USA Road Trip: Highlights of America
29 days
From
$ 5249
Duration29 days
Got a month, a camera, and a sense of adventure? Then book yourself this 29-day road trip through the United States that leaves no stone unturned. You'll hit the big cities, like New York and Los Angeles, and spend time in stunning natural settings like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. In between, there are countless opportunities to get up-close and personal with the culture around you, whether it's joining a line dancing party at a cowboy bar in Jackson or visiting a community arts project in Detroit as part of the city's resurgence.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 29 daysService level: Camping
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Physical Grading: Average
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Ages: 18+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: New York City
Arrive at any time.
Please note this trip leaves the city first thing the following morning. There is so much to see and do in the city that never sleeps. If you wish to spend time in New York City, speak to your sales agent about booking pre-accommodation.
Day 2: New York City/Niagara Falls
Depart early to beat the traffic out of the city. Drive across the state, and watch as the city turns to the rolling hills of Upstate New York. Arrive in Niagara and feel the rushing waters of the falls splashing you on the famous Maid of the Mist boat tour. Return after darkness settles over the Niagara region and witness the Falls illuminated in a rainbow of colour!
Opening day for Maid of the Mist is usually the end of April or beginning of May, but is dependent on ice conditions and varies year by year.
Meals: B, D
Day 3: Niagara Falls/Detroit
Drive along Lake Erie, through the city of Cleveland before continuing on to Detroit. Detroit is having a resurgence and is quickly transforming with new markets, distilleries, art galleries, and restaurants popping up. Stop at The Heidelberg Project to see some of this community development in action. Enjoy a free evening to explore this up-and-coming destination.
Meals: B, L
Day 4: Detroit/Chicago
Continue west to Chicago. Enjoy a walking tour of some of the best highlights of the city, ending at one of the best pizza joints in town. No trip to Chicago is complete without their signature deep dish pizza. Dive into this specialty with an included group dinner.
There's tons to do in the Windy City – walk along the river to Millennium Park, enjoy dazzling music, and stroll the boardwalk of the Navy Pier. Opt to ride to the top of the Willis Tower, or hit the town for a night out with the group.
There's tons to do in the Windy City – walk along the river to Millennium Park, enjoy dazzling music, and stroll the boardwalk of the Navy Pier. Opt to ride to the top of the Willis Tower, or hit the town for a night out with the group.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Chicago
Enjoy a free day to explore Chicago.
Meals: B
Day 6: Chicago/Louisville
Follow the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to Louisville. Home of the Kentucky Derby, this city is a foodie haven filled with lively bars and farm-to-table restaurants. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore, and don't forget to indulge in some BBQ and bourbon.
Meals: B, L
Day 7: Louisville/Nashville
Travel to the country music capital of the world. Stroll the streets of Nashville and check out what the city's known for: live music, line dancing, and cowboy nightlife. Keep your eyes peeled for some of country music's biggest stars.
Entry into bars in the US is 21 years and over. There is still a lively atmosphere in town and great music to be heard, as well as a couple of locations that allow 18 and over. Speak with your CEO for more information.
Meals: B
Day 8: Nashville
Enjoy a free day in Nashville. Opt to visit the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, Johnny Cash Museum, or take in live music along the "Honky Tonk Highway".
Meals: B
Day 9: Nashville/Memphis
Travel south through Tennessee to explore the vibrant cultural and musical melting pot of Memphis. Take an optional tour of Graceland, opt to relive history at the National Civil Rights Museum, or tour the Rock 'n' Soul Museum. Head to Beale Street at night for great food and live music. Music legends, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and B.B. King, made their marks on Memphis.
Entry into bars in the US is 21 years and over. There is still a live music to be heard on Beale Street at a couple of locations that allow 18 and over. Speak with your CEO for more information.
Meals: B, L
Day 10: Memphis
Enjoy a free day in Memphis: Home of Blues, Soul & Rock 'N' Roll.
Opt to check out Sun Studios, Rock 'n' Soul Museum, and the National Civil Rights Museum, located where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated. Opt to walk in the footsteps of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland. See how the legend lived and discover videos, pictures, stage costumes, and much more.
Opt to check out Sun Studios, Rock 'n' Soul Museum, and the National Civil Rights Museum, located where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated. Opt to walk in the footsteps of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland. See how the legend lived and discover videos, pictures, stage costumes, and much more.
Meals: B, D
Day 11: Memphis/New Orleans
Drive through the bayous, crank up the jazz and head into the Big Easy. Home of Mardi Gras, explore the French Quarter, and join the revellers on Bourbon Street till the early hours.
Meals: B, L
Day 12: New Orleans
Enjoy a free day to explore New Orleans. Opt to take part in a creole cooking demonstration, take a biking tour around the city, eat beignets at Café du Monde, or wander the streets soaking up the music and culture around town.
