Self-Launched USA Road Trip: Pacific Coast to Las Vegas (21 Days)
21 days · United States (Pacific Northwest to the Southwest)
G Adventures charges £2,900
No-markup version: ~£1,745 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A solo-traveller, self-launched version of G Adventures' 21-day Seattle-to-Las Vegas camping road trip (trip code NUSZ). Instead of a private vehicle and crew, you'll link the same stops with Amtrak, Greyhound/FlixBus, and short-hop flights, sleep in hostels and cheap gateway motels, and self-book the same park hikes and national park passes. You cover Seattle, Mt Rainier, Portland, Bend/Crater Lake, the Redwoods, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Santa Cruz, LA, San Diego, Joshua Tree, Route 66, the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Vegas — on public transport and your own two feet, at roughly a third of the tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Seattle — Pike Place & city wandering
Seattle, WA
Land at Sea-Tac and take the Link Light Rail downtown (~$3, ~40 min) rather than a $45 rideshare. Check into a hostel near Pike Place or Belltown. Get your bearings on foot: Pike Place Market, the waterfront, and the gum wall. Grab dinner at a food truck and an early night to beat jet lag. Buy your America the Beautiful annual parks pass online now (~£62) — it pays for itself several times over on this route.
🚌Link Light Rail from airport (~£2.50)
🛏Downtown/belltown hostel (dorm)
- →Pike Place Market
- →Waterfront & gum wall walk
- →Buy America the Beautiful parks pass
Mt Rainier National Park day trip
Seattle / Mt Rainier, WA
Mt Rainier is 2 hours from the city and awkward by bus, so join a small-group day tour from downtown Seattle (GetYourGuide/Viator, ~£95-110) or rent a car for a day if you're travelling as a pair. Hike the Skyline or Paradise trails, keep eyes peeled for marmots and black bears, and picnic with a view of the glaciers. Back in Seattle for the evening.
🚌Booked day-tour minibus
🛏Downtown/belltown hostel (dorm)
- →Paradise/Skyline Trail hike
- →Glacier viewpoint picnic
Train north to Portland
Portland, OR
Take the Amtrak Cascades from Seattle King Street Station to Portland Union Station (~3.5 hrs, book ahead for ~£20-30). Portland is walkable and quirky: Powell's Books, the Pearl District, Saturday Market if timing fits, and an absurd concentration of craft breweries and food carts. Do a self-guided brewery or food-cart crawl in the evening — cheaper and more fun than a paid tour.
🚌Amtrak Cascades (~£25)
🛏NW Portland hostel (dorm)
- →Powell's Books
- →Food-cart pod crawl
- →Craft brewery taprooms
Portland to Bend (Cascade Lakes)
Bend, OR
Take the Central Oregon Breeze shuttle or FlixBus from Portland to Bend (~3.5-4 hrs, ~£25-35). Afternoon in Bend: rent a kayak or SUP at Cascade Lakes or the Deschutes River (~£18-25), or just hike the Deschutes River Trail. Bend is a brewery town — try Crux or Deschutes for dinner.
🚌Shuttle/coach Portland–Bend (~£30)
🛏Bend hostel or budget motel (private/shared)
- →Kayak or SUP on the Deschutes
- →River trail walk
- →Bend brewery tasting
Crater Lake + south toward the Redwoods
Crater Lake NP → Crescent City, CA
No public bus reaches Crater Lake, so hire a car for the day (or a small-group Crater Lake day tour from Bend, ~£100). The drive from Bend to Crater Lake is ~2 hrs, then south on US-97/I-5 to Crescent City (~4 hrs). Walk the Rim Drive viewpoints and photograph the impossibly blue water. Overnight in Crescent City or Klamath.
🚌Rental car day (~£55 split two ways)
🛏Crescent City budget motel
- →Crater Lake Rim Drive viewpoints
- →Rim Village overlooks
Redwood National & State Parks
Redwood National Park, CA
Hike among the tallest trees on earth: the Stout Grove and Boy Scout Tree Trail loops are easy-moderate and free. In the afternoon head to the coast for tide pooling at False Klamath Cove or Enderts Beach. Local Redwood Coast Transit buses link Crescent City, Klamath and Orick on weekdays (~£3-5), or cycle the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.
