being such a small and tourist place at the same time.
• Country Inn & Suites by Radisson: Without a doubt the best hotel in Page, both the price and the charm of its rooms. It is not in the center but is closer to Horseshoe Bend.

Guide on where to stay in Page

WHERE TO STAY IN BRYCE

Bryce is one of the best places to camp in the Western US. In addition to two conventional campsites ( North Campground and Sunset Campground ), there are 12 backcountry campsites.

If camping is not your thing and you prefer to stay in one of the best hotels in the West, then I recommend the Best Western Ruby’s Inn , a historic hotel at the gates of the national park that also has a camping area.

Guide on where to stay in Bryce

WHERE TO STAY IN ZION

• Bumbleberry Inn:  One of the few hotels near Zion whose price is below $200 a night and with a great value.
• La Quinta Inn and Suites : Another hotel that also has good prices and is highly rated near Zion, known for its buffet breakfast that includes delicious homemade waffles.

Guide on where to stay in Zion

WHERE TO STAY IN MONUMENT VALLEY

If you want to enjoy dawn with the best views of the valley, I recommend that you camp in the Monument Valley. The campground is called The View Campground and the only way to reserve it is by calling +1 435-727-5802.

This campsite belongs to  The View Hotel , a hotel run by the Navajo Indians with equally amazing views.

Guide on where to stay in Monument Valley

WHERE TO STAY IN SANTA BARBARA

• Hotel Santa Barbara: One of the best hotels in Santa Barbara with a great location in the city center and very close to the beach. Includes Wi-Fi, breakfast and free parking.
• The Eagle Inn:   On the beach of Santa Barbara and in a beautiful historic building. The price is a bit higher but it includes a jacuzzi in the room.

WHERE TO STAY IN YOSEMITE

We decided to camp at Camp 4 during our visit to Yosemite. Here, the hippy movement was born in the 60s and spread throughout the United States.

However, if you don’t want to camp, don’t worry. There are very good hotels in Yosemite. Some of the best are:

• The Ahwahnee
• Yosemite Valley Lodge
• Curry Village

Guide on where to stay in Yosemite

WHERE TO STAY IN SAN DIEGO

• Staypineapple at Hotel Z: One of the best hotels in downtown San Diego. Modern design and quite affordable. It offers free bicycles to its customers.
• HI-San Diego Point Loma Hostel: Hostel with shared rooms, very good price and located next to the beach. Ideal if you visit San Diego with the intention of meeting other travelers.

WHERE TO STAY IN JOSHUA TREE

The best place to stay in Joshua Tree is in one of its campsites. There are 4 campsites throughout the national park that can be reserved, and another 4 first-come, first-served campground. All the information regarding the Joshua Tree campgrounds can be found on the National Parks Service website.

WHERE TO STAY IN DEATH VALLEY

• The Inn at Death Valley: This Oasis in the middle of the desert is the most luxurious resort you’ll find here. Refresh between your palm garden and its spring water pool and relax in your spa area.
• The Ranch at Death Valley: Run by the same company as The Inn at Death Valley, it is the familiar and informal complement of the previous one. If you want to relax in a unique environment but without too many pretensions, this accommodation is for you.
• Panamint Springs Resort:  This resort offers both tourist resorts and lodging in tents. It’s close to the west entrance of the national park, from where you’ll have stunning views of the sand dunes.

Guide on where to stay in Death Valley

WHERE TO STAY IN MOJAVE DESERT

There are no motels inside Mojave National Preserve. The only way to stay is camping. There are two family campsites, Hole-in-the-Wall Campground and Mid Hills Campground. Both are first-come, first-served campgrounds.

There is also the possibility of doing backcountry camping. If you want more information, check the US National Parks Service website.

WHERE TO STAY IN ARCHES

There are no campsites or hotels within Arches National Park. The best thing to do is to stay somewhere close to the entrance:

• Red Cliffs Lodge:  All rooms have views of the Colorado River. In addition, you have access to a private living room with a fridge and microwave. This accommodation is the best you’ll find if you visit Arches National Park from the west. Do not miss its western cinema museum.
• Under Canvas Moab:  This accommodation is located east of Arches National Park and offers already pitched tents, some with private bathrooms. If you are not a fan of the camps, but you would like to try, this is your place. In addition to the bed linen, the hotel will lend you towels and a flashlight. A very comfortable way to learn a little about the American camper culture.

WHERE TO STAY IN SEQUOIA

• Montecito Sequoia Lodge: This rustic mountain accommodation offers a place to relax, surrounded by lakes, forests and rugged peaks. It has a restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet.
• Bearpaw High Sierra Camp: This established camp has 6 canvas tents with wooden floors. The views of the surroundings are amazing. Breakfast and dinner are included in the price of the accommodation.
• Wuksachi Lodge:  It is the emblematic hotel of Sequoia, an amazing mountain hut made of stone and cedar located in the heart of the park, surrounded by a powerful sequoia forest and towering peaks of the sierra.

WHERE TO STAY IN HAVASU FALLS

As we commented, if you visit Havasu Falls, it is compulsory to spend at least one night in one of its campsites, since you cannot make excursions exclusively for one day. Book both the tour and the camping permit from the official website of the Havasupai Indian Reservation.

WHERE TO STAY IN YELLOWSTONE

There are only  9 hotels within Yellowstone National Park , so in peak tourist season, most travelers only find accommodation outside the park.

You can find the best options on our guide on where to stay in Yellowstone National Park, but my favorite hotels are:

• Kelly Inn West Yellowstone
• Yellowstone Gateway Inn
• Stage Coach Inn
• Al’s Westward Ho Motel
• Travelodge by Wyndham
• Absaroka Lodge

WHERE TO STAY IN GRAND TETON

There are many places to stay in Grand Teton National Park but my favorite ones are:

• Colter Bay Village 
• Jackson Lake Lodge  
• Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch 
• Jenny Lake Lodge

To calculate  how much a road trip along the West Coast cost, keep in mind that gasoline in the United States is quite cheap compared most European countries, so even though you will drive many kilometers, this is not something you have to worry too much about when planning your itinerary.

Regarding the food , going to restaurants or going out to have a drink is very expensive; especially when you are looking for somewhere that serve healthy and quality food. If you’re willing to eat fast food, your West Cost travel budget will decrease since the United States is the paradise for junk food.

Regarding accommodation , while it is more expensive in the US than other countries, there are ways to make it cheaper .

Consider camping during your West Coast America tour. In addition to being cheaper, it is very fun and do not forget that there is no country in the world with such an active camping culture as in the United States. You will enjoy watching all the American accessories that make camping more comfortable, and the amazing motorhomes that are better than many houses. You can check some tips for traveling by rv in the USA here.

If you want to know how much we spent during out trip, you can check our West Coast travel budget for 10 days.

West Coast USA combinations ideas

In case you have more time, you can combine the West Coast of the USA with other destinations. Some of the most popular combinations are the following.

West Coast America and Hawaii holidays

If you love nature, combine  West Coast USA and Hawaii to enjoy the most active volcanoes in the United States. These wild islands in the middle of the Pacific, offer a native culture totally different from any other place in the world, in addition to beautiful beaches. The Western US and Hawaii landscapes are an excellent combination for the more adventurous.

RIVIERA MAYA and WEST COAST USA honeymoon

Riviera Maya and West Coast America honeymoon trips are very popular.  With this travel itinerary, we can enjoy a mix of the natural American West Coast landscapes with turquoise water beaches and the history of ancient civilizations. This is the best combination for honeymoons or for travelers interested in a mix of all-inclusive vacation packages.

WEST COAST AND ROUTE 66 road trip

If you want to travel the most famous road in the United States, plan a Route 66 – Western US road trip. With this tour, you will have a chance to visit my favorite city in the US: Chicago. I don’t recommend this combination if you do not like driving since much time of this trip will be spent inside the car.

West Coast USA tours from New york

Another very popular combination, especially if you are traveling from Europe. A New York & West Coast America fly-drive itinerary mixes the Western US National Parks with the busiest city of the East Coast. This option is perfect for those who also enjoy visiting big cities, since there are plenty of things to do in New York City.

With any of these combinations, I recommend spending at least 10 days in West Coast America .

However, if you only plan to travel to the West Coast and can afford it, I would recommend spending 2 or even  3 weeks.

map of West Coast USA

Finally, it is very useful to plan your trip using a map of Western US , marked with your places of interest. Then check the following map to see if there is any other attraction on the way.

SEE you ON THE WEST COAST and do not hesitate to ask if you need help preparing your itinerary!

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Ascen Aynat

80 replies on “ Planning a 10-Day West Coast USA Road Trip Itinerary ”

We are from Singapore and planning a 20 days trip in June to West Coast of US and would be our first drive trip to the US. We wanted to cover Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, route 66, UTAH but not sure if we are able to (or worth to) cover up till Seattle. We love your advise as it will be our first trip to West Coast of US and accommodation recommendations will be helpful plus itinerary. regards Melvin

Hi Melvin, Wow, that sounds amazing! There is so much to see the western United States. I think you’ll find our road trip itineraries from Las Vegas to be super helpful. As for accommodation, it depends on whether you’re renting a car or RV since an RV will take care of accommodation for you. Otherwise, the hotel recommendations above in this article are a great place to start. 🙂

Hi! Wow, relieved i came accross this blog. Thank you for sharing this.

I made an almost similar itinerary and posted it in trip advisor.

we are arriving early morning in Vegas on March 10 and flying out late night from San Francisco March 20. For the 10 day trip, we’d like to see Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon and Yosemite. Most of the comments says most of the time will be spent driving hence the trip might not be an enjoyable one. Some even suggested dropping Yosemite as this is too far from the rest of the places we’re hoping to see.

With all the driving you did on this trip, do you think you still spent a good time exploring the parks?

Thanks heaps!

Yes, it was a lot of hours driving but it was a trip of a lifetime. I won’t change any of the stops I did so I highly recommend it specially if you don’t mind driving at night and you don’t have more time to spend on the West Coast USA.

Hi, very informative post there ! May I know what route did u take to travel to yosemite from death valley ? I supposed you travelled when the tiogo road was closed ?

We traveled in August when the Tioga Road was open. So we just drove Nort through the Eastern Sierra and enter from the Northeastern part of the park 😉

i am planning to go to a trip with my friends but iam confused where should i go.

It’s difficult to choose when there are so many great options! My recommendation is to check the places and pictures and just pick the 4/5 places that you find more interesting 😉

Hi Martin from Australia here. I am busy planning an 8 day self drive tour in April starting in, and returning to Las Vegas. I stumbled on your website and found it to be a fantastic resource, full of very helpful information. One thing that is puzzling me with your route. Why did you go to Monument Valley first and then criss-cross south to Antelope Canyon, north to Bryce Canyon and then south again to the Grand Canyon. This appears to add an additional 400 miles (appx). I had originally been planning a circuit through Bryce Canyon, Monument Park, Antelope Canyon and Grand Canyon. Then Back to Las Vegas via Mojave Desert and Death Valley. Thank you

We did that itinerary because we were traveling in August (high season) and wanted to camp in Monument Valley and Grand Canyon, so we book the only days available hehehe

Your itinerary sounds great. Let me know how you do it finally.

Hi! I would love your help in planning my itinerary for my West Coast Roadtrip Honeymoon. We would love to check as many of the same locations off our list as you have in this post. Would love to get your thoughts on cost efficiency, glamping/camping vs. RV rentals and what we HAVE to see, and what we could skip. We definitely don’t want to spend the majority of our trip in the car. Thinking of flying into Vegas and then going from there. We would be going from June 12-20th. This is by far the most helpful article I have found online so far! Thanks for writing!

We will be happy to help. Let me know any questions you may have and we will help.

we are a couple, 60 years+ but able to drive and planning a trip next Sep. 2020. However we note that at some places you had to camp. I don’t think we are up to camping and wonder how to achieve the trip you made without camping.

You don’t need to camp if you don’t want to. There are many hotels where you can stay 🙂 Let me know your itinerary and I will give you some hotel ideas.

I wish more people would post valuable content like this. This is the first time I’ve been on your website, but after this, I doubt it will be the last time.

Thanks Robert!! You are always welcome 😉

Planning a trip in mid December. Is your 10 day trip feasible at this time of year ? Thanks.

Yes, it’s perfectly fine. Just bear in mind that you might find snow in some places like Bryce and Yosemite and the main roads to Yosemite from the east (Tioga road) is gonna be closed.

Hope you have a beautiful trip!

Have you ever thought of planning a trip of the Four Corners States of the Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado & Utah). There are so many sites that would be a tough decision. New Mexico has the Gila National Forest, City of Rocks in the southwest, Carlsbad Caverns to name just a few, Colorado, Arizona, Utah you could go on and on. This would also the sunrises and sunsets, rivers canyons. It is so vast that each state could provide what every photographer would want to see and shoot. Just think about it. if you more information, please contact me.

Sure! We still have a bunch of places we want to visit!

Thank you It was very useful

Thanks Isabel!

Great post, thanks for the info I’m considering doing this trip with my dad, how fit do you have to be to do this trip? He can’t really walk a whole lot at a time.

Hi Emiliano,

You don’t need to walk if you don’t want to. Just visit the main lookouts accessible by car.

Let me know if you have any other question.

Well, that was a pretty fascinating read, not going to lie. I really hope you continue to write. Probably one of the more informative pieces I’ve read on this subject. Thanks!

Thanks Justin! Glad to see our USA West Coast article was useful and you enjoyed it reading!

You know if you are not on Instagram, you should be. I know you can’t put text up, but just throw in a few pics and build an audience there. I think you’d find a ton of people who would be super interested in your blog here.

Thanks for the advice. We already use Instagram, our account is: @Capturetheatlas

Well… consider yourself added to my blogroll. I have like six other blogs I read on a weekly basis, guess that number just increased to seven! Keep writing!

Thanks Chris! and Welcome to Capture the Atlas! 😉

Way to go on this post man. Really killer stuff. I’ll be back to read your other posts.

Thanks Travis! Glad you found the information helpful!

Wow! What a scenery. I hope I can visit those place in the future too! People on your newsletter must love you. This content is pure 100% gold

Thanks Matthew for your kind words! I am sure you will be fascinated by the West Coast USA landscapes when you visit them.

Feel free to join our community and receive our newsletter 😉

Hi, My family of 3 will be travelling to West of USA for about 12 to 14 days this coming September month 2019. Can you help us to plan the trip visiting all the interesting places and also advise us the cost.

We give a lot of piece of advice on our blog. Please read it and let us know if you have any question.

I am flying from Toronto, Canada and am unsure which airport to arrive and leave in. I am planning on visiting Zion, Bryce Canyon, Cathedral Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Grand Canyon (South Rim). I am unsure whether to fly to Las Vegas and leave from Arizona, or vice versa, or do a loop. Any suggestions?

Amazing blog by the way!

Which airport in Arizona are you considering? Las Vegas in quite close to those places you want to visit and usually there is cheap flights to go there.

Let me know if you have any question

Thank you for your reply! I was thinking Phoenix airport. Just not sure the best route and will be renting a car!

Also, do you know if its possible to rent a car at one airport and return it to another?

