Los Angeles Circular 45 – A classic route in southwestern United States that focuses on the states of Utah and California with a pinch of Nevada and Arizona, and includes Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, 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 and drive to San Francisco, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 6 – Visit San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 7 – One more day in San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 8 – Drive to Yosemite National Park and visit Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove in south Yosemite, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 9 – Travel and hike in Yosemite Valley, short drive
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 10 – 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 11 – Drive east to Las Vegas and spend the afternoon in the city, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 12 – Spend the day in Las Vegas
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 13 – Drive to Zion National Park and visit the park, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Springdale
Day 14 – Enjoy the morning in Zion and drive to Bryce National Park on scenic route 9, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Bryce
Day 15 – Visit Bryce National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Bryce
Day 16 – Drive to Moab 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: Moab
Day 17 – Visit Arches National Park, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Moab
Day 18 – Go on a half day rafting tour on the Colorado River (out of Moab) and then visit Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky district), 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Moab
Day 19 – Drive to the Monument Valley spend the day in this magnificent area, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Goulding’s or The View Hotel
Day 20 – Drive to Page, visit the Antelope Canyon (reserve in advance) and hike to the Horseshoe Bend, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Page
Day 21 – Drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and visit sites along HWY 64 in the east part of the rim, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: South Rim or Tusayan
Day 22 – Visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and drive to Kingman, 2.5 hours drive
(on the way to Las Vegas stop in Hoover Dam and if you have time – drive a portion of Route 66 and stop at Seligman)
Lodging location: Kingman
Day 23 – Drive to Los Angeles and spend the afternoon in the city, 5 hours drive
(on the way stop at Barstaw’s outlet or at Calico’s ghost town)
Lodging location: Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 24 – 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.
