Self-Launched West Coast USA Road Trip: LA, National Parks & San Francisco in 12 Days
12 days · Western USA
Oasis Travel charges £3,160
No-markup version: ~£2,010 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Oasis Travel's 14-day coach loop from Los Angeles, rebuilt for independent travellers. The tour's flights and Los Angeles arrival/departure buffer days are stripped out, leaving 12 on-the-ground days covering LA, Joshua Tree, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Page/Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterey/Carmel and Santa Barbara/Santa Monica. Instead of a guided coach you'll self-drive a rental car (or mix in Greyhound/Amtrak where it makes sense), book Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley and helicopter flights direct, and stay in hostels and budget motels. Parks pass, fuel and a cheap rental car do most of the heavy lifting. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights, which the original operator's price includes.
Day-by-day
Arrive Los Angeles — Hollywood & Beverly Hills on foot and by Metro
Los Angeles, CA
Land at LAX and take the FlyAway bus to Union Station (~£7) or the Metro C Line if you're staying near the coast. Check into a hostel in Hollywood or Downtown. In the afternoon do the original tour's LA circuit yourself: Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Sign viewpoint at Lake Hollywood Park, then hop the Metro to Beverly Hills and stroll Rodeo Drive. Wander Downtown's Grand Central Market and Angels Flight for sunset. Skip the paid guide — LA's grid is easy and cheap to navigate on a TAP card.
🚌FlyAway bus LAX–Union Station ~£7; Metro day pass ~£6
🛏Hostel dorm in Hollywood or Downtown LA (e.g. Banana Bungalow or HI Los Angeles)
- →Hollywood Walk of Fame & Chinese Theatre
- →Lake Hollywood Park sign viewpoint
- →Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive
- →Grand Central Market & Angels Flight
Pick up rental car — drive to Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree / Laughlin, NV
Collect a pre-booked economy rental car (booking in advance cuts the rate to roughly £22–28/day for a week-plus rental). Drive east to Joshua Tree National Park (~2.5 hrs) and buy the America the Beautiful annual pass (~£66) on arrival — it pays for itself after three parks. Walk the Hidden Valley loop, Skull Rock and the Cholla Cactus Garden, then drive onward to Laughlin or Kingman for the night. Fuel up before the park; services are sparse.
🚌Rental car pickup in LA; ~230 miles driving; fuel ~£22
🛏Budget motel in Kingman or Laughlin (~£48)
- →Joshua Tree NP — Hidden Valley & Skull Rock trails
- →Cholla Cactus Garden
- →America the Beautiful annual parks pass purchase
Grand Canyon South Rim — sunrise-to-sunset hiking
Grand Canyon / Flagstaff, AZ
Leave early for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon (~3.5 hrs from Kingman). Park at Mather Point or Grand Canyon Village and walk the Rim Trail between Yavapai Point and Hopi Point — flat, free and the best viewpoints on the rim. If you're fit, descend partway on the Bright Angel Trail (turn around at the 1.5-mile rest house; the climb back is harder than it looks). Stay in Flagstaff, which has far cheaper beds than the in-park lodges.
🚌Rental car; ~260 miles driving; fuel ~£25
🛏Hostel or budget motel in Flagstaff (~£45)
- →Rim Trail walk: Mather Point to Hopi Point
- →Bright Angel Trail partial descent
- →Optional: Grand Canyon helicopter flight from Tusayan (~£200, book on GetYourGuide)
Monument Valley with a Navajo-guided jeep tour
Monument Valley / Page, AZ
Drive to Monument Valley (~3 hrs). The loop road itself has great viewpoints, but the original tour's optional jeep trip is the highlight and worth booking direct with a Navajo operator at the visitor centre (roughly £60–80 for 2.5 hrs, covering John Ford's Point and the Mittens). Afterwards head to Page for the night so you're set up for Antelope Canyon the next morning. Page is small and walkable; grab dinner at a taqueria rather than the chain steakhouses.
🚌Rental car; ~200 miles driving; fuel ~£20
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Page (~£50)
- →Monument Valley scenic drive viewpoints
- →Navajo-guided jeep tour (~£70, book at the visitor centre)
- →Lake Powell shoreline at Glen Canyon Dam
Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, then Bryce Canyon
Page, AZ → Bryce Canyon, UT
Book Antelope Canyon direct with an authorised Navajo operator weeks ahead — Upper Antelope is ~£65–70, Lower is often cheaper and less crowded, and slots sell out. Then drive five minutes to Horseshoe Bend for the classic Colorado River viewpoint (small parking fee, ~10-minute walk). After lunch, drive ~2.5 hrs to Bryce Canyon and catch sunset at Sunrise or Sunset Point. Stay in Bryce Canyon City or Tropic for cheap beds near the park.
🚌Rental car; ~160 miles driving; fuel ~£16
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Tropic/Bryce Canyon City (~£50)
- →Antelope Canyon guided slot-canyon tour (~£68, book direct in advance)
- →Horseshoe Bend viewpoint
- →Bryce Canyon sunset at Sunset Point
Bryce Canyon hike, then drive to Las Vegas
Bryce Canyon, UT → Las Vegas, NV
Start with the Queens Garden / Navajo Loop combination — about 3 miles and roughly 2 hours, far better than the tour's 1-hour taster and arguably the best short hike in the US. After lunch drive ~4 hrs to Las Vegas. Skip the Strip hotels: a hostel or budget motel off-Strip is a third of the price, and you can walk Fremont Street and the Bellagio fountains for free. Save money by eating off-Strip.