Hi, i am traveling with 6 adults. Planning to arrive in New York, then fly to LA and hoping to have a glimpse of the city and its surrounding and fly to vancouver . We will fly back home from Vancouver.

How many days do you think is good for us? I am travelling with my parents aged 60yo.

Can you give me any recommendations

Hi Felicia,

I would say to book at least 10 – 15 days. As recommendations I would suggest hiring good travel insurance for the USA and check the different articles we have at the blog.

Let me know if you need something else,

Hello there,

We have about 8-9 days along the West Coast after a conference in Vegas. Looking at the following itinerary/places we want to visit. Do you think this is something workable/have any comments? Thanks so much!

Day 1: (From Vegas) Antelope Valley/Horseshoe Bend (Find somewhere to stay for the night – is there a recommendation where we can stay in that area?) Day 2: Grand Canyon Day 3: Travel back to Vegas, fly to San Francisco. Day 4: San Francisco Day 5: San Francisco -> Monterey, Big Sur (Find somewhere to stay?) Day 6: Travel to LA Day 7: LA Day 8: LA

Thanks very much for your message and for reading us!

Until day 4 your itinerary is gonna be very intense but definitely doable, as we made a very similar itinerary at the beginning of our trip. You can find recommendations for the night near horseshoe bend/Antelope Canyon in this section of our article.

As for the second part of your trip, We didn’t travel from SF towards the south so don’t know if that would be something possible.

Please let me know if we can help with any other questions.

Best regards,

Hi I am trying to plan a trip with my son for September 2019 have i left enough time to do this? And could you help us with an itinerary Also if we choose to camp do we purchase this in the USA as we are travelling from the UK Thanks

Hi Richard,

Thank you very much for your message.

You are still in time for planning the trip, so I ‘d definitely try to do it!

You can see different itineraries in our US articles depending on your days and preferences. Hope that helps.

As for the campings it depends on the campsite, some accept online reservations like the one in Monument Valley while others are filled in a first-come first-served basis like Camp 4 in Yosemite.

Please let us know if we can help with any other questions.

Hi everyone! Could you help me to make a itinerary with the time and 10 destinations?

We will need some more information to help you. When and where are you starting your trip, days, preferences and so on.

Hi guys, Love your work. I’m a photographer and looking to do a road trip through the west cost of the USA, covering as much of the national parks as possible (Yellowstone a must). We only have a 2 week gap during July to do this. Do you have any tours available for July 2019 for 2 super fun people?

Me, along with spouse and 13 year old son, are planning for a 10 day trip to LA, LV & SFO from India during June last week.

Request if you could help build us an itinerary for First Timers to US. It would be with a driver if we have to hire a car.

Do you deal in hotel accommodations too – 4 star?

Could you please let me know a rough expenditure on all this.

Kindly do mention your charges too for helping us out with a good itinerary and any help on ground that you could provide during our stay.

Thanking You, MOHAN

I have sent you an email with our service rates.

Have a nice day!

I am planing with my boyfriend our trip in June to California for 10 days. We are landing in LA and we would like to visit Yosemite, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and San Diego. Could you please give us some tips? We are afraid that Tioga Pass might not be opened at the beginning of June..

Thanks a lot!

Hi Anabel, I think you have enough time in 10 days to visit the cities and NP you mentioned. You can do 2 days for LA, 3 days for Yosemite, 1 day for Death Valley, 1 day for Las Vegas, 2 days for Grand Canyon and 1 day for San Diego.

As you said, Tioga Pass maybe is still close in June, so I recommend you booking a hotel around Fresno (in case Tigoa Road is close) and other around Mammonth Lakes (in case it is open). And cancel the one you are not going to use once you know the Tioga Road status?

Let me know if you need anything else.

Hello, Thanks for the detailed analysis of west coast. We are planning to visit west coast from Philadelphia and would like to cover California/LA/SFO/Las Vegas. We would however fly to Seattle from PHL and take our trip to west coast from Seattle.

Please provide us with an itinerary.

We are planning 10 days for this trip and would like to over not just national parks but also Golden gate bridge/Hollywood/Alcatraz etc. We don’t want to do the theme parks.

Sure, I have sent you an email with our planner services rates.

Hi, Thanks for itinerary! We are going on a trip from LA in September for 16 days, and this helped a lot! If you could give some tips on showering…it’s not available in a lot of camp sites. Also, if you have some experience with laundry service, I would appreciate some info. Thanks!

Hi Soma! Thanks for your message and words!

You can check beforehand which campsites offer shower utilities and plan according to your needs. We booked camping with showers in Grand Canyon and Yosemite, taking a shower at least every 2 days. As for laundry service, I would suggest doing the same. We went just for a week and didn’t really need to do any washing but if you are staying 16 days some campings have some sort of place for washing. As an example again, you can find those utilities in Grand Canyon and Yosemite, and I am sure there will be more in other important campgrounds.

Hope that helps and have a wonderful US West Coast trip!

Hi we are planning a 15 day stay flying into LA hiring a car can you recommened a route then we fly back out from LA.Thanks

The US West Coast is huge and there are endless possibilities doing a round trip from L.A.

Depending on your personal taste and the number of miles that you are willing to drive, there are many itineraries.

I recommend that you check all the main attractions explained throughout the article and once you know your preferences, you can design your own route.

Hope it helps and you make the most of your trip!

Planning on driving to monument valley and staying at View hotel I need driving directions from Salt Lake City

Take I-15 S, US-6 E, US-191 S and US-163 S to Main Monument Valley Rd/Monument Valley Rd in Oljato-Monument Valley

Hi my husband and I are planning a trip to tour the west coast next June/July next year for 4 weeks starting in San Francisco driving down the coast then across to Vegas by car then possibly hiring a camper van to visit the national parks, would you be able to advise us of some places to stop and stay and give some advice as to how long we should stay at certain places, we would also like to spend a week in Washington and New York at the end of our stay but we will fly to the east coast, thanks Tracey

Sure, I have sent you an email more information about our trip planner services. I can also help you to plan your visits to NYC and Washington. I live in Philadelphia, that is 2hours from NYC and two hours from Washington, so I know these cities very well and I can help you too.

Hello Jaz, thank you for the useful information. I am planning for the west coast trip but could you confirm will it be too much to digest if I cover all/most of the destinations mentioned in your article above in just one trip?

Or shall I split the trip in multiple trips to enjoy and assimilate the delightful view which each destination has to offer?

That is up to you. How much time do you have? Where are you coming from? If I could, I would do it in one trip (3-4 months).

Let me know if you need something else, Ascen.

We are planning a tour of West Coast starting and ending at LA. Can you suggest a good travel itinerary for family of 3 or 6 pxs. for 8-12 days sometime in June or July 2019. Thanks Jaz

Hi Jasmine, I have sent you an email with our rates. Ascen.

Planning to gravel to west coast of USA Visiting friends & also travelling (self drive) . I have 14 days from Sep15 to Sep30 Would like to visit Yosomite, Death Valley Coastal Drive & Las Vegas and Grand canyon. Thanks for your help with an itinerary.

Sure! I will help you to plan your West America trip. I have sent you an email.

Hi, I am planning for west coast tour for 10 days in July. I would like to start from San Francisco . Could you please suggest road trip plan

Hi Rajan, I will be happy for helping you to plan your west coast USA itinerary.

I have sent you an email regarding our travel planner services.

Hi, I am planning a 15 days trip to USA with my family of 5 (2 sons aged 24, 25, Daughter 18). What route would you recommend us to take? We are looking to rent a car and drive around ourselves. Thank you.

Hi Sharon, I have sent you an email regarding our travel planning services.

Thanks, Ascen.

Hi.. myself and 2 friends are planning a trip up the west coast from San Francisco in April.. We are renting an RV ..we would like to try and go as north to Portland maybe Seattle.. could you advise of the best route and places we should try to see.

Hi we are planning to Visit West coast in the month of June 19 . Not sure about self drive option but could u please suggest some best places to explore in 10 days . We are landing at San Francisco & leaving to New York from LA .

Would appreciate if u could help us to arrange our trip .

Thanks Sunil

I have sent you an email regarding our travel planning services.

Hi Loved reading your information on USA! My husband and I want to travel the west coast in September this year. We have booked so far return flights from Sydney to San Francisco. We would like to see Yosemite Bryce Zion Death Valley Redlands Lake Tahoe Sequoia and Grand Canyon. Not interested in Los Angeles or Las Vegas. We thought we would return via The big Sur to San Francisco. Do you think we can do this in a month? What would be the best driving route to do all this. Can we also purchase driving maps? Any help you could give I would be most grateful! Thanking you

Hi Cath, I have sent you an email regarding our travel planning services.

Hi, thanks a lot for your details itinerary which is very much appreciated. I’m planning my self-drive trip to west coast USA for about 12 days, in May 2019. Just wondering any tips on what to wear? Will it be cold in the Yosemite national park? I’m planning for Grand Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon + Horseshoes band, Yosemite, is it still worth to get the annnual pass? There are total 6 of us.

Hi Joey, If you are only visiting two national parks (Yosemite and Grand Canyon ) it is not worth getting the annual pass. Pay just for the standard fee in each of them. Horseshoe Bend is free and Antelope Canyon is private, so you will have to pay the Navajo fee.

In 12 days you have enough time to visit Death Valley, Bryce and Zion too.

Regarding what to carry in the backpack, please check the camping and cold weather section of this post.

P.S: Next sunday we will be posting our Guide to Yosemite and I am sure you are going to find it interested!!

Best, Ascen

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How to Plan a Road Trip Out West

Last Updated on January 24, 2024 by Grant

Despite the fact that Grant and I live just outside Atlanta, GA, we have done MANY road trips out West. Some of those have been relatively short (1-2 weeks), while others have been a month or longer. So, let’s talk about how we plan a road trip out West (or anywhere else) and give you tips on how you can plan a similar adventure of your own.

We’ve done road trips both with and without our RV. Many aspects of planning an RV road trip are the same as a road trip with just a normal passenger vehicle. But there are some logistics that you should consider if road-tripping with an RV.

I’ll use our 2017 RV road trip that took us all the way to California as my example. This particular trip was about seven weeks long. Yours may be longer or shorter, but the planning stages are the same, regardless of the amount of time spent on the road.

Planning any trip can feel overwhelming, at least in the beginning. Even I get nervous when I start thinking about planning a trip and I’ve planned many trips and generally enjoy doing it.

The key to planning your road trip is to take it one step at a time. Do what you can, when you can and don’t stress about the details until the time comes to think about the details. You can’t figure out what hotel or campground you’re staying at if you don’t know where you’re going. Start with big ideas and then narrow things down from there.

(Disclaimer: When we link to places where you can buy our stuff or places we stayed, we are using special codes that earn us commissions on the sales at no additional cost to you. Please see our  Review Policy   for more information.)

Choosing Your Road Trip Itinerary

When choosing your itinerary, choose a few big stops that really fuel your passion and get you excited. Then add additional stops in nearby places along the way.

This 2017 itinerary had us on the road for 50 days. That beat our previous “longest road trip to date” by a whopping 12 days. Since then, we’ve typically spent about 6-7 weeks on the road every summer. Yes, both of us being teachers has its advantages when it comes to travel!

We chose this itinerary for several different reasons. Traveling West is truly one of our favorite directions to go. Almost all of our long-term trips have taken us west of the Mississippi River.

In 2016, we forced ourselves to New England for a new adventure. While we loved it, we quickly realized it had been three years since we explored the western frontier in the summer. Quite simply, we were ready to return to our “happy place.”

In planning our itinerary, we considered just about all destinations “out West,” focusing on the West Coast. We considered California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah… You get the idea. Ultimately, we had to narrow things down so that we wouldn’t be moving too much! We decided our main two stops would be Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks.

We chose Yosemite because we had not traveled to California together. Not only did we get to add another state to our list, but we got to add one of the most amazing national parks as well. Who wouldn’t be excited about that?

We chose to return to Yellowstone because it is truly one of our favorite destinations in the world. This was our fourth trip there together and we were still very excited. We always love seeing geysers, canyons, wildlife and so much more! It truly never gets old.

Wherever you decide to go, make sure it is something that you are really excited about!

Determining Your Road Trip Route & Details

Once we made the decision on the big stops, it was time to fill in the details and find additional sites to visit. National Park sites fuel many of our road trip routes. We try to string together several sites to make an interesting route, both on the way out and on the way back.

Suggestions for planning your route:

• Use Pinterest to search for interesting ideas.
• Ask coworkers and friends for suggestions.
• Visit family or friends in the area.
• Retrace the steps of a memorable childhood vacation.

Our first real stop after leaving our home in Woodstock, GA was in the Flagstaff, AZ area (after three days of driving). A work colleague told us about Meteor Crater and, with a few Google searches, we were sold!

There are several National Park sites nearby as well, which is always a plus for us. We, of course, also spent some time “standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona” while we were in the area.

Another big stop, after Yosemite , was Great Basin National Park . We had considered Great Basin for a few years. Since it is more-or-less between Yosemite and Yellowstone, this worked out perfectly for this trip!

After a trip I took with my dad and sister many years ago, I knew driving the Extraterrestrial Highway across Nevada would be interesting. My research with Google and Pinterest searches also brought up information about Cathedral Gorge State Park. And, just like that, we had an interesting route across Nevada from Yosemite to Great Basin!

Another big stop was western Colorado. It was “on the way back” and allowed us to visit several National Park sites we haven’t seen and see some family.

• Hardcover Book
• National Geographic (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 560 Pages – 10/18/2022 (Publication Date) – National Geographic (Publisher)

Campground or Hotel Reservations

Once you have the route mapped out, it is time to start making reservations. We sometimes struggle with how detailed we should plan things out. When we were tent camping, we could be a bit more spontaneous and wait until the last minute for campgrounds or hotels. We have found we are not comfortable doing that with the trailer and, especially when our cat, Alee, traveled with us.

First, we simply had to find a place with hookups so we could leave Alee during the day. Second, when pulling a trailer, hotels are pretty much off-limits unless they have ample parking. Even if we could park, many hotels do not accept pets, much less cats.

Sadly, we lost Alee, our camping kitty to a tumor in 2019. We miss having her with us at home and on the road.

So, we used to find ourselves planning the details a bit more rigidly than we might really want to. Now that we are traveling without a cat, we do have a little more flexibility. Still, with the rise in popularity of RVing and camping, we often find ourselves making reservations fairly far in advance.

I typically use campground reviews on RV Life , along with Tripadvisor and Campendium to research campgrounds and find us the best place to stay. I also created this document to help me compare campgrounds and pick the right one .

For hotels, we prefer the Hilton chain, where we love earning and redeeming Hilton Honors points . If there isn’t a Hilton hotel in a particular area, we use Tripadvisor to find hotels.

Once I start making campground reservations, I keep a record of everything using my Campground Reservation sheet . This allows me to know exactly what I booked and all the pertinent information of the reservation. This is especially useful for campgrounds, which are less likely to send an email confirmation than a hotel.

National Park or Other Attraction Reservations

Even when visiting national parks these days, you do have to think about timed-entry reservations. There are a few parks, like Arches NP, Rocky Mountain NP and Glacier NP that require reservations to enter some of all areas of the park. Many other sites require reservations for house tours, cave tours or other types of guided tours.

