The Best 2 Week West Coast USA Itinerary for a Stunning Trip with your Partner (2024)

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Are you looking for the best 2 Week West Coast USA Itinerary? You’re in the right place! Having lived and traveled several times all around the USA, I’m far form being a newbie when it comes to road tripping the USA from east to west! After having road tripped the West Coast of the USA twice, I’ve gathered my experience to deliver the best itinerary you can find to get the most out of your two week road trip on the US West Coast! This itinerary includes one of our four epic Arizona to Utah road trips!

What you will find in this West Coast USA travel guide

• A day by day itinerary for 14 days
• Recommended budget for 14 days on the US West Cost based on our experience
• Why a US West Coast road trip is great for couples
• The Best time to go on a road trip in USA West Coast
• Recommended amount of time to spend at each landmark, city and national park
• Recommendations for unforgettable experiences like horseback riding in Monument Valley at sunrise
• The cost of each activity and visit
• The total number of kilometres
• The total number of driving hours
• Where to stay each day
• What time to leave in the morning
• Suggestions if you’re staying 10 days, 3 weeks or 4 weeks
• Tips for driving in the USA

What you will see on your USA West Coast itinerary 2 weeks

• 5 USA West Coast states
• 3 main USA West Coast cities
• 7 National Parks
• Scenic drives such as Route 66
• A couple of West Coast USA highlights that remain under the radar (yay for less crowds!)

***Some of the links in this post are affiliate links meaning we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not change the fact that we only recommend products, stays, activities and attractions we are satisfied with and all opinions expressed here are our own.

2 week West Coast USA Itinerary map

Budget for a 2 week West Coast USA Itinerary

A 2 week road trip USA cost will vary depending on your travel style (do you stay at motels or 5 star hotels?), whether you’re willing to do grocery stops instead of eating out all the time, flight and rental cars rates. Some of those vary quite a bit month to month and also depending on where you come from. For example, a day through Bryce Canyon National Park will cost you barely anything while a night in Los Angeles might be above your average hotel night rate.

Low budget for road trips USA West Coast 

All together, we would recommend planning at least an average of $190 per day ($2660 for 14 days) for two outside of flights. Your expenses will vary day to day but this would cover you for a low budget trip. 

Higher budget for road trips West Coast USA style

If you want to have a bit more room for activities, unexpected expenses and a nice hotel along the way, we would recommend saving between $3000 and $4000 total for two for 14 days. A budget of $4000 will allow you to have the

Our budget for the best tours West Coast USA

I have done two road trips across the US West Coast. This West Coast USA road trip planner is based on the West Coast portion of my one month road trip from Nashville to Hawaii. All together, we spent roughly $3500 for that portion. 

One thing we recommend doing is purchasing a National Park Pass to save a bit of money. 

We also recommend purchasing this guide of 16 National Parks which covers the ones included in this itinerary. By following the instructions, you’ll be able to start the tour on your phone and listen to interesting facts about the visited national parks. This is a great way to know what you’re looking at!  

Why is a 2 week West Coast USA road trip a good trip idea for couples?

West Coast USA road trips are a great trip idea for couples. They can be adjusted depending on your budget and each person’s travel preferences. For example, if one of you prefers cities and the other prefers spending time in nature, a West Coast road trip would be perfect as it encompasses and alternates between both. 

Going on a West Coast road trip USA style is also a great way to bond as you’ll spend quite a bit of time on the road. It’s an efficient way to get to know your partner better and learn more about each other while sharing favourite road trip songs. 

It’s also inevitable that something will go wrong during your road trip. This is a lot of kilometres to drive with a lot of visits and bookings. Whether it’s your motel cancelling last minute or you having to change a visit booking, something will come up that you’ll have to deal with as a team. These events will make for quirky situations that will make you laugh (after you’re done being irritated lol). It’s part of the fun and sometimes you’ll even end up meeting amazing people and having fun experiences. 

Another reason why a road trip in the West of the USA is a great idea for couples is that you will come across Route 66, one of the most famous drives in the world! We have gathered some amazing Route 66 hotels here where you’ll be able to share incredible memories with your partner while discovering all the Route 66 memorabilia!

But the main reason why a USA road trip on the West Coast is a great travel idea for couples is that it is a stunning trip that both of you will remember forever. This trip will give you unforgettable memories that you’ll be able to share throughout your life. It’s honestly hard not to feel at peace and in love when you’re standing in front of the Grand Canyon! 

Best time to go on a 2 week USA road trip

My first USA West Coast Road trip was in April. This was a two week road trip. My second USA road trip was a month long and took us from Nashville to Hawaii and overlapped July and August. 

In my experience, I would say that the best USA West Coast weather is during shoulder season (spring and fall) or summer and I would recommend those times to go on your US road trip. 

West Coast USA weather in shoulder season

If you’re not a big fan of the heat, shoulder season can be a greta time to go road tripping the West Coast. With colours changing in spring and fall, the landscapes are even more unique looking. California isn’t super hot in the shoulder season and you will need a jacket (or even a coat sometimes!) so laying on the beach is out of the question unless the weather is unexpectedly good that year. But if you’re a big fan of hiking, this is the perfect weather to go on nice hikes in the national parks. 

Weather in West Coast USA in the summer

Summer is to me, the best season to go on your 2 week USA road trip. In the summer, the whole West Coast is sunny and warm, allowing you to go to the beach in California, and visit beautiful national parks without having to wonder whether the roads are good. Everything is open in the summer so you won’t have to wonder whether you’ll miss out or not. One thing to note is that fires are more common at that time of the year so it is possible that some parks would close at the last minute for everyone’s safety. This is rather rare though. 

