3-Week USA Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 3-week USA tour itineraries

Compiled by

NadineUSA travel expert at TourRadar

• 21 Day USA Coast to Coast Itinerary, incl. Los Angeles and Miami

  A grand 21-day southern route connects 14 American cities. Travelers will hike the Grand Canyon, witness Fort Worth cattle drives, and savor Little Havana food tours. Package includes 18 hotel nights, 2 special stays, 7 dinners, and 15 breakfasts.

  

  View itinerary Compare 21 days itineraries
  • Days 1-2

    Los Angeles

    Begin in LA exploring Beverly Hills and Venice Beach. Get to Santa Monica Pier early when the morning fog typically clears around 10 AM for better photos. Plan 2-3 hours for Venice Beach to see Muscle Beach and street performers. If you're visiting Disneyland, buy tickets online to skip the lines and set aside a full 12-hour day.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Las Vegas

    Drive 4 hours through the Mojave Desert to Vegas. Book a hotel on the Strip for easy access. You'll find better deals on buffet dinners between 4-6 PM. Watch the Fremont Street light show which runs hourly after sunset. Stand near the center for the best experience.

    
  • Days 5-6

    Grand Canyon

    Take Route 66 east for 4.5 hours to the South Rim. Get to Mather Point 30 minutes before sunrise for amazing views. Bring layers since rim temperatures can swing 20°F between day and night. "The helicopter ride was worth every penny - seeing the canyon's scale from above is mind-blowing."

    
  • Days 7-8

    Monument Valley to Santa Fe

    Drive through Monument Valley into Navajo Nation territory. Allow 2-3 hours for photos. Walk around Santa Fe's Plaza area where galleries stay open until 7 PM. Take it slow your first day since the 7,200-foot altitude affects some visitors.

    
  • Days 9-11

    Texas

    Travel through Amarillo to Fort Worth/Dallas. Visit Cadillac Ranch early for fewer crowds. Watch the Fort Worth Stockyards cattle drive at 11:30 AM or 4 PM. Show up 30 minutes early for good spots.

    
  • Days 12-13

    Memphis

    Cross Arkansas into Memphis's music scene. Get Graceland tickets online to avoid long waits. Check out Thursday nights on Beale Street for great live music with smaller crowds than weekends.

    
  • Days 14-15

    New Orleans

    Walk the French Quarter in the morning before it gets hot. Skip Bourbon Street and go to Frenchmen Street after 8 PM for real jazz. "The morning beignets at Café du Monde are worth the wait - go before 8 AM to avoid hour-long lines."

    
  • Days 16-18

    Florida Coast

    Head through Panama City Beach to Orlando. Use Universal Studios' app to track wait times. Hit popular rides early since Harry Potter attractions have shortest lines before 10 AM.

    
  • Days 19-21

    Miami

    Finish your trip in Miami. Visit South Beach before 11 AM or after 4 PM to avoid peak heat. Book Little Havana food tours 2-3 days ahead. Plan the 3-hour drive from Orlando outside rush hours (7-9 AM and 4-7 PM).

    

  View itinerary

• 20 Day Alaska Itinerary, incl. Anchorage and Denali National Park

  Alaska's wilderness beckons over 20 days across 6 major destinations from Anchorage to Valdez. Three days each in Denali National Park and Seward feature glacier walks, wildlife cruises, and nights at remote locations like Maclaren River Lodge's Glacier Camp.

  

  View itinerary Compare 20 days itineraries
  • Days 1-4

    Anchorage & Seward

    Your Alaska adventure begins in Anchorage, where summer brings 18-20 hours of daylight and pleasant temperatures of 58-77°F. Take a 2.5-hour drive to Seward on day 2. "Watching the calving glaciers in Kenai Fjords was mind-blowing - bring a warm jacket even in summer as the wind off the water gets chilly," notes a recent visitor. Take two days to explore Exit Glacier. If you're up for it, tackle the full 8.2-mile Harding Icefield trail, or choose shorter viewpoint hikes. Look out for black bears snacking on berries near the trail.

