The Great American Road Trip — New York to LA (Self-Launched)

Arrive any time and check into a hostel in Manhattan or Brooklyn (HI New York or a Bushwick hostel). Spend the evening walking the High Line, Times Square and Brooklyn's Hamilton Heights area for a first-night drink with other travellers. Grab a MetroCard/OMNY tap card for the subway.

🚌AirTrain + subway from JFK/EWR, ~£8-12

🛏Hostel dorm (Manhattan/Brooklyn), ~£35-45/night

• →Walk the High Line
• →Times Square at night
• →Brooklyn evening bar crawl

Take a morning bus or train north. FlixBus/Greyhound to Ithaca runs ~5-6 hrs. Afternoon swim in Cayuga Lake and optional wine tasting at a Finger Lakes winery (~£12-15). Stay in an Ithaca hostel or budget motel.

🚌FlixBus/Greyhound NYC-Ithaca, ~£25-35

🛏Ithaca hostel/budget motel, ~£30-40

• →Cayuga Lake swim
• →Optional winery tasting

Morning hike to Taughannock Falls (free, easy trail). Afternoon bus to Buffalo/Niagara Falls. Ride the Maid of the Mist boat into the falls (~£20) and return after dark to see the falls illuminated.

🚌Bus Ithaca-Buffalo/Niagara, ~£25-35

🛏Niagara Falls hostel/budget motel, ~£35-45

• →Taughannock Falls hike
• →Maid of the Mist boat tour
• →Illuminated falls at night

Long travel day heading west along Lake Erie via Cleveland. Take a Greyhound/FlixBus through Cleveland (optional quick stop) to Detroit. Evening explore Detroit's revitalised downtown — check out the riverfront and grab cheap eats.

🚌Bus Niagara-Buffalo-Cleveland-Detroit, ~£40-55

🛏Detroit hostel/budget hotel, ~£35-45

• →Lake Erie drive-by
• →Cleveland quick stop
• →Detroit riverfront walk

Explore Detroit's cultural highlights: the Motown Museum, Eastern Market, and the Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit is a great cheap city for food and street art.

🚌Local buses/DDOT, ~£5

🛏Detroit hostel/budget hotel, ~£35-45

• →Motown Museum
• →Eastern Market
• →Detroit Institute of Arts
• →Street art tour

Train or bus onward to Chicago (Amtrak Wolverine ~5 hrs, or FlixBus ~5.5 hrs). Evening in the Windy City: deep-dish pizza and a walk along the Magnificent Mile.

🚌Amtrak Wolverine or FlixBus, ~£30-45

🛏Chicago hostel (HI Chicago), ~£40-50

• →Magnificent Mile walk
• →Deep-dish pizza
• →Cloud Gate (The Bean)

Full day in Chicago: architecture river cruise (~£30), Millennium Park, and the Art Institute. Catch an evening blues set in a local bar.

🚌CTA trains/buses day pass, ~£8

🛏Chicago hostel, ~£40-50

• →Architecture river cruise
• →Millennium Park
• →Art Institute of Chicago
• →Blues bar evening

Flex day. Rest, do laundry, and plan the onward route. Many original itineraries split the East and West loops with a flight; work out your cheapest internal flight (Chicago or New York to Las Vegas/Denver) and book early to save.

🚌Local transit, ~£8

🛏Chicago hostel, ~£40-50

• →Laundry/rest day
• →Plan internal flight
• →Neighbourhood exploring

Fly or take an overnight Amtrak/bus east to DC. Most Smithsonian museums are free — plan a couple of days here.

🚌Flight or Amtrak/bus Chicago-DC, ~£60-110

🛏DC hostel (HI Washington DC), ~£40-50

• →Arrive DC
• →Evening walk on the National Mall

Free Smithsonian museums, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Capitol. Rent a bike to cover the Mall efficiently.

🚌Metro day pass, ~£7

🛏DC hostel, ~£40-50

• →Smithsonian museums (free)
• →Lincoln Memorial
• →Capitol & Library of Congress

Short Amtrak/bus hop north to Philly (~2.5 hrs). Walk Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and eat a proper cheesesteak.

🚌Amtrak/bus DC-Philadelphia, ~£20-35

🛏Philly hostel (HI Philadelphia), ~£38-48

• →Independence Hall
• →Liberty Bell
• →Cheesesteak
• →Old City walk

Return to NYC to close the East Coast loop. Fly or continue on to the West Coast depending on your plan. If flying west, use a budget carrier booked in advance.

🚌Amtrak/bus Philly-NYC, ~£15-30

🛏NYC hostel, ~£40-50

• →NYC revisit
• →Museum or Broadway lottery ticket

Budget flight from NYC to Las Vegas (book ahead for ~£90-140). Vegas is the launchpad for the Southwest national parks loop. Explore the Strip on foot in the evening.

🚌Flight NYC-Las Vegas, ~£90-140

🛏Las Vegas hostel/budget motel, ~£30-45

• →Strip walk
• →Fremont Street
• →Optional show

Pick up a shared rental car or campervan (split between 3-4 travellers to keep costs down). Drive ~2.5 hrs to Zion. Camp or hostel in Springdale.

