Best of the US Express: Self-Launched Edition
18 days · United States
G Adventures charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£1,480 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An epic 18-day coast-to-coast self-launched adventure from New York City to San Francisco, hitting the USA's greatest hits — Times Square, Niagara Falls, Graceland, Bourbon Street, the Grand Canyon, Route 66, Death Valley, and more. Ditch the group tour price tag and do it independently: mix budget hostels with a few nights of camping, hop on Greyhound/Amtrak or rent a car between cities, and book activities directly or via GetYourGuide. This self-launched route covers the same iconic stops as G Adventures' NUNZ tour at a fraction of the cost.
Day-by-day
Arrive in New York City
New York City, NY
Touch down in the Big Apple and check into a Midtown or Lower East Side hostel. Head out after dark to soak up the neon madness of Times Square, grab a slice of classic NY pizza, and wander through neighbourhoods like the West Village or Brooklyn Heights. This city is best experienced on foot and at night — no guide needed.
🚌Fly into JFK/LGA/EWR; take AirTrain + subway into Manhattan (~£10)
🛏HI NYC Hostel or Freehand New York (~£35–45/night in a dorm)
- →Times Square night walk
- →Explore Hamilton Heights or Brooklyn neighbourhoods
- →NYC slice of pizza crawl
New York City → Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes, NY
Take a morning Greyhound or drive a rental car (~4.5 hrs) northwest to the stunning Finger Lakes region. Swim in Seneca or Cayuga Lake, hike one of the gorge trails at Watkins Glen State Park (free entry), and round off the day with a wine tasting at a local vineyard — the region is famous for its Rieslings.
🚌Greyhound bus New York → Ithaca (~£25) or shared rental car
🛏Hostel or basic motel near Watkins Glen (~£30–45/night)
- →Watkins Glen State Park gorge trails (free)
- →Swimming in one of the Finger Lakes
- →Wine tasting at a local vineyard (~£10–15)
Finger Lakes → Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, NY/Ontario
Stop at spectacular Taughannock Falls (free, short hike) en route, then continue north to Niagara Falls. Book the Maid of the Mist boat tour directly online (~£20), get absolutely soaked, and stick around for the illuminated falls after dark — it's free to watch from the promenade on both sides of the border.
🚌Greyhound or rideshare from Ithaca/Watkins Glen area (~£20–30)
🛏Hostelling International Niagara Falls or budget motel (~£30–40/night)
- →Taughannock Falls hike (free)
- →Maid of the Mist boat tour (~£20, book direct)
- →Evening illuminated falls viewing (free)
Niagara Falls → Detroit
Detroit, MI
Drive or bus along Lake Erie through Cleveland before arriving in Detroit. The Motor City's revival is real — explore Eastern Market, catch street art in the Corktown neighbourhood, hit a local distillery, and grab a classic Coney Island hot dog. Detroit is raw, creative, and incredibly affordable.
🚌Greyhound bus Niagara Falls → Detroit (~£30–40)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Midtown Detroit (~£35–50/night)
- →Eastern Market exploration (free)
- →Corktown street art and neighbourhood walk
- →Detroit Coney Island hot dog at Lafayette or American Coney Island (~£5)
Detroit → Chicago
Chicago, IL
Head west to Chicago, one of America's greatest cities. Walk the Magnificent Mile, stare up at Cloud Gate (the Bean) in Millennium Park, and grab a deep-dish pizza from Lou Malnati's or Giordano's. Catch live blues on the South Side in the evening — Chicago's music scene is world-class.
🚌Amtrak or Greyhound Detroit → Chicago (~£20–35)
🛏HI Chicago Hostel or Freehand Chicago (~£30–45/night dorm)
- →Millennium Park and Cloud Gate (free)
- →Chicago deep-dish pizza dinner (~£15)
- →Live blues bar on the South Side (~£5–10 cover)
Chicago Exploration Day
Chicago, IL
A full free day to dig deeper into Chicago. Ride the iconic 'L' train loop for panoramic city views (~£2.50), visit the Art Institute of Chicago (~£20), explore Navy Pier, or take a free architecture boat tour on the Chicago River (book via GetYourGuide). Grab an Italian beef sandwich — a Chicago staple.
