TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE WEST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES: EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO KNOW

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Our route by car along the West Coast of the United States It has been without a doubt one of the roadtrips that we have enjoyed the most, and they have not been few! But this area has something special, it will be for its incredible landscapes, for how well organized everything is, for the contrast between the national parks, it will be for the hot dogs of the gas stations, for the hours and hours of asphalt, to discover a country As interesting as the United States.

We have spent on the West Coast of the United States a total of 3 weeks, going through big cities like San Francisco, Las Vegas or The Angels, other less tourist like Phoenix or Sedona; visiting lots of natural parks well known as the Grand Canyon of the Colorado or Monument Valley and other more hidden places like Canyonlands waveSalvation Mountain. But each site has fascinated us, seriously!

After all we have lived we will try to mount a guide to travel to the West Coast of the United States, gathering all our route items, a basic itinerary, tips, budget, national parks and a map to help you plan your trip.

A route not to lose you the most important of the West Coast of the United States in three weeks, very similar to what we did, it may be the one we put next. In the next point we give you more details of each stage.

• Days 1, 2 and 3: San Francisco
• Day 4: Yosemite (sleep near Yosemite)
• Day 5: Sequoia and Kings Canyon (sleep in Bakersfield)
• Day 6: Death Valley (sleep in Las Vegas)
• Days 7 and 8: Las Vegas
• Day 9: Grand Canyon (sleep in Page)
• Day 10: Horseshoe Bend and Bryce Canyon (sleep in Green River)
• Optional day: The Wave, Antelope Canyon and Zion National Park
• Day 11: Arches National Park (sleep in Moab)
• Day 12: Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point (sleep in Monument Valley)
• Day 13: Monument Valley (sleep in Flagstaff or Sedona)

OPTION A:

• Day 14: Route 66, Flagstaff - Kingman
• Day 15: Route 66, Kingman - Barstow
• Day 16: Route 66, Barstow - Santa Monica (LA)

OPTION B:

• Day 14: Sedona - Phoenix
• Day 15: Phoenix - San Diego
• 16 days: San Diego (option to stay one more day in San Diego)

END OF THE ROUTE

• Days 17, 18 and 19: The Angels
• Day 20: Los Angeles - Monterrey
• Day 21: Monterrey - San Francisco

Google travel map

We tell you the details of each stage, with the links to the articles to access our experience in each of the places visited.

♣ Days 1, 2 and 3: San Francisco

Staying 3 days is the minimum we recommend for San Francisco. One of the most beautiful cities We visited all over the United States. There are lots of things to entertain, for now we leave 40 things to see and do in San Francisco. You will arrive by plane and you will go by car!

We stayed at the HI SF Downtown (bunk beds from $ 60 a night)

♣ Day 4: Yosemite (sleep near Yosemite)

• Starting point: San Francisco
• End point: Yosemite Bug
• Total Miles: 250
• Estimated time: 9 hours
• Time in Yosemite: 4 hours
• Yosemite price: $ 30 per car
• Stage Article

Although on this day you only visit the Yosemite Park and not too many miles are traveled, time flies. First to make the exit part of San Francisco (not difficult), but especially to visit Yosemite, one of the most famous and visited parks, for its location.

We stayed at the Hi Yosemite Bug (bunk beds from $ 34 a night)

♣ Day 5: Sequoia and Kings Canyon (sleep in Bakersfield)

• Starting point: Yosemite Bug
• End point: Bakersfield
• Total Miles: 280
• Estimated time: 10 hours
• Time dedicated to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks: 5 hours
• Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks price: $ 30 per car
• Stage Article

There are two parks that, without being one of the best on the West Coast of the United States, are on the road if you continue to Death Valley and Las Vegas, so your visit is highly recommended. They are two united parks on the same road, so it has no loss, you can see some of the largest trees on the planet! And we tell you something: do not form a hasty idea of ​​the site if you have not been very impressed until you go up to the Moor Rock, the views are the best we saw on the trip!

We stayed in a house in Bakersfield rented with Airbnb (€ 116 a night for 4 people)

♣ Day 6: Death Valley (sleep in Las Vegas)

• Starting point: Bakersfield
• End point: Las Vegas
• Total Miles: 420
• Estimated time: 9 hours
• Time dedicated to Death Valley: 4 and a half hours
• Death Valley price: $ 25 per car
• Stage Article

Although it has not been the site that we liked the most, in terms of beauty, it is surely one of the ones we will remember the most: 54 degrees that we reach there we will probably never live again! And, being fair, the Death valley has some unique landscapes, just for that reason it would enter our top10 sites on this route.