Even some museums and other attractions have begun requiring timed-entry reservations.

As you begin planning your road trip, be sure to check the website of each park or attraction to find out if you need to make advance reservations. Finding out early on that you missed your opportunity to get tickets for a specific park or tour could affect your entire trip.

When it comes to national park reservations, it is important to note that many times only a fraction of tickets are released initially, which is often several months in advance. Additional tickets are often released 1-2 days prior. We had to rely on these “last minute tickets” when visiting Arches in 2022 after the historic flooding forced us to completely cancel our entire summer trip to Yellowstone.

Read my full guide on national parks trip planning here.

When to Make Reservations

If you have more flexibility, you could certainly wait and make at least some of these decisions on the road. How much you plan in advance is totally up to you, your travel style and where you are visiting.

On that note, some places fill up quickly. Do your research and know if you need to book in advance. Yosemite is very popular in the summer, so I made those reservations in December. Others weren’t made until April.

Every destination is different, so do your homework early and know what to expect. And, if you aren’t making reservations in advance, be ready to not have as many choices or possibly even miss a desired stop because there is no availability.

That actually happened to us on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park a few years ago when we were tent camping. We didn’t have a reservation. We visited several campgrounds and hotels and found no vacancies. Cell phone coverage was basically non-existent, so we couldn’t call or do much research.

We ended up driving all the way to the other side of Denver and skipping Rocky Mountain altogether. That is always a risk when you don’t have a reservation.

On the flip side, we once had a three-night reservation at a state park in southwest Montana. Bad conditions, along with the remoteness of the campground, led us to leave early. We ended up moving on after just one night and forfeiting our payment for the other two nights.

That’s one of the fun things about travel: you never know what will happen!

A big consideration for any road trip is the budget. Your budget will often dictate, or at least influence, where you go, how long you are gone, where you stay and much more.

Hopefully, you think about your budget before you start planning. Grant wrote an in-depth article on travel finance, which covers many aspects of budgeting for travel. If you have questions on budgeting, start at Travel Finance 101 .

Budgeting for a long road trip can seem overwhelming. But there is one benefit to a long trip that is sometimes easier to deal with than on a shorter trip: You are able to use your “normal” monthly budget.

Of course, you have fixed bills at home which have to be paid even when you’re away.  Mortgage, car insurance, and electric bills are still due, even when traveling. Sure, you could turn off your cable or internet if you’re gone for a while, but that may not be worth it if you’re just gone a few weeks.

What you can use is your food, gas and entertainment budgets. Those are costs you don’t have to worry about too much (assuming your income is still consistent) since you would be spending money on them anyway. You may even find food or gas costs are lower on the road.

Traveling in a trailer allows us to keep food in a refrigerator and cook meals “at home” even when on the road. This allows us to save money by not having to eat out every meal.

If you want to compare costs on different travel styles, check out this article: Road Trip Styles – A Cost Breakdown . In this article, Grant compares the costs of staying in hotels, tent camping and RV camping.

Read more about how we save money on the road.

Leaving Your House

Of course, leaving your house for several weeks can be nerve-wracking. That is one reason we now live in an apartment (and, previously, a condo). We feel much more at ease when we are traveling knowing there are other people living in the building. If anything goes wrong, they can notify us easily.

If you don’t live in a condo or apartment, you just need to make sure you have a neighbor or friend set up to come by once or twice a week to check on things. How often will depend on what you might need to be done at home and if you are leaving behind any pets.

Even in an apartment with no pets at home, we still need someone to check the mail and just make sure nothing crazy happens. As a thank you, we generally pick up a bottle or two of a local spirit for whoever helped us out.

Complications on the Road

Of course, complications can always happen when you are traveling. That is especially true during a road trip. We’ve had several instances when our truck or camper needed service on the road. We also had to delay a trip because our truck needed service the day before our scheduled departure.

When we visited the Great Lakes region in 2019, we had to cut our trip short because the camper needed substantial repairs. Unfortunately, the same issue caused us problems again in 2021 when in Salt Lake City. Both of those were frustrating, but we handled it.

As mentioned previously, we also had to replan an entire summer trip on the road in 2022. We had made it halfway to Yellowstone when the historic flood of 2022 happened. The park was still closed to all visitors the day we were supposed to arrive for our month-long stay at Fishing Bridge RV Park. Sadly, we had to scrap the entire trip and come up with a new itinerary.

Most recently, our engine had difficulty as we approached Shreveport, LA while returning from a road trip to New Mexico. The good news is that we found a service center to squeeze us in for diagnostics the next morning. The bad news is that we had to leave the truck in Shreveport and rent a car to get us home. On top of that, we had to reschedule a planned trip to Chicago so that we could drive back to pick up the truck.

Complications while road-tripping can always happen. It’s all part of the adventure. You just have to roll with it and make the best of a difficult situation.

Need Help Planning Your RV Road Trip?

If this sounds overwhelming, consider ordering our upcoming book: Moon USA RV Adventures . That’s right! We wrote our first book and it will help simplify this entire planning process!

Moon USA RV Adventures include 25 RV routes all over the country. The itineraries range from less than a week to more than a month and include stops at many of our country’s best national parks, landmarks and other attractions.

Each route includes step-by-step driving directions along with what you should see and do along the way. We provide campground suggestions and reviews, restaurants, grocery stores and more!

• Sinclair, Bonnie (Author)
• 560 Pages – 02/28/2023 (Publication Date) – Moon Travel (Publisher)

Final Thoughts on Planning a Road Trip

We always love a good road trip. But there’s truly something special about a road trip out west. The wide open spaces that you find when you get west of the Mississippi River just aren’t the same on the east coast.

Yes, planning a road trip can be difficult. But it is absolutely worth it.

Not only can you see and do a lot on a road trip, but the drive itself is a huge part of the adventure. We never tire of watching the scenery change as we make our way across the country.

Travel Resources

What do you use to find a flight.

We use Skyscanner to find deals on flights. Skyscanner has a great interface and compares tons of airlines for the best pricing and routing. That said, it does not always have every airline and some airlines will have better deals on their website. Still, Skyscanner is a great place to start. Click here to search for a flight.

What do you use to find a hotel?

We typically stay at Hilton properties , so we use the Hilton website . You can find good Hilton Honors discounts or AAA discounts for a hotel there. We make great use of our free night certificates from our Hilton Honors American Express. Click here to book a Hilton property.

If there are no Hilton properties available, we use TripAdvisor to read reviews and book the hotel. We find we can get the best price that way. Click here to search for a hotel.

We recently partnered with Stay22 to add interactive maps to each of our destination posts. This will allow you to see a plethora of hotels and vacation rentals all in one responsive map of the area.

What if I need more space than I can get at a hotel?

We use Vrbo for the times when we have rented a cabin for a weekend getaway, like this cabin in Townsend, TN , or needed to rent a house for a large family vacation. We had a great experience with them in terms of refunding deposits when COVID hit and will continue to use them. Click here to search for a vacation rental.

Who do you use for rental cars?

As a general rule, we book with Hertz for rental cars. We have had nothing but good experiences with them. Plus, we really like unlimited mileage and not worrying about crossing state lines. We have even rented from Hertz overseas in both Slovenia and Croatia . Click here to book a rental car.

How about booking a cruise?

We have found some amazing prices for booking a cruise through Cruise Direct . We have saved a lot of money on our cruises compared to what we found elsewhere, making a last-minute Bahamas cruise even cheaper. Click here to book a cruise.

What if I want to rent an RV?

We highly recommend Outdoorsy for RV rentals. We rented a camper van for a week to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the elk rut and Custer State Park for the Buffalo Round-Up and had a blast. The program was easy to use and we really enjoyed the freedom of having a camper van for that trip. Click here to rent an RV.

What do you use for booking tours?

We don’t often book tours. Typically, we like to do stuff on our own. That said, there are some experiences you can’t have any other way. So, when we do want to book a tour, we always check Viator first. Click here to book a tour.

Do you use anything to get discounts on the road?

We make extensive use of both Good Sam and AAA on the road. Good Sam is normally regarded as a discount card for RVers at campgrounds and Camping World but anyone can use the 5 cents off a gallon at the pump at both Pilot and Flying J. Click here to get a Good Sam membership. We have had AAA as long as we have been married and it has more than paid for itself in discounts at hotels, aside from the peace of mind of having roadside assistance. Add in paper maps and the ability to get an international driver’s license and it is more than worth it for any traveler out there. Click here to get a AAA membership.

11 thoughts on “How to Plan a Road Trip Out West”

Great article! I have now done 13 big cross-country summer road trips with my family and you covered the planning process very well.

Did you like Great Basin? We stopped there a couple years ago and loved it. The pure silence away from the usual sounds of civilization was simply amazing.

Thanks so much! To say we loved Great Basin NP is an understatement. Baker is a neat town to visit and hiking the trails was something to behold. We went out to the nearby archeological site one night to watch the stars come out. WOW! That’s something we just don’t see in the east.

Hi! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to check it out. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Terrific blog and fantastic style and design.

Wow! Thanks so much! We are glad you are enjoying the blog Please let us know if you have any questions… We love talking about travels and helping folks out!

Great article.

I actually had some complications of earlier cars and trucks from Enterprise rent an automobile provider, however lately, together with James assisting me with my own reservation I’ve received everything I desired. Amicable and prepared to support. That’s exactly what I can say regarding their employees. Many thanks and keep on being successful!

Thanks so much, Myrah! I have used Enterprise and Hertz in the past for rental cars. In the past, at least, Enterprise has had a restriction on crossing too many state borders, which would not work for our longer trips. That said, both companies are great in terms of service from my experience.

WOW just what I was looking for.

Excited finding your blog on long road-trips! My husband and I will leave for our first 35 day trip next week and are planning a possible 3 mo trip next summer. We’ve motorhomed for 12 day and less trips but just curious what you’re experience has been moving often. Our upcoming trip has several 3 night stops mixed in but also many harvest host one nighters and lots of 2 nighters. Concerned about how it will feel moving that much. Any thoughts from your experience?

From our experience, the longer we stay in one location, the more we enjoy it. That said, crossing the country means one night stays. We would just say to make sure you build in rest time after long driving days and overnight stops.

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The Complete 2 Week Road Trip Guide To The Western United States

Want to see the most beautiful landscapes in the US? Keep reading for the best Western road trip itinerary. While Highway 1 in California , also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, takes the cake as America’s best coastal road trip, The Grand Circle road trip is the ultimate National Park road trip. For everyone who enjoy road trips and there is no better place to visit in the United States than the West Coast, home to a majority of the National Parks. The Western United States is full of amazing landscapes ranging from deserts, mountains, amazing rock formations, coastal views and dense forests.

➳ Read More: The Ultimate Road Trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco

In this guide of how to plan a trip out west we include our favorite state parks, national parks and the best cities in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Some of the highlight destinations include the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Bryce Canyon , Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Las Vegas , Death Valley, and the Valley of Fire .

There is no better way to explore the Western US than in a car or RV, so you can visit every destination at your own pace and stop at any hidden gem between. While you can honestly spend months exploring this region of the US, we have created the ultimate two week road trip itinerary to the Western United States.

USA Road Trip Travel Video

Important travel information to plan your west coast road trip.

The best way to explore the southwest and west coast of the United States is with an epic road trip. We recommend renting a campervan or RV instead of a car so you can have more freedom on planning your trip as you can sleep anywhere where it is allowed. If you already own a van make sure to have the perfect van accessories to make your trip even more fun and easy.

For this trip we rented a campervan from Travellers Autobarn and had a fantastic experience! We were able to sleep in gas station parking lots, camping areas and BLM land. Even though the upfront cost of renting a campervan is more expensive than renting a small car, you will save more money in hotels and being able to cook your own food. We spent around $500 USD in gas and $1,000 USD in the van.

Travellers Autobarn has three locations in the USA: Los Angeles , San Francisco, and Las Vegas , which are perfect starting points for your epic road trip to the Western United States. The campervan comes with free unlimited miles on all rentals, which is very convenient as road trips are full of fun detours and unexpected destinations.

If renting a campervan is not your road trip style can always rent a small car that consumes less gas, but requires additional camping gear or more hotel stays.

14 Days US Western Road Trip  Itinerary :

Day 1: arrive to las vegas, nevada.

Depending on where you are flying from traveling to Las Vegas Airport is often the cheapest option. It has been the best choice for us when flying from Europe, South America and even domestically.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to explore the city that never sleeps, check out our complete guide to the Las Vegas .

Use the first day of your western road trip itinerary to pick up the van, go grocery shopping and rest! If you prefer staying in a hotel in Las Vegas instead of sleeping in the van the first day look for hotels that offer free parking and that have free outside parking. If you want to start the road trip immediately you can sleep at the Pilot Gas Station, which is half way to Valley of Fire State Park and it is free!

Day 2: Las Vegas to Valley of Fire State Park

Wake up early in the morning and head to Valley of Fire State Park, which is located about 50 miles northeast from Las Vegas. 

Valley of Fire is one of the most beautiful state parks in the United States and the oldest and biggest state park in Nevada. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset and the entrance fee is $10 USD per vehicle per day.

➳ Read More: The Complete Guide To Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park

We recommend to spend a full day at the Valley of Fire State Park to complete the Fire Wave Trail and see Elephant Rock. If you book in advance you can even camp at the Valley of Fire that night or drive two hours to the campground near Vermillion Cliff. 

Day 3: Valley of Fire State Park to Vermillion 

The next morning wake up super early to head to the Vermillion to apply for the lottery to visit the Wave. Only 10 people will get the chance to go to this amazing natural spot and get their number drawn. 

The Wave is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and to protect this natural monument, only 20 people are able to do the hike per day. To hike the Wave you must have a permit and be on the list. Otherwise, if caught you face fines up to $10,000 per person. 

You can get the hiking permit by applying to the lottery online or by showing up to the visitor center office the day before you would like to hike. If you choose to apply online you do so through the BLM’s official website but to be honest you have lower chance to get the permit as thousands of people apply from around the globe for a handful of permits. The online lottery cost $5 per person and you can apply up to 4 months in advance for your desired date.

If you choose to apply in person it is free to enter the lottery and you will have higher chances of winning as there are normally at most 200 people applying. Keep in mind that the permits are dispensed for the next morning, not for the same day hiking! To apply in person you have to been in the office between 8:30 to 9:00 AM. 

Also apply to visit the South Coyote Buttes. It is as fantastic as the Wave but less popular, so you have a higher chance to win the permit lottery. Keep in mind that you will need to have a 4WD car to reach this hike as it is really sandy the way there. This is not possible in our campervan, but we made friends with other lottery winners who offered us a ride.

After the lottery, whether you were chosen or not to visit the Wave, we recommending spend the rest of the day hiking. We hiked the Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch and loved it! You go through so many canyons and with so few visitors you have the opportunity to get fantastic photos.

Another great option is to visit White Pocket. It is a fantastic area with deep red and orange rock formations but can be hard to reach as you need a 4WD car. 

Day 3: The Wave or Coyote Buttes South

We unfortunately did not win the lottery to visit the Wave, but were picked for a permit to the South Coyote Buttes. If you have an extra day, you can always show up again to the permit lottery and test your luck.

