USA Road Trip: New York to LA

Now's the time to explore the United States on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. If you're the type of traveller that doesn't do things in halves, this all-encompassing 56-day road trip through the United States has your name written all over it. You'll embark on two comprehensive circuits along the East and West coasts with a flight in between (fewer long drives means more time doing fun stuff). What makes this journey even better is the company you'll keep—a fine crew of worldly wanderers like yourself and a CEO (Chief Experience Officer) taking care of all the details.

Day 1 New York City
Arrive at any time.

Towering skyscrapers, flashing lights, and a pulsing energy you can’t quite escape from. First impressions matter so get to know New York City the right way; after dark with your CEO and group. Roam through the crowds, take in the sounds, the smells, and gear up for a good time in the Big Apple. Journey through the Hamilton Heights neighbourhood in Brooklyn in search of the perfect enclave to sip a cocktail, maybe two, and have some laughs with your newest adventure pals.

Day 2 New York City/Niagara Falls
Rise and shine nice and early to beat the traffic out of the city. Gaze out the window as you drive across the state and watch as the city gives way to the rolling hills of Upstate New York. Next, get up close and personal with Niagara Falls! Board the Maid of the Mist and feel the strength behind 3,160 tons of water cascading over the falls every second. Return after dark, try your hand at a local casino and witness the magical atmosphere and fun light show of Niagara Falls at night.

Day 3 Niagara Falls/Detroit
Cruise along Lake Erie, passing through Cleveland before arriving in Detroit. Experience the new markets, distilleries, art galleries, and restaurants of this quickly transforming city. Visit The Heidelberg Project to witness some of this community development in action. Then enjoy a free evening to explore this up-and-coming destination with your new pals!

Day 4 Detroit/Chicago
Next stop...Chicago! Enjoy a walking tour and take in some of the best highlights the city has to offer like, Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain, the beginning of Route 66, and the Cloud Gate. The tour ends at one of the best pizza joints in town where you can stuff your face with some famous deep dish pizza together before hitting the town on a night out with your travel tribe.

Day 5 Chicago
Take a free day to explore Chicago, because this is America after all, ‘the land of the free’. Besides, there's tons to do in the Windy City – walk along the river to Millennium Park, enjoy dazzling music, and stroll the boardwalk of the Navy Pier. To get a birds eye view take a ride to the top of the Willis Tower, then maybe grab a selfie under the famous ‘Bean’, or hit the town for another night out with the group.

Day 6 Chicago/Louisville
It’s time to head south Y’all! Follow the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to Louisville. Home of the Kentucky Derby, this city is a foodie haven filled with lively bars and farm-to-table restaurants. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore and don't forget to indulge in some BBQ and bourbon.

Day 7 Louisville/Nashville
Travel to the country music capital of the world. Stroll the streets of Nashville and check out what the city's known for: live music, line dancing, and cowboy nightlife. Visit The Parthenon in Centennial Park to understand why Nashville has been called the ‘Athens of the South’, listen to live music in the honky tonks along Broadway, and indulge in some finger-licking good barbecue in the West End.

Day 8 Nashville
Immerse yourself even further into Nashville with this free day! Take a stroll to visit the Gran Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Johnny Cash Museum, or simply take in live music along the "Honky Tonk Highway".

Day 9 Nashville/Memphis
It’s time to head south through Tennessee to explore the vibrant musical and cultural melting pot of Memphis. Good ole’ Elvis may have left the building, but get ready for a ‘hunk of burning love’ and take an optional tour of Graceland.

Feeling more historical than musical? Delve into the past at the National Civil Rights Museum and learn how Memphis played a role in this historical movement, or jam out on a tour of the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum. As the sun begins to set head to Beale Street for an evening out. Experience mouth-watering cuisine, live music, and a buzzing energy that will have you out spinning on the dance floor in no time.

Day 10 Memphis
Ready...set...go! Today is your free day in Memphis—a chance to experience the “Home of Blues, Soul & Rock ‘N’ Roll” the way you have always wanted. Pay your respects to Martin Luther King Jr, feel the wind in your hair as you ride a bike along the Mississippi River, or catch a world-class show at one of the theatres in Memphis.

Day 11 Memphis/New Orleans
Drive through the bayous, crank up the jazz and head into the Big Easy. Home of Mardi Gras, Voo Doo, and Gumbo. Get ready to head out and explore the French Quarter, where you'll join fellow revellers on Bourbon Street until the early hours.

