Los Angeles Circular 44 – 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 – Drive to Kingman, 5 hours drive
(on the way stop at Barstaw’s outlet or at Calico’s or Oatman’s ghost towns)
Lodging location: Kingman
Day 3 – Drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and travel in the south rim, 2.5 hours drive
(on the way to the Grand Canyon, if you have time – drive a portion of Route 66 and stop at Seligman)
Lodging location: South Rim or Tusayan
Day 4 – 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 5 – Rent a boat and enjoy Lake Powell, short drive
Lodging location: Page
Day 6 – 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 7 – Visit the Monument Valley and drive north to Moab, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Moab
Day 8 – Visit Arches National Park, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Moab
Day 9 – 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 10 – 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 11 – Visit Bryce National Park
Lodging location: Bryce
Day 12 – Drive to Zion National Park on scenic route 9 and visit the park, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Springdale
Day 13 – Enjoy the morning in Zion and drive to Las Vegas, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 14 – Spend the day in Las Vegas
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 15 – Spend the day in Las Vegas’s Water Park
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 16 – Drive west to Mammoth Lakes, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Mammoth Lakes
Day 17 – 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: near Yosemite Valley
Day 18 – Travel and hike in Yosemite Valley
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 19 – Visit Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove in south Yosemite, 1.5 hours drive in each direction
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 20 – Drive to San Francisco and enjoy the afternoon in the city (or spend the morning in Yosemite), 4 hours drive
(on the way you may go on a rafting trip here)
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 21 – Spend the day in San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 22 – Enjoy one more day in San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 23 – Drive to Monterey through HWY 1 and the coastal towns of Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz (which has a unique amusement park) and Capitola, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 24 – Spend the day in beautiful Monterey
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 25 – Travel south along the most famous portion of HWY 1, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Cambria or Morro Bay
Day 26 – Drive to Los Angeles and visit sites along the way, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Hollywood or Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 27 – Visit Universal Studios and drive south to Anaheim, 1 hour drive
Lodging location: Hollywood or Santa Monica or Venice Beach
Day 28 – Visit Disneyland
Lodging location: Anaheim
Day 29 – Visit Disney’s California Adventure Park or drive to Legoland Park (1 hour south of Anaheim)
Lodging location: Anaheim
Day 30 – 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.