Winter weather West Coast USA

Contrary to popular belief, the West Coast does get cold in the winter, including in California. IT does rain and snow in national parks including also in Monument Valley. Although the snow can make for beautiful photos, you never know how much there’s going to be and what states the roads are going to be in. Going on a road trip in the cold is also not the funnest if you ask me and you get tired faster making the long drives more burdensome. In addition, some national and recreational parks close between October and May so you will miss out on some if you travel at that period. And finally, the West Coast cities are just made for the sun and warmth of the nicer months so they might feel a bit disappointing in the winter. 

2 Week West Coast USA Itinerary from Durango to San Francisco 

• Distance: 1975 miles
• Driving time: 36h driving
• Departure: Durango
• Arrival: San Francisco
• What you’ll see: a mix of the main cities, canyons and national parks including the famous US West Coast landmarks such as Santa Monica Pier and Monument Valley. 
• Ideal for: couples who want to explore the East Coast beforehand. This is the itinerary I did on my one month road trip across the USA which took me from Nashville to Hawaii. 

A lot of USA West Coast itineraries start in Los Angeles and loop back to San Francisco. However,  doing this ends up in more kilometres and driving hours to see the same landmarks. This itinerary involves less driving and less kilometres so it’s a bit less fast paced. 

DAY 1 of your West Coast 2 week road trip: Durango & Monument Valley

• Durango to Monument Valley: 3h, 168 miles
• Monument Valley to Bluff: 55min, 47 miles

Day 1 of your West Coast USA roadtrip is dedicated to your arrival in Durango and exploring Monument Valley. Depending on your flight time, this could be a full day or a half day. To keep it flexible, we haven’t packed this day. If you have more time than needed, we suggest spending more time in Monument Valley or adding stops on the road.

Durango Airport

The first step of your West Coast USA itinerary 2 weeks of length, is arriving at Durango Airport. Durango Airport is a very small airport so you’ll be quick to get out of there. Get your renting car and you’ll be on your way. One thing you may want to do is stop at a store to grab some food. There is a Family Dollar store on your way to Bluff. Note that there isn’t much else in the area so depending on your day of travel, it may be worth stopping here. 

Navajo Twins 

The Navajo Twins are located in the small town of Bluff in Utah. They are essentially two almost identical rock formations standing next to each other looking like twins. There are lots of cool rock formations in Utah so keep an eye open as you go on to your next stop. 

Time recommended: 15min

Budget: Free

Best view of Monument Valley

We have lots to say about Monument Valley and several viewpoints to recommend. However, one viewpoint you definitely shouldn’t miss is Highway 163. The good news is you won’t, since this is the way you’ll be arriving on site (see how well this is planned!).

As you’ll arrive closer to Monument Valley, you’ll be able to decide for yourself which is the spot that you prefer. No matter where you stop, you’ll be able to see the iconic skyline of Monument Valley stunning rock formations. Don’t hesitate to stop several times as Monument Valley is the last main stop of your roadtrip West Coast USA for this day.

Time recommended: 30min

Budget: Free

Monument Valley & Visitor Centre

Your next stop on this USA West Coast itinerary 2 weeks is Monument Valley Visitor Centre. This is probably one of the most beautiful visitor centres you’ll ever see in your life as it provides one of the best views on Monument Valley’s main location. From here, you’ll have a direct and symmetrical view of the park including on Merrick Butte, East Mitten Butte and Mitten Butte. In the back, on your right, you’ll see Elephant Butte, Cly Butte and Camel Butte while on the left, you’ll see Sentinel Mesa, Stagecoach and Bear Butte and Rabbit and Castle Butte. So many of them and so much peace you’ll feel while looking at this incredible landscape. 

Time recommended: The rest of the day before heading back to Bluff 

Budget: Free

DAY 2 Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Glen Canyon & Grand Canyon

• Bluff to Monument Valley: 55min, 47 miles
• Monument Valley to Antelope Canyon: 1h50, 115 miles
• Antelope Canyon to Horseshoe Bend: 11min, 9 miles
• Horseshoe Bend to Glen Canyon: 50min, 40 miles
• Glen Canyon to Grand Canyon: 1h30, 77 miles
• Grand Canyon to Kanab: 1h40, 83 miles

Recommended departure time: 4am

Day 2 of USA 2 week road trip is a day that you will remember forever. It is packed with memorable activities and incredible landscapes that just don’t exist anywhere else.

Horseback riding in Monument Valley, a incredible memory on your USA West Coast tour

Lots of West Coast USA trips are happening each year, but this activity will definitely make yours unique and memorable. To start this second day off right, we recommend that you go horseback riding in Monument Valley which is one of the most romantic things to do in Utah.

Our experience was incredible from start to finish. This is a true and authentic activity that took me a while to even integrate as part of my travel experiences. When we went horseback riding through Monument Valley, we chose to do it at sunrise which meant we had the whole place to ourselves before cars and tourist crowds showed up. We rode with a Navajo guide called Adel who was amazing and taught us so much about the Navajo land. He made us gallop through Monument Valley while the sun was slowly going up and it was just an amazing feeling of peace and freedom I had never felt before. 

An alternative to horseback riding through Monument Valley is driving the 17 mile loop. Know that you can drive the loop with any car when the weather is dry. However, Monument Valley is subject to thunder and rain and the roads can get flooded and muddy. Cars regularly get stuck down there so we wouldn’t recommend doing the loop if the roads aren’t dry. 

Time recommended: 1h30

Budget: $80 per person for horseback riding and $8 per person for driving the loop. 

Antelope Canyon Upper 

Your next stop for Day 2 is Upper Antelope Canyon. There are two Antelope Canyons, one is upper and one is lower. The most famous and accessible one is Upper Antelope Canyon though they are pretty similar when it comes to colours and rock formations. 

You’ll first have to hop on the back of a truck that drives you to the canyon. As this is a popular one, there are usually several trucks going there at the same time. Then you’ll follow your guide into the canyon to discover those beautiful ocher rock formations. 

