The 10-day trip to the US West Coast was a unique experience that I would repeat with great pleasure.

 

There are plenty of places undiscovered by me yet, but I tried to enjoy as much as possible the time spent there and to cover the travel route that I carefully planned. 

 

So, here it is my wonderful ten days journey on the West Coast of the United States:

 

   Period of time:

 

   13 October, Tuesday –  22 October, Thursday
   3 states: Arizona, Nevada, and California

   Plane tickets: around $500/ roundtrip American Airlines, Norfolk, VA- Las Vegas

   Route by plane:

 

   Norfolk, VA  –  Charlotte, NC – Las Vegas, NV

   Las Vegas, NV- Philadelphia, PA – Norfolk, VA

 

What I use every time I travel:

 

 

10 days on the west coast - 10 day west coast itinerary

 

PIT IT FOR LATER

 

 

   Route by car:

 

It was a long journey, but there were also many destinations. So, I didn’t manage to stay in one place for too long.

But I have visited enough, and I think it is worth all the fatigue. This is what my route looks like for the 9 days itinerary on the West Coast:

 

   Las Vegas (McCarran Airport) – Hoover Dam – Grand Canyon, AZ – Las Vegas, NV- Death Valley, CA – Yosemite National Park, CA –  Hayward, CA – San Francisco, CA – Santa Cruz, CA – Monterey, CA – Big Sur, CA – Santa Barbara, CA – Malibu, CA – Los Angeles, CA – Santa Monica, CA – San Diego, CA, Coronado Island, CA – Las Vegas, NV

 

traseu2

   Transportation

 

   In my opinion, is an absolute must to rent a car in order to make the most of your trip. That is, of course, if you came by plane.

You can rent a car at a reasonable price for the whole journey. We rented from Hertz (Las Vegas, McCarran Airport) a Toyota Corolla.

   Price: $380/ 9 days

 

Itinerary for a 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

   DAY 1 | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

In Las Vegas, I spent only two days, and I think it is enough to taste a little of everything the city has to offer.

 

I liked The Strip and would always come back to experiment more.

 

We visited some of the famous 5-star hotels, each with its specifics. We also went to casinos, admired the fountain show, and had a great time.

 

    Las Vegas: The Strip, Bellagio, The Venetian Hotel, Paris Las Vegas, Miracle Mile Shops

 

    Where to stay in Las Vegas: 

 

 

Bellagio Las Vegas

Bellagio, Las Vegas | 10 day West Coast road trip


Las Vegas

The Strip, Las Vegas | 10 Day West Coast road trip


New York Hotel Las Vegas

New York Hotel, Las Vegas | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

 DAY 2 | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

On day 2 of my 10-day itinerary on the West Coast, I went to the spectacular Grand Canyon.

 

The view took my breath away, and I can say that I did not have enough time to enjoy the beauties of nature.

 

And I would spend a few more days there next time.

 

     Road trip to Hoover Dam & Grand Canyon

     Las Vegas – Hoover Dam: 45 min by car,  34 miles / 55 km

     Hoover Dam – Grand Canyon (South Rim): 4 h by car,  243 miles/ 392 km

     Grand Canyon – Las Vegas: 4h 30 min by car, 270 miles/ 435 km

     Grand Canyon entrance fee: $30/h – 7 days

     Read: Grand Canyon in 24 spectacular photos

 

Where to stay close to Grand Canyon:

 

 

las-vegas-hoover-dam

Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Grand Canyon Arizona

Grand Canyon | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Grand Canyon Arizona USA

Grand Canyon, USA | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Grand Canyon Arizona USA

Grand Canyon, USA | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

  DAY 3  | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

On day 3 I returned to explore a little more of Las Vegas. As I mentioned above, 2 days seems enough for a first impression. However, I would return to have even more fun in Sin City.

 

     Las Vegas: Luxor Hotel, Fremont Street, Caesars Palace, Circus Hotel

 

     Read: What you must see & do on your first visit to Las Vegas

 

Luxor Hotel Las Vegas

Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Paris Hotel Las Vegas

Paris Hotel, Las Vegas | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Las Vegas The Strip

The Strip, Las Vegas | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

DAY 4 | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

The road between Las Vegas and San Francisco is the stage I regret the most from this trip. But that’s only because I didn’t get to see much of Yosemite National Park.

 

It seems to me that it looks sensational and that it is worth spending even a week there. It’s a dream!

