Itinerary idea
The road trip of a lifetime in the American West for 24 days
The national parks of Western America are breathtaking. And it's not all canyons, dunes, rocks and casinos! This map of the USA takes you through the must-sees of the West, but also takes you off the beaten track: the trails of Arches National Park, the hot springs of Zion National Park, the waterfalls of Yosemite National Park and many other excursions among the giant redwoods.
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Two daysPodcast
How to organize your tour of the American West? Some mistakes to avoid
- It's important to prepare this trip well. I don't prepare all my trips in the same way, sometimes we're a little more “freestyle” but there's so much to do and see... it's good to have prepared and booked our accommodation in advance
- And don't try to see and do everything. It's better to stay in Bryce Canyon for two nights than to spend just one night so you can fly over everything. You can't see everything, you have to know how to sort it out.
- There are parks like Yosemite, Arches and Antelope Canyon where you have to book before you go. You can't get into the park with your car if you haven't booked beforehand.
- And there are some parks or road segments where there's no network! If you have to start choosing and booking accommodation without any Internet access in the middle of a desert... we'd rather avoid that kind of problem
How to prepare your entry and arrival in the United States to avoid trouble?
- There are three: a valid passport, a travel authorization called ESTA which is done online for $21 per person and is valid for two years. This must be done at least 72 hours before departure. It is also mandatory to present a round-trip ticket or a ticket proving departure from the United States.
- I recommend taking an SUV, especially for the luggage, the comfort on the long roads, and for driving off-road, like in Monument Valley where potholes are numerous. You absolutely have to pay with a credit card, not a debit card, otherwise they won't rent you the vehicle. I really recommend taking out car insurance. You can run into problems very quickly: scratches, fender benders, flat tires, etc.
- The ’America the Beautiful' pass costs $80 and allows access to many (but not all!) national parks. From the moment you visit three national parks, it's a must-have. It's valid for one car, maximum four adults. No need to buy this pass in advance. We ordered it before we left, but all we had to do was buy it at the first national park we visited.