Day 12 New Orleans
Get ready to take on NOLA all on your own today! Grab a buddy or head out solo— just make sure to soak up as much as you can. Trust us there’s plenty to do: from taking part in a creole cooking demonstration, to taking a bike tour around the city you’re sure to find your own way to make your New Orleans experience unique and special. But, if all else fails and you can’t decide what to do; simply grab some beignets at Café du Monde and wander the streets downtown soaking up the music and culture as you go.

Day 13 New Orleans/Panama City Beach
Hop across the state line and arrive at Panama City Beach—the quintessential Florida getaway. What’s here you ask? Well for starters there’s 27 miles of pearly white beaches and a subtropical climate that practically guarantees warm sunny days. On top of that it’s a great place to enjoy an afternoon on the water before hitting the town in the evening. Bonus fact: because Panama City Beach has the highest concentration of bottlenose dolphins your chances of watching some play in the waves are pretty high.

Day 14 Panama City Beach/Orlando
Let your inner child run wild as you head to the home of ‘The Most Magical Place on Earth’, Orlando. With endless shopping, nightlife, and famous amusement parks like Disney World and Universal Studios there’s plenty to explore. So take that selfie you’ve always wanted with Cinderella’s Castle or sip on a butterbeer from Harry Potter World and make the most of your day together!

Day 15 Orlando
It's a full free day in Orlando, so get busy folks, because there's loads to see. Meet Mickey Mouse at Disney World, feel your stomach drop on the Tower of Terror, or drink/eat your way through Epcot.

Day 16 Orlando/Savannah
Head to historic Savannah, stopping along the way in America's oldest city, St. Augustine. Once in Savannah you can enjoy free time to explore alone or with a travel buddy. Walk around this Southern Belle of a town, admire the architecture and oak trees covered in Spanish moss, head out to Bonaventure Cemetery, or stroll along the waterfront.

Day 17 Savannah/Charleston
Journey to the city of Charleston, known for its historic, romantic charm. Once you arrive, if you aren't too beat enjoy a free afternoon in this southern charmed city with your friends. Make sure to sample some catfish stew or shrimp and grits from The Glass Onion. Get to know the locals and enjoy the home-cooked comforts of soul food in your new home away from home.

Day 18 Charleston/Richmond
Sit back, relax, and reflect as you travel north. Then history buffs unite once you arrive in Richmond, Virginia — a city that played a large part in the U.S. Civil War. With a buzzy craft beer scene, a loyalty to the homegrown, and locally owned shops you just may find yourself yelling the famous quote "Give me liberty or give me death" with your fellow tour buddies as the night goes on.

Day 19 Richmond/Washington DC
Next stop: the U.S. capital! Along the way enjoy time to explore Georgetown, a historic waterfront D.C. neighbourhood lined with cobblestoned streets, 19th-century architecture and a flare for blending the past and present. As the sun sets get ready to embark on a moonlight monument tour to some of Washington DC's memorials as they light up the night.

Day 20 Washington DC
Spend your day immersed in the Nation's capital with plenty of free time to see the sights. Meander through exhibits at the Smithsonian Museum and along the National Mall, see where the President lives on Pennsylvania Avenue, tour the Capitol Building, eat something delicious on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and get lost on the streets of DC's quaint neighbourhoods.

Day 21 Washington DC/New York City
Today, let history guide you through Philadelphia along the way to New York City. See the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed, stuff your face with a famous Philly Cheesesteak, get up close and personal with the Liberty Bell and feel the freedom of America in your veins before making your way to the final destination—NYC!

Welcome to The Big Apple! From the Statue of Liberty to Ground Zero to Chinatown, New York City is full of things to do and see.

Day 22 New York City/Los Angeles
Hop aboard a place and head to the City of Angels, Los Angeles. Enjoy a free evening to explore some of the most iconic celebrity enclaves in the U.S. Visit the Santa Monica Pier, walk the boardwalk at Venice Beach, or make the trek out to Hollywood.

Day 23 Los Angeles/San Diego
Be on celebrity-watch while passing by a few popular sites on the way out of LA, California's most glamorous city. Cruise through Orange County and along the incredible Pacific coastline to the truly remarkable, San Diego. Sun, sand, food and fun awaits us in this beautiful beach city.

Once we have arrived you are free to adventure as you please. Soak up the sun on Mission Beach, hike along the sandstone cliffs of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, spend the day at the city’s cultural hub – Balboa Park, or immerse yourself in the military and maritime history of one of the happiest cities in the U.S. In the evening, head to the Gaslamp Quarter District for dinner and live music. As the sun sets, watch the area come alive with numerous pubs and nightclubs and get ready for a night of fun!

