The Perfect 2 Week USA West Coast Road Trip Itinerary

If being on the open road and exploring some of the worlds greatest natural desert landscapes, then this trip is for you! America’s Southwest region is known to be one of the greatest road trip destinations on earth and for good reason. What does this region really have to offer you might wonder? Well, yes there is the Grand Canyon, but also much much much more! Picture every Wild West movie you’ve ever watched with strange yet intriguing red rock formations, men on horses, tall green cacti, deep vibrant canyons, long roads leading to the unknown and experiencing the true Native American culture. There are endless locations to explore, you honestly need a month to cover it all. Unfortunately, we only had 14 days to experience this truly unique part of the world, and am here to share with you our complete 14 day USA West Coast road trip itinerary

I believe the best kind of travel is the road trip kind. The kind that releases your inner spontaneity, and gives you complete freedom to do and go as you please. I believe that road trips are good for the soul and should be embarked upon yearly. If you are from America, well you have no excuses. This country has everything to offer! We rented a camper van from Jucy and explored as much of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona as we could in two weeks (plus a couple of days in LA before we left). 

Day 1: Los Angeles

We started and ended our trip in the Los Angeles area, so we actually spend a few days exploring. Try to spend at least one day so that you can spend time visiting the beach towns or checking out the Hollywood lifestyle. For beach towns, we loved Santa Monica, Venice, and of course, Malibu. Catch a sunset at the Santa Monica Pier and don’t miss the famous Venice sign in Venice Beach. Besides the beach towns, we also hiked to the viewpoint for the Hollywood Sign even with Kyle’s injured ankle and took time to drive around the palm-lined streets nearby.

Day 2: Los Angeles to Palm Springs

Drive Time: 2.5 hours
Accommodations: Saguaro Hotel

The road trip started with the drive from Los Angeles to Palm Springs, heading from the beach into the desert. The drive takes about 2.5 hours. Even though we had our Jucy camper van, we stayed at the Saguaro Hotel for our first night.

The hotel has a retro vibe and is full of palm trees and colour. The hotel centers around a massive pool and lounge area with plenty of iconic palm trees.

Day 3: Palm Springs to Death Valley

Drive Time: 5 hours
Accommodations: Furnace Creek Campground in Death Valley National Park

The next morning we explored Palm Springs. Kyle decided he will be retiring in Palm Springs one day. We could not stay long this time though because I realized I forgot my toiletries bag in Santa Monica. Luckily it wasn’t completely out of the way for our 5-hour drive to Death Valley.

Once we retrieved the bag, we drove through the insane landscapes of California to get to Death Valley National Park. We got there just in time for sunset at the Mesquite Sand Dunes which were glowing in the late afternoon sunlight.

For the best photos of the sand dunes, go when the sun is low in the sky to get the perfect mix of sunlight and shadows. Most people don’t hike out very far on the dunes, so you can get photos of them empty most of the time. 

Hiking out to the tallest dunes is about 2.4 km (1.4 miles) each way. In the summer, temperatures can soar to over 40 C (100+ F), so you don’t want to be on the dunes and the burning hot sand in the middle of the day. If you go in the winter, you can go hike on the dunes at any time of the day.

We camped in Death Valley at the Furnace Creek campgrounds. It was only $16 a night. If you plan to go between October 15 and April 15, they suggest getting a reservation since spots fill up more quickly when the weather is cooler.

Day 4: Death Valley to Las Vegas

Drive Time: 2.5 hours
Accommodations: The Bellagio

Day three started at sunrise with a hike out to the Badwater Basin salt flats. The hike is flat and easy and about 3 km (less than 2 miles) total. Badwater Basin the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. They have a sign up on one of the mountains by the flats that shows where sea level is if you look for it.

When hiking out, the flats start out kind of muddy from the mud getting trekked out by all of the hikers. If you keep going, eventually you get to the clean white salt. The flats are actually not quite flat with geometric shapes and ridges of salt covering them. The landscape is truly amazing & peaceful, we are in absolute awe! It may look elegant in the photo below, but the ground was sharp jagged and extremely uncomfortable I wouldn’t exactly advise you to replicate me! But hey, it made for a cool Instagram photo. When you get back to the parking lot, make sure to try to get at least some of the salt off of your shoes!

