Coast to Coast Self-Launched: New York to San Francisco

Fly into JFK, Newark, or LaGuardia and make your way into the city. Take the AirTrain + subway from JFK for around £8 — skip the expensive taxis. Check into a Midtown or Brooklyn hostel and get your bearings. Head to Times Square and grab a slice of classic NYC pizza.

🚌AirTrain + NYC Subway from JFK (~£8)

🛏HI NYC Hostel or Generator New York (~£35–45/night in dorm)

• →Arrive and check into hostel
• →Walk Times Square and 5th Avenue
• →Grab NYC pizza and explore the neighbourhood
• →Optional: Brooklyn Bridge walk at sunset

Spend the morning exploring Manhattan — hit Central Park, the High Line, and the 9/11 Memorial (free entry). In the afternoon, take a Trailways or Greyhound bus north to Newburgh (~£15, 1.5 hrs). Newburgh sits on the Hudson River and has a great arts scene and riverside views.

🚌Trailways/Greyhound bus NYC to Newburgh (~£15, 1.5 hrs)

🛏Primrose Hill B&B or budget motel in Newburgh (~£50–60/night)

• →Central Park morning walk
• →High Line elevated park
• →9/11 Memorial & Museum (exterior free, museum ~£20)
• →Bus to Newburgh (~£15)

Take a morning bus or shared shuttle west to the Finger Lakes region. Visit the spectacular Taughannock Falls (free), swim in one of the glacial lakes, and do a tasting at one of the region's award-winning wineries. Many wineries offer free or low-cost tastings. Camp at a lakeside state park campsite.

🚌Greyhound/regional bus Newburgh to Finger Lakes (~£20, 3 hrs)

🛏Taughannock Falls State Park campsite or Watkins Glen State Park (~£20–25/night)

• →Taughannock Falls State Park hike (free)
• →Swimming in Cayuga or Seneca Lake
• →Wine tasting at a local Finger Lakes winery (~£10–15)
• →Campfire cooking at lakeside campsite

Travel north to Niagara Falls. Book the Maid of the Mist boat tour directly online (~£20) — it's iconic and you'll get soaked! The falls are free to view from the US side. In the evening, walk across to the Canadian side for the illuminated falls display (free). Stay in a Niagara hostel.

🚌Greyhound bus Finger Lakes to Niagara Falls (~£18, 2 hrs)

🛏Niagara Gorge Hostel or budget motel (~£35–50/night)

• →Maid of the Mist boat tour (~£20, book direct)
• →Cave of the Winds walkway (~£15)
• →View falls illuminated at night from Canadian side (free)
• →Niagara Gorge hiking trail (free)

Head south and west to Sandusky, Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie. This is the home of Cedar Point, one of the world's great amusement parks — rides are optional but worth it for thrillseekers. Otherwise explore Lake Erie's shoreline, grab some local lake perch, and camp or stay in a budget motel.

🚌Greyhound bus Niagara to Sandusky (~£22, 3.5 hrs)

🛏Budget motel or KOA campsite near Sandusky (~£25–45/night)

• →Cedar Point amusement park (optional, ~£50 day pass)
• →Lake Erie shoreline walk
• →Local Lake Erie perch fish dinner
• →Optional: kayak rental on the lake (~£20)

Stop through the Amish community of Shipshewana, Indiana — browse the famous flea market and grab a hearty Amish meal at a family restaurant (~£10). Then continue west to Chicago. Arrive in the evening and check into a Wicker Park or Logan Square hostel.

🚌Greyhound bus Sandusky to Chicago via Shipshewana (~£25, 5 hrs)

🛏Chicago Hostel (HI Chicago or Freehand Chicago) (~£30–45/night dorm)

• →Shipshewana Amish flea market browse
• →Amish family restaurant lunch (~£10)
• →Arrive Chicago — walk Magnificent Mile
• →Optional: deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati's (~£15)

A full free day to explore the Windy City. Most of Chicago's best sights are free — the Art Institute has a suggested donation, Millennium Park and the Bean are always free, and the 606 Trail is a great elevated walk. Take an architecture boat tour on the Chicago River (~£30) for one of the best city experiences in America.

🚌Chicago 'L' train day pass (~£5)

🛏HI Chicago Hostel (~£30–45/night dorm)

• →Millennium Park & Cloud Gate (The Bean) — free
• →Chicago Riverwalk architecture boat tour via GetYourGuide (~£28–35)
• →Art Institute of Chicago (~£20)
• →Chicago deep dish pizza and craft beer evening

Take a Greyhound north to Milwaukee. Tour the Miller Brewing Company — tours run daily and include beer tastings (~£10). Then continue northwest and camp on the banks of the Mississippi River. Stock up on supplies at a grocery store for a campfire dinner.