Day 24 San Diego/Lake Havasu City
Travel to the desert landscape of Joshua Tree National Park – a place that attracts everyone from stargazers to rock climbers. Stop, stare, and enjoy the scenery of the Mojave and Colorado deserts, and of course the famous Joshua trees, with their gnarled branches. The group will take a short hike amongst the boulders of this park before zooming off to cool off in the crystal-clear waters of the Colorado River at Lake Havasu.

Day 25 Lake Havasu City/Grand Canyon
Hit the road to get some kicks on Route 66. Dive into historic Americana and enjoy lunch at a famous joint and see if you can spot all the movie memorabilia. Afterwards, it’s off to the Grand Canyon to explore the massive gorges, ridges and rock formations that make even the most skeptical of travellers become awestruck. Dive into a delicious pizza dinner as you sit with your newest adventures buddies and watch the sun dip below the canyon’s south rim.

Day 26 Grand Canyon
Another day another adventure! Not feeling a hike this morning? That's cool, you have the option to splurge on an unforgettable helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. Get ready to feel incredibly small as the world opens up at your feet. For a quieter experience rent a bike to check out the south rim or go see the IMAX Grand Canyon movie. No matter what you decide the epic views will be there.

Day 27 Grand Canyon/Monument Valley
Wave goodbye to this grand park as we take one last drive along the southern rim of the canyon. Then it’s time to eat some grub at a local Navajo food truck supported by Planeterra.

With a full stomach and a happy attitude drive through the desert to discover one of the most majestic places on earth, Monument Valley. You have the option of getting deep into the valley with a 4x4 excursion with a local Navajo guide, or simply walk around yourself and admire this vast, colourful landscape and cool rock formations.

Day 28 Monument Valley/Las Vegas
Grab your camera and break a sweat with a quick hike to iconic Horseshoe Bend. Stand overlooking this cool natural shape of the Colorado River and snap a few zen photos. Then, discover ghost towns, funky roadside attractions, and bask in the fading sun as you head into “Sin City”. Explore the Las Vegas strip in style on an optional VIP party limo ride with some fellow trip mates.

Day 29 Las Vegas
Take in the sites, sounds, and atmosphere of Las Vegas on a free day with your travel buds. Explore the strip, try your luck at a casino, view a glitzy show, or simply people watch in one of the liveliest cities in the U.S.

Day 30 Las Vegas/Zion National Park
Zoom past towering cliffs and massive canyon walls as you enter Zion National Park and ready yourself for loads of exploring! Looking for a challenge? Hike to Observation Point on the Angel's Landing trail and take in the panoramic views of the park stretching out beneath you. Hoping for even more adventure? Head deep into the Narrows and hike through slot canyons with water flowing through them. Searching for more of a relaxing day? Simply walk along any of the other trails you can find and immerse yourself in this beautiful place.

Day 31 Bryce Canyon NP/Moab
Head out early for Bryce Canyon, where you’ll have a chance to walk amongst the famous hoodoos. Check out the amphitheatre and Queen’s Garden trail to take some fun pictures with your adventure buddies! In the afternoon head towards Moab along Scenic Byway 12 passing Grand Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park along the way. If you enjoy slot canyons and sandstone cliffs this may be your favourite part of the trip yet!

Day 32 Moab
Welcome to Utah’s adventure capital—Moab! Get ready for a morning of endless adventure; from rafting through rapids, to hitting the trails on a mountain bike there’s so many ways to enjoy yourself in this natural playground. In the afternoon head out on a hike through some pretty surreal rock formations in Arches National Park with your group. The fun doesn’t stop here, you’ll end the day watching a gorgeous sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park.

Day 33 Moab/Glenwood Springs
Welcome to colourful Colorado! Get ready for things to get radical as you arrive in Glenwood Springs, where you can hike at nearby Hanging Lake, rent a bike in Glenwood Canyon, or go for a swim in the world’s largest hot springs pool.

Day 34 Glenwood Springs/Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Next up...good ole’ Wyoming! Spend the day reflecting, laughing, and relaxing as you travel to Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Get out, stretch those legs and maybe hike along the canyon rim, or explore the reservoir shoreline by kayak. Then, get ready for a show as you watch the sinking sun reflect off the red canyon walls and see how this canyon earned its name—don’t forget your camera!

