Western USA Self-Launched: LA to San Francisco National Parks Loop
15 days · Western United States
Travel Talk charges £2,400
No-markup version: ~£1,980 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, solo-friendly version of Travel Talk's 15-day "Western Discovery" coach tour — same loop (LA, San Diego, Palm Springs, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce, Zion, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco, Big Sur coast) but done independently using National Park shuttles, Greyhound/FlixBus, Amtrak, and self-booked hostel/motel stays. You skip the big coach group and pricey 3-4* hotels, drive yourself or hop on public transport, and cook some meals from supermarkets (exactly what the tour reviews recommend anyway). Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Land at LAX and get the free FlyAway bus (£7) to Union Station, or a shared shuttle. Check into a hostel in Hollywood or Santa Monica. Wander the Hollywood Walk of Fame on foot for free, grab a supermarket dinner (Trader Joe's/Ralphs), and set up your National Park America the Beautiful annual pass (£65) online — it pays for itself after two parks.
🚌LAX FlyAway bus to Union Station ~£7; LA Metro day pass ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm in Hollywood or Santa Monica (~£20/night)
- →Hollywood Walk of Fame (free)
- →Griffith Observatory sunset (free, LA Metro)
- →Buy America the Beautiful annual park pass
Day trip to San Diego
San Diego
Take the Pacific Surfliner Amtrak train (booked in advance, ~£25-30 each way, 2h45) from LA Union Station to San Diego. Walk the Gaslamp Quarter, the Embarcadero and Seaport Village for free, then poke around the harbour marketplace. Return to LA in the evening — the coastal-views stretch past San Clemente is the highlight.
🚌Amtrak Pacific Surfliner LA–San Diego return ~£55
🛏Hostel dorm in Hollywood or Santa Monica (~£20/night)
- →Seaport Village & Embarcadero walk
- →Gaslamp Quarter
- →Amtrak Pacific Surfliner coastal ride
Palm Springs & Scottsdale
Phoenix / Scottsdale
FlixBus or Greyhound LA to Phoenix (~£35-45, 6-7h) — a cheaper, slower alternative to a car. Stop off (or detour) in Palm Springs to see the San Jacinto Mountains and the wind-turbine fields near San Gorgonio Pass from the bus window. Settle into an Old Town Scottsdale hostel and walk the free art district.
🚌FlixBus/Greyhound LA–Phoenix ~£40
🛏Budget motel/hostel near Old Town Scottsdale (~£35/night)
- →Palm Springs sightseeing (Palm Canyon Drive)
- →Wind turbine valley views
- →Old Town Scottsdale walk
Sonoran Desert & Sedona to the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon South Rim
The reason to rent a car: there is no practical public transport to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix. Pick up a compact rental (~£30-35/day including basic insurance) and drive north via the Sonoran Desert and Sedona (Cathedral Rock & Oak Creek Canyon viewpoints — free roadside stops), then on to Tusayan/South Rim. Arrive in time for sunset on the Rim Trail. Book a hostel bed or camp in Mather Campground (~£15 tent).
🚌Rental car pickup, ~£33/day + fuel
🛏Hostel room in Tusayan or pitch at Mather Campground, Grand Canyon (~£20/night)
- →Sedona & Oak Creek Canyon viewpoints
- →Grand Canyon South Rim sunset (Rim Trail)
- →Sonoran Desert drive
Grand Canyon to Monument Valley & Page
Page
Walk the South Rim at sunrise, then take the free park shuttle to Hermits Rest or Yaki Point. Drive east along Desert View Drive (Cameron Trading Post stop), through the Painted Desert and the Navajo Nation to Monument Valley — the 17-mile Valley Drive loop costs ~£8 and you can self-drive it in 2 hours. Continue to Page for the night.
🚌Self-drive ~2.5h + 2h + 2h
🛏Budget motel/hostel in Page (~£30/night)
- →Grand Canyon sunrise + free park shuttle
- →Monument Valley self-drive loop (~£8 entry)
- →Painted Desert & Cameron Trading Post
Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon
Start with the Glen Canyon Dam overlook and Lake Powell's Wahweap viewpoint near Page (free). Then drive ~2.5h via Kanab to Bryce Canyon. Pay your park entry (covered by the annual pass) and hike the Queens Garden / Navajo Loop (~2-3h, the best short hike in the park). Sleep at Ruby's Inn or camp in the park.
🚌Self-drive ~2.5h
🛏Ruby's Inn budget room or North Campground pitch (~£25/night)
- →Glen Canyon Dam & Lake Powell viewpoints
- →Bryce Canyon Queens Garden/Navajo Loop hike
- →Ranger talk at the amphitheatre (free)
Zion to Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Leave early for Zion (~1.5h). Take the free Zion shuttle from Springdale into the canyon and walk the Riverside Walk or Angel's Landing approach (permit required for the chains section — apply in the lottery). Then drive 2.5h to Vegas and check into a budget Strip hotel; midweek rates in older properties can be very low if you book ahead. Walk the Strip at night for free.