🚌Redwood Coast Transit / bike hire
🛏Crescent City budget motel or Orick cabin
- →Stout Grove loop
- →Boy Scout Tree Trail
- →Tide pooling on the coast
Coast to San Francisco
Redwood National Park → San Francisco, CA
Long travel day: buses run up to the Bay via Arcata/Eureka and Santa Rosa (Greyhound/FlixBus, ~8-9 hrs, ~£35-45), or book a cheap one-way flight from Crescent City/Arcata if you'd rather save time. Arrive in SF in the evening and walk down to the Embarcadero for a first glimpse of the bay lights.
🚌Coach Redwood Coast–San Francisco (~£40)
🛏SF hostel dorm (Fisherman's Wharf/downtown)
- →Embarcadero evening walk
San Francisco by cable car & bike
San Francisco, CA
Full city day on a Muni day pass (~£5). Ride the historic Powell-Hyde cable car, walk Lombard Street, and hire a bike to cross the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito then ferry back (~£20). Alcatraz needs booking weeks in advance (~£33). Spend the afternoon in Haight-Ashbury or at Lands End, and eat in the Mission's taquerias.
🚌Muni day pass + bike hire + ferry
🛏SF hostel dorm
- →Cable car ride
- →Golden Gate Bridge bike ride
- →Lombard Street
- →Optional Alcatraz
San Francisco to South Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, CA/NV
Take the Amtrak Thruway/Capitol Corridor combination or a Greyhound to South Lake Tahoe (~4-5 hrs, ~£30-40). Afternoon for the Rubicon Trail or Emerald Bay hike, a swim or paddleboard hire (~£25), then cross into Nevada for a cheap casino wander and $10 table stakes. Cheap motels line US-50 on the state line.
🚌Amtrak Thruway/coach (~£35)
🛏South Lake Tahoe budget motel
- →Emerald Bay hike
- →Paddleboard or swim
- →Casino stroll (Nevada side)
Tahoe to Yosemite Valley
Yosemite National Park, CA
Getting to Yosemite without a car means YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation) from Mammoth Lakes or Merced — check the seasonal Tioga Pass routing. Take the bus to the valley, then walk the short Cook's Meadow and Lower Yosemite Falls loops. Camp or hostel at Curry Village/Backpackers' Camp (book on recreation.gov the moment permits open).
🚌YARTS bus (~£18)
🛏Yosemite backpackers' camp / tent cabin
- →Cook's Meadow loop
- →Lower Yosemite Falls
- →Valley evening stroll
Yosemite hiking day
Yosemite National Park, CA
Big hiking day: the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls (~5-6 hrs) is the classic, or the flat Valley Loop by bike (~£28 hire). Watch climbers on El Capitan from El Cap Meadow and look for black bears at dusk near the meadows. All trails are free with your parks pass — the Valley shuttle is free too.
🚌Free valley shuttle
🛏Yosemite backpackers' camp / tent cabin
- →Mist Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls
- →El Capitan viewpoint
- →Valley bike loop
Yosemite to Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
Bus out of the park via Merced, then Amtrak/Greyhound to San Jose and the Highway 17 Express bus to Santa Cruz (~6-7 hrs total, ~£35). Afternoon on the wharf and Main Beach, vintage shops downtown, and a sunset at Natural Bridges. Santa Cruz hostels are limited — book the HI or a beach motel early.
🚌YARTS + Amtrak/coach + Hwy 17 Express (~£35)
🛏Santa Cruz hostel or budget motel
- →Santa Cruz Wharf
- →Main Beach
- →Downtown vintage shops
Surf lesson & Monterey Bay
Santa Cruz / Monterey, CA
Morning surf lesson at Cowell's Beach (~£55-65) — the gentle wave is the best beginner break in California. Afternoon: catch the free-or-cheap Monterey-Salinas Transit bus to Monterey for Cannery Row, the coastal recreation trail and sea otters in the kelp. Evening back in Santa Cruz for live music in a beach bar.
🚌MST bus to Monterey (~£4)
🛏Santa Cruz hostel or budget motel
- →Beginner surf lesson
- →Monterey Cannery Row
- →Coastal Recreation Trail
Pacific Coast Highway to Los Angeles
Santa Cruz → Los Angeles, CA
The scenic option is the Amtrak Coast Starlight/Thruway via Salinas to LA (~9-10 hrs, ~£45); the fast option is a FlixBus down US-101. Either way you'll arrive in LA by evening. Stay in a Venice or Hollywood hostel and take the Metro (TAP card) everywhere — LA's rail network is better than its reputation.