     Road trip Las Vegas- Hayward, through Death Valley and Yosemite National Park

     Las Vegas- Death Valley: 2h 14 min by car, 142 miles/ 229 km

     Death Valley – Hayward: 8h 10 min by car, 432 miles/ 695 km

     Route: US-95 N/ CA-190 W/ CA-136 W/ US-395/ CA-120 W/ I-580

 

Where to stay in San Francisco:

  • budget: Hotel 32One – private parking, Wifi, good location
  • mid-range: Club Donatello – fitness center, private parking, bar, good breakfast, central location
  • luxury: Hotel Triton– fitness center, room service, Wifi, excellent location 

 

Read: 10 must-see places in California

 

las-vegas-death-valley

death-valley-hayward

Death Valley California

Death Valley, California | 10 Day West Coast road trip

road trip to San Francisco

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park | | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

 DAY 5 | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

Day 5 came with the first part of the trip on the most beautiful road in the world, the Pacific Coast Highway. I loved every stop I made, and I admired with all my heart the landscapes on the road.

 

     Hayward- San Francisco 45 min by car, 35 miles/ 56 km

     San Francisco: downtown, Transamerica Pyramid, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Heights

     San Francisco – Santa Cruz on Pacific Coast Highway/ California 1

     1h 40 min by car, 77 miles/ 125 km

     Santa Cruz – Monterey on Pacific Coast Highway/ California 1

     50 min, 43 miles/ 70 km

 

     ⇒ Find the best hotels in San Francisco.

 

Golden Gate San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Alcatraz San Francisco

Alcatraz, San Francisco | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

Lombard Street San Francisco

Lombard Street, San Francisco | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Transamerica Pyramid San Francisco

San Francisco | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

   DAY 6 | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

The most beautiful day of the trip was day 6. When we had the opportunity to admire the most beautiful landscapes on the California Coast.

I saw Bixby Bridge, Mc Way Falls, and a few small but chic towns. The Pacific Coast Highway is definitely one of the most beautiful roads in the world.

 

     Monterey – Bixby Bridge: 30 min by car, 18 miles/ 30 km

     Bixby Bridge – Big Sur (McWay Falls): 24 min by car, 24 miles/ 39 km

     McWay Falls – Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery: 1h 15 min by car, 48 miles/ 77 km

    Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery – Santa Barbara: 2h 30 min by car, 140 miles/ 225 km

     Santa Barbara – Malibu: 1h 10 min by car, 67 miles/ 108 km

     Malibu – Los Angeles: 1h by car, 42 miles/ 68 km

 

     Read: 10 things to consider before road tripping the Pacific Coast Highway, USA

 

 

Bixby Bridge California

Bixby Bridge, California | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Monterrey California

Pacific Coast Highway | 10 Day West Coast road trip


McWay Falls California

McWay Falls, California | 10 Day West Coast road trip


California Pacific Highway

Pacific Coast Highway | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Santa Barbara California

Santa Barbara, California | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Santa Cruz California

Santa Cruz, California | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

   DAY 7  | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

On the day with no. 7, I saw some of the main attractions of Los Angeles. I liked the view from the Griffith Park Observatory.

 

I have long wanted to get to the Hollywood Sign and especially to walk among the houses of celebrities in Beverly Hills.

 

     Los Angeles: Griffith Park Observatory, Hollywood Sign, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Universal Studios, Walk of Fame

 

    Where to stay in Los Angeles:

 

 

Griffith Park Observatory

Los Angeles | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Hollywood Sign Los Angeles

Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Beverly Hills Los Angeles

Beverly Hills, Los Angeles | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Beverly Hills Los Angeles

Beverly Hills, Los Angeles | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

  DAY 8 | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

On the 8th we ate the best eclairs, with a view of the beautiful Santa Monica. But that’s not all.

Day 8 also came with the fulfillment of a childhood dream. That of seeing the filming location of a series that marked my first years of life, Sunset Beach.

 

     Los Angeles: Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, Santa Monica Pier, Downtown LA

     Read: 3 Days in Los Angeles – what to do and see

 

Seal Beach California

Seal Beach, California | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Seal Beach California

Seal Beach | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Queen Mary California

Queen Mary, California | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Santa Monica Los Angeles

Santa Monica, Los Angeles | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Santa Monica Los Angeles

Santa Monica beach | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

DAY 9 | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

On the 9th I went to San Diego. Although I spent a short time there, I quickly realized that it is a destination that deserves all the attention.

It is a beautiful city, maybe even more beautiful than Los Angeles, and has some sensational beaches.

