Magnificent West – Self-Launched 8-Day Southwest Road Trip
8 days · Southwest USA (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah)
Empire Vacations charges £1,230
No-markup version: ~£800 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Empire Vacations' "Magnificent West" coach tour, done independently by hiring a car (or joining point-to-point bus/train legs) from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. You'll cover the same headline sights — Santa Barbara, Solvang, Big Sur/Carmel, San Francisco's bay and Golden Gate, Yosemite, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Sedona, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon and Valley of Fire — but at your own pace, staying in hostels and budget motels, self-booking Navajo-led jeep tours and Antelope Canyon entry direct, and eating in supermarkets and taquerias instead of coach-stop restaurants. Costs are rough backpacker estimates for one person sharing a car with 1–3 others; a solo driver pays noticeably more for fuel and the rental. National park entry in 2026 has risen sharply — budget for the America the Beautiful annual pass (~£65) if you're doing three or more parks.
Day-by-day
Los Angeles → Santa Barbara → Solvang → Carmel
Santa Barbara / Solvang / Carmel-by-the-Sea
Pick up a rental car at LAX early (book 2–3 months ahead for ~£25–35/day for a compact, split between passengers) or take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from LA Union Station to Santa Barbara (~£25, 2h45). Wander the Spanish Mission Santa Barbara (free-ish donation entry, ~£5), then drive/bus to Danish-style Solvang for pastries and a wander. Continue up Highway 1 through the Santa Ynez wine country to Carmel-by-the-Sea for a sunset stroll on the beach and a look at the storybook cottages. Note Highway 1's Big Sur stretch south of Carmel is the scenic bit — if you're driving, consider the short loop down to Bixby Bridge for photos.
🚌Rental car from LAX (~£30/day split) or Amtrak Pacific Surfliner LA→Santa Barbara ~£25, then local bus/drive north
🛏Hostel or budget motel in Monterey/Carmel (e.g. HI Monterey hostel dorm ~£30, or a Monterey motel ~£55–70 private)
- →Santa Barbara Mission self-guided visit
- →Solvang village walk and bakery stop
- →Scenic Highway 1 drive via Bixby Bridge
- →Carmel-by-the-Sea beach and town wander
San Francisco: bay cruise, Golden Gate and neighbourhoods
San Francisco
Drive or take the Monterey–San Jose–SF connection up to San Francisco (driving ~2h from Monterey). Ditch the car in a cheap long-stay lot or use BART. Book a Golden Gate Bay Cruise direct with Red & White Fleet or Blue & Gold Fleet (~£28–32, 1 hour, passes Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate) — no need to pay a tour operator markup. In the afternoon walk or take Muni to Union Square, Chinatown (cheap dim sum lunch ~£8), Nob Hill and Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39. If you want Alcatraz itself, book the official NPS/Alcatraz City Cruises ticket ~£35–45 well in advance — it sells out weeks ahead. Evening: walk the Bay Bridge lights or grab a cheap burrito in the Mission.
🚌Local Muni/BART day pass ~£5; driving from Monterey ~£15 fuel share
🛏HI San Francisco Downtown or Fisherman's Wharf hostel dorm ~£35–45
- →Golden Gate Bay Cruise (self-booked, ~£30)
- →Optional Alcatraz Island ferry + cellhouse audio tour (~£40, book early)
- →Chinatown and Union Square walk
- →Pier 39 sea lions and Fisherman's Wharf
Yosemite National Park day trip (or overnight)
Yosemite National Park
Drive San Francisco → Yosemite Valley (~3.5–4h). Better value: sleep in Groveland or Mariposa the night before (motels ~£60–80) and enter the park at dawn. Pay the $35/vehicle park entry, or buy the America the Beautiful annual pass if you'll hit multiple parks (worth it from 3+). Walk the flat 1km loop from Yosemite Valley Visitor Center to the base of Yosemite Falls, view El Capitan from El Cap Meadow, and take the easy paved path to Bridalveil Fall. Half Dome is best seen from Sentinel Bridge or Glacier Point (extra 45min drive but stunning). Book a Yosemite Valley lodge/campsite months ahead or stay in Mariposa and use the YARTS bus (£6–12) to avoid parking chaos.
🚌Rental car or YARTS regional bus into the valley (~£10); park entry $35/vehicle or America the Beautiful pass ~£65
🛏Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort hostel bunk ~£30–40, or Mariposa motel ~£65
- →Yosemite Falls walk from Visitor Center
- →El Capitan meadow viewpoint
- →Bridalveil Fall trail
- →Half Dome view from Sentinel Bridge / Glacier Point
Yosemite → Death Valley → Las Vegas
Death Valley / Las Vegas
A long but spectacular driving day: head south-east via Lone Pine and enter Death Valley (park entry $30/vehicle or covered by your annual pass). Stop at Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin (the lowest point in North America) and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes — carry 4+ litres of water, this is genuinely dangerous heat from May to September. Then drive to Las Vegas (~3h from Death Valley Junction). Check into a budget Strip-adjacent motel or hostel, then do a self-guided Strip walk: Bellagio fountains (free, every 30 min), the Venetian's canals, the Luxor pyramid and New York-New York. Skip the paid shows unless you've budgeted for one.
