CAR ROUTE ON THE WEST COAST OF THE USA: TRAVEL GUIDE
Are you looking for ideas to organize a car route along the West Coast of the United States? In this complete guide, we give you all the information and a lot of tips to help you plan this super trip, one of the coolest we’ve ever taken!
West Coast of the United States: Travel Guide
Our trip along the West Coast of the USA has been, without a doubt, one of the road trips that we have enjoyed the most, and there have been quite a few of them! But this area has something special, it will be because of its incredible landscapes, because how well everything is organized, because of the contrast between the national parks, it will be because of the hot dogs at the gas stations, because of the hours and hours of asphalt, because of discovering a country. as interesting as the United States.
1. Basic itinerary of a car route along the West Coast of the USA
We have spent, on our first trip to the West Coast of the United States, a total of 3 weeks, passing through big cities like San Francisco, Las Vegas, or Los Angeles with LAX Airport Transportation and VIP Car Service, other less touristy ones like Phoenix or Sedona; visiting lots of well-known natural parks such as the Grand Canyon of the Colorado or Monument Valley and other more hidden places such as Canyonlands or Salvation Mountain. But each site has fascinated us, seriously!
We liked the area so much that a few years later we returned, this time to tour Oregon and northern California. Of course, if it is your first time in the US, we think that our first trip is perfect for you, so we are going to talk to you about it and in this guide, you will find all our articles on the route, a basic itinerary, advice, budget, national parks and a map to help you plan your trip.
Also Read: What Does A Sparrow Look Like?
The ideal West Coast adventure
Here’s a three-week itinerary to experience the Western United States’ most iconic attractions. We’ve followed a similar route and compiled this detailed plan for your journey.
Days 1, 2, and 3: Explore San Francisco’s vibrant neighborhoods and iconic landmarks.
Day 4: Marvel at Yosemite’s majestic granite cliffs and towering sequoias. Overnight near the park.
Day 5: Discover Sequoia and Kings Canyon’s ancient giant trees. Sleep in Bakersfield.
Day 6: Traverse Death Valley’s vast, otherworldly landscape. Overnight in Las Vegas.
Days 7 and 8: Indulge in Las Vegas’ glitz and entertainment.
Day 9: Gaze in awe at the Grand Canyon’s breathtaking vistas. Stay in Page.
Day 10: Witness Horseshoe Bend’s dramatic curve. Hike Bryce Canyon’s whimsical hoodoos. Sleep in Green River.
Optional Day: Embark on The Wave’s thrilling trek. Explore Antelope Canyon’s ethereal sandstone sculptures. Admire Zion’s soaring cliffs.
Day 11: Wander the surreal Arches National Park. Rest in Moab.
Day 12: Traverse Canyonlands’ rugged terrain. Witness Dead Horse Point’s panoramic vistas. Overnight in Monument Valley.
Day 13: Immerse yourself in Monument Valley’s iconic buttes. Stay in Flagstaff or Sedona.
OPTION A:
14 Day: Cruise historic Route 66 from Flagstaff to Kingman.
15 Day: Continue on Route 66 from Kingman to Barstow.
Day 16: Follow Route 66 to its end in Santa Monica, Los Angeles.
OPTION B:
- Day 14: Drive from Sedona to vibrant Phoenix.
- Day 15: Venture from Phoenix to sun-drenched San Diego.
- Day 16: Bask in San Diego’s beaches and attractions (extend your stay if desired).
- END OF THE ROUTE
- Days 17, 18, and 19: Explore the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles.
- Day 20: Journey from Los Angeles to coastal Monterey.
- Day 21: Return to San Francisco, concluding your epic West Coast odyssey.
- 2. Detailed itinerary of the route by car along the West Coast of the USA
- We detail each part, with links to access our experience in every visited place.
- Visit Orange County by car service if you have more time to stay there.
