San Francisco Circular 20 – A wonderful trip leading to the gems of western United States. This route begins and ends in San Francisco and is perfect for those who want to get out and back into the city. The areas covered by this route (that includes relatively long drives) are Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce, and Zion National Parks. In addition, the route includes several National Monuments, State Parks and other sites as well as a visit to the cities of Las Vegas and San Francisco. 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 – Arrive to San Francisco and spend the afternoon in the city
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 2 – Visit San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 3 – Enjoy one more day in San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 4 – Drive to Yosemite National Park, (on the way you may go on a rafting trip here), 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Yosemite Valley or Yosemite West, or El Portal or Buck Meadows
Day 5 – Travel and hike in Yosemite Valley, short drive
Lodging location: Yosemite Valley or Yosemite West, or El Portal or Buck Meadows
Day 6 – Visit Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove in south Yosemite, 1.5 hours drive in each direction
Lodging location: Yosemite Valley or Yosemite West, or El Portal or Buck Meadows
Day 7 – 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 8 – Drive east to Las Vegas, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 9 – Enjoy the day in Las Vegas
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 10 – Enjoy on more day in Las Vegas (if you are travelling with kids visit the city’s water park)
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 11 – Drive to Zion National Park and visit sites along the way, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Springdale (Zion)
Day 12 – Visit Zion National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Springdale (Zion)
Day 13 – 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 14 – Visit Bryce National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Bryce
Day 15 – 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 16 – Visit Arches National Park, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Moab
Day 17 – 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 18 – Go on a rafting trip or a Jeep tour from Moab, short drive
Lodging location: Moab
Day 19 – 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 20 – 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 21 – 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 22 – 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 23 – Visit Cody’s great museums and then drive to Red Lodge, 1 hour drive
Lodging location: Red Lodge
Day 24 – Drive east on the Beartooth Highway and then enter Yellowstone National Park through the Lamar Valley, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Gardiner
Day 25 – 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 26 – Visit the Upper Geyser Basin, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 27 – 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 28 – Drive east and visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Canyon Lodge
Day 29 – 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 30 – 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 31 – Enjoy one more day in Grand Teton National Park and in outdoor activities
Lodging location: Jackson
Day 32 – Drive west and visit Craters of the Moon National Monument, 4.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Twin Falls
Day 33 – 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 34 – 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
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 35 – Visit Great America or Six Flags theme parks, less than 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 36 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our California, Northwest USA and Southwest USA destinations pages, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