Otherwise, spend the day hiking through the breathtaking landscapes of Coyote Buttes South or the Wave, if you won permits, or there is more time to visit White Pockets if your previous day was full.

Day 4: Coyote Buttes South to Grand Canyon 

A full day at the Grand Canyon is never enough to enjoy the majestic views of one of the most popular National Parks. Make sure to take the free shuttle bus to see some of the best viewpoints in Grand Canyon as well as drive along the Desert View Drive. In one day you will only have time to enjoy the views from the rim along with some short walks down into the canyon itself.

There is only so much time to spend at each destination during a complete two week road trip out West to the four corners states. While you do get a good view from each stop, this road trip itinerary can easily be extended to a full month if you have the time!

Day 5: Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

Make sure to reserve a spot for Antelope Canyon as the tours are generally fully booked year round. Antelope Canyon has two spots you can visit the lower and upper slot canyons. Both sides are amazing, each with its unique features. The Lower Canyon is more tight and you cannot bring a tripod with you while the Upper Canyon is wider and they offer photography tours.

Either Canyon can only be visited with a tour guide. The best time to visit Antelope Canyon is during the summer the and it is recommend to get a tour between noon and 1PM to see the light rays shine through the canyons. The entrance fee for Antelope Canyon costs between $55 to $75 USD depending on the tour you choose. Antelope Canyon is a must on your western road trip itinerary.

For us, the best time to visit Horseshoe Bend is right before sunset to enjoy the rich colors of the sky. Please take a lot of water as it can get super hot! Parking costs $10 per vehicle per day but does not allow for re-entry as you will have to pay again.

As evening rolled in we kept on driving and slept in a Burger King parking lot, with permission, right before arriving to Monument Valley. 

Day 6: Monument Valley

Wake up early and head towards Forrest Gump Point to get the iconic photos from Monument Valley and avoid the crowds. It is spectacular to see the sunrise there! The entrance fee for Monument Valley is $20 USD per vehicle.

Spend the day exploring Monument Valley enjoying the vast red sandstone landscapes and dramatic viewpoints.

Day 7: Monument Valley to Arches National Park

Valley of Fire State Park is is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park located about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. This is a popular place to witness the bright red-orange sandstone formations, the iconic Fire Wave hike and thousands of years of human history.

➳ Read More: The Complete Guide To Arches National Park

Day 8: Arches National Park to Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is the largest national park in Utah and it is a short drive from Moab, where you should refill your car and stock up on supplies. This remote national park has three main sections: Island in the Sky, the easiest section to reach, the Needles and the Maze.

The Island of Sky  visitor center  is your last stop for water, as there are no services further into the park. The park offers many hiking trail from less than a mile to up to 17 miles and plenty of spots to just relax and enjoy the beautiful sunset.

➳ Read More: The Complete Guide To Canyonlands National Park

Day 9: Canyonlands National Park to Capitol Reef National Park

A two hour drive west is Capitol Reef National Park in southern Utah, encompassing the Fruita Historic District and the Capitol Reef scenic drive. Capitol Reef offers sweeping sandstone landscapes with iconic features including the Capitol Dome, Navajo Formation and Chimney Rock, a 400 foot tall sandstone pillar. Capitol Reef National park is definitely a stop you must include on your Western road trip itinerary.

➳ Read More: The Complete Guide To Capitol Reef National Park

Day 10: Capitol Reef National Park to Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the most beautiful parks we have visited in the United States. It features an 18-mile scenic route to access 13 different viewpoints from the rim of the canyon over the bright red sandstone hoodoo formations. All of the viewpoints are on the left side of the road, making them easier to to reach by first driving all the way to the end of the scenic road and pulling off on the way back.

➳ Read More: The Complete Guide To Bryce Canyon

Day 11: Bryce Canyon to Las Vegas

Las Vegas is best known for the Las Vegas Strip, lined with iconic casinos for gambling and home to extravagant shows. Do not miss out on the historic center of Las Vegas at the Fremont Street Experience.

➳ Read More: The best things to do in Las Vegas

Day 12: Las Vegas to Death Valley

Death Valley is the lowest point in elevation in the United States and the holds the record for the hottest temperature on record. It might sound extreme environment, but this National Park offers beautiful and unique landscapes. With vast salt flats and colorful mineral rich mountain ranges, there is so much to enjoy. Just make sure to stay hydrated and cover up in the bright sun!

Camping within Death Valley is not for everyone as nighttime lows in the summer can remain over 100 F, but it does make for a beautiful night.

Day 13: Death Valley to Las Vegas

Unfortunately the end of your two week road trip to the Western United States is coming to an end. Drive back to Las Vegas and enjoy the last few hours of adventure.

Depending on the time of your departing flight, spend the last few hours of your road trip exploring the Las Vegas Strip. If you rented a campervan from Travellers Autobarn make sure to return it with enough time to get yourself to the airport. I hope this guide helped you plan your next Western road trip itinerary.

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An Old Fashioned Travel Blog…Hawaii Style!

These days it seems like most of the travel information on the internet is either unhelpful fluff generated by AI or from influencers more interested in linking their outfits than anything else.

So I’m glad you found me! I’ve been writing this travel blog about Hawaii for over 8 years, and even though it’s “my blog,” it’s really all about YOU.

From “copy my trip” itineraries to really detailed reviews and comparisons of places to stay, you’ll get first hand intel on places I’ve actually been and insights about what I would do differently next time. And after living on Maui and years of traveling to Hawaii several times a year, I’ve got a HUGE archive of info on Hawaii ; )

Everything I write is designed to help you get your trip from the “dream” phase to the “I can’t believe we’re actually going” phase.

Hawaii is how I got my start as a travel blogger. After moving to Maui for a little hiatus after school and playing tour guide for my steady stream of visitors, I started writing it all down. One move back to the mainland and DOZENS of trips back to the islands later and I think I’ve put together a little gold mine of Hawaii travel tips.

My Latest Posts

How to Survive the Long Flight to Hawaii (+ Tips for Jet Lag)

Cultural Guide to Visiting Hawaii: A History Recap + Dos & Donts for Visitors

How to Save Money on Hotels in Hawaii (I’m Looking at You, Four Seasons!)

Is Airbnb Illegal in Hawaii? Not Technically, but Sometimes.

Do You Need a Rental Car in Hawaii?

About Caity

Hi! I’m Caity…a travel blogger that got bit by the Hawaii bug long ago. I’ve always loved to travel to far off places, and I’ve always loved the beach so Hawaii fits me like a dream. 

I lived on Maui for a while after I finished school and started this travel blog about Hawaii after I started getting so many questions from friends and family that were planning to visit Hawaii. 

Fast forward 10 years and I’ve made countless trips back to Hawaii (I usually go 3-4 times a year) and spent so much time keeping this site up to date so YOU can have the best information possible to plan your trip. 

So whether you’re planning your first trip to Hawaii, you’re planning on visiting a new island for the first time, or you’re a seasoned Hawaii traveler, you’ll find something here for you. 

Thanks for reading!

More about me >>

• Switzerland
• The Netherlands
• National Parks
• Affording Travel
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• Responsible Travel
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• Travel Planning
• Work with Us

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The best usa west coast road trip: itinerary + ideas.

Planning a trip to the west coast and want to do an epic road trip journey? Check out this west coast road trip itinerary + ideas to help you plan your trip.

There’s nothing more American than a road trip! In fact, there are at least 25 American Road Trips that I think are essential to do before you die! One of them is the great west coast road trip.

I’ve lived in California most of my life, and driving the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) is a must when you live here at least once in a lifetime. It’s like a right of passage.

But there are even more incredible places to explore on the west coast of the USA.

If you’ve got a few weeks to cruise the western coast of the United States, you’ve made a good choice. This is some of the most stunning scenery in the world. You’ll spend time in the famous PNW (pacific northwest) and be venturing into the beautiful diversity that is California.

A west coast trip is a must, especially if you’re visiting the US for the first time. It’s so unique and classic, and something I hope everyone gets a chance to do in their lifetime! I hope that these west coast road trip ideas will help you when planning your trip and give you the confidence to drive the entire coast!

This loop ensures that you see all the most popular sites, while also getting off the beaten path and exploring hidden gems in each western state.

Here's a Short Cut

1. Safety Supplies for your West Coast USA Road Trip

2. get a good rate on a car rental, 3. be sure you have good insurance, 4. be sure to pack right, 5. don’t overdo it, 1. the pacific coast highway, 2. san diego to los angeles, 3. san francisco to yosemite national park, 4. southern california national and state parks, 5. portland to seattle, western us road trip driving map, south bound route, san juan islands, olympic national park, long beach peninsula, cannon beach, multnomah falls, bandon beaches, redwoods national park, point reyes national seashore, napa valley, san francisco, pismo beach, los angeles, crystal cove state park, palm springs, joshua tree national park, death valley national park, sequoia national park, yosemite national park, lassen volcanic national park, ashland oregon, crater lake national park, i hope this west coast road trip planner has been helpful, practical tips for your west coast road trip.

I wanted to share some practical information before diving into the road trip itinerary.

When you’re preparing for west coast travel, it’s always a good idea to keep a road safety kit in your car, in case of break-downs, accidents, or other emergencies. Even when my boys have to get out and “go” on the side of the road, I like to put up reflective warning road safety triangles like these ones , especially at night! I always like to have a good first aid kit on hand as well, not only when we road trip, but when we travel anywhere. You never know when it could be a literal life-saver!

If you’re renting a car for your west coast road trip, be sure to shop around for the best deals. We like to use Rental Cars to find the best rates and locations. Be sure to read the rental agreement too. Some rental car companies only give you a certain allotment of miles and if you’re going to do a massive road trip like this, you’ll want to make sure you pick a car with unlimited miles.

Be sure that you have good car insurance and also a good travel insurance. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been grateful to have travel insurance the the peace of mind it brings! If you’re driving your own car, be sure that you have enough insurance as well. The last thing you want to have to deal with on a road trip is fighting insurance companies if you get in an accident.

To prepare for your west coast road trip be sure to follow these tips that I’ve shared in How to Plan a Road Trip.  I share all my best tips on how to plan the perfect road trip, including safety tips, ideas on how to keep kids entertained during a road trip, and the best apps to use for roadtripping! If you’ve ever considered doing a west coast road trip in a camper, check out these RV rentals in California.

It’s human nature to think we can do more than we actually can. Try to be realistic about how much time you have to do this itinerary. I would give yourself at least two weeks for this. One week in each direction.

Other West Coast USA Road Trip Ideas

If you don’t have time to do this complete itinerary, you can always pick one of these shorter west coast road trip ideas. These road trip routes are some that I’ve done in the past and most can be done in just a day or two.

This is the most iconic California road trip. If you’re shorter on time and can’t do the entire west coast, at least drive the PCH. Driving the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in California is an incredible experience. The Pacific Coast Highway is a famous coastal road that runs along the Pacific Ocean, stretching over 600 miles from the north to the south of California. This scenic route is known for its breathtaking views, winding roads, and stunning beaches, making it one of the most popular road trips in the world.

This scenic highway, the PCH, runs from Dana Point in Orange County all the way up to Leggett in Mendocino County. The most scenic section of the highway is the stretch between San Francisco and Los Angeles, which takes you through some of the most beautiful areas in California, including Monterey, Big Sur, Santa Barbara, and Malibu.

One of the highlights of driving the PCH is the incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, you’ll see rugged cliffs, stunning beaches, and sparkling blue water. You’ll also pass through charming coastal towns, each with its own unique personality and attractions.

Another great thing about driving the PCH is the opportunity to stop at some of the state’s most iconic landmarks and attractions. For example, you can visit Hearst Castle, a grand mansion built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Or you can explore the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is home to thousands of marine creatures.

The PCH is also known for its winding roads and steep cliffs, which can be a bit nerve-wracking for some drivers. However, the road is generally well-maintained and offers plenty of pullouts and viewpoints where you can safely stop and take in the views.

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway is an unforgettable experience that offers some of the most stunning scenery in California. If you’re planning a road trip in the Golden State, the PCH is definitely a route you won’t want to miss.

Distance : 600 miles

A Southern California road trip from San Diego to Los Angeles is a great way to explore the southern coast of California. The drive takes you along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), also known as Highway 1, which offers stunning ocean views and a chance to explore several charming towns and attractions along the way.

Starting in San Diego, you can head north on Interstate 5, which takes you through the coastal communities of La Jolla, Del Mar, and Encinitas, known for their beautiful beaches and oceanfront dining. Alternatively, you can take the scenic route and drive up the coast on the PCH, which takes you through the seaside towns of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Solana Beach, and Carlsbad.

As you continue north, you’ll reach the city of Oceanside, which is home to the California Surf Museum and the historic Oceanside Pier. Further up the coast, you’ll pass through the beach towns of San Clemente, Dana Point, and Laguna Beach, all offering beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and unique shops.

One of the highlights of the drive is the stretch of Highway 1 that passes through Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, where you can see some of the most expensive homes in California and catch a glimpse of the famous surf spot, the Wedge.

As you approach Los Angeles, you’ll pass through the charming coastal towns of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach, all offering great places to grab a bite to eat or take a stroll along the beach. The drive will end in Los Angeles, where you can explore attractions like Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica.

A road trip from San Diego to Los Angeles offers a chance to see some of the best beaches and coastal towns in Southern California. Whether you stick to the highways or take the scenic route along the PCH, you’ll be treated to stunning ocean views and plenty of opportunities to stop and explore along the way.

Distance : 130 miles

A road trip from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park is a popular way to experience the beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and one of America’s most iconic national parks. The drive takes you through the heart of the Central Valley, a vast agricultural region, and into the Sierra foothills before arriving at Yosemite National Park. This road trip is full of outdoor adventures.

Starting in San Francisco, you’ll head east on Highway 580, which takes you through the East Bay and into the Central Valley.

Continuing east on Highway 205, you’ll pass through the city of Modesto, home to the Gallo Center for the Arts, before reaching Highway 99, which takes you through the agricultural heartland of California. Along this stretch of road, you’ll see vast orchards of almonds, pistachios, and citrus, as well as miles of fields growing crops like tomatoes and lettuce.

At Merced, you’ll exit Highway 99 and head east on Highway 140, which takes you into the Sierra foothills and toward Yosemite National Park. This scenic route will take you through the charming towns of Mariposa and El Portal, where you can grab a bite to eat or stock up on supplies before entering the park.

Once inside Yosemite National Park, you’ll be treated to stunning views of granite peaks, waterfalls, and lush forests. Some of the must-see sights in the park include Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls. There are also plenty of hiking trails and outdoor activities to enjoy, from gentle walks to challenging climbs.

West coast road trips from San Francisco to Yosemite are a great way to experience the beauty of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains and one of the country’s most beloved national parks. Along the way, you’ll pass through charming towns, see breathtaking natural landscapes, and create unforgettable memories.

Distance : 170 miles

You could spend weeks just in Southern California exploring the various national parks. Road Trips through Southern California’s national parks are a fantastic way to experience the natural beauty and diversity of the region.

Start your trip in Los Angeles and head east towards Joshua Tree National Park, located about two and a half hours away. Spend the day hiking, rock climbing, or simply enjoying the stunning desert landscapes of this unique park.

