The West in 10 days
Day by day
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Day 1 Land at San Francisco (SFO), drive to San Francisco About 20 km (10 mi), 20 min
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Day 1 · 1 night
San Francisco, CA
Golden Gate Bridge in the morning fog
Highlights
- Golden Gate Bridge and the walk to Battery Spencer
- Alcatraz Island
- Cable cars, Lombard Street and Chinatown
- Fisherman's Wharf and the sea lions at Pier 39
Another night here? With a second night: Muir Woods' redwoods and Sausalito across the bridge, or the wine of Napa Valley.
Inn at Union Square
★★★★★ · 9.4
Chancellor Hotel on Union Square
★★★★★ · 9.0
from €120 a night
White Swan Inn
★★★★★ · 9.0
from €150 a night
Petite Auberge
★★★★★ · 9.0
from €190 a night
Hyatt Place San Francisco/Downtown
★★★★★ · 8.7
from €190 a night
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Day 2 San Francisco, drive to Big Sur About 230 km (140 mi), 3 h
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Day 2 · 1 night
Big Sur, CA
Bixby Creek Bridge on the Pacific Coast Highway
Highlights
- Bixby Creek Bridge
- McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- Pfeiffer Beach and its purple sand
- Point Lobos on the way from Monterey
Another night here? With a second night: hike the redwoods of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, or see Monterey's aquarium and 17-Mile Drive.
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Day 3 Big Sur, drive to Los Angeles About 480 km (300 mi), 6 h 20 min · a long driving day
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Day 3 · 1 night
Los Angeles, CA
Sunset Boulevard's palm trees
Highlights
- The Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood sign
- Griffith Observatory at sunset
- Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach
- The Getty Center
Another night here? With a second night: Universal Studios or Warner Bros., or Malibu's beaches along Highway 1.
FOUND Hotels, Santa Monica, Series by Marriott
★★★★★ · 9.0
from €200 a night
Residence Inn by Marriott Los Angeles LAX/Century Boulevard
★★★★★ · 8.8
from €150 a night
Holiday Inn Express Hollywood Walk of Fame by IHG
★★★★★ · 8.8
from €220 a night
Holiday Inn Express West Los Angeles by IHG
★★★★★ · 8.8
from €350 a night
Residence Inn by Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
★★★★★ · 8.7
from €190 a night
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Day 4 Los Angeles, drive to Twentynine Palms About 230 km (140 mi), 2 h 50 min
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Day 4 · 1 night
Twentynine Palms, CA
Joshua Tree National Park
Highlights
- Joshua Tree National Park: Hidden Valley and Skull Rock
- Cholla Cactus Garden
- Keys View over the Coachella Valley
- The darkest night sky of the trip
Another night here? With a second night: Palm Springs and its aerial tramway, or a sunrise climb in the park.
Cali Desert Oasis w/ Hot Tub + Mtn Views!
★★★★★ · 10.0
Chic Joshua Tree Pad w/ Mountain Views & Hot Tub
★★★★★ · 10.0
Cowboy Pool, Fire Pit, Backyard Chic Ranch Retreat Asteroid by Avantstay
★★★★★ · 10.0
Serene Home w/ Yard - 8 Mi to Joshua Tree!
★★★★★ · 10.0
Twentynine Palms Desert Oasis w/ Pool & Hot Tub!
★★★★★ · 10.0
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Day 5 Twentynine Palms, drive to Seligman About 430 km (270 mi), 4 h 50 min
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Day 5 · 1 night
Seligman, AZ
Route 66 diners and neon
Highlights
- Route 66's diners and neon in Seligman
- Hackberry General Store
- Grand Canyon Caverns
- The old road through Oatman with its wild burros
Another night here? With a second night: drive further along Route 66 to Kingman and Oatman, or ride the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams.
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Day 6 Seligman, drive to Grand Canyon Village About 160 km (100 mi), 2 h
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Day 6 · 1 night
Grand Canyon Village, AZ
Sunset at Mather Point
Highlights
- Sunset at Mather Point
- The Rim Trail from Yavapai Point
- Desert View Watchtower
- A few miles down the Bright Angel Trail
Another night here? With a second night: walk down the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point, or fly over the canyon by helicopter.
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Day 7 Grand Canyon Village, drive to Page About 220 km (140 mi), 3 h
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Day 7 · 1 night
Page, AZ
Antelope Canyon
Highlights
- Antelope Canyon (only with a guide)
- Horseshoe Bend
- Lake Powell
- Glen Canyon Dam
Another night here? With a second night: a boat on Lake Powell, kayak to Antelope Canyon by water, or Monument Valley as a day trip.
1 Mi to Canyon Tours: Vibrant Page Paradise!
★★★★★ · 10.0
3 Mi to Lake Powell: Home w/ Patio & Waterfall
★★★★★ · 10.0
3 Mi to Lake Powell: Pet-friendly Page Home
★★★★★ · 10.0
4 Mi to Lake Powell: Retreat w/ Game Room!
★★★★★ · 10.0
Fire Pit & Mountain Views: Horseshoe Bend Retreat
★★★★★ · 10.0
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Day 8 Page, drive to Springdale About 190 km (120 mi), 2 h 50 min
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Day 8 · 1 night
Springdale, UT
Zion and the Virgin River
Highlights
- Zion's scenic drive by shuttle bus
- Riverside Walk along the Virgin River
- Emerald Pools
- Canyon Overlook Trail
Another night here? With a second night: walk The Narrows through the river, or climb to Angels Landing (with a permit).
Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites
★★★★★ · 10.0
from €170 a night
Desert Pearl Inn
★★★★★ · 10.0
Canyon Vista Lodge
★★★★★ · 9.6
Cable Mountain Lodge
★★★★★ · 9.5
from €180 a night
Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale/Zion National Park
★★★★★ · 9.4
from €200 a night
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Day 9 Springdale, drive to Furnace Creek About 470 km (290 mi), 5 h 30 min · a long driving day
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Day 9 · 1 night
Furnace Creek, CA
Badwater Basin in Death Valley
Highlights
- Badwater Basin, 86 metres below sea level
- Zabriskie Point at sunrise
- Artists Drive and Artists Palette
- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Another night here? With a second night: Dante's View and the Racetrack, or a night under the stars. Not in summer: it is the hottest place on earth.
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Day 10 Furnace Creek, drive to Las Vegas About 200 km (120 mi), 2 h 40 min
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Day 10 · 1 night
Las Vegas, NV
The Strip at night
Highlights
- The Strip at night
- The Bellagio fountains
- Fremont Street
- A show
Another night here? With a second night: Hoover Dam and the Valley of Fire, or a helicopter over the Strip.
South Point Hotel, Casino, and Spa
★★★★★ · 9.2
from €60 a night
Hilton Vacation Club Desert Retreat Las Vegas
★★★★★ · 9.2
from €240 a night
Silverton Casino Lodge
★★★★★ · 9.1
from €100 a night
Home2 Suites By Hilton Las Vegas Northwest
★★★★★ · 9.1
from €130 a night
Hilton Grand Vacations Club Paradise Las Vegas
★★★★★ · 9.0
from €70 a night
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Day 11 Las Vegas to Las Vegas airport (LAS), fly home to Amsterdam About 20 km (10 mi), 50 min
Arrange something yourself
A few days with family or friends, a train ride, local transport: a part of the trip you arrange yourself. No hotel and no tours of ours; without the car, no kilometres and no hire those days. Enter what it costs and it counts in the total.