🚌Amtrak/FlixBus (~£45) + Metro TAP card
🛏Venice/Hollywood hostel dorm
- →Coast highway travel day
- →Venice Beach boardwalk at dusk
LA: beaches, Hollywood & the city
Los Angeles, CA
Free day by Metro and bike. Morning at Venice Beach and the canals, lunch at Grand Central Market downtown, afternoon at Santa Monica Pier or the Griffith Observatory for the skyline. Universal Studios is ~£90-150 if you want a theme-park day — book on Klook for discounts.
🚌Metro day pass (~£6)
🛏Venice/Hollywood hostel dorm
- →Venice Beach & canals
- →Griffith Observatory
- →Grand Central Market
- →Optional Universal Studios
San Diego: Gaslamp & Mission Beach
San Diego, CA
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from LA Union Station to San Diego (~3 hrs, ~£28) — one of the prettiest coastal rail rides in the US. Afternoon at Mission Beach, then an evening wander through the Gaslamp Quarter. Stay in the HI San Diego hostel downtown or on the beach.
🚌Amtrak Pacific Surfliner (~£28)
🛏San Diego hostel dorm
- →Mission Beach
- →Gaslamp Quarter evening
- →Optional boogie board hire
San Diego to Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree National Park, CA
Take the Amtrak Thruway/FlixBus to Palm Springs, then hire a car for two days (essential here — no public transport into the park). Drive the park's loop road, walk the Hidden Valley and Skull Rock trails, and stay for the stars. Camp in the park on recreation.gov or grab a Twentynine Palms motel.
🚌Coach to Palm Springs + rental car (~£45/day)
🛏Joshua Tree campsite or Twentynine Palms motel
- →Hidden Valley trail
- →Skull Rock
- →Stargazing
Joshua Tree to the Grand Canyon via Route 66
Seligman, AZ → Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ
Big driving day (6-7 hrs). Break it up in Seligman on Route 66 — the historic general store, the old motels and the kitsch are the same ones the tour stops at. Arrive at the South Rim in the late afternoon, catch sunset from Mather or Hopi Point, and camp at Mather Campground (book ~6 months out) or a Tusayan budget motel.
🚌Rental car (Route 66 detour)
🛏Mather Campground or Tusayan motel
- →Seligman Route 66 stop
- →Grand Canyon South Rim sunset
Grand Canyon Rim Trail & optional helicopter
Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ
Walk the Rim Trail between viewpoints (free), or descend partway down the Bright Angel Trail — turn around well before you think you need to. Optional 45-50 min helicopter flight over the canyon (~£200-250, book on GetYourGuide) is the splash-out of the trip. Free shuttle buses link the viewpoints.
🚌Free park shuttle
🛏Mather Campground or Tusayan motel
- →Rim Trail walk / partway Bright Angel
- →Optional Grand Canyon helicopter flight
- →Visitor center exhibits
Horseshoe Bend & Lake Havasu to Las Vegas
Page, AZ → Las Vegas, NV
Drive to Page for the short hike to Horseshoe Bend (~£8 parking) — the orange sandstone meander of the Colorado River is the photo everyone wants. Then continue south through Lake Havasu and on to Las Vegas (~5 hrs). Drop the car, check into a hostel or budget Strip-adjacent hotel, and hit Fremont Street for the free light show.
🚌Rental car final day + drop-off
🛏Las Vegas hostel or budget hotel (shared)
- →Horseshoe Bend hike
- →Lake Havasu stop
- →Fremont Street Experience
Las Vegas — trip end
Las Vegas, NV
Last morning for the Strip on foot, a cheap buffet or breakfast burrito, and a final poolside hour. McCarran Airport is a $12-15 rideshare from most Strip hotels, or take the CX Centennial Express bus for $2. Fly home (or extend into Utah's parks if you have time).
🚌Rideshare/bus to airport (~£10)
🛏—
- →Las Vegas Strip walk
- →Fremont Street
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,745 | £2,900 |
| Duration | 21 days | 21 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,155 per person (40%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,745
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 Self-Launched USA Road Trip: Pacific Coast to Las Vegas (21 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,745 per person for 21 days in United States (Pacific Northwest to the Southwest). 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 £2,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,745 — a saving of roughly £1,155 (40%) per person.
How long is the United States (Pacific Northwest to the Southwest) trip?+
This itinerary runs 21 days, covering 21 day-by-day stops through United States (Pacific Northwest to the Southwest).
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 (Pacific Northwest to the Southwest), 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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