Our last stop in Death Valley was more of a drive. Artist’s Palette Scenic Drive is a short one-way loop through mountainsides painted with minerals. There are plenty of places to stop along the way and even some hiking trails to get deeper into the canyons filled with colour.

After Death Valley, it was time for Vegas. We couldn’t do a West Coast road trip and skip Vegas, right? To really have the full Vegas experience, we stayed for two nights at The Bellagio. 

Day 5: Las Vegas

Since Vegas is so iconic, we stayed for a full day to explore the area. The shows in Vegas are over the top, and there is something for everyone. We decided to catch “O” by Cirque du Soleil at the Bellagio, and it was breathtaking! Highly recommend it!

Vegas has more to see than just The Strip, so we also explored the old town of Las Vegas. It feels like you stepped back in time with all of the neon signs lighting up the skyline. If you can, go just before sunset so you can see the area in the daylight and watch the signs light up.

Another awesome attraction in the old town is the neon museum. Make sure to book ahead before your stay!

When it comes to restaurants in Vegas, you can find anything your heart desires. There is everything from Michelin Star restaurants to fast food, from buffets to grab and go dining. Food from all around the world is represented in Vegas as well, so you can find something for everyone. We especially enjoyed Lago at the Bellagio where you have a view of the famous fountains to go with your meal.

Day 6: Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon

Drive Time: 4 hours
Accommodations: Ruby’s Inn RV Park

Our last morning in Las Vegas started with a trip out to Seven Magic Mountains just outside of Las Vegas. This unique location features seven “mountains” of colourful boulders each standing over 9 meters (30 feet) tall. 

Seven Magic Mountains can get crowded if a tour bus comes through, so try to go earlier in the day to miss the crowds. Get creative and use different angles to hide people behind the stacks of boulders if you go when others are there. The installation will remain until at least the end of 2021, but there is a chance it is extended again for a longer time.

From Vegas, it was time to enter the Wild West of Utah. The four-hour drive takes you through some incredible landscapes in Arizona, so be prepared to stop and take in the views. The drive goes through red cliffs to rolling countrysides to orange rock formations, so enjoy the ride!

Bryce Canyon, our first official stop in Utah, blew our minds. We arrived in time for sunset and watched the light fade over the hoodoos that make up Bryce Canyon.

Our accommodation for the night was Ruby’s Inn RV Park. It was only $39 for an unpowered site inside the national park. The location was perfect for an early start with sunrise at Bryce Canyon as well.

Day 7: Bryce Canyon to Moab

Drive Time: A little over 4 hours

Accommodations: 2 nights in a motor inn

After watching the sun spread across the canyon, Kyle’s injured heel was feeling good enough to try a short hike. If you only have time for a quick hike, take the Navajo Trail. While it is only about 2 km (1.3 miles) total, it takes much longer than you would think. Expect to stop every few minutes to take photos of the ever-changing formations and views.

You can easily see Bryce Canyon in a day or spend a night like we did to catch both sunset and sunrise. With so much left to see on our road trip, we left Bryce Canyon for our next stop: Moab.

The drive to Moab takes a little over 4 hours. We ended up grabbing a room at a motor inn because it was SO cold. It was about $500 for two nights, but it was worth it to be warm. We did not bring enough warm clothes!

Since your time in Moab will probably be spent hiking and exploring, you’ll need to fuel up. We loved Moab Garage Company so much that we ate there both days we were in Moab. They have delicious food, and we really loved the burgers and burritos.

Day 8: Moab

Moab makes for a great base to explore this part of Utah, especially Arches National Park, one of the highlights of our trip. The landscapes were absolutely unreal and beautiful beyond belief. It feels like you’re on a whole different planet. If you do a southwest US road trip, you have to stop at Arches.

Entry into the park is $30 for both days. Depending on how many national parks you plan to visit, you might want to consider getting a pass. If you go before the park opens, you don’t have to pay when you enter, but they will charge you when you leave.

Our favourite spot was probably Double Arch. It’s an easy hike - less a 1 km (.5 miles), but the arches are so incredibly impressive. You hike directly under massive rocks suspended in the sky above you, and the size is unbelievable. Nearby is The Windows hike to more arch formations.

