A fascinating 3-week road trip adventure through the US states of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and Arziona in the west of the USA. Experience the following highlights, among others, on this ultimate road trip: Yosemite Park, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Mesa Verde National Park, Monument Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, San Diego, Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica, US Highway No. 1, Hearst Castle, Monterey and San Francisco. During my many trips to the USA, Californians have always told me that September is the best time to visit California. Especially for one of the highlights of the trip, the drive on the legendary US Highway No. 1 along the Pacific coast of California from San Diego to San Francisco. In the states of Nevada, Utah, Colorado and Arizona, however, it can still be extremely hot (40° and more in Death Valley) and very dry! The trip is expected to start at Frankfurt/Main Airport (FRA) with a direct flight to San Francisco, California (SFO). We expect to arrive in San Francisco around noon. From there we will take a rental car to Yosemite Park. After approx. 18 days "on the road", the trip ends with three full days in San Francisco. The following day we will fly back to Frankfurt/Main on a direct flight from San Francisco. For up to 5 TripMates, a minivan can be booked, which offers space for a total of 6 people including the driver. Alternatively, TripMates can also book their own rental car so that they can organize their day more individually at one point or another. I always stay in mid-range hotels for around 70-90 EUR/room/night. Direct flight to Frankfurt-San Francisco-Frankfurt: approx. 700-800 EUR/person (economy class) Rental car: approx. 600-1000 EUR for 3 weeks (depending on size and equipment incl. all insurances plus gasoline) Food & drink: approx. 40 EUR/person/day (good breakfast, snack for lunch, proper dinner) Entrance fees: For all the national parks, an NPS annual pass for 80 USD / person might be worthwhile. This allows you to enter all state national parks free of charge and as often as you like. Current estimated total cost per person: EUR 3,500
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Hiking through Yosemite Valley and simply enjoying nature. A great way to shake off the stress of home and relax. Thanks to the wide range of possibilities, everyone can organize their day individually or simply join a group.
2
Yosemite National Park Road
Day 3-4
Drive through Yosemite National Park via Tioga Road towards Death Valley. There are countless photo stops for impressive pictures. At the end of the day, we spend the night in a hotel about 2 hours from Death Valley.
3
Death Valley
Day 4-5
Immediately after breakfast, drive to Death Valley, 2 hours away, which lies below sea level and is known for its extreme temperatures. It is not unusual for temperatures to reach around 50°C here in summer. Here we can visit the following tourist attractions: Dante's View @ Death Valley Zabriskie Point Bad Water We then head off to Las Vegas, 3 hours away, possibly taking a detour through Red Rock Canyon National Park. If you're not already too exhausted, you can walk the legendary Las Vegas Strip with us at night. There is a lot to see here!
4
Las Vegas Strip
Day 5-7
The craziest gambling city Las Vegas with all its hotels, casinos, restaurants and bars. There is a lot to explore here. Unfortunately, we won't have enough time to explore everything in detail. At night, of course, the city is at its most impressive with its sea of lights. On the second day in the afternoon, we would like to visit the impressive Hoover Dam power station, which dams up the Colorado River and is located directly on the border between Nevada and Arizona. We then head towards Utah to reach the hotel in around 2 hours.
5
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
Day 7-8
We have time to spend the whole day in Zion National Park. In the evening we have to drive another 1 hour to the next hotel.
6
Bryce Canyon City
Day 8-9
We have time to spend almost the whole day in Zion National Park. In the afternoon we have to drive another 3 1/2 hours to the next hotel.
7
Entrance Station
Day 9-10
After about 45 minutes by car, we reach Arches National Park and stay there for a few hours. We have time to spend almost the whole day in Arches National Park. In the afternoon we have to drive another 3 1/2 hours to the next hotel.
8
Mesa Verde National Park
Day 10-11
In the morning we visit Mesa Verde National Park, which is said to be well worth a visit. On the way to Monument Valley in the afternoon, we may make a detour to the Four Corners Monument, which is an hour away. This is where the borders of the US states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona meet.
9
Oljato-Monument Valley
Day 11
On the drive to our hotel, we pass through Monument Valley, which has been used as a backdrop for many Hollywood films. Everyone will probably recognize the three striking pillar mountains immediately. It is another 2-hour drive from Monument Valley to our hotel.
10
Page
Day 11-12
After breakfast, an extremely short 15-minute drive takes us to other geological highlights, such as the Lower Antelope Canyon and, shortly afterwards, the Grand Canyon Horseshoe Bend. A legendary photo stop.
