USA Road Trip: Vegas to LA

Now's the time to explore the United States on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. Can't choose between exploring big cities and getting out in nature? Fear not, world wanderer. We've thrown that decision out the window of our comfy road-tripping vehicle by combining the best of both worlds. On this 28-day adventure through the West Coast of the United States, you'll go hiking through Zion National Park, ride San Francisco's steeper-than-steep cable car, and lean into Santa Cruz's laid back surf vibes.

Day 1 Las Vegas
Arrive at any time.

It’s time to make some memories! Join your group for a night out in Las Vegas. Head to Fremont Street where you will check out open air restaurants, shops, and nightlife.The choice is yours, just make sure you take loads of pictures because you’ll definitely want to remember this special night.

Day 2 Las Vegas/Zion National Park
Zoom past towering cliffs and massive canyon walls as you enter Zion National Park and ready yourself for loads of exploring! Looking for a challenge? Hike to Observation Point on the Angel's Landing trail and take in the panoramic views of the park stretching out beneath you. Hoping for even more adventure? Head deep into the Narrows and hike through slot canyons with water flowing through them. Searching for more of a relaxing day? Simply walk along any of the other trails you can find and immerse yourself in this beautiful place.

Day 3 Bryce Canyon NP/Moab
Head out early for Bryce Canyon, where you’ll have a chance to walk amongst the famous hoodoos. Check out the amphitheatre and Queen’s Garden trail to take some fun pictures with your adventure buddies! In the afternoon head towards Moab along Scenic Byway 12 passing Grand Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park along the way. If you enjoy slot canyons and sandstone cliffs this may be your favourite part of the trip yet!

Day 4 Moab
Welcome to Utah’s adventure capital—Moab! Get ready for a morning of endless adventure; from rafting through rapids, to hitting the trails on a mountain bike there’s so many ways to enjoy yourself in this natural playground. In the afternoon head out on a hike through some pretty surreal rock formations in Arches National Park with your group. The fun doesn’t stop here, you’ll end the day watching a gorgeous sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park.

Day 5 Moab/Glenwood Springs
Welcome to colourful Colorado! Get ready for things to get radical as you arrive in Glenwood Springs, where you can hike at nearby Hanging Lake, rent a bike in Glenwood Canyon, or go for a swim in the world’s largest hot springs pool.

Day 6 Glenwood Springs/Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Next up...good ole’ Wyoming! Spend the day reflecting, laughing, and relaxing as you travel to Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Get out, stretch those legs and maybe hike along the canyon rim, or explore the reservoir shoreline by kayak. Then, get ready for a show as you watch the sinking sun reflect off the red canyon walls and see how this canyon earned its name—don’t forget your camera!

Day 7 Flaming Gorge Reservoir/Jackson
“Yee-haw!” It’s off to the ‘ol mountain town of Jackson Hole—gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Marvel and pose at the town square’s elk antler arches, explore the countryside or splash through the rapids of the Snake River while whitewater rafting during a free afternoon. Then, enjoy a night out in with a true wild western atmosphere and visit a cowboy bar. Step back in time, imagine the run-down saloons and outlaws of the Old West, and try your hand at a little Western line dancing with your travel family at the Million Dollar Bar.

Day 8 Jackson/Yellowstone National Park
It’s off to Grand Teton National Park—home to some of the youngest mountains in the world. You’ll spend the day taking it all in. Grab your camera and your friends before immersing yourself in one of the top 10 visited parks in the U.S. Take a hike among the towering peaks, a quick dip into Jackson Lake, or keep your eyes peeled for signs of wildlife before crossing the Continental Divide en route to Yellowstone National Park, where you will stop for the night.

Day 9 Yellowstone National Park
Wow! Today you’ll visit the world’s first national park and discover the highlights of the Southern Loop. Expect things like, colourful geysers, powerful waterfalls, and scenic beauty around every corner. Snap a photo of the Grand Prismatic Spring—the largest hot spring in America, or queue in excitement as you wait for famous geyser, Old Faithful to erupt. Surround yourself with thick forests, towering mountains, lunar-like landscapes and get ready to embrace the bizarre in Yellowstone.

Day 10 Yellowstone National Park/Bozeman
You guessed it! Today it’s the North Loops turn for a little love and exploration. Spend the day taking loads of photos and experiencing highlights like, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, scenic Grand Loop Road, and the ever-evolving geometrical terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Fort Yellowstone. Then it’s time to hit the road again to the university town of Bozeman, Montana. Get ready for an evening of free time to make some memories.

Day 11 Bozeman/Glacier National Park
Let's keep moving through Montana; known as Big Sky Country. Travel through stunning scenery beneath miles of open sky along the way to Glacier National Park. Smile, learn, and laugh your way through largely untouched land, with over 20 glaciers, and 200 lakes and streams. The park has 730 miles of trails for you to enjoy so it should be easy to hike until you drop.

Day 12 Glacier National Park
Another day, another chance to get out there and live your best life. Grab a friend or maybe a few and in your free time continue exploring Glacier NP with its many glaciers, lakes and streams with your free time. Feel the wind in your hair as you ride along the Going-to-the-Sun road, (voted one of the most scenic drives in the world), or take a selfie once you reach the Continental Divide. Your only real job today is to have a blast!

Day 13 Glacier National Park/Coeur d'Alene
“The Hills are alive…” okay, we know, wrong country, but you’ll be wanting to sing this loud and proud as you drive further west to beautiful Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho! Surrounded by over 50 lakes, this town is an outdoor enthusiast's dream. There’s plenty to do and time to do it; walk the floating boardwalk, go mountain biking, or take part in water-sports on Lake Coeur d’Alene as the day goes by.

