Western USA Self-Launched Panorama: LA to Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite & San Francisco
8 days · Western United States
Travel Talk charges £1,900
No-markup version: ~£735 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of Travel Talk's 8-day "Western Panorama" loop from Los Angeles — covering the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterey, Carmel, Santa Barbara and Santa Monica. Instead of a 4-55 person escorted coach tour staying in 3-4* Hiltons and Luxors, you'll use a mix of Amtrak/Greyhound/FlixBus, budget motels and hostels, and self-bookable day tours. Big savings come from ditching the coach and guided city tours, and you can pick the backpacker-friendly version or a slightly comfier motel version. All costs are approximate per person, assuming you share a room/use a hostel dorm. Note this replaces 4* hotels with hostels/motels — expect a more basic but still clean and well-located standard.
Day-by-day
Arrive Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Land at LAX. Skip the airport Hilton and stay near the beach or Hollywood for a better backpacker vibe. If you're coming off a long flight, keep it simple: pick up an LA Metro TAP card (£2), sort a US SIM/eSIM (£8-15), and walk Santa Monica or Venice Beach in the evening. Book your onward transport tonight — Amtrak Thruway/Greyhound from LA to Las Vegas runs frequently.
🚌Fly into LAX; LA Metro/bus from airport ~£2; FlyAway bus ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm or budget motel (e.g. HI Santa Monica or a Hollywood budget motel) — approx £28-40/night
- →Venice Beach / Santa Monica boardwalk stroll
- →Pick up Metro TAP card & US eSIM
LA to Las Vegas via the Mojave
Las Vegas
Instead of a driven scenic coach route, take the Greyhound or FlixBus from LA to Las Vegas (~£20-30, 5-6 hrs) or Amtrak Thruway — you still cross the Mojave and get desert views out the window. Arrive and stay on or near the Strip in a budget casino-hotel (the Excalibur, Circus Circus or a downtown hostel). Evening: walk the Strip, see the Bellagio fountains (free), and optionally book a Las Vegas evening tour or the Neon Museum via GetYourGuide.
🚌Greyhound/FlixBus LA-Las Vegas ~£20-30
🛏Budget casino hotel or hostel on/near the Strip (e.g. Circus Circus, Excalibur, or a downtown hostel) — approx £35-55/night if shared
- →Mojave Desert crossing by bus
- →Walk the Las Vegas Strip & Bellagio fountains
- →Optional: Neon Museum / Vegas evening tour (~£25-35)
Death Valley day trip, then north
Death Valley & Mammoth Lakes
Join a self-bookable small-group Death Valley day tour from Las Vegas via GetYourGuide/Viator (~£100-130 including park fees) — covers Zabriskie Point, Furnace Creek and Badwater Basin. Alternatively, rent a car for a day (~£45 split 2-4 ways + fuel) and drive yourself. In the evening take the overnight or late Greyhound/Amtrak Thruway route north toward Mammoth Lakes/Bishop (long journey — plan an overnight in Bishop or Mammoth). Note: if you prefer an easier route, skip Mammoth and head directly toward Yosemite via Fresno.
🚌Death Valley day tour ~£100-130; evening bus north ~£30-40
🛏Budget motel in Bishop/Mammoth Lakes — approx £45-60/night shared (mountain towns are pricier)
- →Zabriskie Point sunrise/sunset viewpoint
- →Furnace Creek Visitor Center
- →Badwater Basin salt flats
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite
Make your way to Yosemite (via Fresno/ESTA bus or your own car). Park entry is £25-30/US$35 per vehicle (or free with the America the Beautiful annual pass ~£65 if you're doing multiple parks). Self-guide the valley floor: walk the paved loop to Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Fall, and El Capitan/Half Dome viewpoints. Free park shuttle buses cover the valley. If Tioga Pass is open (usually June-Oct), the scenic drive over the Sierra is spectacular. Overnight in Modesto or Merced (cheaper than park lodges) or camp in the valley if you booked ahead.