We stayed at The Linq Hotel (double rooms from $ 59)

♣ Days 7 and 8: Las Vegas

Ok, we didn't have much faith in Las Vegas but, against all odds we liked it, what are we going to do! Although the heat on the street was unbearable, that the casinos move only for and for the money, the Americans who go are usually those who do not like us, and it is a “city of lies”, we had a great time! Living an experience in Las Vegas is always recommended. Here are 45 things to see and do in Las Vegas

We stayed at The Linq Hotel (double rooms from $ 59)

♣ Day 9: Grand Canyon (sleep in Page)

• Starting point: Las Vegas
• End point: Page (Lake Powell)
• Total Miles: 445
• Estimated time: 12 hours
• Time dedicated to the Grand Canyon: 3 and a half hours
• Grand Canyon price: $ 30 per car
• Stage Article

Just by coming to Grand Canyon It's worth hitting the kick from San Francisco! We will not discover anything new, it is one of the most amazing places in the world, period! But beware, if you want to make the most of your day early in the morning all you can. We visit the part of the South Rim, in the article we tell you more about the viewpoints, the trails and how to make the visit.

We stayed until we saw sunset from one of the last viewpoints and at night we headed to Page, where we spent the night. It was like 2 hours that we were eternal, but we did not find another place that suited us better to follow the route.

We stayed in a house between Page and Kanab, booked through Airbnb (from € 75 per double room)

♣ Day 10: Horseshoe Bend and Bryce Canyon (sleep in Green River)

• Starting point: Page (Lake Powell)
• End point: Green River
• Total Miles: 487
• Estimated time: 12 hours
• Time dedicated to Bryce Canyon: 3 hours
• Bryce Canyon price: $ 30 per car
• Horseshoe Bend price: free
• Stage Article

Possibly the day we enjoy most! The Grand Canyon is cool, we will all agree, but theHorseshoe Bend is a last damn! Being almost floating on one of the horseshoes that the Colorado River does, with nothing that separates you from a deadly fall, seeing the innumerable reddish colors of the rock, the greens of the river water and the blues of the sky, and behind you some How many Chinese are pushing to get closer to the ravine ... It is priceless!

But is that the Bryce Canyon, with the strange formations of its mountains, it also goes straight to the top10. But we cannot forget that we started the day with a super cool viewpoint over the Glen canyon, and a tour of the Lake powell, very close to Page.

We stayed in a caravan in Green River, booked through Airbnb (from € 55 a night)

♣ Optional Day: The Wave, Antelope Canyon and Zion National Park

We do not visit any of these three parks, the Antelope Canyon For the price of your tickets, being a Navajo territory you can only visit by booking a tour with them, and the price per person is between $ 45 and $ 60. If you decide to go remember to book well in advance, you can do it on their official website, where you have all the info.

To visit The wave you have to be lucky, access is limited to 20 people a day and tickets are delivered by lottery, 10 of them online and the other 10 the day before the visit at the Kanab Visitor Center. Here we leave the web to sign up for the raffle.

As for theZion National Park, we went very close and we really wanted to see it, they had recommended us to do it, but we didn't have time and we preferred to continue towards Green River, where we would stay the night staying in a caravan 😉

♣ Day 11: Arches National Park (sleep in Moab)

• Starting point: Green River
• End point: Moab
• Total Miles: 108
• Estimated time: 5 hours and a half
• Time spent at Arches National Park: 4 hours (without doing the Delicate Arch Trail)
• Arches National Park price: $ 25
• Stage Article

The Arches National Park It is one of those parks that it is a pleasure to visit, it is very easy to drive along its main road and stops are made to walk along small paths that discover the wonders of the site: its arches! Although we have to recognize that we did not do the most important trekking: theDelicate Arch Trail. It usually takes about 3 hours to finish the tour (round trip) that reaches the most famous arch, we are content to see it from the viewpoints below.

This day is dedicated exclusively to see this park and enjoy our motel in Moab with pool, it was time to relax a little!

