In a nutshell
- This is your complete planning guide for a road trip through the western United States — everything you need in one place.
- We share our full route with a west coast road trip map and a day-by-day itinerary covering all 21 days.
- We break down the best way to get around — rental car, RV, or bus — so you can choose what works for your trip.
- For every stop, you’ll find drive times, the top attractions, and hand-picked hotel recommendations.
- We’ve also included an alternative 2-week route and practical travel tips to help you plan smarter.
Map of Our USA West Coast Road Trip
A picture is worth a thousand words, so let’s start with a map of our three-week route along the West Coast of the USA.
Overview: Our 3-Week USA West Coast Itinerary
Before we walk you through our West Coast USA route in detail, here’s a quick overview of all the stops.
- Days 1-2: San Francisco
- Day 3: Highway One
- Days 4-6: Los Angeles
- Days 7-8: San Diego
- Day 9: Palm Springs and Joshua Tree
- Days 10-12: Grand Canyon
- Day 13: Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend
- Days 14-15: Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park
- Day 16: Las Vegas
- Days 17-18: Death Valley
- Days 19-20: Yosemite National Park
- Day 21: San Francisco
Important: Don’t underestimate the distances! Parts of this route involve four to five hours of driving. If that’s too much, you can always skip certain stops. You’ll see a little less, but your road trip will be a lot more relaxed.
Getting Around on Your USA West Coast Road Trip
How you get from A to B is just as important as the route itself. For a West Coast USA road trip, there are three common options. We’ll walk you through each one and share our personal recommendation.
The Classic: Renting a Car
Most travelers choose to rent a car and stay in hotels. We actually traveled by campervan back in the day — but if we were doing this trip again, a rental car is the option we’d go with.
When booking, pay close attention to the terms for insurance coverage, mileage, and the deductible. We always compare rental car deals to get a solid overview of all available options.
Compare rental car deals on Discovercars
For Adventurers: By RV
An RV road trip has become a real trend along the USA West Coast. Having your accommodation and transportation all in one is super convenient — and especially outdoor enthusiasts will love being so close to nature.
Just keep in mind that dispersed camping isn’t allowed everywhere, you’ll need to drive more slowly, and navigating big cities in a large vehicle can get exhausting.
For your budget, make sure to factor in the cost of at least some nights at a campground.
You can find campervans through CamperOase, for example. We love their advice and had a fantastic experience with them in New Zealand.
For Budget Travelers: By Bus
You can absolutely do this road trip on a smaller budget. In that case, Greyhound buses are your best bet. You can get from San Francisco to L.A. for around $50, and the buses connect pretty much all major cities.
For most national parks and day-trip destinations, guided tours are available from the cities — which is also handy since you always have a guide with you.
Here are tips for the most popular day-trip destinations on your road trip:
From Las Vegas: Grand Canyon West Rim + Hoover Dam
From Las Vegas: Death Valley Day Trip
From San Francisco: Day Trip to Yosemite National Park
Days 1-2: San Francisco
Your trip starts in California. In San Francisco, you’ll land at the airport, pick up your rental car, and check into your first hotel.
You’ll spend two nights here in total. Make the most of your arrival day and kick things off with some sightseeing right away.
If you want to plan your time in San Francisco in more detail, you’ll find plenty of in-depth information in these articles.
Our Hotel Recommendations for San Francisco
Our San Francisco Itinerary
San Francisco is our favorite city on the West Coast USA road trip route. Here’s what a typical two-day itinerary might look like.
- Fisherman’s Wharf
- Boat tour to the prison island of Alcatraz
- Stroll through the hippie neighborhood of Haight-Ashbury
- Ride the Cable Car
- Chinatown
- Lombard Street
- Bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge
- Sunset at the Marin Headlands
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Day 3: Highway One
On day three, the journey is the destination — Highway One is one of the most beautiful roads in the entire world. It starts just south of San Francisco and takes you straight along the Pacific coast.
