Las Vegas to San Francisco 15 – A wonderful route that reaches many of the most beautiful locations in West USA. This route includes a visit to Utah’s gems (Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion National Parks in addition to beautiful state parks), and afterwards a visit to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and at the end a long drive from San Francisco. This route also includes a more urban side – in the cities of San Francisco and Las Vegas.
Day 1 – Arrive to Las Vegas and spend the afternoon in the city
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 2 – Enjoy the day in Las Vegas
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 3 – Enjoy on more day in Las Vegas (if you are travelling with kids visit the city’s water park)
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 4 – Drive to Zion National Park and visit sites along the way, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Springdale (Zion)
Day 5 – Visit Zion National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Springdale (Zion)
Day 6 – Drive to Bryce National Park (through amazing highway 9) and visit Bryce (or spend the morning in Zion), 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Bryce
Day 7 – Visit Bryce National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Bryce
Day 8 – Drive to Moab through highways 12 and 24, and on the way visit Capitol Reef National Park. If you have time it is also recommended to make a detour for a short visit in Goblin Valley State Park, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Moab
Day 9 – Visit Arches National Park, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Moab
Day 10 – Visit Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky district) and Dead Horse Point State Park, 1-1.5 hours drive in each direction
Lodging location: Moab
Day 11 – Go on a rafting trip or a Jeep tour from Moab, short drive
Lodging location: Moab
Day 12 – Spend the morning in Arches National Park or go swimming in the Colorado River along Highway 128 and then drive north to Vernal, 3.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Vernal
Day 13 – Visit the area circled in blue in this map that includes great views. You may also visit this canyon and/or this arch, 1-1.5 hours drive in each direction
Lodging location: Vernal
Day 14 – Visit the area circled in red in this map, in the Dinosaur National Monument, that includes a wall full of Dinosaur skeletons, and the drive north and embark on a short rafting trip, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Flaming Gorge
Day 15 – Drive north through Wyoming to Cody. On the way you may stop in the small town of Thermopolis that has hot springs and petroglyphs, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Cody
Day 16 – Visit Cody’s great museums and then drive to Red Lodge, 1 hour drive
Lodging location: Red Lodge
Day 17 – Drive east on the Beartooth Highway and then enter Yellowstone National Park through the Lamar Valley, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Gardiner
Day 18 – Visit Mammoth Hot Springs and then drive south, on the way you may stop at Norris Geyser Basin (or you may choose an outdoor activity like rafting or horseback riding), 2 hours drive
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 19 – Visit the Upper Geyser Basin, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 20 – Visit the Lower Geyser Basin and the Midway Geyser Basin and enjoy activities in West Yellowstone (Nature Center or Zipline), 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 21 – Drive east and visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Canyon Lodge
Day 22 – Drive south to Grand Teton National Park, on the way stop at Hayden Valley and West Thumb Geyser Basin in south Yellowstone, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Jackson
Day 23 – Enjoy a day in southern Grand Teton National Park plus participate in outdoor activities (rafting, horseback riding etc.) near the town of Jackson, less than 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Jackson
Day 24 – Enjoy one more day in Grand Teton National Park and in outdoor activities
Lodging location: Jackson
Day 25 – Drive west and visit Craters of the Moon National Monument, 4.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Twin Falls
Day 26 – Continue driving west towards Reno, NV, on the way you may stop here and near Twin Falls you may visit Shoshone Falls, 6.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Reno
Day 27 – Drive to San Francisco, on the way you may stop here, or if you have time you may make a detour to Lake Tahoe or enjoy this place in Reno, 3.5 hours drive
Day 28 – Visit San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 29 – Enjoy one more day in San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 30 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our California, Northwest USA and Southwest USA destinations page, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