After a day in Joshua Tree, continue southeast to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, about a two-hour drive. This park is known for its rugged terrain, stunning wildflower displays, and fascinating geological formations.

Next, visit Cabrillo National Monument, located on the southern tip of the Point Loma Peninsula in San Diego. This park offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay, as well as hiking trails, tide pools, and historic landmarks.

Drive north to Ventura, which is about three hours away, and take a ferry to Channel Islands National Park. This park is located off the coast of Southern California and offers pristine beaches, hiking trails, and opportunities to observe marine wildlife such as seals and dolphins.

Distance : Varies

West coast road trips from Portland to Seattle are a fantastic way to explore the Pacific Northwest and take in the natural beauty of the region. The drive covers about 175 miles and takes approximately three hours, depending on traffic and the route you choose. Along the way, you’ll encounter gorgeous coastlines, charming towns, and iconic landmarks that define the Pacific Northwest.

Starting in Portland, head north on I-5 towards Seattle. About an hour into the drive, you’ll reach the city of Olympia, the capital of Washington State. Olympia is known for its stunning waterfront parks, including Percival Landing Park and Priest Point Park. Stop by the Olympia Farmers Market to sample local produce, crafts, and food, or explore the Washington State Capitol Campus, which features beautiful gardens, monuments, and historical buildings.

Continuing on I-5, you’ll pass through Tacoma, another vibrant city in the Pacific Northwest. Tacoma is home to the Museum of Glass, where you can watch glass-blowing demonstrations and admire works by renowned artists. The city’s waterfront area offers stunning views of Mount Rainier and the Puget Sound, as well as a variety of restaurants, shops, and galleries.

As you approach Seattle, you’ll pass through the suburbs and get your first glimpse of the city’s iconic skyline. Seattle is famous for its coffee culture, music scene, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Take a stroll through Pike Place Market to sample local seafood, fresh produce, and artisanal goods, or visit the Space Needle for panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains. Other must-see attractions include the Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Museum of Pop Culture, and the Seattle Aquarium.

A road trip from Portland to Seattle offers a unique blend of urban and natural landscapes, with plenty of opportunities to explore the vibrant culture and breathtaking scenery of the Pacific Northwest.

Distance : 175 miles

My Full West Coast Road Trip Itinerary

For this west coast trip, I’ve divided the west coast up into two routes so that you can drive in a loop. There is a coastal route, stopping at some of the most stunning beaches in the U.S., and an inland route, where you’ll visit famous national parks and mountainous roads.

In my opinion, this is the best west coast road trip and will allow you to see some of the most incredible sites in the region. You can drive this West Coast Road Trip Itinerary either way you like. You can even start in the middle and only do parts of this itinerary, but I prefer to drive from north to south if I can.

The weather becomes more temperate the farther down you go, and when you’re driving south along the coast, the passenger (usually me with the camera) gets all those gorgeous views out their window.

Driving south will also allow you to take the longer route down first, saving the faster route for the end. This interactive map will help you plan your west coast road trips.

This west coast trip map will help you navigate all the stops along the way.

You can begin or end your west coast road trip in Washington state. From the majestic, snow-capped Cascade Mountains, the bustling and hip town of Seattle, to the forested islands of the Puget Sound, Washington has beauty and variety that should not be missed.

Starting your west coast road trip off in Seattle is a great idea. Visit the Space Needle, a futuristic remnant from the 1962 World’s Fair, head to the century-old Pike’s Place Market, watch the fishmongers toss fish, grab a drink at the original Starbucks, and stock up on snacks for your epic journey! If you’re feeling brave you can make a visit to Mel’s Hole in Ellensburg before heading south.

From Seattle, grab a ferry to the San Juan Islands and enjoy a day or two of these stunning forested islands, where you can camp or stay in one of the Bed and Breakfasts along the islands. See wildlife, hike, swim, bike, kayak or just enjoy the scenery as you drive along the scenic byway of the San Juan Islands.

Download and follow this map of the scenic byway in the San Juan .

Spanning several different ecosystems, from the Olympic mountain range to the old-growth forests. Drive through the majestic national park and take it all in. Stop and hike, climb, picnic or just enjoy the ride!

Along these stunning beaches you’ll find sand dollars, driftwood, anemones, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot eagles, whales, dolphins and other coastal wildlife.

Be sure to visit these beaches in the Olympic National Park:

• Shi Shi Beach
• La Push Beach
• Rialto Beach where you can see the Hole-in-the-Wall rock arch during low tide

The Long Beach Peninsula is a 30 mile stretch of land with gorgeous white beaches just before the Oregon border. Visit the World Kite Museum and brave the winds by flying your own kite. If you’re making this west coast road trip in August, you’ll be just in time for the International Kite Festival.

Now it’s time to head south towards Oregon.

Welcome to Oregon! The northern Oregon coast has some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Home to more mountains, beaches, and some of the most incredible waterfalls in the world. It is a foodie mecca and home to more breweries than Scotland and the Czech Republic combined! Don’t miss these incredible stops along the Oregon coast:

Home to the ‘80s classic movie Goonies . Be sure to watch it before visiting, then you can see all the iconic scenes from the movie, including the infamous Goonies House.

Astoria is a historic city located on the northwestern tip of Oregon, at the mouth of the Columbia River. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant arts and culture scene, and rich history. The city is home to a number of iconic landmarks, including the Astoria Column, a 125-foot tall monument that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area, and the Columbia River Maritime Museum, which showcases the history and culture of the Columbia River and its importance to the region.

Astoria is also home to a variety of shops, restaurants, and galleries, offering visitors a chance to experience the local arts and culture scene. Visitors can stroll along the waterfront, explore the town’s museums and historic landmarks, or take a hike through the nearby Fort Stevens State Park for stunning views of the coast and surrounding forests. With its stunning landscapes, rich cultural offerings, and unique history, Astoria is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling along the Oregon coast.

A charming little town and beach. Seaside is an amazing place to go if you want to spend some time by the ocean collecting shells, relaxing, and enjoying nature.

Seaside is a charming coastal town located on the Oregon coast, about 80 miles northwest of Portland. It is known for its beautiful beaches, scenic promenade, and family-friendly attractions. The town’s main attraction is the Seaside Promenade, a 1.5-mile long boardwalk that runs along the beach and offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. The promenade is lined with shops, restaurants, and other attractions, making it a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

In addition to the promenade, Seaside is home to a variety of family-friendly activities, such as the Seaside Aquarium, the Funland Arcade, and the Broadway Theater. The town also hosts several annual events, including the Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament, the Seaside Wheels and Waves Car Show, and the Seaside Jazz Festival. Whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, explore the town’s attractions, or participate in one of its many events, Seaside is a fun and welcoming destination for visitors of all ages.

Another iconic scene from Goonies where you can see haystack rock. My kids love this beach and it makes for an amazing photo backdrop.

Cannon Beach is a charming seaside town located on the Oregon coast, about 80 miles west of Portland. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, including its pristine beaches, towering rock formations, and picturesque lighthouse. One of the most iconic landmarks in the area is Haystack Rock, a massive monolith that rises over 230 feet above the beach and is home to a variety of seabirds and marine life.

In addition to its natural attractions, Cannon Beach is also home to a thriving arts community, with numerous galleries, studios, and festivals showcasing the work of local artists. Visitors can explore the town’s quaint shops and restaurants, stroll along the beach, or take a hike through the nearby Ecola State Park for stunning views of the coast and surrounding forests. With its stunning landscapes, rich cultural offerings, and laid-back atmosphere, Cannon Beach is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling along the Oregon coast.

Take a tour of the Tillamook Dairy Factory and learn where all that delicious, milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, and yogurt come from. Grab a giant ice cream cone and stock up on snacks for the next leg of your trip.

The Tillamook Cheese Factory is a popular attraction located in Tillamook, Oregon, about 75 miles west of Portland. The factory offers a free, self-guided tour that allows visitors to witness the cheese-making process firsthand, as well as sample a variety of cheeses and other dairy products. The tour includes a short video presentation, a viewing area overlooking the production floor, and a taste-testing area where visitors can sample Tillamook’s award-winning cheeses.

In addition to the factory tour, visitors can explore the Tillamook Creamery, which features exhibits on the history of Tillamook cheese and the local dairy industry. The creamery also includes a gift shop where visitors can purchase a variety of Tillamook products, as well as souvenirs and other gifts. The Tillamook Cheese Factory is a fun and educational destination for visitors of all ages, offering a glimpse into the art and science of cheese-making and the history and culture of the Pacific Northwest dairy industry.

You can choose to visit Portland on either route, north or south, or hit it twice, I don’t think you’ll mind. Be sure to eat everything in Portland, especially Blue Star Donuts and Salt & Straw Ice Cream.

Portland, Oregon is a vibrant and eclectic city located in the Pacific Northwest. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and progressive values. The city is situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers and is surrounded by lush forests, snow-capped mountains, and scenic waterfalls.

Portland is often referred to as the “City of Roses” due to its numerous rose gardens and annual Rose Festival. The city is also known for its thriving food and beverage scene, with a wide range of farm-to-table restaurants, craft breweries, and coffee shops. Visitors can explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and charm, or take a stroll through one of the many parks and gardens, such as Washington Park or the International Rose Test Garden.

Portland is also a hub for arts and culture, with numerous museums, galleries, and performing arts venues. The city is home to the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon Historical Society Museum, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, as well as several theater companies and music venues. With its natural beauty, vibrant culture, and laid-back atmosphere, Portland is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the best of the Pacific Northwest.

Multnomah Falls is a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, just outside of Portland, Oregon. It is the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest, attracting over two million visitors each year. The waterfall is fed by underground springs and cascades over 600 feet in two tiers, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in the United States.

The falls are accessible via the Historic Columbia River Highway and are surrounded by lush greenery and stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge. A footbridge spans the lower tier of the falls, providing visitors with an up-close and personal view of the cascading water. There are also several hiking trails in the area, ranging from easy to moderate, that allow visitors to explore the surrounding forests and discover additional waterfalls and scenic vistas. Multnomah Falls is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting the Portland area, offering a glimpse into the natural beauty and wonder of the Pacific Northwest.

There are several beaches in Bandon, Oregon, all amazing. Visit the lighthouse at Bullard’s Beach, and Face Rock to look for the famous Tufted Puffins. The beaches in Bandon are said to be one of the best places in the world for storm watching.

Explore more from this Oregon bucket list.

Once you’ve had your fill of Oregon beaches, you can continue your west coast road trip down into California.

Welcome to the Golden State. Be prepared for some more gorgeous views and stops. If you’re traveling with kids, be sure to check out these California road trip stops. 

These protected forests and beaches along the northernmost coast of California are not to be missed. Spend time hiking or driving through the parks and taking in the trees, some of which are over 5,000 years old! Read more about visiting Redwood National Park with Kids. 

Redwood National and State Parks is a national park located in the northern coast of California, known for its stunning coastal landscapes and towering ancient redwood trees. It spans over 131,000 acres and is home to some of the world’s tallest trees, including the Hyperion tree, which stands at over 379 feet tall. The park offers visitors the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the coast, hike through ancient forests, and observe a variety of wildlife.

In addition to its natural attractions, the park is also known for its cultural significance. It is home to several Native American tribes, who have lived in the area for thousands of years and continue to practice their traditions and customs. Visitors can explore the park’s museums, attend cultural events, or take guided tours to learn more about the area’s rich history and cultural heritage. Redwood National and State Parks is a unique and awe-inspiring destination, offering visitors a chance to experience the natural and cultural wonders of the northern California coast.

Located along the stunning Mendocino coast, Fort Bragg is known for its Glass Beach where you can see millions of colorful stones scattered along the shores.

Fort Bragg is a charming coastal city located in Mendocino County, California. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, historic landmarks, and vibrant arts and culture scene. The city is situated on the rugged Mendocino coast, offering visitors stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, scenic beaches, and towering cliffs.

One of the most popular attractions in Fort Bragg is the Glass Beach, which is located near the city’s downtown area. The beach is covered with millions of colorful glass pebbles that were created over time from discarded glass bottles and other objects. You can take a stroll along the beach, collect glass pebbles, and enjoy the stunning natural scenery.

The city is also home to several historic landmarks, such as the Skunk Train, a historic narrow-gauge railroad that offers scenic tours through the surrounding forests and hills. Fort Bragg is a charming and unique destination, offering visitors a chance to experience the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of the Mendocino coast.

These protected lands offer seashores, hiking trails, forests and a beautiful historic lighthouse. Stop into Point Reyes Station to wander the shops, eat some lunch, stay the night, and grab more snacks for your drive. Read more about Point Reyes here.

Point Reyes is a peninsula located on the coast of Northern California, about 30 miles northwest of San Francisco. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and historic landmarks. The peninsula is surrounded by the Point Reyes National Seashore, which offers visitors miles of unspoiled beaches, scenic hiking trails, and breathtaking vistas of the Pacific Ocean.

One of the most popular attractions in Point Reyes is the Point Reyes Lighthouse, a historic landmark that has been guiding ships through the treacherous waters of the Pacific since 1870. Visitors can tour the lighthouse and learn about its history and importance to the region.

The peninsula is also home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, deer, foxes, and numerous bird species. Visitors can explore the park’s many trails and observe wildlife in their natural habitats. Point Reyes is a stunning and unique destination, offering a chance to experience the natural beauty and rich history of the Northern California coast.

Visit the Napa Valley wine region, where you can tour local wineries and do taste testing.

Napa Valley is a world-renowned wine region located in Northern California, about 50 miles north of San Francisco. It is known for its picturesque landscapes, award-winning wineries, and gourmet food scene. The valley is home to over 400 wineries, ranging from small family-owned vineyards to large estates that produce some of the world’s most celebrated wines.

In addition to wine tasting, visitors to Napa Valley can explore the valley’s charming towns, such as Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga, which offer a variety of restaurants, shops, and galleries. The valley is also home to a number of spas, hot springs, and wellness centers, making it a popular destination for those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation. Napa Valley is a must-visit destination for wine lovers and foodies alike, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, culinary excellence, and world-class wines.

There is so much to do in this beautiful city, that it has its own post. Read more about it here.    We love San Francisco as its one of the nearest metropolitan areas where we live. It’s where we come when we need a little taste of city life and culture.

San Francisco is a vibrant and diverse city located on the northern coast of California. It is known for its iconic landmarks, rich culture, and stunning natural beauty. The city is home to the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the Painted Ladies, as well as several world-class museums, theaters, and galleries.

In addition to its attractions, San Francisco is also renowned for its culinary scene, with a wide range of restaurants, cafes, and food markets offering a variety of cuisines and flavors. The city’s diverse neighborhoods, such as Chinatown, the Mission, and Haight-Ashbury, offer visitors a chance to experience the city’s unique culture and history. With its stunning views, vibrant culture, and world-class attractions, San Francisco is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Northern California.

It’s time to start your trip down the iconic   Pacific Coast Highway!

Monterey is another area of California that requires its own post. There is so much to do here, but if you only do one thing, take the 17-mile drive for the most breathtaking coastal views. There’s so much to see in Monterey with kids . 