🚌Local CTA transit (~£5/day)
🛏HI Chicago Hostel (~£30–45/night)
- →Art Institute of Chicago (~£20)
- →Chicago River architecture walk (free) or boat tour (~£30 via GetYourGuide)
- →Ride the 'L' Loop elevated train (~£2.50)
- →Italian beef sandwich at Al's Beef (~£8)
Chicago → Memphis
Memphis, TN
An overnight Greyhound or a long driving day south through Illinois and Tennessee to Memphis, the birthplace of the blues and rock 'n' roll. Check into your hostel, then head straight to Beale Street for live music at one of the free-entry bars. Sun Studio tours (£13, book direct) are a must the next morning.
🚌Greyhound overnight bus Chicago → Memphis (~£35–50)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Downtown Memphis (~£30–45/night)
- →Beale Street live music walk (free entry to many venues)
- →Grab BBQ at Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous or Central BBQ (~£12)
Memphis — Graceland & Sun Studio
Memphis, TN
Find your inner Elvis. Tour Graceland, the King's legendary mansion (~£35 for the basic mansion tour, book direct at graceland.com). Then visit Sun Studio, where Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis all recorded — tours run every hour and cost ~£13. Finish the day with more Beale Street blues.
🚌Rideshare/Uber to Graceland (~£10 each way) or shared shuttle
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Downtown Memphis (~£30–45/night)
- →Graceland mansion tour (~£35, book direct at graceland.com)
- →Sun Studio tour (~£13, book direct)
- →National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel (~£16)
Memphis → New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Head south on the Greyhound through Mississippi to New Orleans — the most unique city in America. Check into a hostel in the Marigny or Faubourg neighbourhoods (cheaper than the Quarter), then hit Bourbon Street for the full sensory assault: live jazz, hand grenades, and street performers until the early hours.
🚌Greyhound bus Memphis → New Orleans (~£25–35)
🛏India House Hostel or HI New Orleans (~£25–38/night dorm)
- →Bourbon Street night walk
- →Live jazz on Frenchmen Street (free, tip the band)
- →Beignets at Café Du Monde (~£5)
New Orleans Exploration
New Orleans, LA
Spend a full day in NOLA. Wander the French Quarter and Jackson Square (free), take a free self-guided cemetery tour (St. Louis Cemetery #1 guided tour ~£20), explore the Garden District on foot, and sample Creole and Cajun classics — gumbo, jambalaya, and po'boys. Frenchmen Street in the evening for jazz again.
🚌Streetcar or walking (~£3)
🛏India House Hostel (~£25–38/night)
- →French Quarter and Jackson Square walk (free)
- →Garden District architecture walk (free)
- →St. Louis Cemetery #1 guided tour (~£20 via Save Our Cemeteries)
- →Gumbo and po'boy lunch (~£12)
New Orleans → San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Long travel day west through Louisiana and Texas to San Antonio. Settle in and walk the famous River Walk — a beautiful limestone waterway lined with restaurants and bars. Visit the Alamo (free entry, donations welcome) in the evening when crowds thin.
🚌Greyhound bus New Orleans → San Antonio (~£30–45)
🛏O'Brien Hotel or budget hotel near downtown (~£40–55/night)
- →San Antonio River Walk stroll (free)
- →The Alamo visit (free entry)
- →Tex-Mex dinner on the River Walk (~£12–15)
San Antonio → Carlsbad Caverns
Carlsbad, NM
Drive or take a connecting bus west through Texas into New Mexico to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The self-guided cavern walk (£12 National Parks entry or use an America the Beautiful pass) is jaw-dropping — 250-metre-deep caverns filled with prehistoric stalagmites and stalactites. At dusk, watch hundreds of thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats spiral out from the cave entrance.
🚌Greyhound to Carlsbad + local bus/rideshare (~£40–55)
🛏Carlsbad KOA campground or basic motel (~£20–35/night)
- →Carlsbad Caverns self-guided tour (~£12 via NPS, or America the Beautiful pass)
- →Bat flight viewing at dusk (free with park entry)
- →Rattlesnake Springs picnic area walk (free)
Carlsbad → Camping in New Mexico/Arizona
En route, NM/AZ
Continue west through the New Mexico desert toward Arizona. Stop at White Sands National Park (~£20 entry) if routing allows — the gypsum dunes are otherworldly. Camp overnight at a BLM (Bureau of Land Management) free campsite or a state park campground as you push toward the Grand Canyon.
