🌉 Best 10-day USA West Coast Road Trip

Arizona

If you're planning your trip to the American West, you've come to the right place! We've visited this area several times and always come back with the same feeling: what an epic journey! There are many places to see on the USA West Coast, so you have to choose carefully to avoid an itinerary that just involves rushing from place to place and spending 1,000 hours behind the wheel. In this post, you'll find a perfect 10-day USA West Coast road trip that avoids this problem and focuses on seeing the essentials, with lots of tips based on our experience.

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10-day road trip along the USA West Coast

Although the ideal is a 15-day USA West Coast road trip or a 3-week itinerary, if you only have 10 days, you'll have to choose your stops very carefully. The distances, although they may seem short on the map, are quite long between points, and you'll spend a large part of the trip driving.

This itinerary, based on our experience traveling along the West Coast of the USA on several occasions, is designed to visit the must-see places, combining nature and cities, and following the most optimized route to minimize time spent on the road.

💡Recommended: Tips for traveling to the West Coast of the United States

With 10 days, the ideal option is to fly to one airport and return from another, as going back to the same airport means driving a lot of extra miles for no reason. In this case, it's worth paying a little extra when renting your car on the West Coast and dropping it off at another office!

Here is a visual map with the 10-day itinerary we suggest to give you an initial idea, but later we're going to talk about each day in detail:

Day 1: San Francisco

San Francisco is our favorite city among the three main cities on the West Coast, and we recommend starting your trip here. Ideally, you should arrive the day before and pick up your rental car at San Francisco Airport (or your rental camper or motorhome) so you can spend a full day exploring the city.

Personally, we love San Francisco: its red bridge, its surroundings, its diverse and colorful neighborhoods, its historic cable car, and, of course, its noisy sea lions. Not to mention Alcatraz!

😎 Although it deserves more days, if you follow our plan with everything to see in San Francisco in one day, you'll get to know the essential places in 24 hours. Other important things to keep in mind:

Where to stay in San Francisco

🏨 Take a look at our post about the best areas to stay in San Francisco and choose one of the five we recommend. You'll find hotels to suit all budgets, including some with free parking so you don't have to worry about parking your car, such as the Travelodge by Wyndham Presidio (breakfast included) and the Cow Hollow Inn and Suites.

Getting around San Francisco

🚍 You can get around the city in your own car, although parking is paid in many areas. Alternatively, we have the best guide to transportation in San Francisco, where we explain all the different types, costs, and passes available.

Best tours in San Francisco

🛳️ If there's one tour you should book in advance in San Francisco, it's the one that takes you to Alcatraz. In our guide on how to visit Alcatraz, you'll find all the information you need, including the cheapest tour.

Which San Francisco airport are you flying to?

✈️ There're two airports in San Francisco, and your flight may arrive at either one. Depending on which one you arrive at, don't miss out on how to get from San Francisco Airport to downtown and how to get from Oakland Airport to downtown.

San Francisco, West Coast, USA — Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Day 2: Yosemite

Distance: 310 km (193 mi)
Trip duration: 4 hrs
Where to stay: in the park's surroundings, for example at Cedar Lodge or Yosemite View Lodge. Check out our post on where to stay in Yosemite.
Things to keep in mind: during peak season, it's mandatory to reserve a time slot for access to Yosemite through the Recreation.gov app.

Yosemite is one of the most impressive and popular national parks in the United States due to its granite mountains, waterfalls, and wildlife. As you can imagine, you won't be alone in Yosemite, so during peak season, you'll need to be patient when visiting.

💡Recommended: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Yosemite | Info + Tips + Maps |

Things to do in Yosemite in 1 day

🚶‍♀️Head straight to the main part of the valley (Yosemite Valley), where there're incredible viewpoints such as Tunnel View and Bridalveil Fall Viewpoint, and where you can see El Capitan up close and the magnificent Yosemite Falls. If you have time, take the Mist Trail to see Vernal Fall.

Then head to Glacier Point, where you'll find the most breathtaking views of Yosemite Valley, with Half Dome dominating the landscape. To get there, take Glacier Point Road, a secondary road that is only open in summer and tends to be quite busy during peak season. The most popular time to visit this viewpoint is around sunset, as the view is absolutely stunning.

Day 3: Mariposa Grove, Tioga Pass, Mono Lake, and arrival at Death Valley

Distance: 455 km (283 mi)
Journey time: 5 hrs
Where to stay: The Ranch at Death Valley or Stovepipe West Village (very close to Death Valley)
Things to keep in mind: Tioga Pass is closed for a few months of the year. It's usually open from June to October, but it depends on the weather conditions that year.

Today is the day to see the tallest trees in the world in person! If you had more time, we'd recommend going to Sequoia National Park to see these giants, but since it's quite a few miles away, we think it's best to stay in Mariposa Grove.

This area is located next to the southern entrance to Yosemite and has a group of around 500 sequoias, so even if you can't see General Sherman (the largest tree in the world in terms of volume), you'll still be satisfied. Keep in mind that you have to leave your vehicle parked at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and take the free shuttle there to Mariposa Grove, where you can then choose the trail that most appeals to you.