🚌Greyhound bus Chicago to Milwaukee (~£12, 2 hrs), then shared shuttle/local bus northwest (~£20)

🛏Great River Bluffs or Frontenac State Park campsite (~£20–25/night)

• →Miller Brewing Company tour & tasting (~£10, book direct)
• →Milwaukee Riverwalk stroll
• →Campfire dinner on the Mississippi River banks
• →Stargazing from the campsite

Head into Minneapolis/Bloomington to visit the Mall of America — it's free to enter and walk around, with an indoor theme park if you fancy a ride. Then continue west into South Dakota, crossing into the Great Plains and arriving in Sioux Falls. Walk the beautiful Falls Park (free) at sunset.

🚌Greyhound bus Frontenac to Sioux Falls via Minneapolis (~£28, 5 hrs)

🛏Sioux Falls budget hostel or motel (~£35–50/night)

• →Mall of America (free entry, rides optional ~£15–30)
• →Falls Park, Sioux Falls (free)
• →Great Plains horizon drive
• →South Dakota roadside diner dinner (~£10)

Drive or take a shared shuttle west into Badlands National Park. Buy a 7-day park pass (~£25 per vehicle, shareable) and spend the day hiking the moonlike landscape. The Notch Trail and Door Trail are spectacular. Visit Wall Drug for free bumper stickers and quirky Americana. Camp inside the park.

🚌Greyhound/shared ride Sioux Falls to Badlands (~£25, 3 hrs)

🛏Cedar Pass Campground inside Badlands NP (~£18–22/night)

• →Badlands National Park entrance (~£25/vehicle, split with others)
• →Notch Trail hike (3.2km, moderate)
• →Door & Window Trail loops (easy, free)
• →Wall Drug stop (free to browse)
• →Camping under a jaw-dropping star sky

Spend the morning on more Badlands trails, then drive south to Custer State Park. The Wildlife Loop Road is free to drive and almost guarantees sightings of free-roaming bison herds, pronghorn, and wild burros. Hike Cathedral Spires or Harney Peak for epic Black Hills views.

🚌Shared rental/rideshare Badlands to Custer (~£15–20)

🛏Custer State Park campsite (~£20–28/night)

• →Badlands morning trail hike
• →Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road (bison & pronghorn)
• →Cathedral Spires hike (Custer SP entry ~£20)
• →Optional: horseback riding (~£40)

Start with Mount Rushmore (free entry, parking £8) — arrive early to beat crowds. Visit the Crazy Horse Memorial (~£16) — a privately funded monument still being carved, larger than Rushmore. Stop in Deadwood for a quick wander through the historic gold-rush town, then drive to Devils Tower in Wyoming for sunset views.

🚌Shared hire car or rideshare (Custer to Devils Tower ~2.5 hrs, ~£20pp)

🛏Devils Tower KOA or nearby campsite (~£22–30/night)

• →Mount Rushmore National Memorial (free entry, parking £8)
• →Crazy Horse Memorial (~£16)
• →Deadwood historic town walk
• →Devils Tower National Monument (£10/vehicle)
• →Tower Trail walk around the base (1.5km, easy)

Travel west through Wyoming to Cody — the gateway to Yellowstone. Stop at the Buffalo Bill Centre of the West (~£18), one of the best Western history museums in the US. Stock up on groceries for Yellowstone camping. Cody has a free nightly rodeo in summer — don't miss it.

🚌Greyhound/shared shuttle Devils Tower to Cody (~£20, 2 hrs)

🛏Cody budget motel or campsite (~£30–45/night)

• →Buffalo Bill Centre of the West museum (~£18)
• →Cody Nite Rodeo (summer, free or ~£15)
• →Grocery stock-up for Yellowstone
• →Shoshone River walk

Enter Yellowstone — buy a 7-day pass (~£30/vehicle, split costs). Old Faithful erupts roughly every 90 minutes and is completely free to watch. Spend the day on the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalk, Grand Prismatic Spring overlook hike, and Norris Geyser Basin. Camp inside the park.

🚌Shared hire car or tour shuttle from Cody into Yellowstone (~£20pp)

🛏Madison or Grant Village Campground, Yellowstone (~£22–28/night, book in advance)

• →Old Faithful geyser viewing (free with park pass)
• →Grand Prismatic Spring overlook trail (free)
• →Norris Geyser Basin boardwalk (free)
• →Campfire dinner at Yellowstone campsite

Dawn wildlife drive through Lamar Valley — your best chance to spot wolves, grizzly bears, and bison. This valley is world-renowned for wolf watching. In the afternoon, hike to the Lower Falls overlook at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone — a jaw-dropping 94m waterfall. Campfire evening under the stars.

