Self-Launched USA Road Trip: Big Cities & West Coast Parks
15 days · United States (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada)
G Adventures charges £1,900
No-markup version: ~£1,650 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, hostel-and-campsite version of G Adventures' 15-day San Francisco to Los Angeles camping loop, hitting Yosemite, Venice Beach, Joshua Tree, the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Death Valley. Instead of a private 15-passenger van and a CEO, you'll rent a car (or hop Amtrak/Greyhound for the first leg), camp in national park campgrounds and independent RV parks, and book the surf lesson and Antelope Canyon slot directly. Costs below assume 2–4 travellers splitting a rental car and campsites and cooking most meals; solo travellers should budget roughly 25–30% more for vehicle and campsite share. Note: from 2026 the US National Park Service is adding a non-resident park fee (roughly $100–250 pp) — check before you go. All figures are approximate.
Day-by-day
San Francisco → Yosemite via Tuolumne Grove
San Francisco / Yosemite National Park
Pick up your rental car early (book a compact SUV ~£30–40/day; split 3 ways that's cheap). Drive east on I-580/I-120 (~3.5–4 hrs) and stop at a Central Valley farm stand near Manteca or Oakdale for picnic supplies. Enter Yosemite and hike the easy 2.5-mile round trip to Tuolumne Grove to see giant sequoias, then continue to Tunnel View for El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall. Camp the night at Hodgdon Meadow or Crane Flat campground (book on recreation.gov the moment the 5-month window opens — ~£20–25/site).
🚌Rental car, ~200 miles; park entry $35/vehicle
🛏National park campground, Yosemite (tent, ~£8–12 pp shared)
- →Tuolumne Grove giant sequoia hike
- →Tunnel View / El Capitan / Bridalveil Fall
- →Farm stand picnic stop
Yosemite Valley free day
Yosemite National Park
Drive into the valley and use the free Yosemite Valley shuttle. Do the Lower Yosemite Fall loop and Swinging Bridge for Half Dome views, or push harder up the Upper Yosemite Falls trail (7.2 miles, steep). Wander the valley floor for El Capitan climber-spotting with binoculars. Groceries from the Valley Store for dinner at camp.
🚌Free valley shuttle, short drives
🛏Yosemite campground (tent, ~£8–12 pp)
- →Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
- →Swinging Bridge / Half Dome views
- →Upper Yosemite Falls hike (optional, free)
Mist Trail: Vernal & Nevada Falls
Yosemite National Park
Catch the shuttle to Happy Isles and hike the Mist Trail — Vernal Fall footbridge is 1.6 miles round trip; continuing to Nevada Fall is ~5.4 miles round trip with 600m of gain. You'll get soaked in spring. Alternatively rent bikes at Curry Village (~£25–30 for a half day) and cruise the valley loop. Campfire and stargazing back at camp — Yosemite's dark skies are excellent.
🚌Shuttle + optional bike rental
🛏Yosemite campground (tent, ~£8–12 pp)
- →Mist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls
- →Valley bike rental (optional)
- →Campfire stargazing
Yosemite → Venice Beach via the Central Valley
Venice Beach, Los Angeles
Long drive day (~6 hrs, 330 miles) south on CA-99 then I-5 into LA. Break it with a stop in Fresno or Bakersfield for lunch. Arrive late afternoon, check into a Venice/Santa Monica hostel, and walk the Venice Beach boardwalk at golden hour — Muscle Beach, the skate park, the drum circle. Dinner at a taco stand on Lincoln Blvd.
🚌Rental car, ~330 miles + fuel ~£35
🛏Hostel dorm in Venice/Santa Monica (~£30–40 pp)
- →Venice Beach boardwalk at sunset
- →Muscle Beach & skate park
Surf lesson & Venice Beach free day
Venice Beach, Los Angeles
Book a group beginner surf lesson directly with a Venice or Santa Monica surf school (GetYourGuide/Klook or the school's own site, ~£60–75 for 2 hrs including board and wetsuit). Afternoon free: rent a beach cruiser on the Marvin Braude Bike Trail (~£12/hr), walk to the Santa Monica Pier, or just people-watch from a boardwalk café. Burrito decision-making is the day's hardest task.
🚌Walk / bike
🛏Hostel dorm, Venice (~£30–40 pp)
- →Group surf lesson (~£65)
- →Bike rental on the beach path (optional)
- →Santa Monica Pier walk
Venice → Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Drive east through LA and out to the desert (~2.5–3 hrs). Stop for supplies in Yucca Valley. Spend the afternoon scrambling the boulders of Hidden Valley and Barker Dam, and photograph Joshua trees in golden light at Cholla Cactus Garden or Keys View. Camp at Jumbo Rocks or Cottonwood (recreation.gov, ~£12–15/site). Night skies here are phenomenal.
🚌Rental car, ~150 miles; park entry $30/vehicle
🛏Joshua Tree campground (tent, ~£6–8 pp)
- →Hidden Valley boulder loop
- →Keys View sunset
- →Joshua Tree stargazing
Joshua Tree → Grand Canyon via Route 66
Grand Canyon South Rim
Long drive (~6 hrs). Route it via Amboy and the surviving stretch of Route 66 through Seligman, Arizona — diners, neon, and the Roadkill Café. Arrive at the South Rim in time for sunset at Mather or Hopi Point with a takeaway pizza from the Bright Angel Fountain area. Camp at Mather Campground inside the park (~£12–15/site) or a motel in Tusayan.
