Splendors of the American West — Self-Launched Road Trip (Los Angeles to San Francisco)
11 days · Western USA
Travel Talk charges £2,170
No-markup version: ~£1,355 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Travel Talk's 11-day "Splendors of the West" loop from Los Angeles to San Francisco — the same national parks (Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Death Valley, Yosemite), the same desert and mountain scenery, but booked independently with no group bus and no single supplement. This version assumes you join 1-3 other solo travellers to split a rental car (the single biggest cost lever in the USA), staying in hostels, motels and budget chain hotels, and self-driving with park passes bought directly. Costs assume a shared rental car with 3-4 people at ~£250-300 per person for the full 11 days including fuel, and 3-4 person dorm or shared rooms where available. Prices are rough backpacker estimates in GBP — US national park lodges and Las Vegas weekends can spike, so book early.
Day-by-day
Arrive Los Angeles — gateway to the West
Los Angeles, California
Fly into LAX (cheap one-way fares from the UK are often £350-500 if booked early). Settle into a hostel in Santa Monica or Hollywood rather than an airport hotel. Spend the afternoon walking the Hollywood Walk of Fame or Venice Beach boardwalk and pick up groceries for the road. Tonight: meet your car-share crew (arranged via a solo-travel Facebook group or the hostel common room) and confirm tomorrow's rental pickup.
🚌LAX FlyAway bus or Metro to Hollywood ~£7; local Metro day pass ~£6
🛏Hostel dorm in Santa Monica or Hollywood (e.g. Ocean Park/Santa Monica hostel) ~£30-40pp
- →Hollywood Walk of Fame
- →Venice Beach boardwalk
- →Groceries for the drive
Los Angeles to Phoenix via Palm Springs
Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona
Pick up a rental car (book via Rentalcars.com or Enterprise — a compact SUV split 4 ways costs ~£18pp/day plus fuel). Drive I-10 east past the San Gorgonio Pass wind farm and the San Jacinto Mountains, detour through Palm Springs for a quick stroll down Palm Canyon Drive, then continue via Indio and the desert into Phoenix. This is a long driving day (~6 hrs), so rotate drivers and stop for cheap tacos in Indio. Evening in Scottsdale Old Town for a wander.
🚌Shared rental car, ~370 miles; fuel ~£35 total (~£9pp)
🛏Budget motel or hostel near Scottsdale Old Town ~£30-38pp shared
- →Palm Springs Palm Canyon Drive
- →San Jacinto Mountains viewpoint
- →Scottsdale Old Town evening walk
Phoenix to the Grand Canyon via Sedona
Grand Canyon South Rim / Tusayan, Arizona
Drive north through the Sonoran Desert cactus country to Sedona — stop at Airport Mesa or Cathedral Rock trailhead for the red-rock views, and take the scenic AZ-179 through Oak Creek Canyon. Continue to Grand Canyon National Park South Rim (~2 hrs). Buy the America the Beautiful annual pass (£65 total, splits to ~£16pp) — it covers Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion and Yosemite. Catch sunset from Mather or Hopi Point, then sleep in Tusayan or grab a South Rim campground/bunkhouse spot.
🚌Shared rental car, ~230 miles; free park shuttle on the rim
🛏Tusayan budget motel or South Rim hostel/cabin ~£32-42pp shared
- →Sedona red rocks and Cathedral Rock viewpoint
- →Oak Creek Canyon drive
- →Grand Canyon South Rim sunset at Mather Point
Grand Canyon to Page/Lake Powell via Monument Valley
Page, Arizona
Sunrise at the canyon, then drive east along Desert View Drive for the Colorado River views. Head through the Navajo Nation — detour the US-163 Monument Valley loop and pull into the Cameron Trading Post for Navajo tacos. Continue via the Painted Desert edge into Page. Optional: book an Antelope Canyon slot-canyon tour directly with a Navajo operator (£45-60) or Horseshoe Bend at sunset (free).
🚌Shared rental car, ~270 miles; fuel ~£30 total
🛏Page hostel or budget motel ~£30-38pp shared
- →Desert View Drive
- →Monument Valley viewpoint (US-163)
- →Cameron Trading Post
- →Horseshoe Bend sunset (free)
- →Optional: Antelope Canyon tour (~£50)
Page to Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon, Utah
Morning at Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell overlooks (free), then drive US-89 north through Kanab — a classic Western film town worth a coffee stop. Reach Bryce Canyon by afternoon and hike the Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop (2.9 miles, free with the park pass). Stay in Bryce Village or Ruby's Inn area. Evening: Bryce is an International Dark Sky Park — stay up for the stars.