🚌Bus/ESTA to Yosemite ~£15-25; park entrance ~£30; free valley shuttle
🛏Budget motel in Merced/Modesto or Yosemite campground — approx £25-45/night shared
- →Yosemite Valley loop walk
- →Yosemite Falls & Bridalveil Fall
- →El Capitan & Half Dome viewpoints
- →Optional: giant sequoia walk at Mariposa Grove
Modesto/Merced to San Francisco
San Francisco
Take Amtrak San Joaquins or Greyhound from Merced/Modesto to the Bay Area (~£20-30, 3-4 hrs), or continue by car. Arrive in San Francisco and settle into a hostel near Union Square or in the Mission. Do a free self-guided walking route: Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, and up to Coit Tower for sunset views. Skip the paid city tour — SF is very walkable and the cable car (~£6) is your fun transport option.
🚌Amtrak/Greyhound to SF ~£20-30; Muni/cable car ~£3-6
🛏Hostel dorm (e.g. HI San Francisco Downtown or Green Tortoise) — approx £30-45/night
- →Self-guided Chinatown / North Beach walk
- →Coit Tower & Telegraph Hill viewpoint
- →Union Square & Market Street
San Francisco full day
San Francisco
Free day in SF. Ride the cable car to Fisherman's Wharf, see Alcatraz from the shoreline (or book the official Alcatraz ferry ~£35-40 in advance — it books out weeks ahead), walk the Golden Gate Bridge or rent a bike across it. Optional add-ons self-bookable via GetYourGuide: a Bay cruise (~£25), a Napa/Sonoma wine country day tour (~£110-140), or the Muir Woods + Sausalito tour (~£80-100). Eat clam chowder and sourdough at the wharf.
🚌Muni day pass ~£4-6
🛏Hostel dorm in SF — approx £30-45/night
- →Cable car to Fisherman's Wharf
- →Golden Gate Bridge walk or bike ride
- →Optional: Alcatraz ferry (~£38)
- →Optional: Napa/Sonoma wine tour (~£120)
- →Optional: Bay cruise (~£25)
Pacific Coast: Monterey, Carmel & Central Coast
Monterey / Central Coast
Head down the coast. Option A: Amtrak Thruway bus to Salinas then local bus to Monterey (~£20-30). Option B: rent a car for the coastal stretch if you want flexibility (split cost ~£35 pp). Visit Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, and the 17-Mile Drive/Carmel-by-the-Sea by local bus or car. Continue south via Paso Robles toward San Luis Obispo or Santa Maria, staying in a budget motel there.
🚌Amtrak Thruway/local bus or shared car ~£20-35
🛏Budget motel in San Luis Obispo/Santa Maria — approx £45-60/night shared
- →Monterey Fisherman's Wharf & Cannery Row
- →Carmel-by-the-Sea stroll
- →Optional: 17-Mile Drive scenic route
- →Paso Robles wine-country stop
Santa Barbara, Santa Monica & return to LA
Santa Barbara / Santa Monica / Los Angeles
Take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner south through the Santa Ynez Valley wine country to Santa Barbara (~£15-20) — one of the most scenic rail journeys in the US. Wander Santa Barbara's State Street and Mission. Continue on the Surfliner to LA, getting off at Santa Monica for a beach stop and pier lunch before finishing in Los Angeles (Hollywood/Beverly Hills by Metro or a self-guided walk). Trip ends back in LA — book your onward flight for the evening or stay an extra night.
🚌Amtrak Pacific Surfliner ~£15-25; LA Metro ~£2-4
🛏None included (or budget hostel near LAX if staying an extra night ~£30-40)
- →Amtrak Pacific Surfliner coastal rail journey
- →Santa Barbara waterfront & Mission
- →Santa Monica Pier
- →Self-guided Hollywood & Beverly Hills walk
Self-launched vs. Travel Talk
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Talk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£735 | £1,900 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,165 per person (61%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Talk-style trips? Check them out here.~£735
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 Panorama: LA to Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite & San Francisco cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £735 per person for 8 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 £1,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £735 — a saving of roughly £1,165 (61%) per person.
How long is the Western United States trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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, budget 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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