Leave plenty of time for stops at the many scenic overlooks, and try to set off from San Francisco as early as possible.
Our tip: Between May and December, you can often spot whales out in the ocean.
You’ll spend the night in Santa Barbara. The town sits right on Highway One and is famous for its beautiful beaches and surf spots.
Drive time from San Francisco to Santa Barbara: 6.5 hours
Our Hotel Recommendations for Santa Barbara
Highlights Along Highway One
- Monterey – a great spot for dining out
- 17-Mile Drive – scenic drive between Monterey and Carmel
- Carmel-by-the-Sea – a charming little town perfect for strolling
- Point Lobos – a nature reserve where you can often watch seals
- Big Sur – one of the most stunning stretches of Highway One
- Bixby Creek Bridge – a famous bridge with breathtaking views
- Partington Cove – a very short hike to a hidden cove
- McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – waterfalls right on the beach
- Ragged Point – a great vantage point overlooking Big Sur
- Morro Bay – a small coastal town famous for Morro Rock
- Pismo Beach – a seaside town with a beach great for swimming
Days 4-6: Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the city of the rich and famous, the home of Hollywood, and there are also tons of great beaches around L.A. It’s absolutely a must on any west coast America road trip itinerary!
We’ve built three days into the schedule for Los Angeles, with the third day wrapping up with the drive to San Diego. That’s enough time to hit all the major highlights.
Getting to Los Angeles
Getting from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles is super easy — just continue along the last stretch of Highway One.
Along the way, you’ll pass some of L.A.’s own highlights: Malibu and Santa Monica. To avoid navigating L.A. traffic twice, it’s best to stop and explore both of them on the way in.
Drive time from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles: 2.5 hours
Our Hotel Recommendations for Los Angeles
Our Los Angeles Itinerary
How many places you can fit in during your time in Los Angeles depends a lot on how long you want to spend at Universal Studios. Since the ticket is pretty pricey, plan for at least half a day there.
- Explore Hollywood
- Walk the Walk of Fame
- Drive along Mulholland Drive to the Hollywood Sign
- Sunset at the Griffith Observatory
- A night out in Venice Beach
- Universal Studios Hollywood (get tickets)
- Watch surfers in Malibu
- Visit Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
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Days 7-9: San Diego
Beaches, surfing, and Mexican food — that pretty much sums up San Diego. The vibe here is much more laid-back than in Los Angeles.
We’ve planned two nights in San Diego. There aren’t many classic sightseeing spots, but it’s a great place to take a relaxed beach day.
Getting to San Diego
Once you’ve made it out of Los Angeles, just follow Interstate 5. It runs right along the coast and you’ll have a really beautiful view during the drive.
Drive time from Los Angeles to San Diego: 2.5 hours
Our Hotel Recommendations for San Diego
Our San Diego Itinerary
In San Diego, you don’t need a packed schedule. Just wander through the city and drift from beach to beach.
- A beach day in La Jolla
- Sunset at Sunset Cliffs
- A night out in the Gaslamp Quarter
- Explore Old Town
- A stroll through Balboa Park
- Enjoy the view from Cabrillo National Monument
- A walk on the beach in Coronado
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Day 10: Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park
The next highlight on your road trip is the Grand Canyon — but the drive is too long to do in a single day.
We recommend spending one night in Kingman, which is roughly two-thirds of the way there. So you’re not just sitting in the car the whole time, you can make two great stops along the way: Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Kingman
Palm Springs
Palm Springs has been the getaway for the rich and famous from Los Angeles since the 1930s.
There aren’t really any must-see attractions. Just wander around, admire the luxury villas and golf courses, and maybe you’ll even spot a celebrity. There’s also a free shuttle bus that takes you around town.
Our tip: Grand Central Palm Springs is a great spot for a meal anytime from morning to night.
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree is a small, desert-like national park. The main draw is the Joshua trees scattered throughout the park.
