Western Express Southbound: Self-Launched San Francisco to Los Angeles Road Trip
8 days · Western United States (San Francisco to Los Angeles)
G Adventures charges £1,750
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, do-it-yourself version of G Adventures' 8-day "Western Express Southbound" — San Francisco to Los Angeles via Yosemite, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Route 66, the Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree. Instead of a private 15-passenger van and a CEO, you'll rent a compact car (best split between 2-4 travellers) or use Amtrak/buses and shuttles if travelling solo, stay in hostels and budget motels, and self-book park entry, hikes and the odd splurge like a Grand Canyon helicopter flight via GetYourGuide. Costs below assume a solo traveller sharing a rental car with one other person; a genuine solo-without-splitting traveller should add roughly £250-350 for car hire and fuel. All figures are approximate and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive San Francisco — neighbourhood wandering
San Francisco
Land at SFO and take BART into the city (~£7, 30 mins) rather than a £35+ taxi. Check into a hostel in Fisherman's Wharf or the Mission (HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf or Green Tortoise Hostel are solid budget picks). Spend the afternoon walking: Fisherman's Wharf, the sea lions at Pier 39, then a cable car ride up to Nob Hill (~£6, buy a Muni day pass for ~£5 if you'll ride a lot). Evening in North Beach or Chinatown for cheap noodles and a beer. Book Alcatraz online in advance if you want it — ~£27 via GetYourGuide or direct with Alcatraz City Cruises; it sells out weeks ahead.
🚌BART from SFO ~£7; walking and Muni/cable car ~£6-11
🛏Hostel dorm, Fisherman's Wharf area (~£40-50/night)
- →BART airport transfer
- →Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39 walk
- →Cable car ride
- →Optional Alcatraz tour (~£27, book ahead)
Golden Gate, Marin Headlands and drive to Yosemite
San Francisco → Groveland / Yosemite gateway
Pick up your rental car early (comparison-shop via Rentalcars or Kayak — a compact for 7 days runs roughly £280-380 total, so ~£140-190 each if split between two). Drive over the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands for the classic skyline viewpoint, then head east on I-580/I-205 toward the Sierra foothills. Stock up on groceries at a Safeway or Trader Joe's en route — self-catering breakfasts and trail lunches save a lot in the parks. Overnight in Groveland or Mariposa, both ~45-60 mins from a Yosemite entrance. Note: Yosemite has required a timed-entry reservation in peak season (May-Sept weekends and some weekdays) — check nps.gov/yose in advance and book the £2-£3 vehicle reservation if needed.
🚌Rental car pick-up; ~3.5-4 hrs driving
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Groveland/Mariposa (~£55-70/room, ~£30 each shared)
- →Golden Gate Bridge & Marin Headlands viewpoint
- →Scenic drive to the Sierra Nevada foothills
- →Grocery stock-up
Yosemite Valley: waterfalls, El Capitan and Half Dome
Yosemite National Park
Get into the park early (entry is £27-28 per vehicle, valid 7 days — far cheaper than the operator's per-person park fees). Park at Yosemite Village or Curry Village and use the free valley shuttle. Do the Mist Trail toward Vernal Fall (~3 hrs return, steep but spectacular) or the flat, easy Valley Loop / Cook's Meadow walk with El Capitan and Half Dome views. If you're fit and it's spring, the full hike to the top of Vernal and Nevada Falls is the highlight. Drive up to Glacier Point for sunset if the road is open — arguably the best view in the park. Watch for black bears and deer around the meadows. Return to the same gateway town or stay in a park campground if you booked one six months out.
🚌Self-drive ~1 hr each way; free valley shuttle
🛏Same gateway motel/hostel (~£30 each shared)
- →Yosemite Valley shuttle loop
- →Mist Trail / Vernal Fall hike
- →Glacier Point sunset (if road open)
- →Wildlife spotting
Death Valley and into Las Vegas
Death Valley National Park → Las Vegas
A long but epic driving day. Head south and east via Tioga Pass if it's open (June-Oct only) or via Bakersfield and CA-190 into Death Valley — the entry fee is £25-30 per vehicle, again valid a week. Hit Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin (the lowest point in North America at -86m), the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Artist's Palette. Carry 4+ litres of water per person and fill up before entering — this is genuinely extreme terrain. Arrive Las Vegas in the evening, check into a budget Strip-adjacent motel or hostel, then walk Fremont Street for the free light show. Skip the £35 party bus unless you fancy it — the people-watching on the Strip is free.