Monterey is a charming coastal city located on the central coast of California. It is known for its stunning natural beauty, rich history, and world-class aquarium. The city is situated on Monterey Bay, offering visitors beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, as well as opportunities for whale watching, kayaking, and other outdoor activities.

Monterey is also home to several historic landmarks, such as Cannery Row and the Monterey State Historic Park, as well as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which features a variety of marine life and exhibits. With its beautiful beaches, unique culture, and natural wonders, Monterey is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to California’s central coast.

While you’re passing through Monterey, stop by the charming little town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, which is famous for it’s fairytale cottages. Be sure to stop at the candy store for some road trip snacks.

This rugged stretch of California’s coast can be a little tricky to drive, with winding curves and nearly constant fog. Be careful while taking in the views. Big Sur is a rugged and stunningly beautiful stretch of coastline located on the central coast of California.

It is known for its towering cliffs, pristine beaches, and dramatic landscapes. Visitors can take a scenic drive along Highway 1, which winds along the coast and offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, with the iconic view of Bixby Creek Bridge (above) or explore the area’s many hiking trails, such as the famed McWay Falls Trail, which leads to a picturesque waterfall and beach. With its rugged beauty and unspoiled natural landscapes, Big Sur is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking to experience the breathtaking beauty of California’s central coast.

This classic Central California surf town has great beaches. Be sure to check out the Dinosaur Caves Park for stunning views of the Pacific.

Pismo Beach is a beautiful coastal town located in San Luis Obispo County, California. It is known for its sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, and picturesque sunsets. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, such as surfing, kayaking, and fishing, or explore the area’s many hiking trails and nature reserves. The town also offers a vibrant downtown area with a variety of shops, restaurants, and galleries, making it a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

Wind your way down to LA, visit Venice Beach, climb to the Hollywood sign, drive through Beverly Hills, then skip town, trying not to hit too much traffic.

I mean, what’s a trip to California without visiting your favorite mouse? You’ll need to plan at least a full day or two for your trip to Disneyland. Read this to help you plan your trip.

One of the most beautiful beaches in Orange County, Crystal Cove State Park is worth the parking fee. Crystal Cove State Park is a beautiful coastal park located in Orange County, California.

It is known for its natural beauty. You can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, such as swimming, surfing, and sunbathing, or explore the park’s hiking trails, which offer breathtaking views of the coastline and surrounding hills.

The park also offers several historic landmarks, including the Crystal Cove Historic District, which features 46 vintage beach cottages and a beachfront restaurant. With its idyllic coastal setting and diverse recreational opportunities, Crystal Cove State Park is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Orange County.

There is so much to do in San Diego that is also deserves its own post. Check out this San Diego itinerary . 

This is also a great California road trip itinerary !

Congratulations, you’ve now hit the southernmost tip of your West Coast road trip itinerary and it’s now time to head north!

San Diego is a vibrant coastal city located in Southern California, known for its stunning beaches, warm weather, and rich cultural offerings. The city offers visitors a variety of attractions, including Balboa Park, which houses several museums, gardens, and the San Diego Zoo, and the historic Gaslamp Quarter, which features a variety of shops, restaurants, and nightlife venues.

You can also enjoy the city’s beautiful beaches, such as La Jolla Cove, Coronado Beach, and Mission Beach, or explore the nearby coastal towns and attractions, such as the Cabrillo National Monument and the USS Midway Museum. With its perfect weather, diverse cultural offerings, and beautiful beaches, San Diego is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Southern California.

North Bound Route

If you’re ready for some desert R&R, this is the place. Take a step back in time and book a room at one of Palm Spring’s trendy retro hotels, soak up some rays and hang by the pool.

Palm Springs is a desert oasis located in the Coachella Valley, known for its hot springs, luxurious resorts, and iconic palm trees. The city offers visitors a variety of activities, including world-class golf courses, art museums, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which takes visitors on a scenic ride up the San Jacinto Mountains.

Visitors can also explore the nearby Joshua Tree National Park or relax at one of the many spas and hot springs in the area. With its beautiful weather, luxurious accommodations, and stunning natural landscapes, Palm Springs is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Southern California.

Take a day trip or camp at Joshua Tree National Park where you can find rugged rock formations and twisted other-worldly Joshua trees.

Joshua Tree is a stunning national park located in Southern California, known for its unique desert landscapes, towering rock formations, and diverse wildlife. The park is named after the iconic Joshua Tree, a type of yucca plant that is native to the area and has become a symbol of the park.

The park offers a variety of hiking trails, rock climbing opportunities, and camping sites, allowing visitors to experience the natural beauty and rugged wilderness of the desert. With its otherworldly landscapes and stunning vistas, Joshua Tree is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking to explore the beauty of the American Southwest.

Move from one desert park to the next and visit Death Valley’s ghost town and see North America’s lowest point.

Death Valley is a starkly beautiful national park located in Eastern California, known for its extreme temperatures, unique geological features, and diverse wildlife. The park is home to the lowest point in North America, as well as stunning sand dunes, salt flats, and canyons.

The area’s harsh environment supports a wide range of plants and animals, including coyotes, bighorn sheep, and several species of cacti. The park also has a rich cultural history, with evidence of human habitation dating back thousands of years. With its stunning natural landscapes and unique features, Death Valley is a fascinating destination for anyone seeking to explore the beauty and diversity of the American Southwest.

Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Sequoia National Park is home to huge sequoia trees and underground Crystal Cave. Be sure to drive through the Tunnel Tree. Read more about Sequoia National Park here. 

Sequoia National Park is a stunningly beautiful park located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, known for its giant sequoia trees, rugged mountain terrain, and diverse wildlife. The park is home to several groves of giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman Tree, which is the largest tree in the world by volume.

The park also offers a variety of recreational activities, such as hiking, camping, and fishing, as well as several historic landmarks, such as the Giant Forest Museum and the historic Lodgepole Village. With its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural history, Sequoia National Park is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking to explore the wonders of California’s mountain wilderness.

Famed for its iconic vistas and epic granite cliffs, Yosemite offers hundreds of hiking trails. Read more about Yosemite here.

Yosemite National Park is a breathtakingly beautiful park located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, known for its towering granite cliffs, stunning waterfalls, and diverse wildlife. The park is home to several iconic landmarks, such as Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls, as well as several groves of giant sequoia trees.

The park offers visitors a variety of recreational opportunities, such as hiking, rock climbing, and fishing, as well as several historic landmarks, such as the Yosemite Valley Railroad and the Ahwahnee Hotel. With its stunning natural beauty and unique geological features, Yosemite National Park is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking to explore the natural wonders of California’s mountain wilderness.

Bordering the California and Nevada state line, Lake Tahoe is a deep blue lake nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The beaches, hikes and ski resorts are some of the best in the world. Take in the clear blue waters of the second deepest lake in the United States.

Lake Tahoe is a stunningly beautiful alpine lake located on the border between California and Nevada. The lake is known for its crystal-clear waters, rugged mountain scenery, and year-round recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and boating, or simply relax and take in the stunning natural scenery.

The area is also home to several charming towns and villages, offering a variety of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. With its stunning natural beauty and diverse recreational opportunities, Lake Tahoe is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking to experience the beauty of the American West.

Lassen Volcanic National park is rich in hydrothermal sites like Bumpass Hell and has acres of bubbling mud pots. Lassen Peak Volcano offers views of the nearby area.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is a unique and breathtakingly beautiful park located in northeastern California, known for its fascinating geothermal features, rugged mountain landscapes, and diverse wildlife. The park is home to several active volcanoes, including Lassen Peak, as well as numerous geothermal features, such as hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles.

Visitors can explore the park’s hiking trails, take a scenic drive through the park’s various regions, or enjoy the park’s diverse recreational opportunities, such as camping, fishing, and winter sports. With its stunning natural beauty and unique geological features, Lassen Volcanic National Park is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking to explore the wonders of California’s mountain wilderness.

Home to the world-famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland is a charming mountain town, with trendy vibe, offering museums, restaurants, and parks that make this a great road trip stop to stock up on snacks again, especially after visiting all those national parks and hopefully doing a lot of hiking!

Known for the famous Crater Lake, formed by Mount Mazama, the now-collapsed volcano, Crater Lake National Park offers hiking trails and a rim road, which circles the famous lake.

Crater Lake National Park is a stunningly beautiful park located in southern Oregon. It is known for its pristine blue lake, which is the deepest in the United States, as well as its towering cliffs, stunning vistas, and diverse wildlife. You can explore the park’s hiking trails, take a boat tour of the lake, or participate in a variety of outdoor activities, such as camping, fishing, and snowshoeing. With its breathtaking natural beauty and unique geological features, Crater Lake National Park is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to the Pacific Northwest.

These famous falls just outside of Portland can get busy, so be sure to go early to find a good parking spot and beat the crowds. Take the short hike up to the bridge which bisects the two sections of the waterfall. If you visit during the spring you’re likely to get wet!

Visit Portland again! You’ll need some more good food by now!

Congratulations, you’ve made it back to Seattle!

Phew! What an epic West Coast road trip! I hope you’ve enjoyed some of the most iconic scenes and locations on the West Coast. I would love to know what your favorite was. If you’ve driven the West Coast, I’d also love to know what I’ve missed. Any hidden gems that you recommend?

I know that this is a massive trip and should not be attempted in a week!

It is a lot of driving, so be sure to prepare your car for this epic road trip and install a HumX in your vehicle to take the worry out of your journey and to get you on the road!

Wanderlust Crew

One thought on “ the best usa west coast road trip: itinerary + ideas ”.

Nice article! There is so much to see in California! I have been creating California itineraries of various duration and for various interests for 4 years. I have 35 now on my blog http://familyroadtripguru.com/ and I think we only explored just about 20% of the state 🙂

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Two Itineraries for Taking in the National Parks of the American West

By Frommer's Staff

Even though distances seem vast in the western United States, it's possible to visit more than one of the region's national parks in a single trip. In fact, people often combine visits to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Yosemite and Sequoia, and Zion and Bryce Canyon.

You can knit the parks of the California desert (Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and Mojave Preserve) into a nice itinerary that might even leave you time to stop off in the resort town of Palm Springs. A popular trip for families is a drive through Badlands National Park and the Black Hills of South Dakota, all the way through Devils Tower to Yellowstone. It's not a small stretch, but it's doable if you have more than a week.

Although it can be a lot of fun to combine several national parks in your vacation trip, try not to make the all too common mistake of attempting to see everything there is to see in too short a period of time. Be realistic about how much you want to see at each park, and create an itinerary that lets you thoroughly enjoy one or two aspects of a park rather than just glimpsing every corner as you speed by. And try to schedule a little relaxation time, especially for trips of more than a week -- perhaps loafing in the campground one afternoon, or lounging by the motel swimming pool.

Following are two of our favorite national park tours.

This long circle drive hits five states and involves a lot of driving (or flying regional airlines and renting cars), but it takes you to a fantastic variety of parks -- desert, cave, mountain, and deep canyon, plus one of the world's most fascinating archaeological preserves. We begin and end in Phoenix, Arizona, where almost all major airlines serve the airport, and car and RV rentals are available. We've laid it out for just under 2 weeks, but allowing more time would make it more satisfying.

Day 1: Phoenix, Arizona

After arriving and picking up your rental car or RV, Phoenix is a good spot to stock up on supplies. The city is also famous for its golf resorts, so you may want to hit a few balls before heading south.

Day 2: Saguaro National Park

This is one of America's few national parks dedicated to protecting one specific plant -- the saguaro cactus. Here you will see forests of them. But you'll also see a variety of other plants and animals, such as javelinas -- odd pig-like animals that have mouths so tough they can bite through prickly pear cactus pads. The park has two good scenic drives as well as numerous trails through the Sonoran Desert, including the Valley View Overlook Trail, which provides a close-up view of the desert, and the Signal Hill Petroglyph Trail, where you'll get a good look at some ancient petroglyphs.

Day 3-5: Carlsbad Caverns & Guadalupe Mountains National Parks

One of the largest and most spectacular cave systems in the world, Carlsbad Caverns in southern New Mexico has practically countless cave formations, ranging from the fantastic to the grotesque. Be sure to take the Big Room Self-Guided Tour and the King's Palace Guided Tour. For a genuine caving experience, get your clothes dirty on the Slaughter Canyon guided tour. Just over the state line in Texas, Guadalupe Mountains is a rugged wilderness of tall Douglas firs, offering panoramic vistas and the highest peak in Texas. Recommended for experienced hikers is the trek to the top of Guadalupe Peak. Everyone can enjoy the colors in McKittrick Canyon -- either the trees in fall or the wildflowers in spring.

Day 6: Santa Fe, New Mexico

It's a long drive from Carlsbad Caverns to Mesa Verde National Park, so we recommend breaking it up with an overnight stop in Santa Fe, famous for its art, history, and picturesque adobe buildings. For information, see Frommer's New Mexico.

Day 7-9: Mesa Verde National Park

The largest archaeological preserve in the United States, Mesa Verde contains intriguing, well-preserved cliff dwellings, plus mesa-top pueblos, pit houses, and kivas, built by the ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) people hundreds of years ago. Recommended stops here are Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in the Southwest, and Balcony House.

Day 10: Petrified Forest National Park

Especially colorful after a rainstorm has washed away the dust, this national park is a fascinating look at an unreal world of wood turned to stone. Take the 28-mile scenic drive, stopping at the pullouts and walking some of the short trails. We especially recommend the Giant Logs Trail, where you'll see some of the park's largest petrified logs, and Blue Mesa Trail, one of the prettiest and most otherworldly hikes in the park. At Newspaper Rock, early inhabitants pecked dozens of petroglyphs into the dark stone, including an image of the famous humpbacked flute player, Kokopelli.

Day 11-12: Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim

The Grand Canyon truly is grand, and no matter how many photos you've seen, being there in person is an awe-inspiring experience. After stopping at the information center for a quick geology lesson, take the shuttle to some of the South Rim viewpoints, and perhaps walk the Rim Trail a bit. Then, if you're physically able, walk down Bright Angel Trail at least a little way, watching the vegetation and rock layers change as you descend. Unless you are in very good condition, however, it is probably best to not go beyond the One-and-a-Half-Mile House, which has restrooms and drinking water, before heading back up to the rim.

Day 13: Back to Phoenix

Back in Phoenix, you can practice your golf swing or visit some of the city's excellent museums before catching your plane for home.

Southern Utah has five delightful national parks and several national monuments, the North Rim of the spectacular Grand Canyon is just over the border in Arizona, and perched along the state line is an awe-inspiring Navajo Nation park. Together they form a somewhat circuitous loop. This jaunt begins and ends in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is accessible by almost all major airlines and has car and RV rentals. You can complete this tour in 2 weeks, but it is much more satisfying in 3 weeks, as described here.

Day 1: Las Vegas, Nevada

Fly in, pick up your rental car or RV, lay in some supplies, and maybe try the slot machines for a half-hour or so. Then hit the road and head northeast into the mountains of southern Utah.

Days 2-4: Zion National Park

Famous for its mammoth natural stone sculptures and unbelievably narrow slot canyon, this park begs to be explored on foot. Hop on the shuttle bus that runs the length of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, getting off to take trails. We especially recommend the easy Riverside Walk, which follows the Virgin River through a narrow canyon past hanging gardens, as well as the Emerald Pools Trail. Especially pleasant on hot days, this walk through a forest of oak, maple, fir, and cottonwood trees leads to a waterfall, a hanging garden, and a shimmering pool.

