10-Day West Coast USA Tour Packages
Ever wanted to spend ten days striking the perfect balance between cities, coastline, national parks? Visit Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and head to California's highlights. Cover Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, walking among ancient trees and catching Half Dome at sunset. Desert landscapes meeting Pacific shores all within one epic trip make this classic West Coast adventure perfect.
Insider tips: Recommended 10-day West Coast USA tour itineraries
Compiled by
MelissaWest Coast USA travel expert at TourRadar
9 Day Pacific Coast USA Itinerary, incl. San Francisco and Seattle
The Pacific Northwest unfolds over 800+ miles from Bay Area to Seattle, showcasing Redwood National Park's ancient trees and Crater Lake's pristine waters. Portland's urban charm, Willamette Valley's wineries, and Olympic National Park's diverse landscapes complete this nine-day route.
- Day 1
San Francisco
Get a Muni pass ($13/day) for easy access to cable cars and buses throughout the city. Visit Haight Street in the morning for vintage shopping before the crowds arrive. Book your Alcatraz tour for early afternoon when the morning fog typically clears for better photos.
- Days 2-3
Redwood Coast
Drive 6 hours north to Crescent City on the Pacific Coast Highway. Visit Avenue of the Giants before 10 AM to avoid tour buses. Take the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail in Redwood National Park, an easy 1.3-mile loop where you might spot Roosevelt elk. The coast runs about 20°F cooler than inland areas, so pack accordingly.
- Day 4
Crater Lake National Park
The 4-hour drive leads you to Oregon's deepest lake. Take the 33-mile Rim Drive with its 30+ scenic stops. The East Rim offers the best morning light for photography. Pack extra warm clothes even in summer since snow can stick around until June at 7,000 feet. Bring snacks since Rim Village Café is your only food option.
- Days 5-6
Portland & Columbia River Gorge
Stop in Willamette Valley wine country on your way to Portland. Visit Powell's Books and explore the city's food cart pods. Head 30 minutes east to see Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge before 9 AM. A recent visitor advised: "The spray from the falls can make the viewing bridge slippery - wear shoes with good grip and bring a rain jacket."
- Days 7-8
Olympic Peninsula & Seattle
Drive 4 hours to Kalaloch Beach in Olympic National Park to see the "Tree of Life" growing on an eroded cliff. Pack waterproof gear for the Hoh Rain Forest, which gets 140 inches of rain yearly. In Seattle, visit Pike Place Market at 6 AM to watch vendors set up before the crowds arrive.
- Day 9
Seattle Departure
Plan extra time for reaching Sea-Tac Airport since morning traffic on I-5 can add 30+ minutes. If you have a late flight, consider using downtown luggage storage instead of hotel storage, which often charges fees.
9 Days Pacific Coast, incl. Seattle and San Francisco
Oregon's natural beauty shines throughout nine days from Multnomah Falls to Florence's dunes. Rogue River jet boats provide thrills while redwood forests offer serenity. Waterfront accommodations and local cuisine enhance the coastal experience.
- Days 1-2
Seattle, Washington
Start your Pacific Coast adventure in the Emerald City. "Pike Place Market has such vibrant energy - get there before 9 AM to see the fish-throwing show without the crowds." Visit the Museum of Flight in the morning to explore over 175 aircraft. The afternoon is perfect for Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square. Want to skip the Space Needle lines? Book a sunset reservation at the rotating restaurant.
- Day 3
Seattle to Portland (210 miles)
Travel south into Oregon and stop at Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. "Watching the falls plunge 611 feet was humbling. Bring a raincoat - the mist carries far," shared one visitor. Have lunch at the historic lodge before heading to Portland. Spend your afternoon at Powell's Books, the world's largest independent bookstore. You'll find plenty of craft breweries to explore in the nearby Pearl District.
- Day 4
Portland to Newport (135 miles)
Start early at Portland's International Rose Test Gardens around 8 AM when the flowers look their best. Take a scenic drive through Willamette Valley wine country to reach the Oregon coast. Stop at the historic Yaquina Head Lighthouse in Newport. "Book dinner at Clearwater Restaurant for sunset - the combination of fresh seafood and harbor views is unbeatable."
- Day 5
Newport to North Bend (120 miles)
Drive down the stunning coastline with stops at Heceta Head Lighthouse and Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. "The dunes are otherworldly - wear closed shoes as the sand gets incredibly hot," notes a recent guest. Spend the night at Mills Casino in North Bend with waterfront views.
- Day 6
North Bend to Eureka (215 miles)
Take an exciting jet boat ride on the Rogue River at Gold Beach. Drive south into California's Redwood National Park. "The Avenue of the Giants makes you feel tiny - plan extra time here as you'll want to stop frequently for photos." End your day in Eureka with a visit to the beautiful Carson Mansion.
- Days 7-8
Eureka to San Francisco (270 miles)
Drive through Humboldt Redwoods State Park on your way to wine country. Make time for Francis Ford Coppola Winery to taste wines and see film memorabilia. Spend two nights in San Francisco. "Book your Alcatraz tour months ahead," suggests one guest, "and take a jacket for the foggy bay crossing." Don't miss Fisherman's Wharf, a cable car ride, and a final dinner with Bay views.
- Day 9
San Francisco Departure
Your Pacific Coast journey ends after breakfast. Book an afternoon flight if you want time to shop at the Ferry Building Marketplace.
10 Day California Itinerary, incl. San Francisco and Los Angeles
The West Coast reveals its icons over 10 days, from Golden Gate Bridge to Hollywood Walk of Fame. Marvel at Yosemite's El Capitan, stroll Monterey's Cannery Row, and visit San Diego's Hotel del Coronado with knowledgeable guides.
