Los Angeles Circular 31 – A highly recommended and comprehensive route in the southwestern United States. Focuses on the states of Utah and California with a pinch of Nevada and Arizona, and includes the Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Parks, Page/Lake Powell area, the Monument Valley and the magnificent coastline of California (Route 1) as well as the cities of Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles. This trip includes driving the Tioga Pass road in Yosemite that is open for a relatively short period every year (see opening and closure dates here).
Day 1 – Land in Los Angeles and spend a few hours in Venice Beach and Santa Monica
Lodging location: Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 2 – Spend the day in Los Angeles or visit Universal Studios
Lodging location: Hollywood or Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 3 – Drive north to southern Route 1 and visit sites along the way, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Morro Bay or Cambria
Day 4 – Drive and travel north along Route 1, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 5 – Visit Monterey
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 6 – Visit Monterey’s surroundings (Point Lobus State Park, 17 mile drive etc.), less than 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 7 – Drive to San Francisco via the northern portion of Route 1 (through Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Capitola etc.) and visit Santa Cruz’s Boardwalk, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 8 – Visit San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 9 – One more day in San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 10 – Drive to Yosemite National Park, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 11 – Travel and hike in Yosemite Valley, short drive
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 12 – Visit Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove in south Yosemite, 1.5 hours drive in each direction
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 13 – Cross north Yosemite National Park along the scenic Tioga Pass HWY (route 120) and go on short hikes along this route, 3 hours drive
(the Tioga Pass HWY is usually open from the end of May/June until October. See status here)
Lodging location: Mammoth Lakes
Day 14 – Drive east to Las Vegas, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 15 – Spend the day in Las Vegas
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 16 – Drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and visit the park, 4 hours drive
(on the way to the Grand Canyon stop in Hoover Dam and if you have time – drive a portion of Route 66 and stop at Seligman)
Lodging location: South Rim or Tusayan
Day 17 – Visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and stop at sites along HWY 64 in the east part of the rim on the way to Page, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Page
Day 18 – Rent a boat and enjoy Lake Powell, short drive
Lodging location: Page
Day 19 – Visit the Antelope Canyon (reserve in advance) and hike to the Horseshoe Bend and then drive to the Monument Valley, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Goulding’s or The View Hotel
Day 20 – Visit the Monument Valley and drive north to Moab, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Moab
Day 21 – Visit Arches National Park, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Moab
Day 22 – Visit Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky district), 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Moab
Day 23 – Go rafting on the Colorado River (out of Moab) or join other outdoor activities (bike trails, ATV and more) or take a drive along scenic HWY 128, short drive
Lodging location: Moab
Day 24 – Drive to Bryce through Capitol Reef National Park (it is highly recommended to drive via scenic roads 12 and 24 and on the way visit Goblin Valley State Park), 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Bryce
Day 25 – Visit Bryce National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Bryce
Day 26 – Drive to Zion National Park on scenic route 9 and enjoy the afternoon in the park, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Springdale
Day 27 – Spend the day in Zion National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Springdale
Day 28 – Visit Zion National Park and drive to Las Vegas, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 29 – Enjoy one more day in Las Vegas
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 30 – Drive to Los Angeles and spend the afternoon in the city, 4 hours drive
(on the way stop at Barstaw’s outlet or at Calico’s ghost town)
Lodging location: Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 31 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our California and Southwest USA destinations pages, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