Time recommended: 2h

Budget: $8 per person for entry to the Park and $37 per person for the canyon visit. We recommend booking your tickets through one of the tour operators directly as tickets will be cheaper than on other websites, see here. 

Antelope Canyon  Lower

Lower Antelope Canyon is less famous but also smaller than Upper Antelope Canyon. It’s also less busy which is nice if you’re trying to get away from the crowds. You’ll have to go down a few staircases inside the canyon to get to the bottom of it. There you’ll enjoy the beauty of the daylight beaming against the ocher colours. The whole visit is on foot and due to the stairs, ti’s not accessible to people with reduced mobility. Alternatively, you can visit Lower Antelope Canyon without a tour if you want to go at your own pace.

Time recommended: 2h

Budget: $8 per person for entry to the Park (only need to pay this once for both canyons) and $28 per person for the canyon visit. We recommend booking your tickets through one of the tour operators directly as tickets will be cheaper than on other websites, see here. 

An alternative to these two canyons is the new Canyon X. It’s a gem and can also be cheaper depending on when you book! You can also decide to kayak to a more remote part of Antelope Canyon where there will be a lot less people!

Glen Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

Your next stop on this 2 week West Coast USA itinerary is the Glen Canyon Recreational Area. Although it is often thought to be part of the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend is actually part of Glen Canyon and right on the road towards the West. This gorgeous rock formation is located in the Colorado River and is shaped as a horseshoe making for some of the best views in the West. The Glen Canyon Dam is also one of the main landmarks to see in the area. 

Time recommended: 1h

Budget: $10 per car for parking

Grand Canyon National Park, a must-see one all West Coast USA tours

The Grand Canyon is one of the most stunning USA West Coast national parks. It is famous for its huge layered rock formations in the red and orange colours. The Canyon is home to the Colorado River at the very bottom. The main viewpoints on the South Rim to observe this geological masterpiece are Mather Point, Hopi Point and Shoshone Point. However, the South Rim is quite far south from the natural development of the road trip so we would recommend focusing on the North Rim which reduces the driving time considerably. On the North Rim, you’ll want to check Bright Angel Point, Coconino overlook, and North Kaibab Trailhead. You can check more tips one the Grand Canyon here.

Note that the North Rim is usually closed from October to May.

Time recommended: 2h

Budget: $35 per car 

DAY 3 of your two week West Coast road trip: Bryce Canyon National Park & Zion National Park 

• Kanab to Bryce Canyon: 1h30, 79miles
• Bryce Canyon to Zion National Park: 1h50, 86 miles
• Zion National Park to Las Vegas: 2h40, 165 miles

Recommended departure time: 7am

Bryce Canyon, the most stunning visit on your USA West Coast trip itinerary

Bryce Canyon was one of the most surprising stop on our USA West Coast road trip 2 weeks of length. If you think you’ve seen everything canyon related after the Grand Canyon, you’re wrong!

Bryce Canyon is a breathtaking place that will make you feel extremely small and that will remind you of what planet earth and nature can do.

There are a number of viewpoints to stop at in Bryce Canyon. Rainbow and Yovimpa Points ae located at the south of the Canyon and provide stunning views from the Pink Cliffs to the Vermillion Cliffs. Natural Bridge is another point where you can see arches made by erosion from the rain and the wind into the canyon. Bryce Point is a viewpoint over Bryce Canyon amphitheater and the start of a couple of trails. We wouldn’t recommend embarking on a full trail as they can take several days to complete. However, you can walk for 5 minutes just to get into the canyon a bit more. 

Finally, Sunrise and Sunset Points are located on the north side of the canyon and deliver stunning views on a rock formation called Thor’s Hammer due to its shape. This spot is great at the end of the day especially! 

Pink Cliffs, located more south, is essentially another viewpoint with incredible views on the layered pink rock formations. Standing here will make you feel so small yet so free!

All together, Bryce Canyon is an absolute gem that you should add to your West Coast USA road trip itinerary.

Time recommended: 3h (you could spend a week here of course!!)

Budget: $35 per car

We recommend this hiking experience in Bryce Canyon to completely immerse yourself in the park! 

Zion National Park

Another park you can add to your West Coast itinerary USA is Zion National Park. The park itself is huge but from experience, you’ll only be able to do a small section of it due to timing. Although the park is close to Bryce Canyon, it’s actually quite different looking. At Zion, you’ll find high red cliffs surrounded by trees in contrast with Bryce Canyon which is essentially dry. The Virgin River travels through the canyon hence the greenery in the park. From waterfalls to beautiful sceneries, you could easily spend 5 to 7 days here. However, on this road trip, we recommend that you stick to the main road across the park to see the main spots and head to Las Vegas. 

Time recommended: 1h

Budget: $35 per car

If you want unforgettable memories, try this helicopter tour over Bryce and Zion National Parks! 

DAY 4 of your USA 2 week itinerary: Las Vegas

Welcome to your first full day in Las Vegas! You might think that Las Vegas is only for gambling but we hope we’ll change your mind! In my opinion, Las Vegas is a must-see on your 2 weeks West Coast USA itinerary. It is a bustling city with lots to visit and do. It’s also perfect if you want to book a very nice hotel for a couple of nights and enjoy a bit of the luxury the city has to offer!

Drive on the strip to Las Vegas sign

On your first morning in Las Vegas, we recommend that you take a drive on the strip all the way to the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. The ride will give you a nice overview of what the city is about so you can see if there is anything specific you want to do on top of the attractions we have listed here.

The Welcome to Las Vegas sign is a must-see of course. Here you’ll have a cool view on the city and will be able to take photos as well.

Time recommended: 1h

Budget: Free

Hotel tour

Now, one of the main thing to do in Las Vegas is visiting the hotels. It sounds a bit weird but Las Vegas’ hotels are nothing like regular hotels. On the strip, most hotels are fancy with large halls, art exhibitions, and surprising designs.