We stayed at the Super 8 Moab motel (double rooms from $ 100)

♣ Day 12: Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point (sleep in Monument Valley)

• Starting point: Moab
• End point: Monument Valley
• Total Miles: 265
• Estimated time: 7 hours and a half
• Time dedicated to Canyonlands National Park: 3 and a half hours
• Time dedicated to Dead Horse Point: 20 minutes
• Canyonlands National Park price: $ 25 per car
• Dead Horse Point price: $ 15 per car
• Stage Article

In the surroundings of Moab are these two parks. Actually Canyonlands It is divided into three zones, but the most accessible and apparently the prettiest is the one we visited: Island in the Sky. The best thing is that the road to get to this park is the same as to go to the viewpoint of Dead horse point. The latter is not as impressive as the Horseshoe Bend and is also not included in national park passes, so your visit does not deserve Totally worth paying the entrance.

Regarding Canyonlads we were positively surprised, it is true that we were already tired of seeing canyons and landscapes of this style, but there we he ground a lot And when we check the photos even more.

This day we finished it under the stars in a campsite in front of the spectacular formations of the Monument Valley, which we planned to visit the next day.

We stayed in a tent reserved with Airbnb, super cool, (tent from $ 48 per night). It includes huge sleeping bag.

♣ Day 13: Monument Valley (sleep in Sedona)

• Starting point: Monument Valley
• End point: Sedona
• Total miles (not counting the park): 210
• Estimated time (road only): 4 hours
• How much Monument Valley costs: $ 20 per car.
• Stage Article
• What to see and do in Sedona

Although we did not dare to enter with our Ford Fiesta along the paths that the formations of the Monument Valley, and we did not want to pay for the Jeep tour (which at this stage of travel, one has to look for its economy), we will remember this place for the sunset and sunrise from our tent.

In the article we give you more detail of how to visit Monument Valley, of the options you have, where to sleep, a detailed map and more info.

We stayed at the GreenTree Inn Motel, we paid $ 78 for one night.

| OPTION A:

♣ Day 14: Route 66, Flagstaff - Kingman

• Total Miles: 175
• Estimated time: 6 hours
• Stage Article

It is the option that many travelers usually choose, because it travel the last part of Route 66. At this stage you go through emblematic places like the small town of Williams(according to them, the best stop on Route 66),Seligman which is one of the most picturesque enclaves of the entire route, theHackberry General Store with a lot of old items, the Antares Point (or Kozy Corner) with a giant green head (of those frikadas of the route), until reaching Kingman, a place with good options to stay and the occasional visit.

♣ Day 15: Route 66, Kingman - Barstow

• Total Miles: 220
• Estimated time: 6 hours
• Stage Article

It is a beautiful stage that goes through Black mountains from where there is one of the best views of Route 66, you reachOatmana mining town that has now been taken by a group of donkeys free, and from there to Barstow a stretch is made by the Mojave Desert, where there is the occasional surprise.

We continue this day to Los Angeles, although it was 11 hours in total! We believe that if there is time it is best to split it into two sections and stay in Barstow.

♣ Day 16: Route 66, Barstow - Santa Monica (LA)

• Total Miles: 140
• Estimated time: 4 hours
• Stage Article

In Barstow before leaving you can visit a Route 66 museum (Route 66 Mother Road Museum Barstow, although apparently only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays), and after setting foot in dusty you have to make a must stop at theBottle Tree Ranch, a forest made of bottles byElmer, one of those "crazy" that still remain along the route. Already entering Los Angeles you can make a stop at the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville (free), in theWigwam Motel from Rialto, a motel with tipis so characteristic, and go through Beverly hills until you reach the official sign of the End of Route 66, in Santa Monica.

| OPTION B:

♣ Day 14: Sedona - Phoenix

• Starting point: Sedona
• End point: Phoenix
• Total Miles: 130
• Estimated time (road only): 2.5 hours
• Stage Article

Sedona It is one of those tourist sites, but only for the Americans themselves. It does not appear in the guides of the West Coast of the United States as an unmissable place to visit if or if, but it has some things that go out of the ordinary And they are worth it. In addition the town itself is very nice and if you stay in a motel with a pool, I won't even tell you!

This day you can dedicate it to see some Attractions around Sedona in the morning and leave for Phoenix that is relatively close.