Day 14 Coeur d'Alene/Seattle
It’s on to the beautiful, moody, and wild Pacific Northwest. Watch as mountains give way to lush old growth forests and a world of green as you pass into the evergreen state of Washington on the way to Seattle.

Day 15 Seattle
The day is yours! Enjoy Seattle with your travel tribe; visit Pike Place Market, the first Starbucks location, or ride to the top of the Space Needle. Grab a selfie with the gum wall or the Fremont Troll, and make sure you grab a coffee at one of the 2,000 shops around the city.

Day 16 Seattle/Mount Rainier National Park
No trip to Washington is quite complete without a visit to Mt Rainier National Park. Zoom here with your travel tribe from Seattle and enjoy a picnic lunch in the park. Then it’s time to get some hiking done amidst the snowy mountain peaks. Keep your eyes peeled from some of the diverse wildlife that calls this place home. As the light begins to fade and your feet feel heavier from all of that exploring the group will head just outside the park to camp under the stars.

Day 17 Mount Rainier National Park/Portland
Let’s get weird in Portland! Being one of the most popular cities to visit on the West Coast north of California Portland is artsy, funky, full of great food/drink options and not to mention extremely easy to fall in love with. Between the lush green forest, mountains shrouded in mist, and endless craft breweries sprinkled all over the city, you’ll have no problem finding a creative way to get to know this wacky place.

Day 18 Portland/Bend
It’s time to leave the bizarre behind as you make your way to Bend, Oregon, consistently voted one of the best places to live in the U.S. Arrive just in time to find yourself the perfect place to eat lunch. Then grab your buddies and explore town a bit. Maybe you’ll head to another craft brewery, or maybe you’ll try kayaking and canoeing through the beautiful water of Cascade lake. Or even better? Maybe you’ll do both!

Day 19 Bend/Redwood National Park
Rise and shine and hit the road early to take full advantage of the sights at gorgeous Crater Lake National Park. Grab some selfies or just sit and stare in awe at the crystal blue waters of one of the most pristine lakes on earth. Afterwards, head further south to California and Redwood National Park—home to the tallest trees in the world. Spend the evening gazing up at these gigantic coastal redwoods. To get a true sense of the enormity of these trees, try taking a picture of you hugging one of them.

Day 20 Redwood National Park
Wake up to the sounds of the forest before going on a morning hike through these old mystical trees. Don’t worry, it's not all about the redwoods, even though they are really something. After craning your neck for hours you’ll be excited for a chance to look down as you head to the rocky California coast, to enjoy tide pooling and small beach communities as you continue towards San Francisco.

Day 21 Redwood National Park/San Francisco
Catch yourself daydreaming as you cruise along the coast and then watch as vineyards pass by in California's famous wine region en route to San Francisco. Scoot over to the city on the Golden Gate Bridge and stop for pictures at this iconic site. We’re thinking group selfie?

Day 22 San Francisco
Get ready to explore this city by the bay with your adventure pals! Walk up winding Lombard Street, hop on a historic cable car and see the hills of the city, or get sprayed by the ocean at Lands End.

Day 23 San Francisco/Lake Tahoe
Continue on to idyllic Lake Tahoe, a jewel of the Sierra Nevadas. Known for its crystal clear waters and sweeping mountain views, it is truly a nature-lover's paradise. Enjoy a free afternoon for hiking, lake activities or relaxing. In the evening, hit up the Nevada side of the Lake and try your hand at the Casinos. Who knows, maybe luck will be on your side!

Day 24 Lake Tahoe/Yosemite National Park
Say, "see you later" to Lake Tahoe and travel south through National Forests and the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range on the way to Yosemite National Park. Tip your head back and relax or try to spot some wildlife. Once you arrive, hike amongst giant sequoias and past powerful waterfalls before setting up camp. Spend the night telling stories around the fire with your newest travel family.

Day 25 Yosemite National Park
Let your mind wander as you hike through this breathtaking park. Gaze in wonder at Yosemite's magnificent peaks and granite domes before turning your attention to the tranquil nature of the valley floor. Snap photos or simply take in the beauty of one of the country's most beautiful national parks. Keep an eye out for rock climbers and diverse wildlife within the park and consider renting bikes with some friends to better explore Yosemite Valley.

Day 26 Yosemite National Park/Santa Cruz
Leave the mountains behind and head to the coastal paradise of Santa Cruz. Conveniently located between San Francisco and Monterey this beach town is full of great surf, pristine waterfront, redwood-covered mountains, laid-back surfer towns, organic farms, and a growing beer and wine scene. Spend your free afternoon exploring the wharf, vintage shops, and beach coves with a friend or on your own. Either way you’ll be getting a true taste of what the laid back life on the West Coast is all about.

Day 27 Santa Cruz/Morro Bay
Travel down the famous Pacific Coast Highway and marvel at the beautiful coastline and mountain ranges of Big Sur. Have your cameras handy as you will be making multiple stops along the way at places you won't want to miss having a photo of. Take in the crashing waves, rolling fog, and sheer rocky cliffs that make this journey down California's coastal Highway 1 an unforgettable experience. Arrive in time to enjoy sunset on Morro Bay.

Day 28 Morro Bay/Los Angeles
Journey along the stunning Pacific coast to the 'City of Angels'. Stop in Santa Barbara for lunch in this famous coastal city as the group makes its way to LA (maybe sneak in a volleyball game on the beach if you have time). Your CEO will point out a few famous neighbourhoods and landmarks on the drive. And even though the trip ends upon arrival to Los Angeles you can certainly book some post accommodation and continue enjoying one of most geographically diverse states in America.