- Days 1-2
San Francisco
Start in the City by the Bay. Book Alcatraz tickets 2-3 months ahead as they sell out fast. Take the Powell-Hyde cable car ($8 one-way) and stop at Lombard Street for classic SF photos. Visit the Golden Gate Bridge in early morning around 9-10 AM when fog clears and winds are calmer.
- Day 3
Yosemite National Park
Drive 4 hours from SF to Yosemite and arrive by mid-morning to avoid crowds at Tunnel View. Bring rain gear in spring when Yosemite Falls is strongest. Stay overnight in Oakhurst instead of Fresno for better park access.
- Day 4
Monterey
Walk through giant sequoias in comfortable shoes as paths can be wet. Visit the far end of Fisherman's Wharf to see sea lions away from crowds. If you're going whale watching (best from April to November) bring motion sickness medication just in case.
- Day 5
Coastal Drive
Start the 17-Mile Drive at 7 AM before tour buses arrive. Plan 3-4 hours for Big Sur photo stops along Highway 1. Always check road conditions first as landslides can close parts of the route.
- Days 6-7
Los Angeles
Visit Hollywood Boulevard early before crowds fill the area. Skip daytime crowds at Santa Monica Pier and go for sunset when it's cooler and perfect for photos.
- Days 8-9
San Diego
The drive south takes about 2 hours without traffic. Visit Mission San Juan Capistrano right when it opens at 9 AM to enjoy peaceful garden walks. Experience the Gaslamp Quarter at night when it's most active and explore Coronado Island mid-morning after the marine layer lifts.
- Day 10
Return to LA
Take the scenic coastal route through Dana Point rather than I-5. Plan at least 4 hours for the drive to LAX. Schedule flights after 5 PM to avoid rushing.
West Coast USA 10 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
San Francisco to Seattle
Pacific Coast Adventure
Coastal California & Yosemite
Dreams of the West end in San Francisco
Western Triangle - Los Angeles Airport
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks featuring San Diego and California’s Central Coast (San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA) (2026)
Toronto and Western Classics
Northern California's Finest
Pacific Northwest & California featuring Washington, Oregon and California (Seattle, WA to San Francisco, CA) (2027)
Hiking Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite
What people love about 10-day West Coast USA tours
- Pacific Coast Adventure
This was our first ever coach tour. Would we like it? Was it our 'thing'? Well, it was excellent. We have no comparisons to make with other tours but Globus and the Pacific Coast tour lived up to our expectations. All aspects, the other travellers, the coach, the itinerary, the accommodation were good and our tour director, Craig, made it excellent. For us, 40 people together is still not ideal, but for some parts of the world and some itineraries coach tours work and, in our opinion, this was one that worked very well.
- Pacific Northwest & California featuring Washington, Oregon and California (Seattle, WA to San Francisco, CA) (2027)
Overall, our Pacific Northwest bus tour by Collette was good. Later, I will explain why it was not great. First I must tell you that Joel Hoadley, our tour manager, and Tim, our bus driver, were simply the BEST! We had some mobility issues within our group, including a fall resulting in broken bones of the hand, and Joel handled it very well. Proper medical attention was arranged and accommodations made by both Joel and Tim to allow that particular couple to proceed with the tour. (Clearly this tour was beyond their abilities.) Highlights were many! For me, they included Multnomah Falls, stop at Cobble Beach timed in order to see the tide pools, Redwood National Park, (must tell you of a super surprise after we walked the path thru ancient forest: Joel greeted us with Northwest mimosas and Marion Berry pie! As you get older surprises are few, and this was a great surprise in the am.),ferry ride that included the bus, jet boat ride on the Rouge river, Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s wharf, the “gum wall”, dinner at a lumberjack restaurant, and the casino lodgings which had very nice accommodations. The tour itself I felt was rushed overall. More so in the first 4 days. A 15 minute restroom stop just could not be accomplished. Now, why I did not give this tour an excellent? Before we left for this tour, I phoned the Park Central Hotel in San Francisco to speak to the concierge and book a tour of Alcatraz, Chinatown, and Muir Woods as we had extended our stay for 2 days. “Kevin” at their front desk wold me they had no concierge at this time and no one could help with securing sight-seeing tours. Told me they were doing top to bottom renovations, and have limited number of rooms because of it. No restaurant, just grab and go food. As we had already paid for the additional nights, I felt it was not the kind of accommodations we would be satisfied with. Paying full price with those missing services seemed wrong. I left a message for Collette, as it was a weekend and they were not answering calls unless it was n emergency. I didn’t feel it was an emergency and I had the confidence that somehow either Collette or Tourradar would handle my concerns. I then phone Tourradar and spoke with “Ashley”, who was unaware of the situation at Park Central. Ashley took notes and said she’d speak with Collette the following Monday. As we would already be on our tour, she advised me to speak to our tour manager upon arrival in Seattle. I did this, and he felt some adjustment would be made and he’d keep me appraised. Well.....the only thing that happened was that he said the city guide would talk with us after our city tour and help with sight-seeing opportunities. We spoke to the city tour guide and he basically did nothing. I am very disappointed in how this was handled. If we had not extended our stay, it probably would have been okay, not good, but okay. My impression of Collette has been down-graded. Seeing nothing was done for us at the end of our tour, I feel a monetary refund is due. Not a credit for future travel with Collette or Tourradar. It’s sad and disappointing to have this color our wonderful trip! Please respond. Than you for your time. Sandra Sussek
- Northern California with Yosemite National Park
The Northern California Itinerary is wonderful. It ranges from the big city, to the forest to the smaller bay communities. The accommodations were top notch. The meal choice venues were excellent. Our guide, Robert Lehua and driver Angel, were both so knowledgeable about the area. They were both so engaging. We would definitely recommend Trafalgar and hope to join them for more vacations.