    
  • Days 5-7

    Homer & Adventure Camp

    The scenic 4-hour drive to Homer offers a stop at Russian River to spot seasonal salmon runs. Take a water taxi to Kasitsna Bay for two nights of camping. Go kayaking to spot sea otters and harbor seals. Back in town, stop by the local favorite Salty Dawg Saloon on Homer Spit.

    
  • Days 8-9

    Hope & Anchorage

    Visit the historic mining town of Hope before returning to Anchorage via Turnagain Arm. Watch for beluga whales and stop at Potter Marsh for bird watching. A local tip: "We saw moose right in downtown Anchorage - keep your distance and never get between a mother and calf."

    
  • Days 10-12

    Denali National Park

    A must-see on any Alaska trip. Take an early morning park shuttle into the wilderness for the best wildlife viewing. "Layer up - temperatures can swing 30 degrees in a day. The mosquitoes are fierce in summer so bring repellent," suggests one traveler. Book a flightseeing tour around Mt. Denali if weather allows.

    
  • Days 13-14

    Maclaren River Lodge

    Take the Denali Highway to Maclaren River Lodge. Hop on a jet boat to Glacier Camp for wilderness camping, then canoe back the next day. No cell service makes this true Alaskan wilderness.

    
  • Days 15-17

    Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

    Visit America's largest national park for ice climbing, glacier walks, or rafting. The 60-mile McCarthy Road is challenging but worth it. Basic camping facilities mean no showers.

    
  • Days 18-20

    Valdez & Return to Anchorage

    Finish in Valdez to watch bears at the salmon hatchery. Try kayaking near Columbia Glacier to see icebergs up close. Drive back to Anchorage through Thompson Pass, with lunch at Matanuska Glacier.

    

  View itinerary

• 20 Days in Western USA, incl. National Parks and Hawaii

  A 20-day western adventure spans 21 cities across the US and Hawaii. Two nights at Luxor Las Vegas and 5 nights at OHANA Waikiki East complement visits to Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon among 6 national parks. Costs approx. $280 per day.

  

  View itinerary Compare 20 days itineraries
  • Days 1-2

    Los Angeles & San Diego

    Begin in LA and drive south to San Diego on I-5. The trip takes about 2 hours. Check out the Gaslamp Quarter and Seaport Village in San Diego. Visit Seaport Village in late afternoon when it's cooler and the lighting makes for better photos.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Desert Southwest & Grand Canyon

    Travel through Palm Springs and the Sonoran Desert to Sedona. From there drive 2 hours to Grand Canyon National Park. Plan to reach the South Rim in mid-afternoon when there are fewer people. "The sunset at Yavapai Point was incredible - get there 30 minutes early to secure a prime viewing spot."

    
  • Days 5-6

    Monument Valley & Bryce Canyon

    Head through the Painted Desert to Monument Valley. Stop at Cameron Trading Post to shop for authentic Native American crafts. Visit Page/Lake Powell on your way to Bryce Canyon. Bring extra layers since temperatures change a lot between day and night at higher elevations.

    
  • Days 7-8

    Zion & Las Vegas

    Start your morning at Zion National Park before driving 2.5 hours to Las Vegas. "Take the first shuttle into Zion around 7am - you'll have the trails almost to yourself and avoid the midday heat."

    
  • Days 9-10

    Death Valley & Yosemite

    Drive through Death Valley (bring extra water) on your way to Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite. Remember that Tioga Pass might be closed in winter so you may need to go through Fresno instead. "The Yosemite Valley loop trail gave us amazing views without the intense hiking - perfect for photography."

    
  • Days 11-14

    San Francisco to Los Angeles

    Take two days to explore San Francisco then drive down the Pacific Coast Highway through Monterey and Carmel. Book your Alcatraz tickets at least 2 months ahead. The Highway 1 drive will take longer than expected so plan for lots of photo stops.

    
  • Days 15-19

    Hawaii Extension

    Fly to Honolulu for 5 days of relaxation. Stay in Waikiki to be close to the beach. Try climbing Diamond Head early in the morning before it gets hot. "Take the local bus to North Shore - it's slower than a tour but you'll see the real Hawaii and save money."

    
  • Day 20

    Return to Los Angeles

    Book a late flight back to the mainland so you can enjoy your last morning in Hawaii. Consider staying at a hotel in LA since flights from Hawaii arrive late.

    

  View itinerary