Los Angeles to Salt Lake City 11 – A beautiful breathtaking, diverse route that features spectacular scenery – perfect for nature lovers. This route combines a visit to the one and only Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in addition to a in-depth visit to the red sandstone, high altitude deserts and marvelous canyons of Southern Utah and the following National Parks – Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, and the Grand Canyon and a visit to Yosemite, California. This route also includes the Monument Valley, the Lake Powell are, a drive along Route 1 and a visit to 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
(on the way you may go on a rafting trip here)
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 – Enjoy one more day in Las Vegas
Lodging location: Las Vegas
Day 17 – 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 18 – 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 19 – Rent a boat and enjoy Lake Powell, short drive
Lodging location: Page
Day 20 – 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 21 – Visit the Monument Valley and drive north to Moab, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Moab
Day 22 – Visit Arches National Park, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Moab
Day 23 – Visit Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky district), 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Moab
Day 24 – 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 25 – 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 26 – Visit Bryce National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Bryce
Day 27 – Drive to Zion National Park on scenic route 9 and enjoy the afternoon in the park, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Springdale
Day 28 – Spend the day in Zion National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Springdale
Day 29 – Spend the morning in Zion National Park and then drive to Park City, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Park City
Day 30 – Drive to Grand Teton National Park and visit the southern part of the Park or enjoy activities around Jackson, 4.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Jackson
Day 31 – Visit the southern part of Grand Teton National Park, less than 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Jackson
Day 32 – Drive north through Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone National Park stop for a visit to West Thumb Geyser Basin (on the shores of Lake Yellowstone), 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Canyon (or Lake Yellowstone)
Day 33 – Visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and tour the canyon’s wonderful waterfalls and views and then drive north to the Lamar Valley and tour the valley and continue to Gardiner, 1.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Gardiner
Day 34 – Visit Mammoth Hot Springs and bath in the Boiling River and then drive south to Norris Geyser Basin, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 35 – Visit the Midway and Lower Geyser Basin, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 36 – Visit the Upper Geyser Basin, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 37 – Visit West Yellowstone’s Nature Center or Zipline Park and then drive to Salt Lake City, 6 hours drive
Lodging location: Salt Lake City
Day 38 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our California, Southwest USA and Northwest USA destinations pages, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
