Itinerary
- Day 1
Los Angeles
Pick up your rental car and drive to your hotel in Los Angeles for a 2-night stay. The drive gives you a chance to get oriented to the area and settle in.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 2
Los Angeles
You have the full day to explore Los Angeles at your own pace. Check out Universal Studios if you want the theme park experience, or head to Beverly Hills to walk around. Santa Monica's beaches and pier are worth seeing, and you can catch Hollywood's Walk of Fame in the afternoon. Downtown LA has some great skyscrapers and galleries if you're into that kind of thing.
Optional Activities
- Visit Universal Studios
- Explore Beverly Hills
- Visit Santa Monica
- Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Explore downtown Los Angeles
Landmarks Universal Studios Beverly Hills Santa Monica Hollywood Walk of Fame - Day 3
Los Angeles to San Diego
Drive about 220 km south to San Diego. Once you arrive, spend time at Balboa Park with its museums and gardens, or check out the historic Gaslamp District if you prefer exploring shops, restaurants, and galleries. Stay one night in San Diego.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Balboa Park
- Explore Gaslamp District
Landmarks Balboa Park Gaslamp District - Day 4
San Diego to Palm Springs
Start your morning by visiting the USS Midway aircraft carrier or taking a walk along Coronado's beaches. After that, drive about 205 km east to Palm Springs. Walk around Palm Canyon Drive and browse the shops, grab lunch at one of the cafes, or just wander through the restaurants. Stay one night here.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit USS Midway Museum
- Stroll Coronado beaches
- Explore Palm Canyon Drive
- Gondola ride up Mt. San Jacinto (the largest rotating gondola in the world, takes you up to 2,596 meters)
Landmarks USS Midway Museum Coronado beaches Palm Canyon Drive Mt. San Jacinto - Day 5
Palm Springs to Scottsdale
Leave Palm Springs and head into the desert to see Joshua Tree National Park. The park's distinctive Joshua trees and unusual rock formations are scattered across the landscape, so you'll spend time walking around and taking in the terrain. After exploring, continue driving southeast to Scottsdale for the night. The drive covers roughly 530 km, so plan for several hours on the road and maybe break it up with a lunch stop along the way.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Joshua Tree National Park
Landmarks Joshua Tree National Park - Day 6
Scottsdale - Sedona - Grand Canyon
Head to Old Town Scottsdale, which has that old western town feel. From there, take the scenic Black Canyon Highway through Oak Creek Canyon and continue toward Sedona and the Grand Canyon. You'll drive about 360 km total. Stay 2 nights in the national park area.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Old Town Scottsdale
- Drive through Oak Creek Canyon
- Explore Sedona
Landmarks Old Town Scottsdale Oak Creek Canyon Sedona Grand Canyon - Day 7
Grand Canyon
Spend your day at the Grand Canyon. Walk along the South Rim trail to take in the views of steep canyons, colorful cliffs, and deep gorges. The scale of it hits differently when you're actually standing there. If you want something different, there's an optional helicopter flight that gives you an aerial view of the whole thing, though that costs extra and takes a couple hours.
Included Activities
- Explore Grand Canyon South Rim
Optional Activities
- Helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon
Landmarks Grand Canyon - Day 8
Monument Valley to Kayenta
Head to Monument Valley to see those iconic towering mesas rising up to 300 meters above the Colorado Plateau. This landscape shows up in tons of western films, and once you see it, you understand why. The massive stone formations stretch across the desert, and it's the kind of place that looks unreal. Drive around 340 km to Kayenta where you'll stay the night.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Monument Valley
Landmarks Monument Valley - Day 9
Lake Powell - Antelope Canyon - Horseshoe Bend to Page
Travel to Lake Powell, a large reservoir surrounded by red sandstone cliffs created by the Colorado River dam back in 1963. Check out Antelope Canyon with its famous slot canyons, Upper and Lower, which hold significance for Navajo tribes. Don't skip Horseshoe Bend either, it's a popular spot for photos with dramatic canyon views. You'll cover about 170 km and sleep in Page.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Lake Powell
- Visit Antelope Canyon
- Visit Horseshoe Bend
Landmarks Lake Powell Antelope Canyon Horseshoe Bend - Day 10
Highway 89 - Red Canyon - Bryce Canyon
Drive northwest on Highway 89, also called the Mount Carmel Scenic Byway, through wooded valleys and mountain ranges with red rock views. Stop at Red Canyon near Kanab for a short walk and stretch your legs. Then head to Bryce Canyon National Park where the landscape feels like something out of a fantasy with colorful sandstone and strange shapes everywhere. The drive from your starting point is around 260 km, and you'll stay overnight in the park area.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Hike at Red Canyon
- Explore Bryce Canyon National Park
Landmarks Red Canyon Bryce Canyon National Park - Day 11
Zion National Park to Las Vegas
Get an early start at Zion National Park to hike some of the trails, like the one to Emerald Pools, and see the rugged rock faces and fossilized dunes. Spend a few hours walking around and taking in the park. After that, drive roughly 400 km to Las Vegas. You'll spend the next 2 nights there, so you have time to settle in by evening.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Hike at Zion National Park
Optional Activities
- Emerald Pools hike at Zion National Park
Landmarks Zion National Park Emerald Pools - Day 12
Las Vegas
Spend your time in Las Vegas however you like. Consider a day trip to Lake Mead or Valley of Fire for something different. Back in Vegas, you can walk the Strip and see the themed hotels and casinos. An optional evening show is available if you're interested.