11
Grand Canyon Village
Day 12
After a 2 1/2 hour drive from Grand Canyon Horseshoe Bend, we reach Grand Canyon Village. The national park offers breathtaking views of one of the deepest valleys in the world. You can't describe it. You have to see it for yourself. We make our way to Flagstaff for our hotel.
12
Flagstaff
Day 12
If time permits, we can visit the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff in the evening. Outside the city, it is pitch dark as there is no artificial ambient light and the stars are particularly easy to observe.
13
Sedona
Day 12-13
On the way to the west coast is Sedona, famous for its red rocks, which we reach after just under an hour from the hotel in Flagstaff. Today is another 4-hour drive. In the evening, we spend the night in a hotel about 1 hour away from Joshua Tree National Park.
14
Joshua Tree
Day 13-14
After breakfast, we head to Joshua Tree National Park, which we reach after about an hour's drive.
15
San Diego
Day 14
After a 3-hour drive, we reach San Diego and are back on the Pacific coast. San Diego is considered one of the best cities to live in the USA. We stay here for 2 days.
16
San Diego
Day 14-15
There is a lot to see, such as the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town, harbor tour, USS Midway aircraft carrier or the beautiful luxury hotel "Hotel des Coronado". Shopping time has also arrived. For example in the "Las Americas Premium Outlets" directly on the USA/Mexico border.
17
Laguna Beach
Day 15-16
After a hearty breakfast in one of the beautiful cafés with a view of the Pacific coast, we set off in the direction of Los Angeles. Get your swimming gear ready. The next stop would be Laguna Beach with the insider tip "1000 Steps Beach". Unfortunately, this is to be taken literally :( Getting down to the beach is easy, but getting back to the car means many, many, many steps back up again. But the view down on the beach between the classic beach houses is worth all the effort.
18
1126 Queens Hwy
Day 16
After the swimming fun, there are lots of things we can do with the day. For example: Visit the old Queen Mary in Long Beach Huge shopping mall for a shopping tour Visit a ranch near Long Beach
19
Downtown Disney
Day 16
Our hotel will probably be in Anaheim, which is not far from Disneyland. In the evening, you can take a stroll through Downtown Disney to get a taste of what you can expect in Disneyland.
20
Hollywood Boulevard
Day 16-17
Traffic is murder in the Los Angeles area. We should therefore avoid the morning rush hour until 09:00 and start the day later. Today we visit such highlights as Hollywood Boulevard, where all the stars have their starlets on the sidewalk and their handprints in the ground in front of the Chinese Theater. Then it's off to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. All Pretty Woman fans will certainly recognize the hotel on Wilshire Boulevard. Afterwards, we stop by the legendary Santa Monica Pier, which has featured in countless films and series. Towards evening, we make our way to our hotel in North Los Angeles.
21
Santa Barbara
Day 17-18
Actually, Thomas Gottschalk's estate in Malibu was on my list of places to visit, but unfortunately it burned down :( We can still stop by and see if it's being rebuilt. We drive via Santa Barbara to Pismo Beach to spend the night there.
22
Hearst Castle Road
Day 18-19
In the morning, we head to San Simeon, which we reach after about an hour's drive. We take a look at the impressive Hearst Castle, which was built by Randolph William Hearst, a newspaper publisher at the time. He became immensely wealthy as a newspaper publisher and was able to afford a huge castle and park. In the 1920-30s, everyone who was anyone frequented the castle.
23
Monterey
Day 19
On the drive to Monterey, we are on the legendary US Highway No. 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway. There are countless photo stops along the way to Monterey for great pictures. Depending on when we set off from Hearst Castle and when it gets dark, we can agree on the photo stops. In the evening we spend the night in Monterey
24
Monterey
Day 19-20
The highlight of the day will be the Monterey Aquarium. The world's largest seawater aquarium. Impressions that you won't soon forget. The jellyfish exhibit is particularly fascinating.
25
Santa Cruz
Day 20
In the afternoon, we set off towards Santa Cruz and explore the surrounding area before heading to San Francisco in the evening.
26
San Francisco
Day 20-22
We explore San Francisco for two days. The city has a lot to offer. We visit places like: Ghirardelli Square, Golden Gate Park, Presidio, Alcatratz (Prisoner's Island), Fisherman's Wharf and of course a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge! If you've always wanted to see the giant redwood trees, join us on a trip to Muir Woods, which is about 45 minutes outside of San Francisco. The end of our ultimate road trip has arrived. Unfortunately, we all fly back to Germany from San Francisco the next day...
Trip Summary
Accommodation
Hotel
22 days trip
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park Road & 24 more
Transportation
Car, Other
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