🚌Rental car; ~270 miles driving; fuel ~£26
🛏Hostel or budget motel off-Strip in Las Vegas (~£40)
- →Queens Garden & Navajo Loop hike (~3 miles)
- →Bryce Point & Inspiration Point overlooks
- →Fremont Street & Strip evening walk
Death Valley via Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells
Death Valley, CA → Bakersfield, CA
An early start for the long drive through Death Valley (~2.5 hrs from Vegas). Stop at Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin and the Stovepipe Wells sand dunes — all free with your parks pass. Fuel at Furnace Creek is eye-wateringly expensive, so fill up in Pahrump beforehand. Continue to Bakersfield for the night (~4 hrs), breaking the long haul to Yosemite the way the coach tour does.
🚌Rental car; ~330 miles driving; fuel ~£32
🛏Budget motel in Bakersfield (~£45)
- →Zabriskie Point sunrise viewpoints
- →Badwater Basin salt flats
- →Stovepipe Wells sand dunes
- →Optional: Borax Visitor Center (free) near Boron
Yosemite National Park — waterfalls and valley floor
Yosemite, CA → Modesto, CA
Drive to Yosemite Valley (~4 hrs). Park at Yosemite Village and use the free valley shuttle. Walk the Mist Trail toward Vernal Fall (2.4 miles return, steep but worth it) or the flat Lower Yosemite Fall loop if you want something gentler. Catch El Capitan and Half Dome viewpoints on the valley loop. Note: Yosemite may require a peak-season day reservation — check recreation.gov a week before. Overnight in Modesto or Merced where motels are cheap.
🚌Rental car; ~200 miles driving; fuel ~£20; free valley shuttle
🛏Budget motel in Modesto or Merced (~£45)
- →Mist Trail to Vernal Fall
- →Lower Yosemite Fall loop
- →El Capitan & Tunnel View photo stops
San Francisco — self-guided city day
San Francisco, CA
Drive into SF (~2 hrs) and drop the car if you can — parking is brutal and public transport is excellent. Do the original tour's circuit independently: cable car to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, walk to the Ferry Building, then the Financial District, Union Square and Chinatown. In the afternoon take the 28 bus or a cheap rideshare to the Golden Gate Bridge and walk partway across. Bikes can be rented for ~£25 if you'd rather ride to Sausalito and ferry back.
🚌Rental car to SF; Muni day pass ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm in Downtown or Fisherman's Wharf (~£40)
- →Cable car ride (~£6)
- →Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 & Ferry Building
- →Chinatown & Union Square walk
- →Golden Gate Bridge walk
- →Optional: bike hire to Sausalito + ferry back (~£30)
Monterey, Carmel and the 17-Mile Drive
Monterey Peninsula → Lompoc/San Luis Obispo
Drive south to Monterey (~2 hrs) and walk Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row, then continue to Carmel for the arty village streets and beach. Pay the small toll (~£9) for the 17-Mile Drive — worth it for Lone Cypress and Pebble Beach. Finish the day further down the coast at Lompoc, San Luis Obispo or Pismo Beach for cheap motels and a proper Highway 1 sunset.
🚌Rental car; ~250 miles driving; fuel ~£24
🛏Budget motel in Lompoc, SLO or Pismo Beach (~£50)
- →Monterey Fisherman's Wharf & Cannery Row
- →Carmel village & beach
- →17-Mile Drive scenic loop (~£9 toll)
Santa Barbara, then Santa Monica beach and LA
Santa Barbara → Los Angeles, CA
Drive to Santa Barbara (~2 hrs): see the Mission, the courthouse tower for free rooftop views, and Stearn's Wharf. Then continue south to Santa Monica for beach time and the pier before returning the rental car in LA. Swap the coach's orientation tour for a self-guided stroll — the red-tile Mission and the courthouse are both free or donation-based.
🚌Rental car; ~180 miles driving; fuel ~£18; car return
🛏Hostel dorm in Santa Monica or Hollywood (~£45)
- →Santa Barbara Mission & Courthouse rooftop
- →Stearn's Wharf
- →Santa Monica Beach & Pier
Final LA morning and departure
Los Angeles, CA
A last morning for anything you missed — the Getty Center (free entry, paid parking), Venice Beach boardwalk or the Griffith Observatory. Use the Metro and FlyAway back to LAX for your flight home. If you're extending, LA hostels are cheap and Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner can take you down to San Diego for ~£28.
🚌Metro + FlyAway to LAX ~£7
🛏—
- →Getty Center (free entry)
- →Venice Beach boardwalk
- →Griffith Observatory viewpoint
Self-launched vs. Oasis Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Oasis Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,010 | £3,160 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,150 per person (36%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Oasis Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,010
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 West Coast USA Road Trip: LA, National Parks & San Francisco in 12 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,010 per person for 12 days in Western 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 Oasis Travel?+
Yes — Oasis Travel charges around £3,160 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,010 — a saving of roughly £1,150 (36%) per person.
How long is the Western USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Western 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, road-trip, hiking trip through Western 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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