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.

  

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  • 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).

    

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• 20 Day Western USA Itinerary, incl. Las Vegas and Seattle

  The vast American landscape unfolds over 20 days through 17 cities and 8 national parks from Las Vegas to Seattle. Navajo guides lead Monument Valley tours while Lake Powell beckons kayakers. Natural wonders continue with Yosemite stargazing and Hoh Rainforest trails. Includes 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners.

  

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  • Days 1-4

    Southwest Desert Parks

    Start in Las Vegas and head straight to Zion National Park. You can get there by early afternoon for guided hiking. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes since Zion's trails get slippery in wet conditions. The next day starts at Bryce Canyon to see its unique hoodoo formations. Get there by 8 AM to beat the crowds before making the 2.5-hour drive to Page Arizona. Day 3 takes you to Lake Powell for kayaking and the popular Horseshoe Bend viewpoint. One visitor shared: "Kayaking through the towering red cliffs was incredible - but bring sun protection as there's zero shade on the water." You can also visit Antelope Canyon in the afternoon if you'd like.

    
  • Days 5-6

    Las Vegas

    Back to Vegas for two nights. Your first evening is open to check out the Strip. The next day is yours to gamble, shop or see shows. Book any shows well ahead of time especially Cirque du Soleil. While the city is easy to walk around summer temperatures often hit 100°F so plan indoor activities during peak afternoon heat.

    
  • Days 7-10

    California National Parks

    Take the long drive across the Mojave Desert to Sequoia National Park. Spend a full day exploring Giant Forest and seeing massive trees like General Sherman. Next up is Yosemite for two nights with guided valley hikes and stargazing programs. Bring warm layers since mountain evenings get cold even in summer.

    
  • Days 11-12

    San Francisco

    Drive into San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge. An evening bay cruise offers great sunset views. You'll have a full free day to explore neighborhoods like Haight-Ashbury or visit Alcatraz Island. Book Alcatraz several months in advance.

    
  • Days 13-17

    Pacific Northwest

    Travel north through redwood forests to Crescent City. Take time in Redwood National Park's ancient groves before going to Crater Lake which is America's deepest lake. Visit Oregon's wine country and Portland with its excellent food scene and outdoor activities. Make sure to stop at Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.

    
  • Days 18-20

    Olympic Peninsula & Seattle

    Wrap up your trip at Olympic National Park with its diverse landscapes from beaches to rainforest. Take the Hoh Rainforest walk but bring waterproof shoes since trails are often muddy. Finish in Seattle visiting Pike Place Market and the Space Needle.

    

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• 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.

  

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  • 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.

    

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