🚌Shared rental car/campervan pickup, ~£35-50/day split

🛏Zion campground or Springdale hostel, ~£20-35

• →Scenic drive
• →Zion Canyon overlook sunset

Hike Angels Landing (permit required) or the Narrows slot canyon. Park shuttle is free with entry.

🚌Free park shuttle

🛏Zion campground/hostel, ~£20-35

• →Angels Landing hike (permit)
• →The Narrows slot canyon
• →Emerald Pools trail

Drive ~1.5 hrs to Bryce Canyon. Hike among the hoodoos (Navajo Loop/Queens Garden).

🚌Shared car drive, ~£15 fuel share

🛏Bryce campground or nearby hostel, ~£20-35

• →Navajo Loop hike
• →Sunset Point hoodoos
• →Rim Trail

Drive south toward Page, Arizona. Visit Horseshoe Bend (short hike, small parking fee) and consider Antelope Canyon (book a slot-canyon tour ahead, ~£60-80).

🚌Shared car drive, ~£15 fuel share

🛏Page hostel/motel, ~£30-45

• →Horseshoe Bend hike
• →Antelope Canyon tour (optional)
• →Lake Powell

Drive to the Grand Canyon South Rim via Seligman on Route 66 — stop at the historic general store and old motels. Arrive for sunset over the canyon.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£15 fuel share

🛏Grand Canyon campground (Mather) or Tusayan hostel, ~£20-45

• →Route 66 Seligman stop
• →Grand Canyon South Rim visit
• →Sunset at Mather Point

Full day at the canyon. Hike part of the Bright Angel Trail for free inner-canyon views. Optional: book a Grand Canyon helicopter tour (~£180-250) via GetYourGuide.

🚌Free park shuttle

🛏Grand Canyon campground/Tusayan hostel, ~£20-45

• →Bright Angel Trail hike
• →Rim Trail
• →Optional helicopter tour

Drive to Monument Valley. Take the scenic 17-mile loop drive through the iconic buttes. Book a Navajo-guided jeep tour for deeper access (~£60-90).

🚌Shared car drive, ~£20 fuel share

🛏Monument Valley campground/motel, ~£25-50

• →Monument Valley loop drive
• →Optional Navajo jeep tour
• →Forrest Gump Point

Long scenic drive north to Moab. Gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£20 fuel share

🛏Moab hostel/campground, ~£25-45

• →Scenic drive
• →Moab town evening

Sunrise at Delicate Arch. Explore Windows Section, Balanced Rock and Double Arch.

🚌Shared car, ~£10 fuel share

🛏Moab hostel/campground, ~£25-45

• →Delicate Arch sunrise hike
• →Windows Section
• →Balanced Rock
• →Double Arch

Day trip to Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park for vast canyon views.

🚌Shared car, ~£12 fuel share

🛏Moab hostel/campground, ~£25-45

• →Island in the Sky
• →Mesa Arch sunrise
• →Dead Horse Point

Drive north to Salt Lake City. Explore Temple Square and the Great Salt Lake before resting.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£20 fuel share

🛏SLC hostel/budget motel, ~£30-45

• →Temple Square
• →Great Salt Lake
• →City Creek

Drive toward Grand Teton National Park. Explore the Teton range and the Snake River.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£25 fuel share

🛏Jackson hostel/campground, ~£30-50

• →Grand Teton viewpoints
• →Snake River
• →Jackson town

Drive into Yellowstone National Park. Spot bison and elk, and see Old Faithful erupt.

🚌Shared car, ~£20 fuel share

🛏Yellowstone campground, ~£20-35

• →Old Faithful
• →Grand Prismatic Spring
• →Wildlife spotting
• →Yellowstone Lake

Full day in Yellowstone: Lamar Valley for wildlife at dawn, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

🚌Shared car, ~£15 fuel share

🛏Yellowstone campground, ~£20-35

• →Lamar Valley wildlife
• →Mammoth Hot Springs
• →Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Exit Yellowstone via Bozeman. Rest and resupply before heading toward the coast route.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£20 fuel share

🛏Bozeman hostel/budget motel, ~£30-45

• →Bozeman downtown
• →Museum of the Rockies (optional)

Scenic westward drive across Montana and Idaho. Stop at Coeur d'Alene lake.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£25 fuel share

🛏Budget motel/campground, ~£25-45

• →Coeur d'Alene lake
• →Scenic pull-outs

Continue west to Seattle. Explore Pike Place Market and the Space Needle.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£25 fuel share

🛏Seattle hostel (HI Seattle), ~£40-50

• →Pike Place Market
• →Space Needle
• →Waterfront

Day in Seattle: Chihuly Garden and Glass, ferry across Puget Sound, and the Museum of Pop Culture.

🚌Local transit/ferry, ~£10

🛏Seattle hostel, ~£40-50

• →Chihuly Garden and Glass
• →Puget Sound ferry
• →Museum of Pop Culture

Drive or take Amtrak Cascades south to Portland (~3.5 hrs). Explore the food carts and Powell's Books.