Days 5-6: Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon receives far fewer visitors than the South Rim, but that doesn't mean it's any less spectacular. The North Rim (which is open in summer only) provides views of and access to the same overpowering canyon as the South Rim does, just from the other side. You'll want to stop at the Grand Canyon Lodge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and then hike a few of the Rim Trails. If you're in good enough physical shape, you might want to hike partway down into the canyon on the North Kaibab Trail.

Days 7-8: Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Although not a national park, this Navajo Tribal Park is well worth a stop (and it's on your way). Monument Valley is, to many of us, the epitome of the Old West -- we've seen it dozens of times in movies and on television. Part of the vast Navajo Nation, the park has a 17-mile self-guided loop road that lets you see most of the major scenic attractions, or you can get a personalized tour with a Navajo guide. Either way you'll see classic western scenery made famous in movies such as 1939's Stagecoach, which starred a young John Wayne.

Days 9-12: Arches & Canyonlands National Parks

Famed for its massive red and orange rock formations, this area is home to two national parks and the lively town of Moab. Canyonlands National Park is a great hikers' park. Make sure you stop at the Grand View Point Overlook, in the Island in the Sky District, and hike the Grand View Trail, especially scenic in the late afternoon. Arches National Park is a bit more user-friendly. Take the scenic drive and walk a few trails -- on the Devils Garden Trail, you can see 15 to 20 arches, including picturesque Landscape Arch.

Days 13-14: Capitol Reef National Park

Relatively unknown, this park offers brilliantly colored rock formations and a bit of history. The Fremont River created a lush oasis in this otherwise barren land, and 19th-century pioneers found the soil so fertile that they established the community of Fruita, named for the orchards they planted. Today you can explore the buildings and even pick fruit in season. Hikers can examine Pioneer Register, a rock wall where traveling pioneers "signed in," and explore canyons where famed outlaw Butch Cassidy is said to have hidden out between train and bank robberies.

Days 15-18: Scenic Utah 12 & Bryce Canyon National Park

From Capitol Reef, go south on Utah 12 over Boulder Mountain and through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, possibly stopping for a short hike to Calf Creek Falls, before heading to Bryce Canyon National Park. Spend the night in the park or nearby so you can be on the rim of Bryce Amphitheater at sunrise, the best time to see the colorful and often whimsically shaped rock formations called hoodoos. Top hikes here include the colorful Queen's Garden Trail, named for a formation that resembles Britain's Queen Victoria.

Days 19-20: Cedar Breaks National Monument

This small, high-altitude park has an amphitheater reminiscent of Bryce Canyon's as well as a 5-mile road that offers easy access to the monument's scenic overlooks and trailheads. Hike Spectra Point Trail along the rim for changing views of the colorful rock formations. The trail also takes you through fields of wildflowers, which are especially colorful in late July and August, and past bristlecone pines that are more than 1,500 years old.

Day 21: Back to Las Vegas

Back in Sin City, you can catch a stage show or feed the one-armed bandits before boarding your flight home.

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Take an epic trip along the West Coast in 2024. Here are the top 10 places to visit now

I couldn't help it. In the course of scouting out great adventures for West Coast 101 — our new guide to essential destinations in Baja, California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia — I found myself compiling a personal top 10.

I'll get to that list shortly. But first, an honorable mention.

Even if you’ve never seen “The Big Lebowski,” you’ve probably heard someone mention the rug that tied Lebowski’s room together . Well, Harris Ranch does that for California.

This I-5 stop for food, gas, lodging and bathrooms (not necessarily in that order) might not make anyone's bucket list. And I'll admit that if the wind blows the wrong way, it smells like cattle. But if you’re driving north-south through the San Joaquin Valley, which just about every Californian does sooner or later, you’re going to need to stop somewhere.

Read more: Bring this list on your adventures! Order L.A. Times’ new ‘101 Best West Coast Experiences’ zine here.

Harris Ranch faithfully awaits, 184 miles south of San Francisco and 200 miles north of L.A. City Hall, the pride of Coalinga. Over the years, I've pumped gas at its Shell station, slept in its comfortable hotel (no resort fee or room tax), conducted interviews in its Horseshoe Lounge, lingered over breakfast in its Ranch Kitchen (excellent) and grabbed a sandwich from its Express BBQ (adequate). I've even bought bonsai from Hyo Kim, who peddles delicately coiffed junipers, olive and pine trees ($25-$500) from a stand on the dirt shoulder across the street.

I'm not saying cattle ranches are good for the planet's future — definitely not. But I'm just realizing that for about 45 years now, Harris Ranch has been the rug tying together my adventures in the vast living room that is our West Coast.

Your rug might be different. After all, these lists are subjective.

Of our 101 best West Coast experiences, these 10 resonate most for me. I'd recommend them to just about any California newbie and I'd grab at a chance to visit them again — some for basic beauty, others for the stories they tell or the memories they tie together.

Read more: The 101 best West Coast experiences

10. Rady Shell, San Diego

I have a hard time imagining a more pleasant place to see an outdoor concert. Well, maybe the Red Rocks Amphitheater outside Denver. But on the West Coast? I'll take this sleek bayside shell in downtown San Diego. And I'll try not to be resentful that nobody thought of this while I lived down there.

Read more: It's like the Hollywood Bowl but with harbor views. 7 things to know about San Diego's new music venue

9. Deetjen's Big Sur Inn

What are we going to do about Highway 1? Since that coast road was built on the slopes of Big Sur in the 1930s, we've treasured it. But as any acrophobe, geologist or engineer could tell you, those slopes crumble and slide relentlessly. Year after year, Caltrans moves mountains to keep that two-lane road navigable. Then comes another slide. Since January 2023 it's been impossible to drive from San Simeon to Big Sur via the coastal route. (Caltrans has forecast a reopening, with some delays, on May 27.) Whenever I worry about the highway, I think of Deetjen's, which is basically a roadside time capsule clad in weathered wood. It opened about the time the highway did and won over generations of road-trippers with its rustic rooms and restaurant. Before Helmuth Deetjen died in 1972, he set up a nonprofit organization to keep the place running in old-school fashion. I've been stopping there since the 1980s. You have to call to make a reservation. And when you get there, you have to expect paper-thin walls along with the Norwegian woodwork, the crackle of the fireplace and the portrait of Deetjen on the wall. It's a priceless place. And Nepenthe and the Henry Miller Memorial Library are just down the road. We just can't take Deetjen's or that road for granted.

Read more: 12 secret stops on California’s iconic road to Big Sur

8. Yosemite Valley

Does this need explaining? Probably not. If you're arriving from the south, you emerge from the long, dark Wawona Tunnel to see El Capitan and Half Dome looming above a green, wet world of its own. Waterfalls roar left and right. The valley stretches for seven miles, framed by granite walls that Ansel Adams had to shoot and Alex Honnold had to climb. The Merced River meanders through. Even if you don't have $600 to spend a night in the Ahwahnee Hotel, you can pop by for a snack, gaze up at painted rafters that go back to 1927 and warm yourself by one of the big fireplaces.

7. Venice Beach

Yeah, I know. There's plenty to lament in Venice. But when you hit that beach at the right time on the right day, it feels so emblematic of Southern California. On my last visit, the sun was just setting. My wife, Mary Frances, and I checked out the skateboarders, chatted with a few artists who were selling work along the sidewalk and did a double take at the Shul on the Beach (a.k.a. Pacific Jewish Center), an Orthodox synagogue where worshipers were just gathering for a Friday night Shabbat meal.

6. The whales of Baja's lagoons

It's one thing to watch migrating gray whales off the Southern California coast, standing at the rail of a big boat, looking for spouts in the distance and perhaps drawing within 100 yards. It's something else when you're in a panga on the waters of a southern Baja lagoon — usually Ojo de Liebre (Scammon's) or San Ignacio. These immense creatures, the cows and and the calves, get so close sometimes, it feels intimate. And maybe a little scary. The adults weigh up to 90,000 pounds.

Read more: Joshua Tree with beaches and taquerias? No, just an epic Baja road trip

5. Ferry Building and waterfront San Francisco

I'm trying to think of a more successful architectural resurrection than San Francisco's Ferry Building. And failing. Picture that 1898 waterfront building in the 1920s, when there was no Bay Bridge and no Golden Gate Bridge and up to 50,000 people per day were commuting by ferry. The Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street was the center of the Bay Area's nervous system. Then the bridges went up, commuters abandoned the ferries, the building was rehabbed into ugly offices and decades passed. Finally, in the aftermath of the 1989 Loma Prieta quake, San Francisco leaders launched a plan to revive the building. It reopened in 2003 as a foodie-oriented restaurant and retail space, a thousand times more interesting to me than the souvenir shops of Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 (although at least you get the sight and sound of sea lions there). Apart from the food, it's got great views of the Bay Bridge. (And with luck, that bridge's nightly light show, which went dark last year, will resume in early 2025.) I think of the Ferry Building and the Golden Gate Bridge as the bookends of the waterfront.

4. Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park

I'm not a rock climber or a boulderer. But I'm a sucker for sunrises and sunsets in the desert. And when that golden-hour light hits the jumbled boulders in Hidden Valley, it's hard to resist.

Read more: 27 of the coolest shops to bookmark for your next Joshua Tree trip

3. Pike Place Market, Seattle

This is always the first place I want to go in Seattle, a spot where people, colors, flavors and scents all come together. I walk past the mirrored bar of the Athenian restaurant, where my buddy Rick and I had beers in 1986, my first time in town. I go down below to make sure the bubble-gum wall is still in place. I mourn at the spot where the newsstand used to be. I kick myself for failing to buy an incredibly cool cigar-box guitar from the Soul Cat Guitar guy when I had the chance. (I thought I'd have another chance at his market stall when I visited in January, but he wasn't there that day.) I listen to buskers and eat unhealthy snacks. I stick my head in the anarchist collective bookshop ( Left Bank Books ), which has somehow lasted 51 years. And like every other tourist, I linger near the fishmongers so I can see them flinging fish and hollering at each other.

2. Capilano Bridge Suspension Park , Vancouver

On my first visit, a few years ago, it was raining and the park was packed. I wondered if the bridge would be closed. Nope. Open, and prone to slightly jiggle as I stood 230 feet above the Capilano River, surrounded by tall trees and mist. When I returned in February, it was snowing, the park was nearly empty and the bridge was still open. The vibe was part "Twin Peaks," part "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."

1. Badwater in Death Valley

Badwater is hot and dry enough to kill you pretty quickly, but as long as you have water to drink, a little shade and a way out, you'll probably live and have a story to tell. On my first visit, a summer day about 30 years ago, Death Valley was even hotter than usual, around 115 degrees. The power had gone out at our Furnace Creek hotel. Rather than crowd into the marginally cooler hotel pool with scores of young children (and their urine, most likely), I headed with my wife and friends for the vast, flat, salty, dry lake floor of Badwater with a Wiffle ball and bat. The game didn't last long, but there are photos: Except for our 20th century leisurewear, we looked like biblical figures in the process of being turned to pillars of salt. So last year, when rains washed out roads, closed Death Valley National Park for months, refilled the lake bed and transformed the basin into a great big mirror, I was eager to get back there.

Read more: 'I've never seen anything like this': Death Valley gleams with water, wildflowers and color

Within days of the park's reopening, I got to Badwater for sunrise and came back again at sunset. No Wiffle ball. Just the big sky, the mountains reflected in the lake and a handful of fellow travelers in silhouette at water's edge. To those bold few who managed to kayak in Death Valley for the three winter weeks that it was possible, I envy you. I don't know if I'll ever see that lake again — as of May 1, it was just a few inches deep and shrinking fast — but now I have two layers of Badwater memories to carry with me.

Sign up for The Wild newsletter to get weekly insider tips on the best of our beaches, trails, parks, deserts, forests and mountains.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .

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From saving on gas to driving with kids, here's your ultimate road trip planner

"Easy Travel” is a 10-part series focusing on how to reduce bumps during vacations, anticipate roadblocks and be ready when things aren’t going your way. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form .

Ina Daly has spent most of her life on the road.

“My dad was a truck driver and that led me to becoming a truck driver,” she said. “What we do in a day, on a daily job would be like a long road trip to most people.”

With nearly 40 years of driving for freight transportation services provider XPO and numerous industry accolades under her belt, including grand champion at this year’s Arizona Truck Driving Championship , Daly is a pro. She’s also a mom and a grandmother who’s happy to share her experiences to make everyone’s road trips better.

“Some of the things I'm telling you are what we truckers tell our family members,” she said. “I've had a lot of accomplishments in my career and going to the National Truck Driving Championships (this month) is a reward, but the bigger reward is being able to share some things … that have the potential to save lives.”

What to do before a long drive

“Make sure that your vehicle’s road trip ready,” Daly said. ”Really pay close attention to your tires, your coolant, your fan belt.”

She notes tire dealers often offer free inspections to ensure tires are properly inflated and undamaged.

AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz advises getting the whole car serviced before hitting the road.

“If you're a car person and you can, do that yourself at home, by all means,” she said. Otherwise, she recommends getting the oil changed and battery and tires checked professionally. 

To save time and avoid stress, Diaz also suggests filling up on gas the night before leaving and making hotel reservations well in advance, noting that many hotels allow cancellations without penalty up until the day beforehand. 

What do you need before a road trip?

It’s always good to keep an emergency kit with supplies like first aid, a flashlight and extra batteries, and basic tools in the vehicle.

“You want to make sure that if you do have a tire issue, you have the proper tools and jacks in your vehicle to be able to change it,” Daly said. She said warning signals like reflective triangles can also warn other drivers to steer clear in the event of a breakdown.

For road trips, both she and Diaz recommend shelf-stable snacks like protein bars that won’t melt and plenty of water. “Don't think that a bottle or two for everybody is enough,” Daly said. “You've got to have, you know, five or six bottles for everyone.” 

Diaz also recommends wet wipes, blankets during the winter, and any time-sensitive medication or pet food that might be needed in the event of an extended delay.

“These things ideally wouldn't take up too much room in your trunk but they're just good to have in case of an emergency,” Diaz said. “Just think, ‘If I were stuck for a long time, what would keep me comfortable until I was able to (get) help?’”  

A printed map and a general sense of the route can also help in case there GPS hiccups or a phone dies.  AAA’s free TripTik planner can help travelers plot their trips in advance and find rest stops, lodging, food and gas along the way. And its free Gas Cost Calculator can help locate the cheapest average gas prices for drivers when it’s time to refuel.

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What I should know before a road trip?

“Everything can be a distraction in the car – the radio, the kids, etc. But the phone is a big one,” Daly advised. “When you’re driving, that thing should not ever be in your hand.”

More than 3,500 people were killed on U.S. roads in 2021 because of distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration . 

Daly also recommends watching out for distracted drivers.

“You can tell a distracted driver by their fluctuating speed,” she warned. “They're drifting in their lane. Their head is looking down instead of focusing on the road. You want to give those people a wide berth.”

How long will a road trip take?