The first hotel we recommend visiting is The Venetian. We actually recommend staying there for at least one night but if you don’t, a visit will be great too. The hotel was build and decorated in a Venice theme. Inside the hotel, you’ll find a river with gondolas taking you around. You’ll also find several famous Italian landmarks replicas! It’s quite an impressive hotel!

The second hotel you should visit is the Bellagio. More than the hotel, it’s the front fountain show that has rendered the hotel famous. Visitors gather at different times of the day to witness the beautiful water and light show.

Two other hotels to visit are the Caesar Palace, a luxury hotel famous for hosting Celine Dion’s residency, and the Luxor hotel, built and decorated in an Egyptian theme with pyramid and a Sphinx statue. 

Time recommended: As you walk along the strip. About 1h per hotel.

Budget: Free

Street Shows

Las Vegas is home to a range of performers including Elvis look-alikes, Moulin Rouge style dancers, costumed characters and more. There are also street experiences in the winter when Vegas feels colder.

Walking to the hotels, there is no doubt you’ll see them. You can stop and take photos or just watch their show for a few minutes until you move to the next one. 

Budget: Free

Las Vegas’ Giant Ferris Wheel

The High Roller is located on the strip and is the second tallest Ferry wheel in the world. It is 520 foot in diameter and embarks you at 550 foot in height. This is one of my favourite memories from Las Vegas because it literally blew my mind!

The wheel embarks you in this giant egg looking cabins with windows all around. Those are standing cabins and you can walk around from one window to another. As it slowly takes you up, you can discover Las Vegas under a different perspective. As you reach the height of the tallest building and keep rising higher, you start seeing Las Vegas all lit up along with the desert all around. The view is truly mind blowing and I was surprised at how far we could actually see.

We recommend doing the Ferris Wheel at night as you’ll get to see the whole city completely lit up but it’s definitely one to do during the day if that’s your only option.

Time recommended: 1h

Budget: You can book your tickets here. 

DAY 5 Las Vegas & Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

• Las Vegas to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area: 29min, 31 miles

Recommended departure time: No time – Rest day 

Day 5 of your West Coast America road trip 2 weeks of length is a rest day. This means we haven’t packed it with much and you can go at your own pace. For this day, we recommend taking a couple hours to explore the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. As its name indicates, Red Rock Canyon is a canyon famous for its red rock formations. From red sandstone peaks and waterfalls to Native American petroglyphs and scenic drives, it’s a great area to explore. As it’s close to Las Vegas, it’s also very easy to get there.

Once you’re back, you can choose to spend time at your hotel by the pool and relax (after all, this is a vacation!) or explore the city some more. Some Las Vegas attractions we found fun include the M&Ms store, the Tower Hotel at the end of the strip and watching a free show at the Circus Hotel. 

This is probably the chiller day of your West Coast USA tour itinerary so take the time to walk around and just relax at your own pace before embarking on the rest of the trip!

Budget: $15 per car for Red Rock Park

You can book electric bikes to visit Red Rock Canyon from Las Vegas.

DAY 6 of your 2 week USA itinerary: Death Valley National Park 

• Las Vegas to Death Valley: 2h11, 112 miles
• Death Valley to Los Angeles: 4h20, 260 miles

Recommended departure time: 6am

If you’re wondering what to see on the West Coast of the USA after Red Rock Canyon, the answer is the Death Valley. The Death Valley is a unique place with a range of landscapes that look like a different planet. 

Area 51

But before you arrive to the Death Valley, you’ll drive through the surrounding area to Area 51, known as hosting a highly classified US Military facility. The Area is said to be hiding aliens which is something you will notice as there are big signs about aliens and lots of alien themed goodies in gas stations. It’s kind of a funny and surprising area!

Dante’s View

Your next stop on this USA West Coast road trip planner is Dante’s View in the Death Valley. Once you’ve parked, you can head to the path along the crest of the Black Mountains. Standing at 1,669 meters, you’ll have a gorgeous view over the whole Death Valley. During summer, the Death Valley gets quite hot but since there is a bit of altitude here, the temperature is actually very comfortable. We loved this viewpoint and were very impressed by how wide the landscape was.

Zabrieske Point

Zabrieske Point offers views on an eroded dry landscape that used to house the Furnace Creek Lake. This area of the Death Valley really feels like a different planet between a canyon and the desert. 

Furnace Creek

Furnace Creek is a sort of small village in the middle of the Death Valley. It looks like an oasis with some plants, trees, a gas station, and water completely contrasting with the rest of the park. It’s an interesting part of the Death Valley. 

Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin is probably the most surprising spot of the Death Valley. It is located at 282 ft below sea level making it the lowest point in North America. But most of all, it is one of the hottest point in the Death Valley. When we visited, the car indicated 49°C which we couldn’t believe until we stepped outside. The temperature was so hot and the wind felt like it was whipping us. In Badwater Basin, you can walk around on the salt flat. 

Artists Palette

Artists Palette, also know as Artists Drive, is a a one way loop drive that takes you along a range of colourful mountainsides. The colours ranging from blue to yellow, are caused by metal oxidization. The loop is only about 14km and is one of the most beautiful drives in the park. 

Time recommended: About 6h but can be more if you don’t mind driving late.

Budget: $25 per car 

Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner (optional) 

On your way to Los Angeles, and depending the time at which you leave Death Valley, we recommend stopping by Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner. Peggy Sue’s is a famous 1950s diner located on Route 66, one of the most iconic roads in America. The Diner is completely authentic and quite quirky. It serves American classics such as meatloaf or American breakfasts. We have been there twice and have loved the experience (because yes it is a full on epxerience) each time. It is often overlooked by visitors but we highly recommend stopping by. 