We stayed at The Metcalf House Hostel (bunk beds from € 25)

♣ Day 15: Phoenix - San Diego

• Starting point: Phoenix
• End point: San Diego
• Total Miles: 415
• Estimated time: 8 hours
• What to see in Phoenix
• Stage Article

Perhaps one of the busiest and most monotonous days of the entire route, although honestly, it is worth it just to see the Salvation Mountain! In addition we also passed through a desert that was a total surprise, the area of California's largest dunes. They are a web of miles until they reach San Diego.

We stayed at the HI San Diego Downtown Hostel (bunk beds from $ 37)

♣ Day 16: San Diego (possibility of staying another day)

San Diego It is a city that offers a lot of things, from wonderful beaches (especially for surfers) to an old town of Mexican origin, moving and modern premises, to a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere. It is one of the few cities in the United States that they let themselves visit and walk. Here we tell you 25 things to do in San Diego

We stayed at the HI San Diego Downtown Hostel (bunk beds from $ 37)

| END OF THE ROUTE

♣ Days 17, 18 and 19: Los Angeles

Although with The Angels It wasn't love at first sight, you can't leave the United States without stopping by. Go up to Griffith Observatory to have the city at your feet is impressive, the Venice Beach we liked it a lot and step on Santa Monica pier It is something mythical. Also, dedicate a day to visit Universal Studios, to keep your mouth open. Here we tell you 40 things to do in Los Angeles. And our experience at Universal Studios

We stayed at the HI Los Angeles - Santa Monica Hostel (berth from $ 45)

♣ Day 20: Los Angeles - Monterrey

• Starting point: Los Angeles
• End point: Monterrey
• Total Miles: 320
• Estimated time: 6 hours
• Stage Article

This day we enter the Big sur, one of the most famous areas of California that runs through the SR1, considered as the panoramic route prettiest in the whole state. Keep in mind that it may be cut by natural disasters and landslides, so before planning the route look at the updates.

The wonders on the road are not lacking and the city of Monterrey It also houses a few interesting things. Spend a couple of hours to learn more about its influence on the history of music in the US and if you have time, take a ride with the car all around.

We stayed at the HI Monterey Hostel (bunk from $ 30)

♣ Day 21: Monterrey - San Francisco

• Starting point: Monterrey
• End point: San Francisco
• Total Miles: 115
• Estimated time: 5 hours
• Stage Article

Last day of our route along the West Coast of the United States. A quiet day if you have time to return the car in the afternoon, with stops to visit some Pacific beaches (hopefully you'll see whales!), eat at a local road with authentic barbecue and say goodbye to California and the United States, always until next time!

Make a trip on the west coast of the United States It is not exactly cheap, you have to take into account the car rental, the accommodations that in places like San Francisco go out for a peak, the entrance to the parks (although this is reduced almost to the annual America the Beautiful pass), and the expenses from day to day like gasoline or food.

Here we summarize thebudget per total person base based on a trip for two people of 3 weeks.

If you want to see more detailed, read our article "Budget for a trip to the West Coast of the United States".

Before planning the trip you have to take into account where you will pick up and where you will deliver the car, sometimes doing it in offices in different cities means having to pay a one-way rate. However, this extra is not usually applied between San Francisco and Los Angeles. But be careful and check the conditions well!

You also have to take into account if the company with which you rent the car includes a extended coverage package or not. For example, Alamo now includes the “extend cover” within the price and has no excess in case of an accident (important!). We did not include it when we rented it and we paid $ 5 a day to pick up the car.

The prices They vary a bit depending on the season, but for a rental of 15 days, the price is around 300-400€. We made the reservation through the Autoeurope website that compares all car rental companies in the United States and proposes the best rates. We rented with Alamo a new and very good Ford Fiesta, even when crossing the Death Valley at 54 degrees being 4 in the car nothing was heated.

In this article we tell you how to prepare a free trip to the United States. We detail each of the aspects to consider to plan a trip across the pond. You know, tips to travel to the United States and not screw it up 😉

The three-week tour gives to see many cool things! But in our top10 of the West Coast of the United States we tell you the classification of what we liked most personally, so you can get an idea of ​​the best visits on the West Coast of the United States.

Up to here our travel guide to the West Coast of the United States. We hope it has helped you and you can better plan your itinerary!

Video: Top 10 Must-See Destinations on a Western Road Trip (April 2024).