🚌Shared rental car, ~150 miles
🛏Bryce Village motel/hostel ~£32-40pp shared
- →Glen Canyon Dam viewpoint
- →Lake Powell overlook
- →Kanab town stop
- →Navajo Loop hike in Bryce Canyon
- →Night sky stargazing
Bryce Canyon to Zion and on to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Early drive to Zion National Park — walk the Riverside Walk along the Virgin River and the Canyon Overlook Trail if time allows (free with your park pass). Then drive through the Zion-Mt Carmel tunnel and on to Las Vegas (~3 hrs). Check into a budget hotel on the Strip — midweek rates in Vegas can be surprisingly cheap (£30-45 for a room). Tonight: walk the Strip, see the Bellagio fountains and the free Fremont Street light show.
🚌Shared rental car, ~270 miles
🛏Budget room on or near the Strip (e.g. Excalibur/Luxor-tier or downtown hostel) ~£30-45pp shared
- →Zion Riverside Walk
- →Canyon Overlook Trail
- →Las Vegas Strip walk
- →Bellagio fountains
- →Fremont Street Experience
Las Vegas free day
Las Vegas, Nevada
A buffer day to do Vegas your way without a tour's optional-excursion price tag. Free or cheap options: the Neon Museum (£15), Red Rock Canyon scenic drive (£8 vehicle entry), the Pinball Hall of Fame (free entry), or just pool time. Skip the £300+ helicopter add-ons unless you really want them — a Grand Canyon West Skywalk day trip via GetYourGuide runs ~£90-120 if you'd rather. Cheap eats: In-N-Out, Chinatown on Spring Mountain Road.
🚌Walk, Deuce bus day pass ~£7, or rideshare
🛏Same budget strip/downtown room ~£30-45pp shared
- →Neon Museum
- →Red Rock Canyon scenic drive
- →Pinball Hall of Fame
- →Pool day
- →Optional: Skywalk day trip (~£100)
Las Vegas to Mammoth Lakes via Death Valley
Mammoth Lakes, California
Photo stop at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, then drive into Death Valley — Zabriskie Point at golden hour and the Furnace Creek Visitor Center for the salt flats and Badwater Basin (lowest point in North America). Fill up with water — it's brutal in summer. Ascend the Sierra Nevada in the afternoon to Mammoth Lakes for a cool mountain night.
🚌Shared rental car, ~350 miles; fuel ~£40 total
🛏Mammoth Lakes motel/hostel ~£32-42pp shared
- →Welcome to Las Vegas sign
- →Zabriskie Point
- →Badwater Basin
- →Furnace Creek Visitor Center
- →Sierra Nevada mountain drive
Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite via Tioga Pass
Modesto, California
The scenic highlight: drive the Tioga Pass (highest highway crossing in the Sierra, usually open June-Oct) into Yosemite National Park. Stop at Olmsted Point for Half Dome views, walk to Bridalveil Fall and El Capitan meadow, and detour to the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. Exit west and overnight in Modesto or Merced — cheaper than Yosemite Valley lodging, which books out months ahead.
🚌Shared rental car, ~250 miles
🛏Modesto or Merced budget motel ~£30-38pp shared
- →Tioga Pass drive
- →Olmsted Point
- →Bridalveil Fall
- →El Capitan meadow
- →Mariposa Grove giant sequoias
Modesto to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Drive into San Francisco (~2 hrs), drop the rental car (or return it at the airport if that's cheaper) and check into a hostel in the Mission or Fisherman's Wharf area. Self-guided walking day: ride a cable car (£6), walk Lombard Street, Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 for the sea lions, and wander Chinatown. Optional Bay Cruise via GetYourGuide/Blue & Gold Fleet ~£30.
🚌Shared rental car final day + Muni/cable car day pass ~£9
🛏San Francisco hostel dorm (e.g. Green Tortoise, HI Fisherman's Wharf) ~£35-45pp
- →Cable car ride
- →Lombard Street
- →Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39
- →Chinatown walk
- →Optional: Bay Cruise (~£30)
San Francisco — trip end
San Francisco, California
Final morning: Golden Gate Bridge walk or bike ride (rental ~£20), Alamo Square Painted Ladies, or the free Golden Gate Park and de Young observation deck. Brunch in the Mission, then onward flight or extend a few nights in a hostel. Fly out from SFO.
🚌Muni/BART to SFO ~£8
🛏None (departure day) or optional extra hostel night ~£40
- →Golden Gate Bridge walk
- →Painted Ladies at Alamo Square
- →Golden Gate Park
- →Mission District brunch
Self-launched vs. Travel Talk
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Talk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,355 | £2,170 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £815 per person (38%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Talk-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,355
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 Splendors of the American West — Self-Launched Road Trip (Los Angeles to San Francisco) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,355 per person for 11 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 Travel Talk?+
Yes — Travel Talk charges around £2,170 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,355 — a saving of roughly £815 (38%) per person.
How long is the Western USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 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 road-trip, adventure, 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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