Chicago to San Francisco Self-Launched Road Trip
16 days · United States (Midwest to West Coast)
G Adventures charges £2,400
No-markup version: ~£1,275 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 16-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Chicago-to-San Francisco camping road trip across the American West. You'll cover the same ground — Milwaukee, the Mississippi, the Badlands, Custer State Park, Devils Tower, Little Bighorn, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Twin Falls, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and San Francisco — using a mix of Amtrak, Greyhound/FlixBus, regional buses and a shared rental car for the national park legs. Stay in hostels, motels and cheap campgrounds, self-guide the parks with trail maps and free ranger programmes, and book optional activities (rafting, horseback riding, Alcatraz) directly through operators. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Chicago — the City of Big Shoulders
Chicago, Illinois
Arrive at O'Hare or Midway and take the CTA Blue/Orange Line 'L' into the city centre (£2.50) rather than a $35 shuttle. Check into a downtown hostel dorm (HI Chicago or Freehand Chicago). Spend the afternoon walking the Riverwalk and Millennium Park, then grab a deep-dish slice and a beer. In the evening plan the next legs: book Amtrak Hiawatha tickets to Milwaukee and a Greyhound/FlixBus east to the Mississippi for the following day.
🚌CTA 'L' from airport ~£2.50; walking
🛏Downtown Chicago hostel dorm (HI Chicago / Freehand)
- →CTA 'L' ride into downtown
- →Millennium Park and Cloud Gate
- →Chicago Riverwalk
- →Deep-dish pizza
Chicago to Milwaukee and across to the Mississippi
Milwaukee, Wisconsin → Frontenac, Minnesota
Morning Amtrak Hiawatha from Chicago to Milwaukee (~1h30, book ahead for ~£20). In Milwaukee, take a public Miller Brewery tour and tasting — free/donation-based and bookable by phone or walk-in, the DIY equivalent of the included brewery visit — then explore the Historic Third Ward. In the afternoon continue by Greyhound or FlixBus westward towards La Crosse/Winona, Minnesota, and settle into a cheap motel or riverside campground near Frontenac on the Mississippi. Watch the sunset over the river.
🚌Amtrak Hiawatha Chicago-Milwaukee ~£20; Greyhound/FlixBus Milwaukee-La Crosse area ~£25-35
🛏Budget motel or riverside campground near Frontenac
- →Miller Brewery tour and tasting (free)
- →Historic Third Ward walk
- →Sunset on the Mississippi River
Mall of America and into the Great Plains
Bloomington, Minnesota → Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Optional early bus back towards the Twin Cities to hit the Mall of America (free to enter, light rail accessible from Minneapolis) — or skip it and go straight west if you're chasing time. Then continue by Greyhound to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Walk the free falls park in the evening and eat cheaply at a diner. Book your onward bus towards Rapid City for the morning.
🚌Greyhound/FlixBus Minneapolis-Sioux Falls ~£30-40
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Sioux Falls
- →Mall of America visit (free)
- →Falls Park Sioux Falls (free)
- →Downtown Sioux Falls stroll
Badlands National Park — moon landscapes
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Take the Greyhound/Jefferson Lines to Rapid City, then a local bus or shared ride out to the Badlands. Entry to Badlands NP is $30 per vehicle or $15 per person on foot/bike — buy the America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) if you'll hit three or more parks. Hike the Door, Notch and Window Trails (all short and self-guided) and catch sunset from Pinnacles Overlook. Camp at Cedar Pass or Sage Creek campground (Sage Creek is free, primitive).
🚌Jefferson Lines/Greyhound to Rapid City ~£25; local transfer ~£15
🛏Sage Creek primitive campground (free) or Cedar Pass Campground
- →Door Trail and Notch Trail hikes
- →Pinnacles Overlook sunset
- →Ranger programme at Cedar Pass (free)
Custer State Park and the Black Hills
Custer State Park, South Dakota
Hitch a lift or take a shared shuttle to Custer State Park (entry ~$20/vehicle). Hike the Sunday Gulch or Cathedral Spires trails and drive/walk the Wildlife Loop for free-roaming bison. Optional horseback riding can be booked directly with local stables (~$50-90). Camp at a state park campground (~$25/tent) or a private campground in Custer town if you need showers.
