Best of California — Self-Launched
9 days · California & Nevada, USA
G Adventures charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of G Adventures' 9-day "Best of California" loop from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, hitting Death Valley, Sequoia, Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterey and the Pacific Coast Highway. Instead of a private van and a group CEO, you'll drive yourself in a rented car (shared if you're travelling with mates, or pool with other travellers via ride-share boards), camp or hostel in gateway towns to the parks, and hike the same trails independently. National park entry is cheap and self-bookable; the big savings come from ditching the tour markup, cooking some meals and staying in budget motels/hostels instead of 2-3 star hotels. Note: this is a car-dependent route — America's West has thin public transport, so self-drive is the realistic equivalent. All costs are approximate per person, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Las Vegas → Death Valley → Bakersfield
Las Vegas / Death Valley / Bakersfield
Pick up your rental car early (book via Kayak or Rentalcars — compact cars from ~£30-40/day, split between travellers). Drive ~2hrs to Death Valley National Park and pay the $30 vehicle entry on arrival (covers 7 days). Stop at Zabriskie Point for the overlook, Badwater Basin for the salt flats (lowest point in North America), and Furnace Creek for the visitor centre and borax mining history. If time allows, detour to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Fill up with fuel before leaving the park — it's expensive inside. Then drive ~4hrs southwest to Bakersfield for the night. Eat at a cheap taqueria or supermarket deli.
🚌Self-drive rental car — ~380 miles total. Fuel ~£35-40 for the day (shared).
🛏Budget motel in Bakersfield (e.g. Motel 6 or Super 8, ~£55-70/room, split)
- →Death Valley National Park (Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin, Furnace Creek, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes)
Drive to Sequoia National Park — Giant Forest
Sequoia National Park / Visalia
Morning drive ~2.5hrs north to Sequoia National Park via the Ash Mountain entrance. Pay the $35 vehicle entry (valid 7 days, covers Sequoia & Kings Canyon). Take the short Generals Highway loop: walk the half-mile paved trail to General Sherman Tree (world's largest tree by volume, 83m tall), then the Congress Trail (2-mile loop) through the Giant Forest past the Senate and House groups. Catch sunset from Moro Rock if you have energy (0.5-mile climb, 350 steps). Overnight in Visalia, ~45 mins from the park gate — much cheaper than in-park lodges.
🚌Self-drive ~160 miles. Fuel ~£20 shared.
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Visalia (~£55-65/room, split)
- →General Sherman Tree trail
- →Congress Trail
- →Moro Rock sunset climb
Full day in Sequoia — Grant Grove & Buena Vista Peak
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Head back into the parks for a full hiking day. Drive to Grant Grove in Kings Canyon (same entry ticket) to see the General Grant Tree and the grove trails. Then hike the Buena Vista Peak trail — a 2-mile round trip with 360° views over the High Sierra and valley below — a genuinely underrated viewpoint. Alternatively, the Big Baldy or Tokopah Falls trails add more variety. Pack a picnic lunch from a Visalia supermarket to save money. Second night in Visalia.
🚌Self-drive ~90 miles round trip. Fuel ~£12 shared.
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Visalia (~£55-65/room, split)
- →Grant Grove / General Grant Tree
- →Buena Vista Peak trail (2 miles, 360° views)
- →Tokopah Falls trail (optional)
North through the Sierras to Yosemite Valley
Yosemite National Park
Drive north via Fresno and the Highway 41 south entrance into Yosemite (~3.5-4hrs). Yosemite entry is $35 per vehicle for 7 days — book a timed-entry reservation in advance if your dates fall in peak season (required spring-autumn, free but mandatory via Recreation.gov). Straight into the valley: Tunnel View for the classic El Capitan/Half Dome/Bridalveil Fall panorama, then walk the flat Bridalveil Fall Trail (0.5 miles) and the Lower Yosemite Fall loop. Overnight in Oakhurst or Mariposa (~1hr from the valley) — the cheapest realistic base; in-park lodges are £200+ a night.
🚌Self-drive ~200 miles. Fuel ~£25 shared.