Since you still have a good stretch of driving ahead, you shouldn’t linger too long. Here are the highlights we recommend:
- Hike the Hidden Valley Trail (just 1.5 kilometers)
- Keys View overlook
- Arch Rock
- Cholla Cactus Garden
Your America the Beautiful Pass is valid at Joshua Tree, by the way.
Days 11-12: Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is the most famous national park in the USA and an absolute standout on any road trip through the American West.
The Grand Canyon is divided into three sections: the South, West, and North Rim. Time-wise, you’ll only be able to visit one rim, and for a first visit the South Rim is the best choice.
If you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you won’t need to pay an entrance fee at the Grand Canyon South Rim. The South Rim is open year-round.
Getting to the Grand Canyon
Getting from Kingman to the Grand Canyon is straightforward. Just take Interstate 40 and turn onto AZ-64 just before Flagstaff.
Drive time from Kingman to the Grand Canyon: 3 hours
Our Hotel Recommendations for the Grand Canyon
Our Grand Canyon Itinerary
At the Grand Canyon, you’ll hop from one viewpoint to the next. We do recommend doing at least one short hike down into the canyon, though — it gives you a completely different perspective.
- Lunch at Grand Canyon Village
- Ride the shuttle bus along Hermit Road to hit all the top viewpoints
- Sunset at Mather Point
- Hike the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point (about two hours)
- Sunset at Yaki Point
- Drive the Desert View Drive
Our tip: If hiking isn’t your thing, you can also do a rafting tour at the Grand Canyon.
Book a rafting tour in Glen Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
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Day 13: Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
On day 13, you’ll visit two smaller natural parks — Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon — and make a photo stop at Horseshoe Bend.
Page is the ideal place to spend the night, as it’s right next to Horseshoe Bend.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Page
Monument Valley
Monument Valley has been the backdrop for countless Western films. The park is defined by its massive red rock formations that rise dramatically out of the desert.
There is one Scenic Drive through Monument Valley that leads to various viewpoints. Since the area is part of a protected Navajo Nation reservation, hiking off the Scenic Drive on your own is not permitted.
Plan about two hours for the Scenic Drive. If you’d like to explore Monument Valley on foot, you can join a Jeep tour led by Navajo guides, which gives you access to restricted areas as well.
Book a Jeep tour through Monument Valley
Important: The America the Beautiful Pass is not valid at Monument Valley — admission costs $8 per person.
To reach Monument Valley, exit the Grand Canyon National Park via the Desert View Drive and then take US highways 89, 160, and 163.
Drive time from the Grand Canyon to Monument Valley: 3 hours
Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon was one of our personal highlights! You walk through a slot canyon with smooth red and orange rock walls and feel like you’re on another planet.
Antelope Canyon is also on Navajo land, and you can only visit it as part of a guided tour. You’ll need to choose between the Upper and Lower Canyon. We recommend the latter — the Lower Canyon takes you deep down into the slot canyon and it’s seriously stunning.
Tours start at $100, and it’s best to book in advance online — the line at the tour desk is always long.
Book a tour of the Lower Antelope Canyon
You can reach Antelope Canyon from Monument Valley via highways 163 and 160 and AZ-98.
Drive time from Monument Valley to Antelope Canyon: 2 hours
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is only about 10 minutes from Antelope Canyon. It’s a famous meander of the Colorado River.
From the parking lot, it’s just a short walk to the edge of the cliff. The view — massive red rock walls and deep blue river far below — is truly breathtaking.
Our tip: Bring a cold beer and some snacks and enjoy the sunset at Horseshoe Bend. If you arrive earlier in the day, you can also make a side trip to Lake Powell.
Days 14-15: Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park
On days 14 and 15, you’ll visit two national parks: Bryce Canyon and Zion. We were absolutely blown away by Bryce Canyon — that said, half a day is enough to take it all in. Just peering down into the canyon is an experience in itself.