Meals: B
Day 13: New Orleans/Panama City Beach
Cross the state line into Florida and travel to Panama City Beach. This coastal town is surrounded by 27 miles of white sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoy an afternoon on the beach and opt to hit the town this evening.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 14: Panama City Beach/Orlando
Travel to the home of 'The Most Magical Place on Earth', Orlando. With great shopping, nightlife, and famous amusement parks like Disney World and Universal Studios, let your inner kid run wild!
Meals: B, L
Day 15: Orlando/Los Angeles
Hop on a plane and head to the City of Angels, Los Angeles. Enjoy a free evening to explore Santa Monica, Venice Beach, or opt to head out in Hollywood.
Please note that there may be additional baggage fees for the internal flight if you are checking your bag.
Day 16: Los Angeles/San Diego
Be on celebrity-watch while passing by a few popular sites on the way out of LA, California's most glamorous city. Cruise through Orange County and along the incredible Pacific coastline to the truly remarkable city San Diego. Sun, sand, food and fun awaits us in this beautiful beach city. In San Diego, soak up the sun on Mission Beach or try one of the many water sports California is known for.
In the evening, head to the Gaslamp Quarter District for dinner and live music. When the sun sets, watch the area come alive with numerous pubs and nightclubs.
In the evening, head to the Gaslamp Quarter District for dinner and live music. When the sun sets, watch the area come alive with numerous pubs and nightclubs.
Day 17: San Diego/Lake Havasu City
Travel to Joshua Tree National Park, taking in the scenery of the Mojave and the Colorado deserts, massive rock formations, and thousands of Joshua trees. Take a short hike amongst the boulders and the regions distinctly unique flora. Later, cool off in the crystal-clear waters of the Colorado River at Lake Havasu.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 18: Lake Havasu City/Grand Canyon
Hit the road to get some kicks on Route 66. Dive into historic Americana and enjoy lunch at a famous joint and see if you can spot all the movie memorabilia. Continue to the Grand Canyon and explore this natural wonder. Enjoy sunset at the canyon rim for a breathtaking experience at the Grand Canyon.
Meals: B, D
Day 19: Grand Canyon
Enjoy a free day to discover the Grand Canyon. Opt to hike throughout the park, rent a bike, or check out a museum.
Opt to pre-book a bird's eye view of the canyon by helicopter on the checkout page ahead of time to include this optional on your tour.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 20: Grand Canyon/Monument Valley
Drive along the southern rim of the canyon taking in final sights of this grand park. Just outside the park, stop for breakfast at a local Navajo food truck supported by Planeterra. Then drive through the desert to discover one of the most majestic places on earth, Monument Valley.
Opt to pre-book a jeep tour led by a Navajo guide through Monument Valley on the checkout page of this tour.
Meals: B, L
Day 21: Monument Valley/Las Vegas
Break a sweat with a quick hike to majestic Horseshoe Bend. Continue the journey through Arizona, Utah and Nevada en route to Las Vegas. Tour ends upon arrival to Las Vegas. Opt to take a VIP party limo experience and explore the Las Vegas Strip in the evening.
Please note this trip ends on arrival to Las Vegas. If you wish to spend the night in the city, speak to your sales agent about booking post-accommodation.
Meals: B, L
Day 22: Las Vegas
Full day to explore Las Vegas. Walk the strip and try your luck at the tables or slot machines. Or spend the day shopping, dining or poolside. In the evening opt to see one of the wildly entertaining shows Vegas is known for.
Free time in Las Vegas. Explore the strip, try your luck at a casino, or take in a glitzy show.
Day 23: Las Vegas/Sierra Nevadas
Visit a land of extremes in Death Valley National Park, one of the country's most rugged landscapes; the hottest and driest spot on earth and home to the lowest point in North America. Pass mountains, valleys, badlands, salt flats, dunes, as we drive through the spectacular landscape of this region.
Stop at Zabriskie Point and hike the short distance to the vista, one of the most photographed spots in the park. Take in the views of diverse geological features as far as the eye can see. Next, descend into Badwater Basin, that sits 282 feet below sea level. Continue past Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes en route to Panamint Valley before ending the day surrounded by the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas. Summer itinerary: Travel to Bishop via Tioga Pass viewing Mono Lake and the tufa towers on the way.
Winter itinerary: Continue on to Lake Isabella, where we stay the night.
Note that on Day 3, we intend to use the Tioga Pass, a scenic a route through the Sierra Nevada mountain range that connects Bishop with Yosemite NP. October through May, there's a chance the pass will be closed due to poor weather conditions or even snow. In this case, we use an alternate route, and spend the night in Lake Isabella (instead of Bishop). The status of the road is monitored daily, and our travel plans for the area will be confirmed during the trip.
