San Diego, Grand Canyon & Vegas — Self-Launched Edition
6 days · California, Arizona & Nevada
G Adventures charges £1,050
No-markup version: ~£585 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 6-day DIY version of the G Adventures Los Angeles–San Diego–Grand Canyon–Las Vegas road trip, done by public transport, rideshare and a cheap rental car instead of a private coach with camp staff. Start in LA's hostels, surf and sun in San Diego, cross the Mojave to Joshua Tree and Lake Havasu, catch sunset on the Grand Canyon rim from a budget base in Tusayan or a park campsite, then ride Route 66 into Vegas. Same big sights, no group markup — costs are approximate and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Los Angeles — hostel base and beach stroll
Los Angeles, CA
Land at LAX and take the FlyAway bus to Union Station (~£7) or a shared shuttle/rideshare to your hostel in Santa Monica, Hollywood or Downtown. Settle in, then walk Venice Beach and the Santa Monica Pier for free sunset views. Grab tacos or a supermarket dinner to keep day one cheap. Book your LA–San Diego FlixBus or Amtrak Pacific Surfliner ticket tonight, and pre-book your Joshua Tree/Lake Havasu rental car for day 3.
🚌LAX FlyAway bus to Union Station ~£7, or shared shuttle ~£12-16; local Metro/buses
🛏Budget hostel dorm or private in Santa Monica/Hollywood (~£35-45/night)
- →Venice Beach boardwalk walk
- →Santa Monica Pier sunset
- →Optional Universal Studios Hollywood (book via Klook ~£70-115)
Los Angeles to San Diego — surf town day
San Diego, CA
Take the morning Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from LA Union Station to San Diego (2h45, ~£28-32 if booked ahead) — a scenic coastal ride past San Clemente. Dump bags at a hostel in Gaslamp Quarter or Ocean Beach. Afternoon: ferry or bus to Coronado Island, or swim at Mission Beach. Evening wander the Gaslamp Quarter. Optional surf lesson — book direct with a Mission Beach surf school (~£55) or just rent a board for ~£15.
🚌Amtrak Pacific Surfliner LA–San Diego ~£28-32; local bus/ferry ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm in Gaslamp Quarter or Ocean Beach (~£35-45/night)
- →Pacific Surfliner coastal train
- →Coronado Island and Mission Beach
- →Gaslamp Quarter evening walk
- →Optional surf lesson/board rental
Joshua Tree National Park and on to Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Pick up a cheap economy rental car in San Diego (~£45-60/day, split two ways if you team up with a hostel buddy) and drive east. Stop at Joshua Tree National Park — the $30/£24 vehicle pass covers everyone in the car; walk the Hidden Valley and Barker Dam loops. Then continue on I-10 to Lake Havasu City (~3.5h driving total). Cool off at the Colorado River, see the relocated London Bridge, and stay in a budget motel or the campground. Note: no public transport realistically links these stops, so the car is the key DIY substitute for the tour coach.
🚌Economy rental car ~£50/day plus fuel ~£25
🛏Budget motel or campground in Lake Havasu City (~£40-55)
- →Joshua Tree National Park hiking
- →Colorado River swim at Lake Havasu
- →London Bridge visit
Lake Havasu to Grand Canyon — sunset at the rim
Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ
Drive to the South Rim (~3.5h via Kingman and Williams). Buy the America the Beautiful annual pass (~£63) if you'll hit multiple parks, otherwise pay the $35/£28 park entry. Check into a dorm bed at the park's Bright Angel Lodge area or a hostel/campground in Tusayan. Mid-afternoon walk part of the Rim Trail, then catch sunset at Mather Point or Hopi Point — the same view the tour builds its day around, minus the group dinner. Pick up groceries for breakfast.
🚌Self-drive Lake Havasu–Grand Canyon ~£30 fuel; park shuttle buses free
🛏Park campground pitch or Tusayan budget motel/hostel (~£30-50)
- →South Rim Trail walk
- →Grand Canyon sunset at Mather/Hopi Point
- →Optional ranger talk (free)
Grand Canyon full day — hike or fly
Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ
Full free day in the park. Hike the Bright Angel Trail a couple of miles down for canyon views (free, bring water) or ride the free Hermits Rest shuttle to trailheads. Optional extras booked direct: a 45-min helicopter flight over the canyon from Tusayan (~£160-200), the IMAX film (~£11), or a bike rental on the Rim Trail (~£25). Evening: stargazing — the South Rim is a Dark Sky Park and it costs nothing.
🚌Free park shuttle buses; fuel minimal
🛏Park campground pitch or Tusayan budget motel/hostel (~£30-50)
- →Bright Angel Trail hike
- →Hermits Rest shuttle route
- →Optional helicopter flight over the canyon
- →Evening stargazing
Route 66 to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
Drive the historic Route 66 stretch through Seligman and Kingman (stop for a photo at the Snow Cap and a burger in Seligman), then on to Las Vegas (~4.5h). Drop the rental car at the airport and check into a budget Strip-area hostel or the cheapest Strip resort room you can find midweek (~£40-70). Walk the Strip, see the Bellagio fountains for free, and optionally take a happy-hour show or party bus (~£35-155) if you're over 21. If you'd rather skip the drive, FlixBus/Greyhound runs Williams–Las Vegas (~£45) and the Arizona Shuttle connects Grand Canyon Village to Vegas (~£80).
🚌Rental car fuel ~£35; FlixBus alternative ~£45
🛏Budget hostel or cheap Strip-area hotel (~£40-70)
- →Route 66 drive via Seligman/Kingman
- →Las Vegas Strip walk
- →Bellagio fountains
- →Optional Vegas show or party bus
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£585 | £1,050 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £465 per person (44%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£585
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does San Diego, Grand Canyon & Vegas — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £585 per person for 6 days in California, Arizona & Nevada. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,050 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £585 — a saving of roughly £465 (44%) per person.
How long is the California, Arizona & Nevada trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through California, Arizona & Nevada.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, road-trip trip through California, Arizona & Nevada, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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