🚌Rental car; fuel share ~£20; Death Valley entry $30/vehicle
🛏Budget motel off-Strip (e.g. near the Convention Center) ~£55–75, or Las Vegas hostel dorm ~£30
- →Death Valley scenic drive: Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin, sand dunes
- →Self-guided Las Vegas Strip walk
- →Bellagio fountain show (free)
Hoover Dam and Las Vegas free time
Hoover Dam / Las Vegas
Drive 45 minutes to Hoover Dam (~£8 fuel share) and either walk the dam for free or book the official Hoover Dam Power Plant Tour direct with the Bureau of Reclamation (~£12–15). The Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge pedestrian walkway gives the best free photo of the dam. Back in Vegas in the afternoon: relax at a free or cheap pool, wander Fremont Street for the free light show, and eat cheaply — Ellis Island BBQ or In-N-Out rather than casino restaurants. If you're a gambler, set a hard budget; the coach-tour 'casino gaming' stop is exactly how operators recoup costs.
🚌Rental car ~£8 fuel share; no public transport to the dam, or a shared shuttle ~£25 return
🛏Budget motel off-Strip ~£55–75, or hostel dorm ~£30
- →Hoover Dam Power Plant guided tour (self-booked ~£13)
- →Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge walkway (free)
- →Fremont Street Experience light show (free)
Las Vegas → Sedona via Route 66 and Oak Creek Canyon
Sedona, Arizona
Early start for the long drive south-east (~5h). Break the journey at Seligman or Kingman on Historic Route 66 for a proper diner breakfast. Take Highway 89A through Oak Creek Canyon — pull over at the switchback overlook and, in summer, consider a dip at Slide Rock State Park ($20/vehicle). In Sedona, visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross (free, built into the red rock), then do the free Courthouse Butte/Bell Rock loop walk (~2km, flat, sunset-perfect). Sedona accommodation is expensive in spring/autumn — book a hostel bunk or an Oak Creek Village motel well ahead.
🚌Rental car; fuel share ~£22; Slide Rock entry $20/vehicle if visiting
🛏Sedona/Village of Oak Creek hostel or budget motel ~£60–85 (dorm bunks from ~£30 in Flagstaff)
- →Route 66 photo stop in Seligman/Kingman
- →Oak Creek Canyon overlook
- →Slide Rock State Park (optional swim)
- →Chapel of the Holy Cross
- →Bell Rock / Courthouse Butte loop walk at sunset
Sedona → Monument Valley → Page/Lake Powell
Monument Valley / Page
Drive north (~3h) to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Pay the $8/person tribal entry at the gate and either self-drive the 17-mile Valley Drive loop (fine in a normal car in dry weather, rough in rain) or book a Navajo-guided open-air jeep tour direct with a local operator such as Dineh Bekeyah or Simpson's Trailhandler (~£65–90 for 2.5h) — you can also book via GetYourGuide. Continue to Page (~2h) and catch Horseshoe Bend at golden hour: park at the lot off US-89 (~£8 entry), walk 1.2km to the rim. Sunsets here are the reason to time the drive this way.
🚌Rental car; fuel share ~£25; Monument Valley tribal entry $8pp; Horseshoe Bend parking $10/vehicle
🛏Page budget motel ~£60–80, or campsite by Lake Powell ~£20
- →Monument Valley Valley Drive or Navajo jeep tour (~£65–90)
- →Horseshoe Bend sunset viewpoint (~£8)
Antelope Canyon → Valley of Fire → Las Vegas
Page / Valley of Fire / Las Vegas
Book Lower Antelope Canyon direct with Ken's Tours (~£55–65 including Navajo permit) — book weeks ahead, slots sell out, and you cannot enter without a Navajo guide. Alternatively Upper Antelope Canyon via Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours. Mid-morning light shafts are best March–October. Drive back west (~4.5h to Vegas) with a detour to Valley of Fire State Park ($15/vehicle) — the red Aztec sandstone and Elephant Rock are a brilliant, uncrowded finale. Drop the car at LAS or a downtown Vegas lot and finish with a cheap taco dinner in the Arts District.
🚌Rental car; fuel share ~£25; Valley of Fire entry $15/vehicle; car drop-off/one-way fee may apply
🛏Not included — book a Vegas motel or hostel if you're staying the night (~£30–70)
- →Lower Antelope Canyon guided tour (self-booked ~£55–65)
- →Valley of Fire State Park drive and short walks ($15/vehicle)
- →Arts District, Las Vegas evening
Self-launched vs. Empire Vacations
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Empire Vacations | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£800 | £1,230 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £430 per person (35%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Empire Vacations-style trips? Check them out here.~£800
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 Magnificent West – Self-Launched 8-Day Southwest Road Trip cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £800 per person for 8 days in Southwest USA (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah). 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 £1,230 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £800 — a saving of roughly £430 (35%) per person.
How long is the Southwest USA (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Southwest USA (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah).
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, road-trip, hiking trip through Southwest USA (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah), 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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