Road trips always take longer than expected because of traffic, construction and other things that arise en route.

Diaz says to expect at least an hour longer than whatever the GPS predicts. Daly recommends leaving at least two hours early.

“You don't want that stressful drive,” Daly said. “You’re hurrying. That lends to bad driving behaviors like tailgating and speeding, which leads to accidents. Don’t put yourself in that situation.”

How many hours a day should you drive on a road trip?

“It just varies so much from person to person, how long they’re comfortable driving,” Diaz said. “We want to err on the side of safety. We want people to be safe on the roads and drive the speed limit and not rush it, but everybody's different.”

Switching out drivers can lighten the load, but no matter who is driving, Daly said, “If you're starting to feel a little, less attentive, maybe a little fatigued, it’s time to take a break.”

What time is best to drive?

“We always recommend, especially during the holidays, leave early in the morning,” Diaz said. “The later you leave in the day, the worse it's going to be because a lot of times during the week … you're going to mix with those commuters on the road.”

“Some people enjoy night driving,” she added. “Once you get to like 8 p.m., 9 p.m. traffic comes down a lot.” 

However, she noted drivers who leave in the evening should watch out for fatigue and plan to drive less than if they started fresh in the morning.

How do you take a good road trip with kids? 

When possible, Daly recommends having a designated passenger to help with kids so the driver can focus on the road.  

Another important thing is to keep seatbelts on the whole way.

“Kids have a tendency to take those off,” Daly said. “Make sure they stay buckled up. I've seen some horrible things out there.”

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What do kids need on a road trip?

Entertainment helps pass the time, but it doesn’t have to be digital. There are all sorts of screen-free road trip games . 

Diaz recommends printing a map or list of sites or cities for kids to watch for along the way.

“You know, yell it out or mark it on your sheet,” she said. “Have some crayons in the car with them so they're following along on the trip, and they feel like they're part of it.”

“Point out historical landmarks and scenery; enjoy nature,” Daly echoed. “That's one of the things that we truck drivers love about our jobs is we get to see the country and nature.”

Stop at points of interest every few hours or simply for everyone to stretch their legs.

And for those times when kids are on screens, make sure to pack car chargers.

What is the best way to save gas?

Don’t speed. 

“Fuel economy peaks at around 50 miles per hour on most cars, and then it drops off as the speeds increase,” Diaz said. “You think, ‘OK, if I just go 70, I'm going to get there faster, and it'll be better,’ but essentially, you're just wasting gas at that point." Fuel economy can be increased by as much as 15% by reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 miles per hour, she said.

Don’t idle unnecessarily either, like at rest stops.

“Your car engine consumes about a quarter to a half a gallon of fuel per hour while it's idling,” she said. “But a warm engine only takes about 10 seconds’ worth of fuel to restart, so if it's safe to do so, just shut off your engine.”

Story continues below.

What happens if my tire blows out?

“When you blow a tire, kaboom, it freaks you out. Do not panic,” Daly said. “Don't slow down abruptly or brake hard or jerk the wheel because that will cause you to lose control and have an accident.”

“Just focus on steering,” she added. “Slow very gradually, off to the side of the road in a safe area, and you won’t have any issue from your blown tire.”

How do you drive around semitrucks?

“Be aware of our needs and limitations,” Daly said. “You know we’re big. We need a lot of space around us. We have big blind spots. … If you can’t see the truck driver’s face in the mirrors of the truck, the truck driver can’t see you.”

She advised against passing on the right. 

“If you have to pass quickly, don’t linger over there. We see people driving over there for the shade (and it) puts us in a very dangerous situation,” she said. “And don’t cut in front of us and then hit your breaks. People don’t like to follow a truck because they can’t see around us, so they pass us and then cut in front of us.”

“It takes away that safety cushion we leave in front of us,” she added. “When you see all that space in front of a truck, that's not for your convenience so that you can pass us and cut into it. That’s for our safety and yours.”

By the same token, she advised fellow drivers to leave plenty of space in front of their own vehicles, so they have enough room to stop quickly in an emergency. If another driver cuts into that space, she suggested, “Take a break. Slow down again. Recreate that space. Bite your tongue and think pure thoughts.”

That last tip may not be so easy.

What has been your best or worst road trip experience?

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Elektrostal Itinerary 5 Days

Best itineraries for 5 day trip to elektrostal.

Let our handpicked 5-day Elektrostal itineraries guide you in creating a trip plan of your own. Take a look at these customised Elektrostal trip plans for 5 days and you will not miss out any point of interest in the city.

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Make your travel planning easier by using these perfect 5 days in Elektrostal itineraries from our users and travel experts. Look out for wisely chosen places you would like to explore during 5 days in Elektrostal.

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• Itinerary for 5 Days in Moscow

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• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• History of Russian Scarfs and Shawls Museum
• Balashikha Arena
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Bykovo Manor
• Pekhorka Park
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Drama Theatre BOOM
• Likino Dulevo Museum of Local Lore
• Pavlovsky Posad Museum of Art and History
• Saturn Stadium
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center
• Fairy Tale Children's Model Puppet Theater
• Fifth House Gallery
• Church of Vladimir
• Malakhovka Museum of History and Culture
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall

Spring Snowstorms Mean You Can Still Hit the Slopes—These Resorts Are Open Now 

Skiing in May? Yes, it’s possible.

Spring may have sprung but that doesn’t mean skiers can’t still head for the trails. Heavier snow seasons and unexpected storms have piled up extra inches, meaning some ski resorts have extended their seasons. Savor that snowy adrenaline boost for as long as you can… right until the summer sun beckons beach days. 

Winter 2023-2024 featured El Niño conditions, which often means increased snowfall through March in some Western regions. As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” but this month has actually seen snow continue to fall out West, especially in the mountains of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. 

For Utah , early May saw as much as two feet in multiple regions and even 31 inches for Alta. Over the weekend, a spring storm brought heavy accumulations to Colorado, including an impressive 19 inches for Alma. 

Patrick Orton/Getty Images

Colorado’s Breckenridge Ski Resort is known for long seasons but unfortunately closed its doors for the season on Sunday. Last week also saw Copper Mountain close. Other resorts across Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and even northern California are extending their season longer than anticipated—and avid skiers were grateful for even just one more extra weekend. Ten resorts across the West have trails open and lifts ready for visitors craving one last run.

Colorado’s Winter Park Resort surpassed the 400-inch mark of snowfall after last weekend’s storm, and the ski destination is determined to stay open as late as possible.  

Thomas J. Story

Though most resorts are closed for the season, due to weather conditions or public land agreements, here are the open ski resorts where you can still take advantage of snowy mountains: 

• Mt. Bachelor, Oregon 
• Mt. Hood Meadows, Oregon
• Timberline Lodge, Oregon
• Mammoth Mountain, California 
• Palisades Tahoe, California 
• Brighton Resort, Utah
• Snowbird, Utah
• Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Colorado
• Winter Park, Colorado 
• Arizona Snowbowl, Arizona

While you’re skiing the peaks and exploring snowy slopes, don’t forget to scout out the best early-bird deals at your favorite resort for the 2024-25 season. Whether it’s an exhilarating run or planning next year’s trip , there’s always excitement on the horizon for skiing enthusiasts. 

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Ukraine war latest: Two dead in airstrike on Kharkiv; Russia says UK is 'de facto' participant in war

At least two people have been killed and more than a dozen injured in a reported Russian attack on Ukraine's second-largest city. Russia's ambassador to the UK says Britain's sharing of weapons and intelligence with Kyiv has effectively drawn it into the war.

Friday 17 May 2024 15:42, UK

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• Two dead and 13 injured in Kharkiv attack
• Russia claims UK is 'de facto participant' in conflict | Moscow official warns US it is 'playing with fire' in 'indirect war'
• Russian troops advance - but situation 'stabilised', says Zelenskyy
• Putin: Capturing major city 'not part of plan'
• Kharkiv 'attacked' in 16-hour air raid alert - longest since war began
• Footage shows oil refinery fire and burning fuel depots after 'massive' overnight attack
• Analysis: Great power politics on display in China visit
• Were Putin and Xi really pictured with their 'nuclear footballs'?
• Live reporting by Narbeh Minassian

Ask a question or make a comment

Former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko says no one should trust Vladimir Putin when he says he won't invade Russia's second city, Kharkiv.

The Russian leader does not have an opportunity to capture Kharkiv right now due to Ukraine's defensive forces, he said.

But in Vovchansk, where Mr Poroshenko visited yesterday, the town has been turned into "hell" - with no people or houses left.

"Don't trust Putin. Don't be afraid of Putin," he said.

"I can confirm that our strategy shall be as follows: Ukraine shall win, and Russia, undoubtedly, shall lose."

Moscow says it sees the US and UK as responsible for recent attacks because they are allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons against Russian targets.

The Russian foreign ministry said the UK, US, EU and Kyiv were "playing with fire" over attacks on Russian soil, state news agency Tass reports.

Such actions will not go unanswered, it warned.

"Once again, we should like to unequivocally warn Washington, London, Brussels and other Western capitals, as well as Kyiv, which is under their control, that they are playing with fire. Russia will not leave such encroachments on its territory unanswered."

Earlier today, Russia's ambassador to the UK said the UK was a de facto participant in the war.

This was because it has supplied Kyiv with weapons and shared real-time intelligence, said Andrei Kelin.

The number of victims from a reported Russian airstrike has risen, officials say.

At least two people are now said to have died, with another 13 injured - four of whom are in a "serious condition", regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

It is not clear what the attack targeted, but Mr Syniehubov said those injured are civilians.

Reports had initially claimed one person had died and four injured.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, and the surrounding region have long been targeted by Russian attacks but the strikes have become more intense in recent months.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Moscow of seeking to reduce the city to rubble.

A Ukrainian drone hit another oil terminal this morning, this time in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, according to sources and footage shared on social media.

The Importpischeprom oil products terminal and Sheskharis oil harbour were struck, with the port shut soon after the attack.

Oil loadings resumed later from Sheskharis, according to industry sources and LSEG data, while activity at Importpischeprom remains suspended.

It came as Russian officials reported another drone attack on an oil refinery, causing a fire in Tuapse, which is roughly 150km southeast of Novorossiisk.

Both are in the Krasnodar region.

Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneftdid not reply to a request for comment. Its subsidiary, Novorossiisk Commercial Sea Port Group (NCSP), which operates the Sheskharis oil terminal, declined to comment.

Novorossiisk is Russia's largest port on the Black Sea and is a key oil outlet for crude oil and transit in country's south. It also handles grain, coal, mineral fertilisers, timber, containers, food and chemical cargoes.

Four people have been hurt and at least one has died in an airstrike on the city of Kharkiv, according to local officials.

The regional governor says some of those injured are civilians, while it's reported Russia used guided bombs in the attack.

It's not immediately clear what exactly came under attack.

More now on the comments made earlier by the Ukrainian army's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi (see our 10.21am post).

He said he expects fighting to intensify as Russia continues to attack Kharkiv - with Sumy the next possible target, roughly 170km northwest.

Russia's attack on Kharkiv has expanded the area of active fighting by almost 70km, he added, which was designed to force Ukraine to divert stretched resources to the region.

In comments on the Telegram messaging app, he said the main focus of Russia's attack is towards the area of Lyptsi and further east in Vovchansk - as our military analyst Michael Clarke reported earlier (1.27pm).

Mr Syrskyi said Russia attacked early after noticing a change in troops, but they "failed to break through".

He added Ukraine "must prevent further advance" by "inflicting maximum losses with air strikes, missile systems, artillery and tank fire".

Russia's defence ministry claims Russian forces have taken control of 12 settlements in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region in the past week.

Moscow has claimed a series of gains since its forces launched a new offensive in Kharkiv's north last Friday - in a move which surprised Ukrainian soldiers stationed in the area.

As we've been reporting, Vladimir Putin said earlier that his troops were creating a "buffer zone" in Kharkiv to protect Russian border regions.

Earlier we reported Vladimir Putin's claims that there are no plans to capture the city of Kharkiv as his forces continue to attack the region (see 11.17am post).

Our defence and security analyst Michael Clarke   says Russian forces would not be able to take the city even if they tried as they "just don't have the forces to concentrate on big cities".

"It would take them months of grinding warfare to actually conquer Kharkiv," he said. 

"Unless the Ukrainians somehow open the gates and let them in, which they won't."

Moscow's forces are pushing towards the village of Lyptsi, he says, which is about 15 miles from Kharkiv city and well within artillery range.

"If they get there, they could certainly start to bombard the city and Ukrainians would have to do something about that," he said, adding they are also targeting the key town of Vovchansk, possibly to try to link up with forces further south.

While capturing the city of Kharkiv remains a remote possibility, Clarke says they can draw Ukrainian forces away from the south, as they "already have done".

Buffer zone 'propaganda'

Mr Putin claims the Kharkiv offensive is to create a buffer zone between the two countries, so Ukraine cannot attack regions within Russia.

Belgorod, in particular, has reportedly been the target of Ukrainian drone attacks in recent weeks, but Clarke says any buffer zone is unlikely to make much difference.

"At the moment, he's got a boundary of about three miles and the Ukrainians are getting American missiles," Clarke says. 

"The missiles come with maximum ranges of about 170, 180 miles. It's neither here nor there." 

The Ukrainians have got "many ways" of attacking Belgorod and Rostov, he said. 

"So, I think it's more for propaganda purposes inside Russia - that Putin is saying 'we're having a border area to reassure the public in Belgorod and Rostov that these cross-border raids and these missile strikes might not take place in the future'."

UK is 'de facto' participant

Meanwhile, Russia's ambassador to the UK has said Britain is a de facto a participant in the Ukraine war (see our 12.32pm post).

Clarke says this is the "truest thing he's said today".

"The British government has made it very clear we're helping the Ukrainians with intelligence and, where appropriate, we've done it with our aerial intelligence," he said.

"So, the Russian ambassador is telling me something I've known for about the last two and a bit years."

Volodymyr Zelenskiy has waved through two potentially key bits of legislation around service in the military. 

Firstly, the Ukraine president has this afternoon signed a law allowing some categories of convicts to serve in the army.

He also signed off a separate law increasing fines for those not abiding by army mobilisation rules.

Ukraine is trying to fill a shortfall in manpower some military analysts say is Kyiv's biggest challenge against a much larger enemy.

Recruiting convicts is only expected to boost numbers by around several thousand, from a possible pool of up to 20,000 convicts, senior lawmaker David Arakhamia said earlier this month.

Serious criminals barred

The bill would not allow people convicted of the most serious crimes to enlist, lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko said.

People convicted of the premeditated murder of two or more people, rape, sexual violence, crimes against national security and serious corruption violations would remain barred.

"It's no secret that the mobilisation resource of our enemy is huge, and therefore we should use all available opportunities to fight back armed aggression," a note attached to the bill said.

"Some of these people are motivated and patriotic citizens who are ready to redeem themselves before society on the battlefield."

Russia's ambassador to the UK has just said Britain is a de facto participant in the Ukraine war.

Andrei Kelin told Russia's Rossiya-24 state TV channel the UK is considered as such because it supplies Kyiv with weapons and shares real-time intelligence.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has made a similar claim previously.

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