California Express — Self-Launched 3-Day LA, Big Sur Coast, San Francisco & Yosemite
3 days · California, USA
Empire Vacations charges £490
No-markup version: ~£445 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched DIY version of Empire Vacations' "California Express" coach tour: three fast-paced days linking Los Angeles with the Santa Barbara coast, Solvang, Carmel and Monterey, a full day in San Francisco, and a swing through Yosemite Valley before returning south. Instead of a guided coach you'll use Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, Greyhound/FlixBus and the public Yosemite YARTS bus, with hostel dorms in Santa Cruz/Oakland and San Francisco. Timings are tighter on public transport than with a private coach — build in a buffer and consider a fourth night if you want Yosemite to breathe. All costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Los Angeles → Santa Barbara → Solvang → Carmel/Monterey → Santa Cruz
Santa Barbara, Solvang, Carmel, Santa Cruz
Start early at LA Union Station (an easy Metrolink/E Line connection from most hostels; the original tour's Farmers Market pick-up point is nearby). Take the Pacific Surfliner north to Santa Barbara (~2h20, ~£30 advance fare) — the station is two blocks from the beach and a 20-minute walk or short bus ride from Old Mission Santa Barbara, the Spanish mission on the tour's itinerary (entry ~£8). Then hop the local Wine Country Express / Route 12 bus out to Solvang (about 45 min, ~£3) to browse the Danish-style village and grab a pastry lunch. Head back to Santa Barbara, then take the Surfliner to Salinas or San Jose and connect by Monterey-Salinas Transit (line 20) to Monterey/Carmel (~£12-18 combined). Wander Carmel's beach and Ocean Avenue at golden hour, then take MST line 20 or 21 up to Santa Cruz for the night. If you want the classic Route 1 coastal views, note that the Big Sur stretch has no useful public bus; a GetYourGuide Monterey–Big Sur day van can substitute if you allow an extra day.
🚌Amtrak Pacific Surfliner LA→Santa Barbara (~£30 advance) + Surfliner to Salinas/San Jose (~£25) + MST bus 20 to Monterey/Carmel (~£5) + MST 20/21 to Santa Cruz (~£4)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget motel in Santa Cruz / Monterey (Santa Cruz has the cheapest dorms, ~£30-40)
- →Old Mission Santa Barbara self-guided visit
- →Solvang Danish village walk
- →Carmel-by-the-Sea and Ocean Avenue wander
- →Monterey Cannery Row / Fisherman's Wharf stroll
San Francisco — Golden Gate, bay cruise, Chinatown & Bay Bridge lights
San Francisco
Take the Highway 17 express bus or a FlixBus/Greyhound from Santa Cruz to San Francisco (~1h45-2h30, ~£12-18). Drop bags at your hostel in Fisherman's Wharf or the Tenderloin/Mission, then use a Muni day pass (~£5) for the whole city. Walk or bus to Pier 33 and join a self-booked Golden Gate Bay Cruise via GetYourGuide or direct with Red & White Fleet (~£28), which circles Alcatraz and passes under the Golden Gate — the same route as the tour's included cruise. Continue to Pier 39 for a seafood lunch, ride the Powell-Hyde cable car to Union Square and Nob Hill, and walk through Chinatown's Grant Avenue. Finish with a sunset walk on the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center path and, if you have energy, the Embarcadero for Bay Bridge light views after dark.
🚌FlixBus/Greyhound or Highway 17 express Santa Cruz→San Francisco (~£15) + Muni day pass (~£5) + cable car (~£7)
🛏Hostel dorm in San Francisco (HI Fisherman's Wharf or Green Tortoise, ~£40-55)
- →Golden Gate Bay Cruise (self-booked via GetYourGuide, ~£28)
- →Golden Gate Bridge walk / Welcome Center
- →Union Square, Nob Hill and cable car ride
- →Chinatown Grant Avenue walk
- →Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf
- →Embarcadero Bay Bridge night view
Yosemite Valley day trip and return to Los Angeles
Yosemite National Park
This is the tightest day on public transport. The most reliable DIY option is the YARTS bus from Merced (Amtrak San Joaquins from Oakland/Emeryville, ~2h, ~£20) into Yosemite Valley — but that only works comfortably with an overnight. For a true three-day version, book a small-group Yosemite day tour from San Francisco via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£110-140 including park entry), which typically leaves around 6am and returns ~9pm; you'll stop at Tunnel View, El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and walk from Yosemite Village to Yosemite Falls and see Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge. Note the park entrance fee is ~£27 per vehicle, usually included. If you'd rather stay independent, take Amtrak San Joaquins to Merced, YARTS into the valley, hike the Valley Loop/Mist Trail and return the next morning — add a night in Merced (~£45) and push the LA return to Day 4. Return to LA by overnight FlixBus/Greyhound from San Francisco (~£35-45, 7-8h) arriving early morning, or take the daytime Amtrak Coast Starlight/San Joaquins combo if you prefer scenery.
🚌Small-group Yosemite day van from SF (~£120 incl. entry) OR Amtrak San Joaquins to Merced (~£20) + YARTS (~£12 each way) + overnight FlixBus/Greyhound back to LA (~£40)
🛏Overnight bus back to LA (or budget motel in Merced if self-driving the YARTS option)
- →El Capitan and Tunnel View
- →Bridalveil Fall walk
- →Yosemite Falls trail from Yosemite Village
- →Half Dome viewpoint at Sentinel Bridge
- →Yosemite Visitor Center
Self-launched vs. Empire Vacations
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Empire Vacations | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£445 | £490 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £45 per person (9%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Empire Vacations-style trips? Check them out here.~£445
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 California Express — Self-Launched 3-Day LA, Big Sur Coast, San Francisco & Yosemite cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £445 per person for 3 days in California, 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 Empire Vacations?+
Yes — Empire Vacations charges around £490 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £445 — a saving of roughly £45 (9%) per person.
How long is the California, USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through California, 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, city-breaks, backpacker trip through California, 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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