USA West Coast road trip: San Francisco to Las Vegas

Itinerary in brief:

• 2 nights San Francisco
• 2 nights Yosemite National Park
• 1 night Death Valley
• 2 nights Las Vegas

Day 1: Arrive in San Francisco

On arrival, you'll make your own way into the city, where you will spend the next 2 nights exploring San Francisco. Flight time permitting, we recommend spending the afternoon exploring Union Square and Mission Street. It’s easy to walk around these areas, and they are perfect for a spot of shopping or sitting outside a café or bar and partaking in a bit of people watching. Soak in the atmosphere, enjoy the food, and get a feel for one of the USA’s best cities.

Day 2: San Francisco

You have the whole day to see as much as possible, so we recommend heading out early and filling up on pancakes; grab breakfast in one of the many cafes before ticking off the must-dos on your list – you’ve got one full day in San Fran so use it wisely!

For us, that’s heading down to Fisherman’s Wharf and taking the ferry over to Alcatraz Island and discovering the infamous abandoned prison. Pre-booking is a must as it is such a popular excursion. Our other highlights, to name but a few, include hiring bicycles at Fisherman’s Wharf and cycling to (and across) the bold and majestic Golden Gate Bridge, taking a ride on a traditional tram, drinking in that hippie-vibe in the Haight Ashbury, dining in the Castro, venturing into the SoMa district (South of the Market) for arts, shopping and nightlife, or visiting one of the many museums and galleries.

If you still have some energy left after a fun filled day, San Francisco has a diverse nightlife, offering up old school bars, stylish lounges, and an array of dining options. There really is something for everyone, so you certainly won’t be disappointed.

Day 3: Drive to Yosemite National Park

Your road-trip starts here! Today, pick up your car hire to start your self-drive. After negotiating your way out of San Francisco (GPS recommended here!) you will travel over the Oakland Bay Bridge and out towards Yosemite National Park.

You will get to experience some beautiful countryside and changing scenery, especially once you enter the National Park. Make time to stop and admire the massive Ponderosa Pines and California Black Oak trees before arriving at your hotel, checking in for two nights. 

Day 4: Yosemite National Park 

Yosemite National Park is enormous so with just one day to explore you’re never going to see all of it, which means you need to plan wisely. First stop will be the valley, where the visitor centre and a couple of hotels sit in the imposing shadow of El Capitan, a favourite of rock climbers from all over the world. Hike up to Nevada Falls to get a sense of the wonderful hiking that you can experience here. For the best views of Half Dome, drive to Glacier Point where you can take photos of the mountain and down into the lush valley you were previously exploring. If you'd rather venture away from the crowds, why not head up to Tuolumne Meadows, hike a section of the Cloud’s Rest Trail, take a swim in Tenaya Lake or drive north to Hetch Hetchy Valley. Your time here will fly by and by the time you leave you’ll most likely be planning your next trip!

Day 4: Drive to Death Valley 

This is your “big drive day”. It may be long, but it is also full of stunning scenery and landscapes, so endless games of eye-spy shouldn’t be necessary! We suggest hitting the road nice and early, and the first part of this drive will certainly keep you fully enthralled. You’ll be travelling through Yosemite National Park, where there will be a lot of handy lay-by’s so you can pull in and take a moment to appreciate your surroundings.

Once you leave Yosemite and head towards Death Valley, your scenery will really start to change. The road cuts through the dusty landscape, with the Kings Canyon rugged mountain range on one side, and the dry open desert on the other, it really is quite spectacular.

Upon entering Death Valley we suggest you head to the visitor centre – find out when the sun sets and try to catch that if you can; the colours highlight the many moods of Death Valley and is not to be missed!

In the evening relax and re-charge as you prepare for the next chapter of your adventure.

Day 5: Death Valley to Las Vegas 

After a good night sleep, you have a couple of options for today. Our preference is to spend the morning in Death Valley, where you can pay a visit to the National Park Visitors Centre and find a good walking trail in the local area. You’ll still have plenty of time to get to Sin City, drop off your car and hit the ground running. Alternatively, you can head off early – it takes around 2 hours to reach Las Vegas. If you can’t wait to get to the bright lights don’t worry – it’s non-stop 24 hours a day here!

Day 6: Las Vegas

Today you have the whole day to play with, and Vegas has a lot to offer. If you are after some R & R, why not spend a relaxing morning at the hotel pool, the perfect place to unwind, read a book, and have a quick dip.

Las Vegas is a sensory overload – it’s hot, exciting, loud, and colourful, and most of all a lot of fun! Take it for what it is and enjoy the whirlwind; most hotels on ‘The Strip’ have their own casino and some are even linked by undercover walkways.

If you don’t want to spend all of your time gambling, there is plenty else to distract you! Enjoy the fairground rides (a great roller-coaster at the New York New York), take in a show or check out who is in residence (previously Elton John, Celine Dion, Prince), and enjoy the wide variety of restaurants, clubs and bars.

If the Grand Canyon is on your bucket list, we can arrange a day trip out to the Canyon for a full day of exploration, including a stop at the infamous Hoover Dam, various look-out spots around the Canyon, and a visit to the Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitors Center. If a full day tour is a bit long, how about a spectacular helicopter trip over the Canyon? Seeing the Grand Canyon from above really is a fantastic experience, and something you’ll never forget! 

Day 7: Depart Las Vegas

Your USA road trip has come to an end - you’ve had the opportunity to explore a wonderfully bohemian city, drive through stunning landscapes, enjoy hiking through wonderful scenery, and finish on a high in the desert - now it’s time to make your own way to the airport for your onwards flight.