🚌Amtrak Cascades or shared car, ~£25-35

🛏Portland hostel (HI Portland), ~£35-48

• →Food carts
• →Powell's Books
• →Japanese Garden

Drive the scenic Oregon Coast: Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, and coastal viewpoints.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£20 fuel share

🛏Coastal campground/motel, ~£25-45

• →Cannon Beach / Haystack Rock
• →Ecola State Park
• →Coastal drive

Cross into California and explore the towering Redwoods.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£20 fuel share

🛏Redwoods campground/motel, ~£25-45

• →Redwood groves
• →Avenue of the Giants
• →Coastal hikes

Drive south to San Francisco. Evening at Fisherman's Wharf and a walk over the Golden Gate Bridge.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£25 fuel share

🛏SF hostel (HI San Francisco), ~£45-55

• →Golden Gate Bridge walk
• →Fisherman's Wharf
• →Pier 39

Full day in SF: Alcatraz (book ahead ~£30), cable cars, and the Mission District murals.

🚌Muni day pass, ~£8

🛏SF hostel, ~£45-55

• →Alcatraz tour
• →Cable car ride
• →Mission District murals
• →Lombard Street

Drive the legendary Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) through Monterey and Big Sur.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£20 fuel share

🛏Monterey/Big Sur campground/motel, ~£30-55

• →17-Mile Drive
• →Bixby Creek Bridge
• →McWay Falls
• →Monterey Bay Aquarium (optional)

Continue down Highway 1. Stop at Hearst Castle and Morro Bay. Relax in SLO's relaxed downtown.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£18 fuel share

🛏SLO hostel/motel, ~£30-45

• →Hearst Castle (optional)
• →Morro Bay
• →Elephant seals at Piedras Blancas

Drive to Santa Barbara. Explore the Spanish-style mission and beach.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£15 fuel share

🛏Santa Barbara hostel, ~£40-55

• →Santa Barbara Mission
• →State Street
• →Beach time

Final drive into LA. Check into a hostel in Venice/Santa Monica or Hollywood.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£15 fuel share

🛏LA hostel (Venice/Santa Monica), ~£40-55

• →Venice Beach Boardwalk
• →Santa Monica Pier
• →Sunset over the Pacific

Explore Hollywood: Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory (free), and the Getty Center (free).

🚌Metro day pass, ~£7

🛏LA hostel, ~£40-55

• →Hollywood Walk of Fame
• →Griffith Observatory
• →Getty Center

Beach and culture day: Venice canals, Venice Beach, and the Broad Museum downtown.

🚌Metro/bus, ~£7

🛏LA hostel, ~£40-55

• →Venice Canals
• →The Broad Museum
• →Downtown LA

Amtrak Surfliner south to San Diego (~3 hrs). Explore the Gaslamp Quarter.

🚌Amtrak Surfliner LA-San Diego, ~£30

🛏San Diego hostel (HI), ~£40-50

• →Gaslamp Quarter
• →Harbour walk

Visit Balboa Park museums and La Jolla's sea lions.

🚌Local transit, ~£7

🛏San Diego hostel, ~£40-50

• →Balboa Park
• →La Jolla sea lions
• →Ocean Beach

Head inland to the desert. Explore Joshua Tree National Park at sunset.

🚌Shared car, ~£20 fuel share

🛏Joshua Tree campground/motel, ~£25-45

• →Joshua Tree hike
• →Desert sunset
• →Stargazing

Drive back toward Vegas to return the rental vehicle. Celebrate the trip with a cheap Vegas night.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£20 fuel share

🛏Las Vegas hostel/budget motel, ~£30-45

• →Rental return
• →Vegas nightlife

Rest day. Optional day trip to the Hoover Dam or Valley of Fire State Park.

🚌Tour shuttle/day trip, ~£30-60

🛏Las Vegas hostel/budget motel, ~£30-45

• →Optional Hoover Dam tour
• →Optional Valley of Fire
• →R&R

Budget flight to Denver to begin the Rockies leg.

🚌Flight Las Vegas-Denver, ~£60-100

🛏Denver hostel (HI), ~£40-50

• →Arrive Denver
• →LoDo district evening

Rent a car and drive to Rocky Mountain National Park. Scenic Trail Ridge Road (seasonal).

🚌Shared rental car, ~£20 fuel share

🛏Estes Park hostel/campground, ~£30-45

• →Trail Ridge Road
• →Alpine lakes
• →Elk spotting

Scenic drive west through the Rockies back to Salt Lake City.

🚌Shared car drive, ~£25 fuel share

🛏SLC hostel/motel, ~£30-45

• →Mountain scenic drive
• →Park City stop

Drive or fly back to Las Vegas and onward to Los Angeles to close the loop.

🚌Shared car or flight, ~£60-90

🛏LA hostel, ~£40-55

• →Return journey
• →Evening in LA

Last full day in LA. Revisit favourite spots or do anything you missed — e.g. Universal Studios or a beach day.

🚌Metro/rideshare, ~£10

🛏LA hostel, ~£40-55

• →Beach day
• →Optional Universal Studios
• →Souvenir shopping

Departure day. Head to LAX for your flight home.

🚌FlyAway bus/metro to LAX, ~£8

🛏N/A

• →Departure