🚌Rent a car or join a shared road trip via BlaBlaCar/Facebook travel groups (~variable)
🛏BLM free campsite or state park campground (~£5–15/night)
- →White Sands National Park (~£20 entry, or America the Beautiful pass)
- →Desert sunset photography stop
- →Free BLM or state park camping
Grand Canyon South Rim
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Arrive at the Grand Canyon South Rim — one of the world's truly unmissable natural wonders. Entry is ~£30 per vehicle (or free with an America the Beautiful annual pass, worth buying if you've visited multiple parks). Walk the Rim Trail for sweeping views of rocky buttes, sheer limestone cliffs, and the Colorado River below. Sunrise and sunset from Mather Point are unforgettable.
🚌Drive from previous camp or Greyhound to Flagstaff + shuttle (~£15–25)
🛏Mather Campground inside the park (~£15–20/night, book months ahead on recreation.gov) or Flagstaff hostel (~£30/night)
- →Grand Canyon South Rim — Rim Trail walk (free with park entry)
- →Mather Point and Yavapai Point viewpoints
- →Bright Angel Trail short hike (free with park entry)
- →Sunset viewing (~£30 park entry per vehicle)
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour + Route 66 at Seligman
Grand Canyon / Seligman, AZ
For an epic bird's-eye view, book a Grand Canyon helicopter tour via Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters (~£180–220, book direct at papillon.com for best rates — this is a splurge worth every penny). Then drive west along old Route 66 to Seligman, the birthplace of the historic highway. Browse the retro general store, snap photos at original 1950s motels, and chat to locals who keep the spirit of the Mother Road alive.
🚌Rental car along Route 66 (~variable)
🛏Seligman Motel 66 or camp near Kingman (~£25–40/night)
- →Grand Canyon helicopter tour (~£180–220, book via papillon.com)
- →Seligman Route 66 historic town walk (free)
- →Angel Delgadillo's Route 66 Gift Shop and stories (free)
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley, CA
Drive into one of Earth's most extreme environments — Death Valley National Park. Entry is ~£30 per vehicle. Visit Badwater Basin (the lowest point in North America at 86m below sea level), the alien landscape of Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and the colourful Artist's Palette. Carry a lot of water — temperatures can exceed 40°C.
🚌Rental car (essential in Death Valley) — ~£35–50/day
🛏Furnace Creek Campground inside the park (~£15–25/night) or Pahrump budget motel (~£35/night)
- →Badwater Basin walk — lowest point in North America (free with park entry)
- →Zabriskie Point overlook (free with park entry)
- →Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes (free with park entry)
- →Artist's Palette scenic drive (free with park entry)
Death Valley → San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Drive or take a connecting bus from Death Valley northwest through the Sierra Nevada foothills and into the Bay Area. Arrive in San Francisco by evening. Check into a hostel in the Mission or Fisherman's Wharf area. Walk down crooked Lombard Street and grab dinner in the Mission's legendary burrito scene — La Taqueria or El Farolito will do just fine.
🚌Drive or Greyhound/Amtrak connecting service to SF (~£25–60)
🛏HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf or USA Hostels SF (~£35–50/night dorm)
- →Lombard Street walk (free)
- →Mission District burrito (~£8–10 at La Taqueria or El Farolito)
- →Golden Gate Bridge night view from Vista Point (free)
San Francisco — Final Day
San Francisco, CA
Your last day in the USA. Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge (free), explore Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, take the ferry to Alcatraz Island (~£38, book weeks ahead at alcatrazcruises.com — it sells out fast), and ride a historic cable car (~£7). End your trip with a sunset beer at a rooftop bar in the Mission or a clam chowder bread bowl at the Wharf.
🚌Muni transit (~£5/day) — depart via SFO
🛏HI San Francisco (~£35–50/night — depart from here)
- →Golden Gate Bridge walk (free)
- →Alcatraz Island ferry and audio tour (~£38, book at alcatrazcruises.com)
- →Historic cable car ride (~£7)
- →Clam chowder bread bowl at Fisherman's Wharf (~£10)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,480 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 18 days | 18 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £870 per person (37%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,480
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Best of the US Express: Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,480 per person for 18 days in United States. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,480 — a saving of roughly £870 (37%) per person.
How long is the United States trip?+
This itinerary runs 18 days, covering 18 day-by-day stops through United States.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a road-trip, adventure, backpacker trip through United States, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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