DAY 7 of your 2 week West coast road trip: Los Angeles

Recommended departure time: 9am

Los Angeles is one of the many stops to add to your West Coast road trip itinerary 14 days long. The city is one of the most popular West Coast USA attractions and for good reasons! It sits on the coast with access to beautiful beaches and is the home to a range of various things to do, ensuring that everyone can have a good time (this is especially good if you and your partner have different tastes). I have been to LA several times and loved it every time. It’s a mix of a crazy and chill city with lots of different aspects to it which is really fun and keep you on your toes!

Day 7 is a bit of a chill day although you will see most of the main landmarks of the city. There is a lot less driving involved so you can rest before heading north to see more national parks. Note that if you are staying longer than 2 weeks on the West coast, you should consider adding a day trip from LA!

Marina Del Rey

Marina Del Rey is a seaside community located in the LA area. We would recommend checking it out as it is cute a picturesque port and waterfront. There you’ll find some colourful houses right on the water, a waterfront boardwalk where you can walk around and a beach. 

Time recommend: 1h

Budget: Free

Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier is a huge symbol of the Los Angeles area. Located right on the beach, it has been featured in many movies (including Hannah Montana, can’t forget about that!), TV shows and is a rite of passage when visiting LA. It was built in 1909 as the first concrete pier on the US West Coast. It’s a popular fishing spots and you’ll most likely see local fishermen when you visit!

The pier is famous for being the end of Route 66 which was one of the original highways in the USA and is known for being one of the most scenic routes in North America. On the pier, you’ll also find an amusement park called Pacific Park. I highly encourage you to hop on the rollercoaster and walk around as it is really fun. The mornings are also a lot quieter and less crowded so it’s a good time to do that. 

Of course, you’ll want to take a stroll on the beach which is one of the best beaches West Coast USA offers. There you’ll find lifeguards cabins which are a great spot to take photos! 

We’ve included the pier in the morning as it is less busy at that time but also easier to park around. Nighttime can be a bit of a nightmare with some parking lots closing after sunset and making it hard to go for night events! 

Time recommend: 2h

Budget: Free (except for the amusement park)

The Grove and its farmer’s market for lunch 

The Grove is an outdoor shopping village located near Beverly Hills. We are not usually big shoppers when we travel but visiting the Grove is a lot more than just for shopping. 

The Grove is almost like a themed park with fountains, picturesque little bridges and beautiful buildings. You can walk up and down the street or take the cable car to take you from one end to another. 

Although you can do some shopping at the Grove, one of the main attractions is the Farmer’s Market. The Farmer’s Market is a covered market located at the end of the shopping street to the left. It is home to a lot of food stalls offering a variety of cuisines from all over the world. There is a big sitting area in the covered market as well. This is a great spot for lunch and usually reasonably priced (for LA). 

Time recommend: 2h

Budget: Free

Beverly Hills

Your next stop in LA is Beverly Hills. The Beverly Hills neighbourhood is famous for being a hyp- neighborhood. It was made famous by movies and TV shows such as Pretty Woman and 90210.  Highlights in Beverly Hills include the Beverly Hills sign which is a popular photo spot, and Rodeo Drive which is the street Julia Roberts go shopping on in Pretty Woman. The stores on Rodeo Drive are quite fancy (and pricy) but it’s fun to walk around! 

Nearby, you’ll want to drive through South Windsor Blvd between 4th and 5th Streets. This is the famous pal lm tree lined street with the Hollywood sign in the background! It’s truly a beautiful street and a great photo spot too! This is a quiet neighbourhood so be mindful of people who live here when visiting. 

Time recommend: 1h

Budget: Free

Hollywood (Optional)

To be honest, Hollywood was a disappointment. The famous boulevard with the walk of fame is degrading and the area can be a bit sketchy. We wouldn’t recommend spending more than 15 minutes here if you really want to see it for yourself. You can also see the Hollywood sign from Bel Air or South Windsor Blvd as mentioned above, which are much nicer visits!

Bel air

Bel Air is located up in the mountains near Hollywood and is one of the priciest neighbour hoods in LA. It was always known but it definitely was made famous by the Prince of Bel Air TV show. There is not much to do there except driving through the neighbourhoods to see the stunning mansions (when you can actually see them!).

While in Bel Air, don’t hesitate to pull over when you can go check the stunning view on Los Angeles. This is one of the best viewpoints of the city without having to hike to the Hollywood sign!

Time recommend: 1h

Budget: Free

Venice Beach and Canals

Venice is a beach town with a bit of a bohemian style to it. It is known for being home to Venice Beach. Venice Beach is probably one of the best beaches on west coast USA. It is a long strand of sand extending for km and is known for being quite funky and eclectic. With a plethora of shops and stylist boutiques, it is the playground of street performers, artists and athletes. Venice Beach offers a skatepark and famous Muscle Beach outdoor gym. 

Behind Venice Beach, you’ll find Venice canals which is a picturesque area with boardwalks lined by palm trees and stunning houses. 

We recommend heading to the canals first before taking a stroll along Venice beach and enjoying the view at sunset! 

Time recommend: Rest of the day for sunset

Budget: Free

DAY 8 Orange County & San Diego

• Los Angeles to San Diego: 2h, 120 miles
• San Diego to Los Angeles: 2h, 120 miles

Recommended departure time: 8am

Day 8 of your 2 week itinerary West Coast USA is dedicated to the gorgeous Pacific Coast Highway, Orange County and San Diego. This is what we would call, the perfect West Coast USA drive for a chill sunny day.

Note that Santa Barbara is just as fun for couples so that’s an option too if you’ve already been to San Diego. You can find our list of the best dates ideas in Santa Barbara here to have the best time as a couple. We also included a weekend itinerary in that post which you can integrate to this US road trip itinerary.

Long Beach, Orange County

Long Beach is located in Orange County near LA and is the first stop on your way to San Diego. It is a picturesque coastal city with a long strand of sand known for being featured in quite a few TV shows as well. Lined-up with palm trees, it is a beautiful beach for a morning walk in California. 