🚌Self-drive ~1.5h + 2.5h
🛏Budget Strip hotel room, e.g. Luxor/Excalibur-class midweek (~£45/night)
- →Zion Canyon free shuttle & riverside walk
- →Las Vegas Strip night walk
- →Optional: Angel's Landing permit lottery
Las Vegas free day
Las Vegas
A rest day. Wander the Strip and Downtown/Fremont Street, see the Bellagio fountains and the free conservatory, and stock up on groceries for Death Valley. Skip the casino spend; use the Deuce bus (£6 day pass) rather than taxis.
🚌RTC Deuce bus day pass ~£6
🛏Budget Strip hotel room (~£45/night)
- →Fremont Street & Downtown
- →Bellagio fountains (free)
- →Supermarket stock-up
Death Valley to Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth Lakes
Photograph the Welcome to Las Vegas sign free, then drive into Death Valley (~2h to Furnace Creek). Stop at Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin (the lowest point in North America) and Furnace Creek — carry 4L of water per person. Continue up Highway 395 over the Sierra to Mammoth Lakes (~4h). Fuel up before entering the park; there's nothing cheap inside.
🚌Self-drive ~6h total
🛏Mammoth Mountain Inn budget room or local hostel (~£35/night)
- →Zabriskie Point sunrise
- →Badwater Basin salt flats
- →Death Valley visitor centre (free)
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite / Modesto
If Tioga Pass is open (roughly May–Oct), drive the spectacular route into Yosemite (~2h). Otherwise detour south via Bakersfield — check conditions before you go. In the park, walk to Yosemite Falls, El Capitan meadow, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome viewpoints, all on the free valley shuttle. Drive out west to Modesto for a cheap motel.
🚌Self-drive ~5-6h total
🛏Budget motel in Modesto/Groveland (~£35/night)
- →Yosemite Valley free shuttle loop
- →Yosemite Falls & El Capitan viewpoints
- →Bridalveil Fall walk
Modesto to San Francisco
San Francisco
Drive into SF (~2h), return the rental car (drop-off in the city avoids airport fees), and switch to public transport. Walk Fisherman's Wharf, ride a historic cable car (£6 one-way, Powell-Hyde line), and explore Union Square. Book Alcatraz on the official City Experiences site ~3-4 weeks ahead (£35).
🚌Car return + Muni day pass ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm near Union Square/Downtown (~£30/night)
- →Cable car ride (~£6)
- →Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39 sea lions (free)
- →Union Square
Alcatraz & San Francisco
San Francisco
Morning Alcatraz ferry and audio tour (£35, book direct — resellers mark it up). Afternoon: walk the Golden Gate Bridge (free), Land's End, or the Mission murals. Optional Napa Valley wine tour via GetYourGuide including transport (~£90) — or do a cheaper self-guided tasting on the Larkspur/Sausalito ferry instead.
🚌Muni/BART ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm near Downtown (~£30/night)
- →Alcatraz Island tour (£35)
- →Golden Gate Bridge walk (free)
- →Optional Napa Valley tour (~£90)
Coast road: Monterey, Carmel, Santa Maria
Central Coast
Skip the car and take the FlixBus/Greyhound or Amtrak Thruway from SF to Salinas/Monterey (~£20). Spend the day on Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf (Monterey) and 17-Mile-Drive's free-viewpoint equivalents, then bus south to Santa Maria or San Luis Obispo for the night. Budget inns along Highway 101 are cheap midweek.
🚌FlixBus/Greyhound/Amtrak Thruway ~£25
🛏Budget inn in Santa Maria or SLO (~£40/night)
- →Monterey Cannery Row
- →Carmel-by-the-Sea & beach walk
- →Paso Robles wine-country scenery
Santa Barbara & back to Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Continue south by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner (Santa Maria/Guadalupe to LA, ~£30) with the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara coast out the window. In LA, do the free walk of Hollywood Boulevard, then take the 704 Rapid bus through Beverly Hills and Century City. Sunset at Santa Monica Pier (Metro Expo Line, ~£2).
🚌Amtrak Surfliner ~£30 + LA Metro day pass ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm near Hollywood (~£20/night)
- →Santa Barbara & Santa Ynez Valley (train window)
- →Hollywood & Beverly Hills walk
- →Santa Monica Pier sunset
Depart Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Last morning for any missed LA sights (Venice Beach boardwalk, the Getty Center which is free). Take the FlyAway bus back to LAX (~£7) for your flight home. Total self-launched spend is roughly £1,950-2,000 versus the guided tour's £2,300+ once you count optional extras and single supplements.
🚌LAX FlyAway bus ~£7
🛏—
- →Venice Beach boardwalk (free)
- →Getty Center (free entry)
- →FlyAway to LAX
Self-launched vs. Travel Talk
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Talk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,980 | £2,400 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £420 per person (18%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Talk-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,980
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 USA Self-Launched: LA to San Francisco National Parks Loop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,980 per person for 15 days in Western 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 Travel Talk?+
Yes — Travel Talk charges around £2,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,980 — a saving of roughly £420 (18%) per person.
How long is the Western United States trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Western 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 adventure, road-trip, hiking trip through Western 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?
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