Zion National Park, on the other hand, has a wealth of beautiful hikes. That’s why we recommend spending more time here.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
The star attraction of Bryce Canyon is the gorge filled with hoodoos — rock spires in every shade of red and pink that jut up from the earth like needles.
We recommend hiking the Navajo Loop, which is only three kilometers long with minimal elevation gain, yet still takes you all the way down to the canyon floor. You should also check out the four viewpoints: Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point.
You can reach Bryce Canyon from Page via US highway 89 in about 2.5 hours. The America the Beautiful Pass is valid at Bryce Canyon as well.
Zion National Park
Zion is far less famous than the Grand Canyon or Yosemite, but every bit as impressive. The landscape is incredibly diverse — the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau all converge here.
Zion is known for its red rock massifs and the Virgin River. It’s an absolute paradise for hikers.
Here are the most beautiful hikes in Zion National Park:
- Canyon Overlook Trail – an easy hike, about one hour, with views of the canyon
- Emerald Pools – a moderate hike to waterfalls, about two to three hours
- The Narrows – a river hike, two to ten hours depending on how far you go
- Angels Landing – very challenging, but the panorama over the park is absolutely incredible
Important: Angels Landing now requires a permit. You can find more information on the Zion National Park website.
Your America the Beautiful Pass is valid at Zion. To get there, head back a stretch along state highway 89. Note that you’ll need to leave your car outside the park — only shuttle buses are allowed inside.
Drive time from Bryce Canyon to Zion National Park: 1 hour
Lies auch:
Day 16: Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the gambling capital of the world — and honestly, it’s just completely wild! Vegas really comes alive once the sun goes down and the sea of lights flickers on.
Definitely plan on staying out late in Las Vegas and sleeping in a little the next morning.
Getting to Las Vegas
From Springdale or Hurricane, just hop on Interstate 15 and follow it all the way to Las Vegas.
Drive time from Zion National Park to Las Vegas: 2.5 hours
Our Hotel Recommendations for Las Vegas
Our Las Vegas Itinerary
Almost all the attractions are on the Strip — Las Vegas’s iconic entertainment corridor lined with legendary hotels and casinos. There’s really not much else you need to see beyond that.
- Bus-hop along the Strip
- Fremont Street Experience
- Las Vegas Sign
- Ride the High Roller Ferris wheel
- Watch the water show at the Bellagio Fountain
- Take in the vista from the Stratosphere Tower
- Catch a show (tickets for Cirque du Soleil)
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Day 17: Death Valley
Death Valley offers yet another completely different landscape: it’s the hottest, driest, and lowest place on Earth.
Our Death Valley itinerary is very doable in a single day. We’ve planned two days to give you the option of sleeping in a bit after Las Vegas.
Getting to Death Valley
Coming from Las Vegas, the eastern entrance to Death Valley is the closest. Take highways 95 and 190 to get there.
Drive time from Las Vegas to Death Valley: 2.5 hours
Our Hotel Recommendations for Death Valley
Our Death Valley Itinerary
Death Valley is vast, and you’ll be driving from sight to sight a lot. Pack some good snacks. Here are the spots you absolutely shouldn’t miss:
- the salt flats of Badwater Basin
- the viewpoints Zabriskie Point and Dante’s View
- the Mesquite Flat sand dunes
- the colorful rock formations along Artists Drive
- the geological formation known as Devil’s Golf Course
Day 18: Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is optional on our itinerary. Getting there requires a pretty significant detour.
If you’d rather skip the extra driving, you can head straight from Death Valley to Yosemite National Park and simply spend an extra night at another stop along the way.
That said, here’s the most important information about Sequoia National Park.
Getting to Sequoia National Park
From Death Valley, take CA-190 and CA-58. You’ll need to go all the way around the Sequoia National Forest, which is why the drive takes so long.
