Itinerary
- Day 1
San Francisco to Monterey
You'll pick up your rental car and head south toward the Pacific coast. The drive to Monterey takes you through about 200 km of California landscape. This former Spanish colonial capital has a real connection to John Steinbeck's writing, so there's literary history woven through the town. By evening you'll be settled into Monterey with time to walk around and get your bearings before the coastal driving really starts.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Landmarks Monterey 
- Day 2
Monterey to Santa Barbara
Today's a full driving day down the California coast covering roughly 400 km. You'll have chances to stop in Carmel if you want to wander the shops and galleries there. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park sits along the route if you're up for a hike through redwoods and coastal views. Later you can continue south to Santa Barbara, the old Spanish mission town, where you might grab lunch or explore before finding your accommodation for the night.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Stop in Carmel
- Short walk in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Landmarks Carmel Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Santa Barbara 
- Day 3
Santa Barbara to Los Angeles
The drive to Los Angeles is about 150 km, so it's a shorter driving day compared to yesterday. LA is the second largest metropolitan area in the US and functions as California's cultural and business hub. You'll have the afternoon and evening to settle in, find your hotel, and maybe grab dinner somewhere to get a feel for the city's food scene.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Los Angeles 
- Day 4
Los Angeles
You've got a full day to explore LA at your own pace. If you're interested in Hollywood and the entertainment industry, you can check out the Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre. Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive work well if shopping appeals to you. For something more active, Griffith Park offers hiking trails with views back over the city. Alternatively, head to Santa Monica to walk the beach promenade. Universal Studios is an option too if you want a full theme park day. How you spend it really depends on what interests you most.
Optional Activities
- Visit Beverly Hills
- Visit Hollywood
- Visit Rodeo Drive
- Visit Universal Studios
- Walk along Santa Monica beach promenade
- Hike in Griffith Park
Landmarks Beverly Hills Hollywood Rodeo Drive Universal Studios Santa Monica Griffith Park 
- Day 5
Los Angeles to Death Valley
You're driving into the Mojave Desert today, heading toward Death Valley National Park. This stretch covers approximately 470 km, so it's a long drive but the landscape changes dramatically as you move east. The colors and terrain become increasingly stark and beautiful. By evening you'll be in or near Death Valley, and the desert air feels completely different from the coastal areas you've left behind.
Landmarks Death Valley National Park - Day 6
Death Valley
Death Valley is yours to explore today. The park has some extraordinary features, including Badwater Basin which sits 85.5 meters below sea level and is the lowest point in North America. You can walk out to that location for the unusual experience of standing so far below sea level. If you prefer to relax, the hotel has a pool where you can cool off in the afternoon heat. There are optional activities like tennis or golf available if you want something more structured, but the pace here is really up to you.
Optional Activities
- Visit Badwater Basin
- Tennis at hotel (for a fee)
- Golf at hotel (for a fee)
Landmarks Badwater Basin - Day 7
Zion National Park
You'll head out to Zion National Park and take in the dramatic landscape with its rugged cliffs and desert surroundings. The drive covers about 470 km, so you'll want to start early and plan for breaks along the way. Once you arrive, there's plenty to see with the scenic attractions throughout the park and chances to spot wildlife if you're patient. By evening, you'll settle in at Red Cliffs Lodge for the night, which puts you in a good spot for exploring more of the park the next day.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Zion National Park
Landmarks Zion National Park - Day 8
Death Valley to Bryce Canyon
Today you're driving about 140 km to Bryce Canyon National Park. The landscape shifts again as you move north and gain elevation. Bryce Canyon has these distinctive rock formations called hoodoos that reach up to 60 meters high. They were created over thousands of years through freeze-thaw cycles and erosion working on the colorful rock layers. When you arrive, you'll get your first views of this natural amphitheater, and it's worth finding a viewpoint for sunset if your timing works out.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Bryce Canyon National Park - Day 9
Bryce Canyon
You have the full day to take in Bryce Canyon. The rock formations are genuinely unusual and worth spending time exploring. If you're up for hiking, the Rim Walk trail offers great views and gets you closer to the hoodoos themselves. You can also just drive the rim and stop at various pullouts, which is less strenuous but still gives you the perspective of the canyon. Either way, the colors in the rock are most dramatic in morning and late afternoon light.
Optional Activities
- Hike along the Rim Walk
Landmarks Rim Walk - Day 10
Bryce Canyon to Lake Powell
You're driving roughly 250 km to Lake Powell today. This is the second largest man-made lake in North America, created when they dammed the Colorado River. The lake actually stretches about 300 km from Page, Arizona up into Utah. The landscape along the route shows the transition from the high plateaus near Bryce down toward the lake basin, and it's quite a visual change. You'll likely spend the evening getting oriented to this water-based landscape after so much dry desert driving.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Landmarks Lake Powell 
- Day 11
Lake Powell to Grand Canyon
Today you're driving approximately 205 km from Lake Powell to Grand Canyon National Park. The route takes you further east across the Colorado Plateau. You'll be heading toward one of the most famous natural wonders in North America. By afternoon you'll start seeing hints of the canyon in the landscape, and then suddenly you arrive at the rim and see the full scale of it. The Grand Canyon has a way of being even larger than photos suggest.
Landmarks Grand Canyon National Park 
- Day 12
Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon day gives you flexibility in how you experience it. You can hike along the rim trails, which offer different perspectives and the physical engagement of the hike itself. The views from various overlooks are extensive and constantly changing with light and weather. If you want something more intense, there's an option to book a helicopter flight that shows you the full dimensions and depth of the canyon from the air. That's a pricier choice but gives a completely different perspective than ground-level views.
Included Activities
- Hike along the edge of the Grand Canyon
Optional Activities
- Helicopter sightseeing flight
Landmarks Grand Canyon National Park - Day 13
Grand Canyon to Las Vegas
Your final drive of the road trip takes you to Las Vegas, covering approximately 450 km. Las Vegas sits at the end of this journey through California and into the desert and canyon country. When you arrive, you'll either return your rental car or, if you want to extend your trip further, you can arrange that with your hotel or rental company. Either way, you've covered a lot of ground and seen landscapes that shifted dramatically from coast to desert to canyons.
Landmarks Las Vegas 