When you finish your tour, it's time to get back in the car and drive along the scenic Tioga Road, which is 62 km (46 mi) long and follows the Sierra Nevada mountain range. You can stop at impressive viewpoints such as Olmsted Point and Tenaya Lake until you reach Tioga Pass, the highest point at an altitude of 3,031 meters (9,945 feet).

Once you reach the end, you'll come across Mono Lake, a spectacular salt lake known for its tuff towers, which are very curious formations.

From here, it's about 365 km (227 mi) to Death Valley, but since you won't have time to visit it today, it's best to stay at a hotel near the park, such as the ones we recommended above.

Sequoia on the West Coast of the United States

Day 4: Death Valley and Las Vegas

Distance: 210 km (130 mi)
Journey time: 2 hrs 15 min
Where to stay: in Las Vegas. Read our post on where to stay in Las Vegas, where you'll find a comparison table of themed hotels and other options. Among the themed hotels, we would opt for Paris Las Vegas or New York New York, but Sahara Las Vegas is also very good.

Take advantage of the early hours of the day to visit the hottest place in the world, where temperatures can reach almost 50°C (122 ºF) in August. Since it'll be impossible to visit the entire Death Valley, both because of its size and the heat, make a note of these three must-see spots: Badwater Basin, Artist Palette, and Zabriskie Point.

When you're done, head to Las Vegas, which is just over two hours away. If you have time, on the way you can stop in Amargosa Valley and take pictures with the world's largest firecracker or be a geek at the Area 51 Alien Center.

Las Vegas is the city where madness, entertainment, and fun reach their peak! You either love it or hate it, we've been there twice and still don't know which camp we fall into 🤣

We recommend spending this evening in downtown Las Vegas, where you'll be amazed by Fremont Street with its sound and light show, its atmosphere, and the characters running around.

Day 5: Las Vegas

Spend the whole day getting to know "the Sin City". There are lots of things to see and do in Las Vegas: go inside the themed hotels on the Strip and their endless casinos, visit the wedding chapels (or even get married with Elvis as the officiant), take a photo with the legendary sign, go to a pool party, and be blown away by the nightlife. It's impossible to get bored!

Day 6: Zion or Bryce

Distance: 260 km (162 mi) to Zion and 420 km (261 mi) to Bryce
Travel time: 2 hrs 15 min to Zion and 4 hrs to Bryce
Where to stay: for Zion, you can stay in Hurricane (My Place Hotel) or Kanab (La Quinta Kanab or Quality Inn Kanab). For Bryce, the best option is the Bryce Canyon City area (Best Western Ruby Inn or Quality Inn Bryce Canyon).
Things to keep in mind: there's a time difference between Nevada, Arizona, and Utah (between the latter two only in summer). Since June 2026, large vehicles aren't allowed to drive on the Zion-Mt Carmel Highway between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance. ℹ️ More information about the measures here.

For this day, you have several options: choose between visiting Zion National Park and Bryce National Park, or both. Our opinion, after having been to both on several occasions, is that you should choose just one. Going to both would mean rushing around all day and not being able to enjoy either of them 100%, but it's true that many people do this and prefer to see a little of each. It's a matter of taste!

Zion and Bryce have nothing to do with each other. Zion is very impressive in terms of landscape, with the Virgin River winding between reddish cliffs. Unlike Bryce, it has more hiking options, including the spectacular Angel's Landing trek (its views are among our favorites on the West Coast, but you have to apply for a lottery) or the well-known The Narrows.

Bryce, however, is a quieter park, and although it does have some hikes such as the Navajo Loop, it focuses more on admiring the views from the different viewpoints. Here, nature has worked its magic in the form of hoodoos sculpted by water, wind, and ice, creating a landscape that seems unreal.

If you're concerned about the number of miles, you should know that going to Bryce involves traveling further and deviating from the route. It's 106 miles further from Las Vegas and 37 miles further to the next day's stop.

Bryce Canyon, West Coast — Bryce Canyon National Park

Day 7: Page

Distance: 217 km (135 mi) from Hurricane, 120 km (75 mi) from Kanab, or 240 km (150 mi) from Bryce Canyon City
Travel time: 2 hrs 10 min from Hurricane, 1 hr 10 min from Kanab, and 2 hrs 30 min from Bryce Canyon City
Where to stay: in Page (Sleep Inn Suites or Wingate Page)
Things to keep in mind: there's a time difference between Utah and Arizona in summer. Book your Antelope Canyon tour well in advance.

Page is one of the essential stops on any trip along the USA West Coast. This small town, where there're more churches than houses, is strategically located among several natural wonders that you simply must visit.

There're many things to see and do in Page, but the two main attractions are visiting Horseshoe Bend (the bend in the Colorado River) and booking a tour of one of its slot canyons (narrow sandstone canyons carved out by water over many years).