Days 1, 2, and 3 of the West Coast Drive: San Francisco
We suggest staying a minimum of 3 days in San Francisco. It’s one of the most beautiful U.S. cities we visited. Plenty entertains, for now, we leave you 40 things to see and do in San Francisco. You’ll arrive by plane and depart by car! We lodged at HI SF Downtown (bunks from $60 nightly).
Day 4 of the West Coast Drive: Yosemite (sleep near)
- Start: San Francisco
- End: Yosemite Bug
- Miles: 250
- Time: 9 hours
- Yosemite time: 4 hours
- Yosemite cost: $30/car
Though only visiting Yosemite Park this day, and not traveling too far, time flies quickly. First the departure from San Francisco (not difficult), but especially visiting Yosemite, one of the most famous and visited parks due to location.
We stayed at Hi Yosemite Bug (bunks from $34 nightly).
Day 5 of the West Coast Tour: Sequoia and Kings Canyon (sleep Bakersfield)
- Start: Yosemite Bug
- End: Bakersfield
- Miles: 280
- Time: 10 hours
- Kings Canyon & Sequoia time: 5 hours
- Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks price: $30 per car
Those parks may not rank among the top West Coast destinations, but they lie en route to Death Valley and Las Vegas. A visit proves worthwhile – they connect via one road, revealing some of Earth’s largest trees! Don’t judge too quickly unless you’ve climbed Moro Rock; the vistas there ranked among our trip’s finest!
We rented an Airbnb house in Bakersfield ($116 per night for 4 people).
Day 6 of the West Coast Road Trip: Death Valley (sleep in Las Vegas)
- Starting point: Bakersfield
- End point: Las Vegas
- Total miles: 420
- Estimated time: 9 and a half hours
- Time spent in Death Valley: 4 and a half hours
- Death Valley Price: $25 per car
- Stage article
Although beauty-wise it didn’t top our list, Death Valley’s 54-degree heat and unique landscapes surely made it unforgettable – probably a one-time experience! For that reason alone, it would make our route’s top 10.
We stayed at The Linq Hotel (double rooms from $59).
Days 7 and 8 of the West Coast Driving Route: Las Vegas
Las Vegas surpassed our low expectations – surprisingly, we enjoyed it! Despite oppressive heat and money-driven casinos filled with unsavory crowds enjoying a city of illusions, our visit proved delightful. Stopping in Vegas enhances any West Coast road trip.
A Las Vegas experience is highly recommended. Here are 45 things to see and do in Las Vegas.
We stayed at The Linq Hotel (double rooms from $59).
Day 9 of the West Coast Driving Route: Grand Canyon (sleep in Page)
- Starting point: Las Vegas
- End point: Page (Lake Powell)
- Total miles: 445
- Estimated time: 12 hours
- Time spent at Grand Canyon: 3 and a half hours
- Grand Canyon price: $30 per car
The Grand Canyon alone justifies the trip from San Francisco! Undeniably one of the world’s most amazing places. However, to make the most of your day, rise early. We visited the South Rim, detailing viewpoints, trails, and visiting tips in our article.
We lingered until sunset at one of the last viewpoints, then drove the seemingly endless two hours to Page for the night – the best option to continue our route.
A house near Page and Kanab was booked via Airbnb (around €75 for two guests).
Route Day 10: Horseshoe Bend, Bryce Canyon (Overnight in Green River)
- Start: Page (Lake Powell)
- End: Green River
- Total Distance: 487 miles
- Estimated Time: 12 hours
- Time at Bryce Canyon: 3 hours
- Bryce Canyon Fee: $30 per vehicle
Horseshoe Bend: Free Entry
Perhaps the most enjoyable day! The Grand Canyon impressed, yes. But Horseshoe Bend? Truly amazing! Perched atop one of the Colorado River’s horseshoe bends, nothing separating you from potential peril. Reddish rock hues innumerable, river greens, sky blues. And behind, Chinese tourists jostling for prime position near the precipice… Priceless!
Yet Bryce Canyon, with bizarre mountain formations, ranks among the top ten sites. Let’s not overlook starting the day at a Glen Canyon viewpoint overlooking Lake Powell near Page.