 

     Los Angeles: Rodeo Drive, Laguna Beach

     Road trip Los Angeles – San Diego: 2h 30 min by car, 124 miles/ 200 km

     San Diego: downtown, Coronado Island

     Read: A taste of San Diego, California

 

Laguna Beach California

Laguna Beach, California | 10 Day West Coast road trip


San Diego California

San Diego, California | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Coronado Island San Diego California

Coronado Island, San Diego | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

   DAY 10 | 10 Day West Coast road trip

 

Day 10 was less special. We returned to Las Vegas, from where we had to fly back to Norfolk.

     San Diego – Las Vegas: 5h 10 min by car, 330 miles/ 531 km

     Las Vegas: Mirage, The Strip

 

     Read: What you must see & do on your first visit to Las Vegas

 

Las Vegas in the night

Las Vegas | 10 Day West Coast road trip


Best tips for a 10 Day West Coast Road Trip:

 

   1. Car rental problems

 

 We had a slight problem with the car we rented. We found a small crack in the glass (probably from a pebble) and had to go back to the airport and change it.

 

We had another problem with the next car after we got to LA.

 

The car needed to have its oil changed, so we had to go to the nearest airport and change the car again. They gave us a Hyundai Elantra.

 

If you experience such things, you may ask for compensation. They gave us a $50 off coupon for next time when/if we will rent from Hertz company.

 

  2. Car rental price

 

  To get a slightly better price for the rental car, I recommend you to book in advance on the website Priceline.com, where you have the option to bet on the price.

 The difference will not be very noticeable, but you will save some dollars.

 

  3. Refueling

 

  On the Pacific Coast Highway, fuel prices are pretty high. Therefore, you might want to fill inside the cities.

 

  4. Road trips between the cities

 

 Do not follow the shortest or fastest route imposed by GPS. For example, we made our personalized itinerary between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

 

If there is a long-distance anyway, I recommend you to go for the scenic drive.

 

  Between Las Vegas and San Francisco, we chose Death Valley and Yosemite National Park.

 

  Between SF and LA, we chose Pacific Coast Highway, and I can say it was the most enjoyable experience of the whole trip. 

California 1 is one of the most spectacular coastlines drives in the US.

 

 5. Accommodation in SF

 

 In San Francisco, hotels are pretty expensive and, therefore, I advise you to check on the airbnb.com website. We found a reasonable price for a room in Hayward, a neighboring city of SF.

 

  6. North to South on Pacific Coast Highway

 

  Why? Because it will be much easier to stop along the way for pictures and, as a bonus, you will have the ocean view on your side while driving.

 

  7. Bring layers

 

  West Coast weather is quite changeable and varied. In Las Vegas and Southern California was hot and sunny, but in SF, we had to add some extra layers.

 

  8. Hit the road early in the morning

 

 Especially on the Pacific Coast. It could be quite a mood setter to start your morning on such an iconic road, and of course, there is no better light than the morning light for taking the best pictures.

 

  9. Cell phone service

 

 Don’t count on it because it will ultimately be off in some places, so make sure you memorize the route or get a map to help you.

 

  10. Pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge

 

  I didn’t get the most admirable aspects of the bridge in my photos. Later on, I found out about Baker Beach. Go for it!

 

  11. Food

 

 Make sure you take some food with you on the road because you may not find many places to stop and buy something to eat.

 

  12. Big Sur

 

  This stunning place has so much to offer that you should allow yourself to spend here at least 2-3 days to enjoy it fully.

 

Therefore, I made up my mind to come back and camp above the McWay Falls someday.

 

  13. McWay Falls

 

 Be careful not to miss it! I thought we did because we couldn’t spot any sign indicating where the falls were situated. 

 

Once we passed the Pfeiffer State Park sign, we started looking very carefully until we reached a place with many cars parked on the roadside. There it was…

 

  14. Pictures

 

  I am aware that every stop on Pacific Coast Highway leads you to catch dozens-hundreds of frames with the ocean and the hills, but time passes so quickly that you won’t even notice how fast it will get dark, and you will miss other important places.

 

 Each stop will cost you at least 10 minutes, do not forget to consider this!

 


The trip in numbers:

 

Flight: 12 h roundtrip

By car: 2069 miles/ 3330 km

West Coast road trip

Grand Canyon view from the plane

Grand Canyon as seen from the plane | 10 Day West Coast road trip

Las Vegas view from the plane

 ♥ PIN IT ♥