Drive time from Death Valley to Sequoia National Park: 5.5 hours
Our Hotel Recommendations for Sequoia National Park
Our Sequoia National Park Itinerary
For sightseeing in Sequoia National Park, simply drive along the General Highway. All the major attractions are located right along the road.
- General Sherman Tree (the world’s largest giant sequoia by volume)
- View from Moro Rock
- Tunnel Log (a tunnel carved through a fallen tree trunk)
- Hike the Big Trees Trail
Days 19-20: Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is, alongside the Grand Canyon, the ultimate must-see on any USA west coast tour itinerary. Even if you’re used to mountain scenery, it will leave you in awe.
We’ve planned two nights here so you’ll have time to get some hiking in.
Getting to Yosemite National Park
If you’re skipping Sequoia, start from your hotel in Lone Pine and simply follow Highway 395, entering Yosemite National Park from the east. The total drive takes about four hours.
If you don’t want to skip Sequoia, drive from Fresno via CA-41 to the south entrance of Yosemite National Park. That takes 2.5 hours — which doesn’t sound like much, but keep in mind that the day before you already drove more than five hours to get to Sequoia.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Yosemite National Park
Our Yosemite National Park Itinerary
Yosemite has countless beautiful hikes, and many of them can be done in just a few hours. Here’s a look at the trails and points of interest that are really worth your time.
- Picnic in Yosemite Valley
- Viewpoints Tunnel View and Glacier Point
- Tioga Pass Road
- Giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove
- Bridalveil Fall
- Mist Trail half-day hike to Vernal and Nevada Falls
- Hike to Sentinel Dome (three kilometers)
Lies auch:
Day 21: Return to San Francisco
On your last day, all that’s left is the drive back from Yosemite National Park to San Francisco. Take CA-120, follow Interstate 580 to Oakland, and cross the Bay Bridge into San Francisco.
The drive takes about 3.5 hours.
If your return flight isn’t until the following day, here are our hotel picks for San Francisco.
Alternative 2-Week USA West Coast Road Trip Itinerary
Only have two weeks for your road trip through the American West? No problem. We’ve put together a route for that as well, along with a matching map.
Here’s what changes for the 2-week west coast driving map route:
- You skip San Diego. San Diego is beautiful, but in our opinion it’s not quite as unmissable as San Francisco or Los Angeles. This saves you a pretty significant detour.
- You spend just one day each at the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and Death Valley. You could easily spend several days at all three, but you can hit the main highlights at each in a single day.
Of course, there are plenty of other ways to trim the itinerary down to two weeks. For example, you could also skip the detour through Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park.
Personally, we found those parks incredibly impressive and wouldn’t want to miss them.
Practical Tips for Your Road Trip Through the American West
To wrap things up, here are three genuinely useful tips for planning your trip.
Get the America the Beautiful Pass
The America the Beautiful Pass is the best piece of advice we received for our USA road trip!
The pass costs $80 and gets you free admission to almost all national parks in the US. You’ll recoup the cost after just three parks.
You can buy the America the Beautiful Pass online. You’ll receive a voucher and can exchange it for the actual pass at the first visitor center you stop at — or you can buy the pass directly at a visitor center.
Book Your Accommodations Well in Advance
Hotels in the major national parks and cities — especially in summer — often get booked out months in advance. We strongly recommend reserving your accommodation ahead of time, and as early as possible.
Only in winter can you take the risk of booking spontaneously. That said, winter isn’t exactly the ideal time for a USA road trip anyway.
Fill Up in Time!
One classic mistake nearly every tourist makes on a USA road trip is underestimating the distances. What looks close on a map can easily be several hours of driving in reality.
Along many of these stretches, gas stations can be few and far between — you might be driving straight through the desert for a very long time. Always fill up before you need to, so you don’t end up stranded in the middle of nowhere.
Keep the long distances in mind if you’re considering driving at night as well. There are often no places to stop if you suddenly feel tired.