🚌Rental car, ~330 miles; park entry $35/vehicle
🛏Mather Campground, South Rim (tent, ~£6–8 pp)
- →Route 66 drive via Seligman
- →Grand Canyon sunset at Hopi Point
- →Pizza on the rim
Grand Canyon South Rim hiking
Grand Canyon South Rim
Free day on the rim. Hike the Bright Angel Trail down to the 1.5-Mile Resthouse or 3-Mile Resthouse (turn around early — the climb out is brutal in heat), or walk the flat Rim Trail between viewpoints. Bring 3+ litres of water per person. Shuttle buses connect all viewpoints for free. Optional: ranger talk at the Shrine of the Ages in the evening.
🚌Free park shuttle
🛏Mather Campground (tent, ~£6–8 pp)
- →Bright Angel Trail hike
- →Rim Trail viewpoints
- →Ranger programme (free)
Grand Canyon → Page: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
Page, Arizona
Drive ~2.5 hrs east to Page. Book an Antelope Canyon tour ahead (Upper is more photogenic but busy; Lower is narrower — ~£85–110 pp via GetYourGuide or direct with Ken's Tours/Dixie Ellis; Navajo Nation permit included). Then hike the 1.2-mile round trip to Horseshoe Bend overlook (~£8/vehicle entry). Drive on to camp near Kanab or Bryce (~2 hrs).
🚌Rental car, ~150 miles
🛏Campground near Kanab/Bryce (tent, ~£8–12 pp)
- →Antelope Canyon guided tour (~£95)
- →Horseshoe Bend overlook hike
- →Lake Powell viewpoint
Bryce Canyon hoodoos
Bryce Canyon National Park
Enter Bryce early (~£25/vehicle). Hike down Queen's Garden from Sunrise Point as an out-and-back (the Navajo Loop is currently closed for rockfall — check park alerts) to see Thor's Hammer and the hoodoo amphitheatre up close. Drive the scenic road to Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. Optional horseback ride from Ruby's Inn (~£60). Stay for the park's ranger-led astronomy programme — Bryce is an International Dark Sky Park.
🚌Rental car, short drives; park entry $35/vehicle
🛏Bryce campground or Ruby's Inn RV Park (tent, ~£8–12 pp)
- →Queen's Garden Trail hike
- →Inspiration Point & Bryce Point viewpoints
- →Ranger-led stargazing (free)
Bryce → Zion via Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Zion National Park / Springdale
Drive west on UT-12 and stop at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (~£6 entry) for a walk on the dunes — you can rent sandboards locally. Continue to Springdale at the gates of Zion (~2.5 hrs total). Settle into a hostel or the Watchman campground, then walk the Pa'rus Trail at sunset.
🚌Rental car, ~90 miles
🛏Hostel in Springdale or Watchman Campground (tent, ~£8–15 pp)
- →Coral Pink Sand Dunes walk
- →Pa'rus Trail sunset walk
Zion: The Narrows and canyon hikes
Zion National Park
Take the free park shuttle (mandatory in season) from the visitor centre. Hike the Riverside Walk and wade up The Narrows from the bottom — rent canyoneering shoes and a walking stick in Springdale (~£20) and check the flash-flood forecast first. Or do the Emerald Pools or the Kayenta Trail instead. Optional Angels Landing requires a lottery permit applied for months in advance. Evening: campfire and marshmallows.
🚌Free park shuttle; park entry $35/vehicle
🛏Springdale hostel or Watchman Campground (~£8–15 pp)
- →The Narrows wade (gear rental ~£20)
- →Emerald Pools hike
- →Campfire evening
Zion → Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Drive ~2.5 hrs to Vegas via I-15. Drop the camping gear, check into a budget Strip or Downtown hostel/hotel (Circus Circus, Downtown Grand or a hostel dorm), and spend the afternoon on Fremont Street. If you're under 21, note US drinking laws are strictly enforced — plenty of shows, buffets and neon-watching still works. Optional: a night drive to Hoover Dam (~45 min).
🚌Rental car, ~170 miles
🛏Budget hotel/hostel, Las Vegas (~£30–45 pp)
- →Fremont Street Experience
- →Strip walk
- →Hoover Dam drive (optional)
Las Vegas → Death Valley National Park
Death Valley / Furnace Creek
Drive ~2 hrs to Death Valley (~£30/vehicle entry). Hit Zabriskie Point, the Badwater Basin salt flats at -86m below sea level, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Golden Canyon. Check the temperature — if it's above 38°C, keep hikes to 20 minutes and carry 4 litres of water. Spend the night at Furnace Creek or Stovepipe Wells campground (or a cheap room in Beatty, NV if you'd rather escape the heat).
🚌Rental car, ~120 miles
🛏Death Valley campground or motel in Beatty (~£10–25 pp)
- →Badwater Basin salt flats
- →Zabriskie Point
- →Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- →Golden Canyon walk
Death Valley → Los Angeles (trip ends)
Los Angeles
Final drive (~5 hrs) back to LA via US-395/I-15, with a possible detour to the Trona Pinnacles or a Mojave diner stop. Return the rental car at LAX or Downtown and catch your onward flight (allow a buffer for LA traffic — it's real). If you have an evening flight, drop bags and hit Grand Central Market or the Arts District for a last meal.
🚌Rental car, ~280 miles; car return at LAX
🛏None (departure day) or optional LA hostel (~£30–40 pp)
- →Mojave/Trona Pinnacles detour
- →Grand Central Market lunch
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,650 | £1,900 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £250 per person (13%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,650
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 Self-Launched USA Road Trip: Big Cities & West Coast Parks cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,650 per person for 15 days in United States (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada). 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 £1,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,650 — a saving of roughly £250 (13%) per person.
How long is the United States (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada) trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through United States (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada).
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, hiking trip through United States (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada), 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?
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