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Oakhurst/Mariposa (~£70-85/room, split)
- →Tunnel View
- →Bridalveil Fall Trail
- →Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
Yosemite — Mist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls
Yosemite National Park
The big hike day. Use the free Yosemite Valley Shuttle from Curry Village or the day-parking areas to reach Happy Isles trailhead. Climb the Mist Trail alongside the Merced River — you get soaked by Vernal Fall spray (bring a waterproof layer), then continue up the granite steps to Nevada Fall for views of Half Dome, Liberty Cap and Mount Broderick. Round trip ~5-6 miles, 600m+ of climbing, 4-6 hours. Afterwards, rent a bike at Curry Village (~£12-15/hr) to cruise the valley floor, or just collapse by the river. Second night in Oakhurst/Mariposa.
🚌Self-drive to the valley + free park shuttle. Fuel ~£15 shared.
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Oakhurst/Mariposa (~£70-85/room, split)
- →Mist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls
- →Optional bike rental in Yosemite Valley
Yosemite → San Francisco
San Francisco
Drive west across the Central Valley to San Francisco (~4hrs). Drop the car at a downtown lot or keep it if you're continuing the coast (parking is expensive — £25-40/night; consider ditching the car here and re-renting in Monterey, or use street parking outside the centre). Self-guided wander: Haight-Ashbury for lunch and vintage shops, Golden Gate Park, then the Golden Gate Bridge — walk or bike a section of it, or catch the view from Battery Spencer or Crissy Field. Evening at Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 for sea lions and cheap clam chowder. Cable car ride is ~£6.
🚌Self-drive ~200 miles, fuel ~£25 shared. Muni day pass ~£5. Cable car ~£6.
🛏Hostel dorm in San Francisco (e.g. HI San Francisco Downtown or Green Tortoise, ~£40-55/night)
- →Haight-Ashbury
- →Golden Gate Park
- →Golden Gate Bridge walk/viewpoint
- →Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39
- →Cable car ride
San Francisco morning → Monterey
San Francisco / Monterey
Free morning in the city: coffee in North Beach, walk the Embarcadero, or hit a museum. Then drive south ~2hrs to Monterey. Explore Cannery Row and Old Fisherman's Wharf on foot, or pay for the Monterey Bay Aquarium (~£40 — book via the aquarium site direct; worth it for the kelp forest and sea otters). Cheaper alternative: the coastal recreation trail and Point Lobos State Reserve just south (entry ~£8/vehicle) for sea otters and dramatic coves. Overnight in Monterey or the cheaper inland option of Salinas (~25 mins away).
🚌Self-drive ~120 miles, fuel ~£15 shared.
🛏Hostel or budget motel in Monterey/Salinas (~£60-80/room, split)
- →North Beach & Embarcadero walk
- →Cannery Row
- →Old Fisherman's Wharf
- →Monterey Bay Aquarium (optional)
- →Point Lobos State Reserve (optional)
17-Mile Drive → Santa Barbara → Santa Maria
Monterey / Santa Barbara / Santa Maria
Start with the 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach (~£10 toll per vehicle) for the Lone Cypress and coastal scenery. Then take Highway 1 south — if it's open, the Big Sur stretch is the highlight of the whole trip (Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Beach); check Caltrans road conditions first, as landslides close sections in winter. Stop in Santa Barbara for the Spanish mission, Stearns Wharf and the Funk Zone wine bars. Push on to Santa Maria (~1hr) for the night — cheaper than Santa Barbara and famous for Santa Maria-style BBQ.
🚌Self-drive ~250 miles, fuel ~£30 shared. 17-Mile Drive toll ~£10.
🛏Budget motel in Santa Maria (~£60-75/room, split)
- →17-Mile Drive
- →Big Sur / Bixby Bridge (Highway 1)
- →Santa Barbara mission & Stearns Wharf
- →Funk Zone wine tasting (optional)
Santa Maria → Los Angeles
Santa Maria / Los Angeles
Final drive south ~3hrs to Los Angeles. Drop the car at LAX or a downtown rental return. If you have time before your flight: Venice Beach boardwalk and Muscle Beach, the Griffith Observatory for the Hollywood sign view (free), or Santa Monica Pier. If you're flying the same day, aim for a departure after 18:00 to allow for traffic (LA gridlock is real).
🚌Self-drive ~170 miles, fuel ~£20 shared. Car return.
🛏None included (onward travel day)
- →Venice Beach & boardwalk
- →Griffith Observatory (free)
- →Santa Monica Pier
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,170 per person (50%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
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 Best of California — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 9 days in California & Nevada, USA. 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 £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £1,170 (50%) per person.
How long is the California & Nevada, USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through California & Nevada, USA.
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 & Nevada, USA, 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?
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