🚌Shared hire car within Yellowstone (~£15pp day)

🛏Yellowstone National Park campsite (~£22–28/night)

• →Lamar Valley dawn wildlife drive (wolves, bison, bears)
• →Grand Canyon of Yellowstone — Lower Falls overlook trail
• →Artist Point viewpoint (free)
• →Campfire cooking at Yellowstone campsite

Drive south through Idaho and into Utah, arriving in Salt Lake City. Visit Temple Square (free), the striking headquarters of the Mormon Church. Walk the vibrant 9th & 9th neighbourhood for food. If time allows, a quick detour to the Great Salt Lake for a float is unique — the water is so salty you can't sink.

🚌Greyhound/shared shuttle Yellowstone to Salt Lake City (~£30, 5 hrs)

🛏SLC Hostel or Avenues Hostel (~£28–38/night dorm)

• →Temple Square, Salt Lake City (free)
• →Great Salt Lake swim/float (~£5 entry)
• →9th & 9th neighbourhood food & coffee
• →Utah state capitol building walk (free)

Take an early Greyhound south to Las Vegas (~£35, 6 hrs). The Strip is completely free to walk, and the people-watching alone is worth it. Catch free shows outside Bellagio fountains and Mirage volcano. Budget travellers can eat surprisingly cheaply — casino buffets and off-Strip diners offer good value.

🚌Greyhound bus Salt Lake City to Las Vegas (~£35, 6 hrs)

🛏Las Vegas Hostel or budget casino hotel off-Strip (~£25–40/night)

• →Las Vegas Strip walk (free)
• →Bellagio Fountains show (free, runs every 15–30 min)
• →Fremont Street Experience (free light show)
• →Optional: Grand Canyon helicopter or day tour via GetYourGuide (~£150+)

Take a budget flight or long bus/rideshare north towards Yosemite. Flying Las Vegas to Fresno is often under £60, then take the YARTS bus into Yosemite Valley (~£13 one way). Alternatively take the scenic Eastern Sierra Highway 395 by rideshare. Enter Yosemite and camp in the valley.

🚌Budget flight LAS to FAT (~£55–80) + YARTS bus to Yosemite (~£13)

🛏Yosemite Valley campsite (Upper Pines or Lower Pines, ~£22–26/night, book far in advance)

• →Budget flight Las Vegas to Fresno (~£50–80) or rideshare via Highway 395
• →YARTS bus from Fresno into Yosemite (~£13)
• →Yosemite Valley first views — El Capitan & Half Dome
• →Valley floor loop walk (free)

A full day in one of America's most breathtaking national parks. Hike the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall — stunning waterfalls through granite canyon. Or take the Valley Loop Trail past El Capitan. Glacier Point offers panoramic views if you catch a shuttle. The 7-day park pass (~£30/vehicle) covers everything.

🚌Yosemite Valley free shuttle buses

🛏Yosemite Valley campsite (~£22–26/night)

• →Mist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls (strenuous, 11km return, free with park pass)
• →El Capitan Meadow — watch climbers on the world's most famous rock face
• →Glacier Point panoramic viewpoint (shuttle ~£25 return)
• →Valley Loop Trail (easy, free)

Take the YARTS bus back to Merced then Amtrak or Greyhound into San Francisco (~£20–30 total). Arrive into the city and explore. Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge (free), hit Fisherman's Wharf for clam chowder in a bread bowl (~£8), and watch the sea lions at Pier 39. Check into a Mission District hostel.

🚌YARTS bus to Merced + Amtrak/Greyhound to San Francisco (~£25–35)

🛏HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel or USA Hostel (~£32–45/night dorm)

• →YARTS + Amtrak/bus Yosemite to San Francisco (~£25–35)
• →Golden Gate Bridge walk (free)
• →Fisherman's Wharf & clam chowder bread bowl (~£8)
• →Pier 39 sea lions (free)

Full day to explore San Francisco. Ride the iconic cable cars (~£7 one way), walk the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square (free), explore the colourful Mission District murals (free), and browse the Ferry Building Marketplace. Head up to Twin Peaks at sunset for a panoramic city view.

🚌Muni day pass (~£5)

🛏HI San Francisco Hostel (~£32–45/night dorm)

• →Cable car ride (~£7 one way)
• →Painted Ladies & Alamo Square Park (free)
• →Mission District Balmy Alley murals (free)
• →Ferry Building Marketplace food browse
• →Twin Peaks sunset panorama (free)

Final morning in San Francisco — grab a coffee and sourdough at a local café, pick up supplies from Chinatown, and take one last walk through the city before your departure. BART to SFO is easy (~£10). If you have time before your flight, Lands End Trail offers dramatic Pacific Ocean views.

🚌BART to SFO (~£10)

🛏Check out of hostel

• →Lands End Trail morning hike (free)
• →Chinatown market browse
• →Final SF coffee & sourdough ritual
• →BART to San Francisco International Airport (~£10)