🚌Shared shuttle/hitch to Custer ~£15
🛏Custer State Park campground or Custer town hostel
- →Cathedral Spires hike
- →Wildlife Loop bison spotting
- →Optional horseback riding (~$50-90)
Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Deadwood
Black Hills → Devils Tower, Wyoming
Do the Black Hills loop by local tour shuttle or shared rental car: Mount Rushmore (parking ~$10), the Crazy Horse Memorial (~$15) and the old gold-rush town of Deadwood for a wander and a cheap lunch. Continue west towards Devils Tower — book a Greyhound to Sundance/Gillette and a local transfer, or split a rental car with other travellers. Camp at the Belle Fourche River campground at the base of the tower (~$20).
🚌Shared rental car or shuttle ~£30-40
🛏Belle Fourche River Campground, Devils Tower
- →Mount Rushmore visit
- →Crazy Horse Memorial
- →Deadwood historic town walk
- →Devils Tower evening walk
Little Bighorn Battlefield to Bozeman
Devils Tower, Wyoming → Bozeman, Montana
Head north-west via the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (~$25/vehicle; the self-guided driving tour and visitor centre are excellent). This is a long transit day — Greyhound doesn't serve the battlefield directly, so either split a rental car or take a bus to Sheridan and book a local taxi/shuttle detour. Arrive in Bozeman, a lively university town, and stay in a hostel dorm or cheap motel. Hit a downtown brewpub.
🚌Shared rental car / bus + local shuttle ~£45
🛏Bozeman hostel dorm or budget motel
- →Little Bighorn Battlefield self-guided tour
- →Bozeman downtown evening
Into Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Take the local bus or a shared car to Gardiner/West Yellowstone, the park's north and west gateways, and buy your park pass ($35/vehicle or $20/person). Explore Mammoth Hot Springs and the northern range for bison, elk and possibly wolves. Camp at Mammoth or Norris campground (~$25/night) and use the free ranger walks in the evening. Cook your own dinner at the campsite.
🚌Bus/shared car to park gateway ~£25
🛏Mammoth or Norris campground, Yellowstone
- →Mammoth Hot Springs terraces
- →Northern range wildlife spotting
- →Free ranger walk
Yellowstone's southern loop — geysers and waterfalls
Yellowstone National Park
A full self-guided day on the southern loop: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Fountain Paint Pot and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Without a car, use the park's hiker shuttles or join other travellers; the free park shuttle system and ranger hikes make this very doable solo. Pack a lunch. Camp again in the park.
🚌Park shuttles/rides; walking
🛏Canyon or Madison campground, Yellowstone
- →Old Faithful eruption
- →Grand Prismatic Spring overlook
- →Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- →Fountain Paint Pot boardwalk
Grand Teton National Park and Jackson
Jackson, Wyoming
Cross the Continental Divide south into Grand Teton National Park ($35/vehicle or $20/person) — the Teton Range panorama is stunning. Hike the Jenny Lake loop or take the shuttle boat across (~$19) and walk to Hidden Falls. Continue to the cowboy town of Jackson for the evening: free to wander, with optional line dancing and live music at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Camp at Jenny Lake or Gros Ventre campground.
🚌Shared car/bus from Yellowstone ~£25
🛏Jenny Lake or Gros Ventre campground
- →Jenny Lake hike and boat shuttle (~$19)
- →Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
- →Jackson town stroll
- →Optional cowboy bar line dancing
Free morning in Jackson, then into Idaho
Twin Falls, Idaho
Spend the morning on an optional activity booked directly: whitewater rafting on the Snake River (~$95-130 with local outfitters like Dave Hansen or Barker-Ewing) or a trail ride (~$50-85). In the afternoon head south-west into Idaho — Greyhound to Pocatello/Twin Falls with a stop at Shoshone Falls (small entry fee ~$5), often called the 'Niagara of the West'. Stay in a Twin Falls motel or campground.