Optional Activities
- Day trip to Lake Mead
- Day trip to Valley of Fire
- Explore themed hotels and casinos along the Strip
- Optional evening visit to a Las Vegas show
Landmarks Lake Mead Valley of Fire The Strip - Day 13
Death Valley
Explore Death Valley and see its wide range of landscapes, from unusual rock formations to surreal desert scenery. The park has a lot of ground to cover, so pick what interests you most. Sleep in Ridgecrest, which is about 100 km from the park gates, or you can stay directly in the park if you prefer (that's roughly 420 km to 200 km depending on where you start from).
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Explore Death Valley National Park
Landmarks Death Valley National Park - Day 14
Nevada to Tulare/Visalia
Drive through farmland toward Tulare or Visalia, which will take 310 to 480 km depending on your route. Stay 2 nights in the area and use the time to rest up before heading into the national parks.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 15
Sequoia National Park
Take a trip to Sequoia National Park to see the massive sequoia trees. Weather can affect accessibility, so check conditions before heading out. It's worth the time to see these ancient giants.
Optional Activities
- Visit Sequoia National Park and see giant sequoia trees
Landmarks Sequoia National Park - Day 16
Sequoia to Yosemite National Park
Drive about 180 km to Yosemite National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll stay 2 nights in El Portal, which sits right at the park's gateway.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Yosemite National Park - Day 17
Yosemite National Park
Spend a full day in Yosemite seeing the granite formations like Half Dome, wandering through the deep forests, and checking out the crystal-clear lakes. Yosemite Falls drops 739 m and ranks as one of North America's highest waterfalls. Stop by the visitor center to get recommendations on hiking trails that match your fitness level.
Optional Activities
- View Half Dome
- Explore forests and lakes
- Visit Yosemite Falls
- Hike various trails (ranging from easy to difficult difficulty levels)
Landmarks Half Dome Yosemite Falls - Day 18
Yosemite to San Francisco
Leave Yosemite and drive about 315 km west to San Francisco on the Pacific coast. You'll stay 2 nights in the San Francisco area, which gives you time to settle in and explore.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks San Francisco 
- Day 19
San Francisco
Get out and walk San Francisco or ride the famous cable cars. See the Golden Gate Bridge, head up to Twin Peaks for views, walk through Fisherman's Wharf, and spend time wandering Chinatown's streets and shops.
Optional Activities
- Visit Golden Gate Bridge
- View Twin Peaks
- Explore Fisherman's Wharf
- Visit Chinatown
- Ride the famous cable cars
Landmarks Golden Gate Bridge Twin Peaks Fisherman's Wharf Chinatown - Day 20
San Francisco to San Simeon
Drive about 390 km south along the Pacific coast. The 17-Mile Drive near Carmel costs a bit but passes golf courses and villas. Continue along Big Sur's dramatic cliffs for some incredible scenery. Stay one night in San Simeon.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- 17-Mile Drive near Carmel
Landmarks 17-Mile Drive Big Sur - Day 21
San Simeon to Los Angeles
Head back to Los Angeles via Santa Barbara, driving 350 to 370 km. If time permits, stop in Santa Barbara for shopping and sightseeing. Stay one night in Los Angeles.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Santa Barbara
- Shop in Santa Barbara
Landmarks Santa Barbara - Day 22
Los Angeles
Your final night in Los Angeles. Return the rental car. If you're interested, individual tour extensions are available to continue your trip.