Time recommend: 20min

Budget: Free

Laguna Beach, Orange County

Your next stop on your USA West Coast itinerary 2 weeks is Laguna Beach. We stumbled across this beach completely by chance seeing from the road that it seemed like a picturesque place and how were we right! 

Laguna Beach is a small coastal town known for being the home to several beautiful beaches and coves. The beaches are stunning with thin sand and turquoise waters and some of the best beaches in West Coast USA. Here you’ll also find palm trees, colourful plants and picturesque houses along the water. The cliffs that surround the beaches definitely make the area special.

You can stop for a bit to get in a short walk and maybe dip in the water if the weather is nice as well.

Time recommend: 20-30min

Budget: Free

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a coastal state park of 2,000 acres and located in La Jolla within the San Diego City limits. The beach is one of the wildest on the West Coast making it a place of choice for visitors. The reserve’s purpose is to protect the rare Torrey pine, kilometres of wild beaches and the lagoon, all essential for the migrating birds. If you’re looking for the best beach West Coast USA that is the wildest, the natural reserve will deliver! 

As this is a reserve, it is of high importance for plants, animals and geological formations so you’ll want to leave no trace (that applies everywhere of course). You can head to the beach and have food there but it is not allowed to have food in the reserve itself. 

Time recommend: 30min

Budget: Free

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is located in San Diego and is a stunning place we stumbled across almost by chance. We had no idea what we should expect and the place exceeded any expectation we could have had. 

Balboa Park is home to a range of museums including the Botanical Building and Timken Art Museum which are free. It is also home to lush gardens and trails, performing venues, and the San Diego Zoo. When we visited, we were able to hold a parrot on one of the paths, which was random but exciting!

The most beautiful spot in Balboa Park, according to myself (yes that is very objective), is Lilly Pond with the House of Hositality and Casa de Balboa in the background. The tower of the House of Hospitality and the tower of the Casa de Balboa are connected by and arched porch which gives it all a Moorish style. The area is especially beautiful at the end of the day, when the reflection of the building can be see in the pond.

Time recommended: 2h

Budget: Free

San Diego Marina

San Diego is quite a big city but our favourite (and most interesting) part was the marina and waterfront. The city has this chill vibe to it that makes this area even more enjoyable. From the several parks to the boardwalk and the views, you’ll love walking around and taking in the views.

Time recommended: 1h30

Budget: Free

• Book this Balboa Park self exploration game to discover the park through clues and riddles!
• Book this guided sightseeing tour of Balboa Park.

DAY 9 Joshua Tree National Park 

• LA to Joshua Tree National Park: 2h15, 131 miles
• Joshua Tree National Park to LA: 2h15, 131 miles

Recommended departure time: 8:30am

Joshua Tree National Park is one of the most gorgeous West Coast USA national parks. While we often think of the US national parks as being large canyons and featuring red rocks, Joshua Tree is quite different. It is more like a desert with rugged rock formations all around. One famous feature of the park is Keys View which delivers views of the Coachella Valley and the San Andreas Fault. The Cholla Cactus Garden is also one of the main stops to add to your road trip West Coast USA planner.

Budget: $30 per car

For unique memories, you can book a stargazing experience in Joshua Tree National Park. 

DAY 10 of your USA West Coast road trip itinerary: Sequoia National Park

• LA to Sequoia National Park: 3h35, 203 miles
• Sequoia National Park to Three Rivers: 10min , 5 miles

Recommended departure time: 7h

Day 10 is the beginning of your road trip to San Francisco. The upcoming days are filled with goodies from national parks to cities and gorgeous sceneries. Sequoia National Park, located near the town of Three Rivers, is one of my favorite Californian national parks. It is not as famous as some of the other ones and that’s why it has a bit of a special place in my heart. In this 2 week USA West Coast itinerary, you get a full day in the park which will allow you to see all the main spots and really take it all in. This is a must-see in West Coast USA and a national park I would include in any West Coast itinerary.

General Sherman Tree, a historical landmark on your USA West Coast travel itinerary

Sequoia National Park is home to some of the biggest Sequoia trees in the world, including the largest tree by volume in the entire world known as the General Sherman Tree. This tree is estimated to be at least 2,200 years old. Although it’s undeniable that the tree is huge, we really noticed it when we were trying to fit it into our photos and we couldn’t!

Time recommended: 1h to do the easy trail and enjoy time at the General Sherman

Big Trees Trail

The Big Trees Trail is located along the Generals Highway and circles an area called Round Meadow. It is a flat and short boardwalk that takes you past a lot of giant Sequoia trees. If you’re not in the mood for a big hike, this is a really easy one to do even in sandals. 

Time recommended: 1h30 at a slow pace, taking photos and observing views, sitting down, etc

Giant Forest

The Giant Forest is an area of the park that features 8,000 trees. It is also the home to five of the ten biggest trees in the world.

Time recommended: between 30min and one hour depending on how much you want to walk around

Tunnel Log

Have you ever driven through a giant Sequoia? No? Well now is your chance! Tunnel Log is located in the Giant Forest and is essentially a tunnel cut out in a fallen Sequoia Tree. It’s quite cool to drive through and is also known as  popular photo spot early in the morning. 

Time recommended: a few minutes just passing through and taking photos

Wildlife in Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is an authentic and wild park, which means, you will most likely encounter some wildlife during your visit. Although there is wildlife in other parks in this itinerary, this is one of the West Coast USA holiday ideas that will potentially put bears on your path. During our visit, we got lucky enough to see a baby bear and a mother bear. The baby obviously had a sweet tooth as he was grabbing some honey from a tree! We got to approach him a bit but obviously kept our distances. If you see a bear, we recommend that you use your zoom to get good photos! This was a memorable experience! We also saw deer, squirrels and birds around the park.