Stop at Zabriskie Point and hike the short distance to the vista, one of the most photographed spots in the park. Take in the views of diverse geological features as far as the eye can see. Next, descend into Badwater Basin, that sits 282 feet below sea level. Continue past Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes en route to Panamint Valley before ending the day surrounded by the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas. Summer itinerary: Travel to Bishop via Tioga Pass viewing Mono Lake and the tufa towers on the way.
Winter itinerary: Continue on to Lake Isabella, where we stay the night.
Note that on Day 3, we intend to use the Tioga Pass, a scenic a route through the Sierra Nevada mountain range that connects Bishop with Yosemite NP. October through May, there's a chance the pass will be closed due to poor weather conditions or even snow. In this case, we use an alternate route, and spend the night in Lake Isabella (instead of Bishop). The status of the road is monitored daily, and our travel plans for the area will be confirmed during the trip.
Meals: L, D
Day 24: Sierra Nevadas/Yosemite National Park
Morning trip to Mono Lake; walk among the tufa towers (seasonal). Discover Yosemite's peaks, granite domes and giant sequoias. Marvel at majestic waterfalls, lakes and meadows. Keep and eye out for glacial erratics, rock climbers and the diverse wildlife, including black bears, within the park.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 25: Yosemite National Park
Full day to explore Yosemite NP. Use free time to explore Yosemite by foot, bike or shuttle. Hike the many trails Yosemite has to offer and be inspired by this stunning landscape. Opt to rent a bike and cycle in Yosemite Valley.
Carved by glaciers, Yosemite National Park became the first protected state park in the US in 1864. It took until 1890 to gain National Park status, with the work of John Muir. Spend the day hiking amongst Giant Sequoias, granite cliffs, and rushing waterfalls and understand why around 4 million people come to the park each year.
Carved by glaciers, Yosemite National Park became the first protected state park in the US in 1864. It took until 1890 to gain National Park status, with the work of John Muir. Spend the day hiking amongst Giant Sequoias, granite cliffs, and rushing waterfalls and understand why around 4 million people come to the park each year.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 26: Yosemite National Park/San Francisco
Cross over the Bay Bridge to arrive on the peninsula of one of the most iconic cities in the world: San Francisco. Stop on Treasure Island to catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and San Francisco's skyline. Your CEO will point out some popular sites during the drive into town. On arrival, opt to ride a cable car over the steep hills or explore by bicycle.
For our nights in San Francisco, we stay close to the action in a hotel in the city centre. Opt to pre-book the "Sunset Sailing – San Francisco" activity on the checkout page ahead of time to include this optional on your tour.
Meals: B, L
Day 27: San Francisco
Enjoy a free day to explore San Francisco.
Day 28: Santa Cruz/Morro Bay
Visit Santa Cruz and go for a stroll along the boardwalk. Marvel at the beautiful coastline and mountain ranges of Big Sur along the Pacific coast. Stop to view elephant seals at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery before catching the sunset on Morro Bay. Crashing waves, rolling fog, and sheer rocky cliffs will make this journey down California's coastal Highway 1 an unforgettable experience.
Meals: D
Day 29: Morro Bay/Los Angeles
Travel along the stunning Pacific coast to the City of Angels. Pass by Santa Barbara as we make our way to Santa Monica. Your CEO will point out a few famous neighborhoods and landmarks on the drive into the City of Angels. Trip ends upon arrival to Los Angeles.
Please note this trip ends on arrival to Los Angeles. There's a lot to see and do in LA, and we recommend spending extra time here if you'd like to explore Hollywood, Rodeo Drive and other hot spots around the city; speak to your sales agent to book extra accommodation.
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your G for Good Moment: Native Grill Food Truck Breakfast Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Foodie Moment: Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Dinner, Chicago Your Discover Moment: Chicago Your Discover Moment: Nashville Your Foodie Moment: Central BBQ Lunch, Memphis Your Discover Moment: Memphis Your Discover Moment: New Orleans Your Discover Moment: Las Vegas Your Discover Moment: Yosemite National Park Your Discover Moment: San Francisco
- Maid of the Mist Tour
- Chicago Walking Tour
- Nashville Night Out
- Memphis Night Out
- New Orleans Night Out
- Joshua Tree NP Visit
- Grand Canyon NP Visit
- Mission Beach Visit
- Gaslamp Quarter District Visit
- Sunset at the rim of the Grand Canyon
- Route 66 Visit
- Horseshoe Bend Hike
- Fremont Street Experience, Las Vegas
- Death Valley NP Visit
- Yosemite NP Visit
- Santa Cruz Visit
- Pacific Coast Highway Drive
- Elephant Seal Rookery, San Simeon
- Free time in Detroit, Chicago, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Panama City Beach, San Diego, and San Francisco
- Entrance fees to all national parks with hiking and walking excursions
- Self-inflating mattresses and dome tents
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Air-conditioned private vehicle, Walking -
Accommodation
Hotels/hostels (13 nts, some multi-share), Participation camping (15 nts)