🚌Greyhound Jackson-Pocatello-Twin Falls ~£40
🛏Budget motel or campground in Twin Falls
- →Optional Snake River rafting (~£80-105)
- →Optional horseback riding
- →Shoshone Falls
Road-trip day into Nevada — Reno
Reno, Nevada
Long transit day: FlixBus or Greyhound from Twin Falls via Boise/Elko to Reno (~10-12h), or split it with a night in Elko. Reno is 'The Biggest Little City in the World' — see the neon arch, wander the casino strip (free to walk through) and eat a cheap casino buffet. Book your onward bus towards Lake Tahoe/Sacramento for tomorrow.
🚌FlixBus/Greyhound Twin Falls-Reno ~£45
🛏Cheap downtown motel or hostel in Reno
- →Reno Arch
- →Downtown casino strip walk
- →Cheap casino buffet
Lake Tahoe and on towards Yosemite
South Lake Tahoe, California
Take a local bus or Amtrak Thruway connection from Reno to South Lake Tahoe (~1.5h) and spend the day hiking the Rubicon Trail or renting a kayak on the lake. In the afternoon/evening continue towards the Yosemite gateway — Amtrak San Joaquins to Merced then the free YARTS bus into the park is the classic DIY route.
🚌Amtrak Thruway + San Joaquins + YARTS ~£35
🛏Budget motel/hostel near Yosemite gateway or Merced
- →Lake Tahoe shoreline hike
- →Kayak rental (optional)
- →Beach swim
Yosemite National Park — valley floor
Yosemite National Park, California
Enter via YARTS (ticket includes park entry in many cases; otherwise $35/vehicle or $20/person). Do the classic self-guided valley floor: Lower Yosemite Falls trail, the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall (and on to Nevada Fall if you're up for it), and El Capitan meadow. Rent a bike in the valley (~$30-40/day) or use the free valley shuttle. Camp at Housekeeping Camp/Camp 4 or a nearby campground.
🚌YARTS bus into the park ~£15
🛏Camp 4 or valley campground, Yosemite
- →Mist Trail to Vernal Fall
- →Lower Yosemite Falls trail
- →El Capitan meadow
- →Optional bike rental (~£25-32)
Yosemite to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Morning hike (Glacier Point if the road is open, or a Tuolumne/Mariposa Grove wander), then YARTS back out to Merced and Amtrak to the Bay Area (~£40 total), arriving San Francisco in the evening. Check into a hostel dorm in Fisherman's Wharf or the Mission. Grab a burrito in the Mission and walk to a viewpoint for the evening fog.
🚌YARTS + Amtrak San Joaquins to Oakland/SF ~£40
🛏San Francisco hostel dorm (HI Fisherman's Wharf / Green Tortoise)
- →Optional Glacier Point or Mariposa Grove
- →Mission District food walk
- →Evening Bay views
San Francisco — Golden Gate and farewell
San Francisco, California
Full day exploring on the Muni pass (~$13/day): walk or cycle the Golden Gate Bridge (bridge is free; bike rental ~$8-32), visit Haight-Ashbury, ride a cable car (~$7) and wander Fisherman's Wharf. Book Alcatraz direct with the official concessioner (~$33) well in advance if you want it. Wrap up with a sunset sail (bookable directly, ~£50) or a cheap pier-side dinner. Trip ends here.
🚌Muni day pass ~£10; walking
🛏San Francisco hostel dorm (final night)
- →Golden Gate Bridge walk/cycle
- →Alcatraz visit (book direct ~$33)
- →Cable car ride (~$7)
- →Haight-Ashbury wander
- →Optional sunset sailing
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,275 | £2,400 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,125 per person (47%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,275
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 Chicago to San Francisco Self-Launched Road Trip cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,275 per person for 16 days in United States (Midwest to West Coast). 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 £2,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,275 — a saving of roughly £1,125 (47%) per person.
How long is the United States (Midwest to West Coast) trip?+
This itinerary runs 16 days, covering 16 day-by-day stops through United States (Midwest to West Coast).
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 United States (Midwest to West Coast), 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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