Budget: $35 per car 

DAY 11 Yosemite National Park

• Three Rivers to Yosemite National Park: 3h24, 163 miles

Recommended departure time: 9am 

Your next stop on your 2 week road trip West Coast USA is Yosemite National Park for two days. As this is a stunning park, we recommend spending two days in the park. This will give you time to both relax and explore in an incredibly peaceful setting. 

Lower Falls

Lower Falls are some of the highest waterfall in North America. The walk to the base of the falls is only 30 minute long, easy and flat. This is a great walk to do in the midst of a beautiful scenery. 

Bridalveil Falls

These falls are located in the south of the park and are easily accessible on foot. This is an easy walk that will take your right to the base of the waterfall. You can stop at the end of the path or walk over the rocks to get closer to the falls. Note that there are lots of small (and cute) rodents that are accustomed to visitors in the area. We advise not to touch them as they can carry diseases. 

Tioga Road

Tioga Road is another famous route in Yosemite. It takes you across the north section of the park through gorgeous sceneries and views.

Budget: $35 per car 

DAY 12 Yosemite National Park

Day 12 of your West Coast USA travel itinerary is another day in Yosemite. From Half Dome to El Capitan and Tunnel View, you will, again, have quite a busy day filled with breathtaking views.

One of the most incredible viewpoint is Glacier Point. Note that Glacier Point is accessible by shuttle only. You will need to book a slot which we recommend doing in advance as slots fill up quickly. You can leave your car at the parking lot and hop on the shuttle which takes you all the way up to Glacier Point. After you’re done going around, you can take the shuttle back down. The process is overall pretty smooth but things can get busy in the summer. We waited a bit in line when we were ready to go back down but it wasn’t too long either. 

Yosemite is one of the best parks to add to your West USA road trip itinerary and two days will give you enough time to do all the main points without having to rush. 

DAY 13 San Francisco 

• Yosemite National Park to San Francisco: 3h52, 191 miles

Recommend departure time: 7h

Sausalito

Sausalito is one of my favourite places in the San Francisco area, located in Marine County. It is one of San Francisco hidden gems as it is not very well known of tourists and remains pretty quiet! Sausalito is a floating neighbourhood made of about 500 house boats.

Each house boat is different and all are well decorated. There are lots of flowers everywhere which give the floating community a very laid-back hipster vibe.

Here, you can wander on the docks, admiring the exteriors of the house boats and taking in the relaxing atmosphere. You might even get lucky and see a house boat being installed which is quite impressive!

You can also enjoy Sausalito’s boardwalk and the beautiful view on San Francisco from Sausalito.

Time recommend: 1h

Budget: Free

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is the iconic red bridge in San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge links the northern tip of San Francisco to Marin County over the Golden Gate strait. It is a true symbol of California and for good reasons. It is huge and beautiful!

There are a few places where you can shoot really nice photos of the bridge and the city. First, you can stop right before the Golden Gate Bridge on the right at Fort Point. There is a small parking lot there where you can park while you take photos. Then, you can hop on the bridge and go across. You cannot stop on the bridge. However, you can stop right after, on the right, at H.Dana Bowers Memorial Vista Point. There you will have one of the best views of San Francisco!

From there, you will have one of the most beautiful views of the Golden Gate bridge and San Francisco skyline. The last view point is called Battery Spencer on the opposite side of the highway. Again, another viewpoint you won’t regret!

Time recommend: 1h

Budget: Free

Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts is located in the Marina District of San Francisco, in the east of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition and is the only structure from the Exposition that remains.

The Palace of Fine Arts is surrounded by a pond and gardens where you can enjoy a nice walk or people watching at sunset. It is a nice place to relax after a long day of walking around!

Time recommend: 15min

Budget: Free

Baker beach (optional for views)

Baker beach is located West of the Golden Gate Bridge and is a small beach that offers great views on the red suspension bridge. We only recommend coming here if you’ve got time as you will have already seen beautiful views of the bridge before. 

Time recommend: 15min

Budget: Free

Transamerica Pyramid

The Transamerica Pyramid is located in the financial district of San Francisco and is an office building. It is one of the most iconic skyscrapers of the City by the Bay and the second tallest building of San Francisco. Therefore, it is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world.

Time recommend: it’s not really a place to go but more of a place to see on your way.

Budget: Free

The Painted Ladies

The Painted Ladies are the row of colourful Victorian and Edwardian houses located around Alamo square on Hayes and Steiner St. The Ladies are an iconic symbol of San Francisco and therefore need to be part of your 3 days in San Francisco itinerary.

The contrast between the Painted Ladies and the skyscrapers is quite impressive and will make you appreciate them even more.

Time recommend: 30min

Budget: Free

Lombard Street

Lombard Street is the most crooked street in the world. And I’m sure you have seen photos of it before! It is a one-way road, accessible by foot or by car and has eight sharp turns giving it this ultra winding look. Lombard street was designed like this after it was determined that the street was too steep for most cars.

Further, and besides the funny look of the road, Lombard street houses are very pretty and worth admiring. The street is also filled with flowers and very pleasant to walk down.

The cable car stops right at the top of Lombard Street if you’re on foot. But if you prefer, you can drive down for free.

Time recommend: 30-45min

Budget: Free

Cable Car change and ride

The cable car is a historical symbol of San Francisco and an attraction to definitely try. Although locals do use it as a mean of transportation, it is quite expensive to ride and is mainly used by tourists. We chose to mainly walk and drive in San Francisco and just bought tickets once for the experience.

The first San Francisco cable car line services in 1873. You can hop on the cable car at any of its stops and you don’t need to wave for it to stop. The cable car will take you up and down the hills of San Francisco, which can be quite steep, and will allow you to rest for a minute (all that walking is tiring!). It stops at all the stops so you can just hop off when you need to. You can sit inside the cable car or just hang tight like I did! Watch out for the view when hanging on the outside of the cable car, it is so beautiful.