The most popular hike in Arches is the hike to Delicate Arch. This is the arch that makes it into most photos and on the Utah license plate. That hike is a little more difficult and a little longer (4.8 km or 3 miles), but it is well worth it if you have the time. Make sure to take plenty of water though, especially in the summer when the heat is nearly unbearable at midday.

Day 9: Moab to Monument Valley

Drive Time: 2.5 hours
Accommodations: Stayed in a hotel in Mexican Hat

Dead Horse Point State Park is another Moab must-see. Located about an hour from Arches, I thought I was going to lose my fingers in the freezing cold. The views were epic though, especially at sunrise and sunset. Looking back, it was worth the freezing cold, and my fingers regained feeling once the sun came up for the day. Entry into this park is $20, and it is money well spent.

Monument Valley was the part of the trip I was most looking forward to because I’d been wanting to come to Monument Valley forever! The drive from Moab took about 2.5 hours, and Monument Valley did not disappoint.

Day 10: Monument Valley

Because we stayed two nights in Monument Valley, we got to shoot two sunrises. Even with two different sunrises, we chose to shoot both mornings at Forrest Gump Hill. This is the famous viewpoint of the road leading to the rock formations that make up Monument Valley. It is such an incredible place to watch the sun come up and shoot photos. Our favourite sunset spot was at the Monument Valley View Point right off the carpark. We got to witness a full moonrise beyond the monuments, which was really magical and memorable.

Take time to drive through Monument Valley on Valley Drive. The drive costs $20 and takes about 3 - 4 hours, but it takes you through the scenery of Monument Valley. No need for a 4X4, anyone can drive this route. This is also where a lot of American country western movies were filmed, and you feel like you are on a Wild West film set driving through. Make sure you stop at John Ford Point and get a photo with the local horse owned by a local native man. Don't forget to offer him $5 for his time.

Monument Valley is on Navajo land, and it was interesting to see how they are a self-governed people with their own tribal laws. The entry fee goes to the Navajo Nation, and Monument Valley helps preserve their way of life.

Day 11: Monument Valley to Page, Arizona

Drive Time: 2 hours
Accommodations: Campground in Page, Arizona

We only had a quick stop in Page, Arizona, but we couldn’t be in the area without stopping to see Horseshoe Bend. The drive from Monument Valley takes a little over 2 hours, and we found a campground to spend the night in Page.

Our main reason for going was Horseshoe Bend, but we also stopped at the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook. Then it was on to Horseshoe Bend for sunset. It was much bigger than I expected, and it was extremely busy at sunset. Thankfully we managed to find a spot to ourselves to enjoy the sunset and get some amazing photos.

Day 12 - 13: Page to Sedona, Arizona

Drive Time: 3 hours
Accommodations: Bell Rock Inn

Our next stop in Arizona was Sedona where Kyle got to check off a major bucket list item - riding in a helicopter. We pulled over at a visitor centre and started talking to the guy working there. He hooked us up with some crazy deals like a resort for $40 a night and a helicopter ride for $80 a person.

The ride was awesome and the views were unlike anything I’ve seen before. We planned on doing a lot of hiking here, but the helicopter ride gave us some of the best views of the trip.

Our favourite hike of Sedona was a sunset hike to Cathedral Rock. It took us about an hour to get up the trail, but it only took about 30 minutes to come back down. The way up makes for a great workout as it gets pretty steep. The view at the top makes it worth every single step though.

Day 14: Sedona to Santa Monica

Drive Time: 8 hours 

The last morning in Sedona, we struggled with the early morning wake up. If we had chosen to ignore the alarm and go back to sleep, we would have missed a crazy beautiful sunrise at Devil’s Bridge and the highlight of our trip!

This is one of the more famous hikes in Sedona, but our early morning paid off as we had it to ourselves for about 30 minutes. Then a few people started arriving, but we’ve heard that it gets extremely busy later in the day. Definitely go early if you want it to yourself.

After our last hike, it was time to make the long drive back to Santa Monica to end our road trip. We loved every stop on this trip and can’t wait to go back and see more plus revisit some of these same stops.

When it comes to a USA west coast road trip itinerary, Kyle did well with planning this one. Each day was a pleasant surprise for me, and this trip had so many highlights. I can’t wait to go back and explore more of the USA one day soon.

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