The most famous slot canyon is Antelope Canyon, which is located in Navajo Territory. It's mandatory to have a guide to explore any part of it. You can choose between this Upper Antelope Canyon tour or this Lower Antelope Canyon tour (both include the admission fee to the canyon). We only visited the Lower Canyon and loved it, even though the Upper Canyon is the most famous. Whichever you choose, book well in advance as these tours are in high demand.

If you want to try something less well-known, you can take this Antelope X Canyon tour, and if you have time, head to the Carl Hayden Visitor Center to see Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. You can also opt for this tour that combines Horseshoe Bend, Upper Antelope Canyon, and Glen Canyon Dam.

🍴In Page, you have to eat at the Ranch House Grille, a family-run Navajo restaurant where the portions are huge and the food is delicious.

Antelope Canyon, West Coast — Antelope Canyon, Page

Day 8: Monument Valley

Distance: 195 km (121 mi)
Journey time: 2 hrs
Where to stay: in Page (Sleep Inn Suites or Wingate Page) or in Monument Valley if you're excited about sleeping with a view, such as at Goulding's Lodge
Things to keep in mind: Monument Valley time is the same in Utah, not Arizona. You don't need a 4x4 to visit Monument Valley on your own. Motorcycles and RVs aren't allowed (campers are permitted). In these cases, or if you prefer to go with a Navajo guide, you must book this Monument Valley tour

The day has come when you'll feel like an actor or actress in an American Western movie. John Ford and Tom Hanks immortalized the landscapes of Monument Valley in their films, but seeing it in person is another story (and a good one at that!). No matter how many places we've seen around the world, Monument Valley is always at the top of the list. That's why we've been there several times—you never get tired of going back 😊

If you want to visit all the viewpoints in Monument Valley and also go to the famous Forrest Gump Point (be careful when taking photos here!), you'll need a whole day. And if you have time, you can even visit Mexican Hat Rock. Instead of going on your own, you prefer to go with a Navajo guide, you'll need to book a tour like this one.

When it comes to spending the night, you have the option of returning to Page and staying at the same hotel or sleeping in Monument Valley if your budget allows. As you can imagine, rooms with views of the monoliths sell out quickly, and enjoying that magical sunset from your terrace won't come cheap. But hey, life is short, and if you can, book a room at Goulding's Lodge!

Day 9: Grand Canyon

Distance: 210 km (130 mi) from Page or 280 km (174 mi) from Monument Valley
Travel time: 2.5 hrs from Page or 3 hrs from Monument Valley
Where to stay: in Williams (La Quinta Williams or Americas Best Value Williams) or at The Grand Hotel, closer to the park entrance

The Grand Canyon needs little introduction, that gorge carved out by the Colorado River that leaves so many people speechless. An immense landscape, one of those where you can't see the end and you ask yourself... how can something like this be real?

Spend the whole day enjoying this unique place, specifically the South Rim. A free shuttle bus service stops at the various viewpoints. Be sure to visit the Desert View area and enter the Desert View Watchtower, a replica of a prehistoric Indian tower from which you can enjoy excellent views of the Grand Canyon.

If you want to go all out on this trip, taking a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon is something you will surely never forget!

This day we recommend staying in Williams, located one hour from the south entrance. It's a charming and photogenic town set on Route 66, with several restaurants and many hotels to choose from.

Day 10: Route 66

Distance: 350 km (218 mi)
Journey time: 3 hrs
Where to stay: Las Vegas Airport (Holiday Inn Express E Tropicana or Days Inn Las Vegas Airport)

One of the most legendary things to do on the West Coast of the USA is to travel part of Route 66. This historic highway runs from Chicago to Santa Monica, and you'll spend the last day exploring a small section of it.

There're several stops along Route 66 in Arizona, such as Williams, Seligman, and Hackberry, where you can say hello to Charlie the cat for us—he's a super affectionate little ball of fur! 😻 In Kingman, drive under the famous Route 66 arch and eat at Mr. D'z, a very unique (and touristy) diner. If you have time, take a detour to Oatman, where donkeys are the real stars and the access road offers wonderful views.

End your trip at Las Vegas Airport and stay at a nearby hotel if necessary, depending on when your return flight is. The international airport is very close to the southern part of the Strip, so you can stay at a hotel in that area, such as the ones we recommend above.

10-day USA West Coast itinerary map

On this map, you're going to find the entire itinerary and stops that we've recommended for each day:

We hope you enjoy this magnificient and epic trip!

Update date: 27 February 2026

Irene García

Co-founder and writer

I’m a pharmacist, but I discovered that traveling is my true passion in life. I spent 6 months backpacking through Southeast Asia and Australia, and more than 2 years traveling across the American continent in my camper, driving from Ushuaia to Alaska. As you can see, adventure is my thing!

I’m also addicted to dark chocolate, hiking, watching TV series, and I love all the animals on the planet. I’m the kind of person who rescues spiders that get into home!

United States is one of my favorite destinations—it seems to me like one of the most complete and diverse countries in the world! I hope you enjoy my USA travel guides, and if you feel like writing to me once you’re back from your trip, I’d love to hear how it went.