The Cable cars need to be turned around as they only have one grip end with which to grab the cable. If you’ve never seen a cable car turn around, it is quite an interesting manoeuvre to watch. One of the turnaround is located at the intersection of Hyde St and Beach St by Fisherman’s Wharf. We loved watching the cable car turn around and thought it was very insightful as to how the cable cars operate!

Time recommend:  1h

Budget: $8 per ticket

Coit Tower

Coit Tower is located a short 15 min walk from Pier 23 in the Telegraph Hill neighbourhood of San Francisco. It offers a panoramic view of San Francisco and of the San Francisco Bay.

Time recommend: 30min

Budget: Admission to the grounds of the tower is free but admission to the second floor costs $8 per adult with discounts available for seniors and children.

Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39 with seals

Fisherman’s Wharf is San Francisco’s waterfront area where you can walk along the promenade and enjoy a laid-back atmosphere. It is a popular area and therefore, you will find lots of souvenir shops, seafood and a colony of sea lions.

Pier 39 is located only a few minutes away from Fisherman’s Wharf’s sign. It is definitely one of the best free things to do in San Francisco! And that is because Pier 39 is home to a colony of adorable sea lions that will make your heart melt! We stopped there at the end of the day after having ice cream. It was just so nice to watch them nap and swim with the sun starting to set.

Time recommend: Rest of the day 

Budget: Free

DAY 14 of your USA West Coast roadtrip: San Francisco

Alcatraz, a must-visit on your USA West Coast tour itinerary

Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay and is the home of the abandoned federal prison Alcatraz. I highly recommend visiting Alcatraz if you have never done it before.

You will for sure enjoy the tour and the history of the place. During the tour, you get to visit the Alcatraz cellhouse which was captivating and listen to the stories of prisoners who tried to escape but never succeeded! Alcatraz island is also home to the first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast.

From Alcatraz Island, you will also enjoy one of the best views of San Francisco’s skyline.

All Alcatraz Island tours depart and return on Pier 33 on San Francisco’s waterfront promenade. The journey to the island takes about 15min and tours recommend you plan a 3 hour visit. 

Time recommend: Half day

Budget: Adult tickets cost $41 with discounts for seniors and children.

Castro District

The Castro District is an internationally recognised neighbourhood for supporting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. You will recognise the District by its colourful crosswalks and paintings on the walls. The Castro District is a lively, joyful, and colourful neighbourhood and I had a really good time there. It left me with a very positive and happy feeling!

Time recommend: 1h30min

Budget: Free

We recommend this fun exploration game to discover the neighbourhood.

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks summit is a short 30min drive away from the Castro District. It offers one of the best views of San Francisco and is therefore a must-see during your 3 days in San Francisco. That said, the weather at Twin Peaks can be intense so cover up and hang on tight as the wind might feel like it will blow you away!

Further, I recommend going to Twin Peaks only if the sky is clear. On days when the city is foggy, you will not be able to see anything and it will just be a waste of your time.

Time recommend: 30min

Budget: Free

If you have any more time before your flight, you can check out Mission Dolores Park and Chinatown which offers some of the best views not the city. 

More or Less time than 2 weeks on the US West Coast

Although this is a 14 day itinerary to see the West Coast of the USA, we wanted to include some options in case you decide to do a 10 days West Coast USA trip, or to do a 3 weeks West Coast USA trip or to stay even longer for a 4 week West Coast USA itinerary. 

West Coast road trip itinerary 10 days

If you only have 10 days to discover the US West Coast, I would recommend to skip Joshua Tree National Park, Red Rock Canyon, and the San Diego day trip. Of course, those places are beautiful but they are not as breathtaking as Monument Valley or Bryce Canyon. It’s a difficult choice but one we would suggest.

3 week itinerary West Coast USA

It is definitely easier to advise you on a 3 week USA itinerary around the West Coast as in this case, we can add beautiful places instead of removing some. If you have an extra week on the West Coast, you have two options. First, you can choose to stay longer in the places included in this itinerary. For example, we would recommend staying longer in Bryce Canyon to do some of the hikes and the same applies to the Grand Canyon. We would also recommend spending more time in Sequoia National Park to do some of the hikes as well and maybe even sleep in the park. 

Of course, you can add a couple places to your 3 week West Coast USA itinerary as well. One option is to add a couple of stops along the way such as Arches National Park and Moab at the beginning of the trip. Arches National Park at sunrise is especially stunning and an experience you won’t forget! You can visit it by yourself or through a tour like a fun jeep tour from Moab or even a cruise.

Now, you can also go from a West Coast America road trip 3 weeks of length to a 3 weeks in America itinerary beyond the West Coast. And to do so, we would recommend heading to Hawaii for your third week! We actually finished our one month road trip in the USA by spending a week in Hawaii split between Kauai, Oahu and Big Island. It was a dream and one of the best ways to finish a fast paced road trip!

4 week West Coast USA itinerary

If you are staying a full month in the USA, we would recommend going beyond the West Coast. The south of the country is also very exciting so we would recommend including Nashville, Memphis and Louisiana. From there, you can fly to Durango and start this itinerary. Then, we would suggest finish your one month trip by spending a week in Hawaii. We also recommend finishing with Hawaii in the winter as you can see the Hawaiian snow at that time of the year!

Tips for your USA West Coast driving holiday

Car rental West Coast USA

This itinerary is definitely a car itinerary. It would be quite complicated to achieve this itinerary without a car and by using only public transportation. If you type car rental West Coast USA into Google, you will find lots of different rental companies. We prefer to book our cars in advance through Expedia or Booking to have piece of mind and benefit of the best prices. 

USA driving tips on the best West Coast USA road trip

Driving across the US West Coast is quite easy. Roads in America are quite large and most of the time straight. They are suitable for large cars and driving rules are easy to understand. With some exception, the driving rules are similar to Europe.

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Any questions on this 2 week West Coast USA itinerary? Drop them in the comments or on insta @twolostexplorers and I will get back to you asap.

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