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ROUTE395

The West Coast Classic

Cities, canyons, desert and the Pacific: the first-timer’s two weeks in the West.

dawn on the S rim of the Grand Canyon© Murray Foubister · CC BY-SA 2.0
Distance
About 2,100 mi
≈ 3,380 km, rounded
Time
15–16 days
at a comfortable pace
Best season
Jun–early Oct
Start → finish
San Francisco → San Francisco

This is the loop that sells the American West to first-time visitors: two great cities, the granite of Yosemite, the salt flats of Death Valley, the neon of Las Vegas, the red canyons of Utah and Arizona, and the Pacific coast to finish. It is a lot of driving, but every day ends somewhere unforgettable.

Map of the The West Coast Classic road tripAZCAUTNVMammoth LakesPageKingmanSanta BarbaraMontereySan FranciscoSAN FRANCISCOYosemiteYOSEMITEDeath ValleyDEATH VALLEYLas VegasLAS VEGASZionZIONAntelopeANTELOPEGrand CanyonGRAND CANYONJoshua TreeJOSHUA TREELos AngelesLOS ANGELESBig SurBIG SURN0100 mi
The route, stop by stop — tap a stop to open its guide.

Day by day

  1. Days 1–3

    Days 1–3 · San Francisco

    Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, cable cars. Pick up the car on day 3. See San Francisco.

    Sleep: San Francisco

  2. Days 4–5

    Days 4–5 · Yosemite

    Tunnel View, the Mist Trail, Glacier Point at sunset. See Yosemite.

    190 mi · 4 hSleep: Yosemite or El Portal

  3. 6

    Day 6 · Tioga Pass to Mammoth & Lone Pine

    Over the Sierra on Highway 120, Mono Lake’s tufa towers, then south on scenic Highway 395.

    200 mi · 4 hSleep: Lone Pine

  4. 7

    Day 7 · Death Valley to Las Vegas

    Dunes, Badwater, Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View. See Death Valley.

    230 mi · 4 h 30Sleep: Las Vegas

  5. 8

    Day 8 · Las Vegas

    A night on the Strip and a show. See Las Vegas.

    Sleep: Las Vegas

  6. Days 9–10

    Days 9–10 · Zion

    The Narrows and Angels Landing or Scout Lookout. See Zion.

    160 mi · 2 h 45Sleep: Springdale

  7. 11

    Day 11 · Page

    Antelope Canyon tour and Horseshoe Bend.

    115 mi · 2 hSleep: Page

  8. 12

    Day 12 · Grand Canyon

    Desert View Drive, sunset on the South Rim.

    135 mi · 2 h 30Sleep: Grand Canyon or Tusayan

  9. 13

    Day 13 · Route 66 to Joshua Tree

    Williams and Seligman on Route 66, then the Mojave to Joshua Tree for the stars.

    360 mi · 6 hSleep: Joshua Tree or Twentynine Palms

  10. 14

    Day 14 · Los Angeles

    Griffith Observatory at sunset. See Los Angeles.

    130 mi · 2 h 30Sleep: Santa Monica

  11. Days 15–16

    Days 15–16 · Up the coast

    Malibu, Santa Barbara, then Big Sur and Carmel back to San Francisco.

    450 mi over 2 daysSleep: Santa Barbara, then Carmel

Short on days? Part of this route also works as a short trip, planned hour by hour:

If Tioga Pass is closed

Tioga Road (Highway 120 through Yosemite) is usually open from June to November. Outside those months, the drive from Yosemite to Death Valley loops south through Bakersfield and adds about three hours. In winter and spring, consider flying into Las Vegas and running the loop from there, with Yosemite as an out-and-back from San Francisco.

Where to sleep along the way

Book the nights that matter first — inside or next to the parks, and in towns hosting a festival — then fill in the rest. Free cancellation keeps the plan flexible.

Partner links · Trip.com

Our hand-picked hotels on this route

Road trip questions

Is two weeks enough for the US West Coast?

Two weeks covers this loop at a steady pace. With three weeks, add Bryce Canyon, Sedona or more time on the coast.

Should I start in San Francisco or Los Angeles?

Either works: compare flight prices. Starting in San Francisco puts Yosemite early, while Tioga Pass is open.

How much does a West Coast road trip cost?

For two people in mid-range hotels, expect roughly $6,000–$9,000 for two weeks excluding flights. See our budget guide.

Exit 10Stops on this routeSan FranciscoForty-nine hills, one orange bridge and fog with a name.
Exit 17Yosemite National ParkGranite walls, giant waterfalls and the sequoias that started it all.Exit 24Death Valley National ParkThe hottest, driest, lowest place in North America — and strangely beautiful.Exit 31Las VegasNeon in the Mojave, and the best base camp for the Southwest parks.Exit 38Zion National ParkWalk up a river between 2,000-foot walls of red and cream sandstone.Exit 45Antelope CanyonLight pouring into a slot of sandstone carved like silk.
Exit 10And now?Route 662,400 miles · 14–21 days
Exit 17Pacific Coast Highway640 miles · 5–7 daysExit 24The Grand Circle1,300 miles · 10–14 days

Written by Kylian Dev. Distances and drive times are without stops or traffic; add 25% for a realistic day.