🚌Self-drive ~5-6 hrs total
🛏Budget motel/hostel near the Strip or downtown (~£45-60/room, ~£25 each shared)
- →Death Valley scenic drive
- →Zabriskie Point & Badwater Basin
- →Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- →Fremont Street Experience (free)
Route 66 and the Grand Canyon South Rim
Las Vegas → Grand Canyon South Rim
Leave Vegas mid-morning and detour onto the surviving stretch of Route 66 through Seligman, Arizona — home of the quirky retro burger joints and vintage motels that inspired Cars. Grab a cheap burger and milkshake. Then head north through Kaibab National Forest to the Grand Canyon South Rim (£25-30 per vehicle, 7-day validity). Walk a section of the Rim Trail (flat, paved, shuttle-serviced) and stay for sunset at Mather Point or Hopi Point — the colours shifting over the canyon are the whole point. Overnight in Tusayan, just outside the park gate, or in a park campground if booked far ahead (Mather Campground fills up fast).
🚌Self-drive ~4.5 hrs plus stops
🛏Budget motel in Tusayan or Williams (~£60-80/room, ~£35 each shared)
- →Route 66 / Seligman stop
- →Grand Canyon South Rim sunset
- →Rim Trail walk
Grand Canyon morning and Lake Havasu City
Grand Canyon → Lake Havasu City
Optional splurge: a 45-50 minute Grand Canyon helicopter flight, bookable via GetYourGuide or the on-site Papillon/Maverick desks for roughly £180-260 depending on route — the one true 'bucket list' add-on that the group tour also offers. Otherwise, hike a bit of the Bright Angel Trail (even 30 minutes below the rim changes the perspective) or catch sunrise at Yavapai Point. Then drive southwest to Lake Havasu City (~4 hrs) via Kingman. Swim in the Colorado River at the free London Bridge beaches, see the relocated 1831 London Bridge, and eat cheap at a lakeside taqueria. This is a rest-and-reset stop before the final push.
🚌Self-drive ~4 hrs
🛏Budget motel in Lake Havasu City (~£50-65/room, ~£30 each shared)
- →Optional Grand Canyon helicopter flight (GetYourGuide, ~£180-260)
- →Bright Angel Trail short hike
- →London Bridge & Colorado River swim
Joshua Tree National Park and Los Angeles
Lake Havasu City → Joshua Tree → Los Angeles
Drive west to Joshua Tree National Park (£25-30 per vehicle) and spend a few hours scrambling among the granite boulders and spiky Joshua trees — the Hidden Valley loop (1 mile) and Skull Rock trail are the easy must-dos, and there are endless free climbing/bouldering spots. Cholla Cactus Garden is a quick photo stop. Continue into Los Angeles (~2.5 hrs), drop the car at a downtown or Hollywood location, then do a self-guided walk: Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame, the Griffith Observatory for the skyline and the Hollywood sign view at sunset (free, and the DASH bus or a cheap rideshare gets you there). Eat at a taco truck or Grand Central Market to finish.
🚌Self-drive ~5-6 hrs; car return; LA Metro/rideshare ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm in Hollywood or Downtown LA (~£40-55/night)
- →Joshua Tree National Park hiking
- →Cholla Cactus Garden
- →Hollywood Walk of Fame
- →Griffith Observatory at sunset (free)
Los Angeles — depart
Los Angeles
Depending on your flight time, use the morning for a free/cheap LA hit: Venice Beach boardwalk and muscle beach, Santa Monica Pier, or the Getty Center (free entry, pay parking). Take the FlyAway bus from Union Station to LAX (~£8, 45-60 mins) or an LA Metro/Green Line combo — far cheaper than a £40+ rideshare. Fly home.
🚌LA Metro or FlyAway bus to LAX ~£8
🛏None (departure day)
- →Venice Beach / Santa Monica walk
- →FlyAway bus to LAX
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £1,750 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £570 per person (33%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
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 Western Express Southbound: Self-Launched San Francisco to Los Angeles Road Trip cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 8 days in Western United States (San Francisco to Los Angeles). 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 £1,750 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £570 (33%) per person.
How long is the Western United States (San Francisco to Los Angeles) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Western United States (San Francisco to Los Angeles).
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 adventure, road-trip, hiking trip through Western United States (San Francisco to Los Angeles), 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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