Day 35 Flaming Gorge Reservoir/Jackson
“Yee-haw!” It’s off to the ‘ol mountain town of Jackson Hole—gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Marvel and pose at the town square’s elk antler arches, explore the countryside or splash through the rapids of the Snake River while whitewater rafting during a free afternoon. Then, enjoy a night out in with a true wild western atmosphere and visit a cowboy bar. Step back in time, imagine the run-down saloons and outlaws of the Old West, and try your hand at a little Western line dancing with your travel family at the Million Dollar Bar.

Day 36 Jackson/Yellowstone National Park
It’s off to Grand Teton National Park—home to some of the youngest mountains in the world. You’ll spend the day taking it all in. Grab your camera and your friends before immersing yourself in one of the top 10 visited parks in the U.S. Take a hike among the towering peaks, a quick dip into Jackson Lake, or keep your eyes peeled for signs of wildlife before crossing the Continental Divide en route to Yellowstone National Park, where you will stop for the night.

Day 37 Yellowstone National Park
Wow! Today you’ll visit the world’s first national park and discover the highlights of the Southern Loop. Expect things like, colourful geysers, powerful waterfalls, and scenic beauty around every corner. Snap a photo of the Grand Prismatic Spring—the largest hot spring in America, or queue in excitement as you wait for famous geyser, Old Faithful to erupt. Surround yourself with thick forests, towering mountains, lunar-like landscapes and get ready to embrace the bizarre in Yellowstone.

Day 38 Yellowstone National Park/Bozeman
You guessed it! Today it’s the North Loops turn for a little love and exploration. Spend the day taking loads of photos and experiencing highlights like, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, scenic Grand Loop Road, and the ever-evolving geometrical terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Fort Yellowstone. Then it’s time to hit the road again to the university town of Bozeman, Montana. Get ready for an evening of free time to make some memories.

Day 39 Bozeman/Glacier National Park
Let's keep moving through Montana; known as Big Sky Country. Travel through stunning scenery beneath miles of open sky along the way to Glacier National Park. Smile, learn, and laugh your way through largely untouched land, with over 20 glaciers, and 200 lakes and streams. The park has 730 miles of trails for you to enjoy so it should be easy to hike until you drop.

Day 40 Glacier National Park
Another day, another chance to get out there and live your best life. Grab a friend or maybe a few and in your free time continue exploring Glacier NP with its many glaciers, lakes and streams with your free time. Feel the wind in your hair as you ride along the Going-to-the-Sun road, (voted one of the most scenic drives in the world), or take a selfie once you reach the Continental Divide. Your only real job today is to have a blast!

Day 41 Glacier National Park/Coeur d'Alene
“The Hills are alive…” okay, we know wrong country, but you’ll be wanting to sing this loud and proud as you drive further west to beautiful Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho! Surrounded by over 50 lakes, this town is an outdoor enthusiasts dream. There’s plenty to do and time to do it; walk the floating boardwalk, go mountain biking, or take part in water-sports on Lake Coeur d’Alene as the day goes by.

Day 42 Coeur d'Alene/Seattle
It’s on to the beautiful, moody, and wild Pacific Northwest. Watch as mountains give way to lush old growth forests and a world of green as you pass into the evergreen state of Washington on the way to Seattle.

Day 43 Seattle
The day is yours! Enjoy Seattle with your travel tribe; visit Pike Place Market, the first Starbucks location, or ride to the top of the Space Needle. Grab a selfie with the gum wall or the Fremont Troll, and make sure you grab a coffee at one of the 2,000 shops around the city.

Day 44 Seattle/Mount Rainier National Park
No trip to Washington is quite complete without a visit to Mt Rainier National Park. Zoom here with your travel tribe from Seattle and enjoy a picnic lunch in the park. Then it’s time to get some hiking done amidst the snowy mountain peaks. Keep your eyes peeled from some of the diverse wildlife that calls this place home. As the light begins to fade and your feet feel heavier from all of that exploring the group will head just outside the park to camp under the stars.

Day 45 Mount Rainier National Park/Portland
Let’s get weird in Portland! Being one of the most popular cities to visit on the West Coast north of California Portland is artsy, funky, full of great food/drink options and not to mention extremely easy to fall in love with. Between the lush green forest, mountains shrouded in mist, and endless craft breweries sprinkled all over the city, you’ll have no problem finding a creative way to get to know this wacky place.

Day 46 Portland/Bend
It’s time to leave the bizarre behind as you make your way to Bend, Oregon, consistently voted one of the best places to live in the U.S. Arrive just in time to find yourself the perfect place to eat lunch. Then grab your buddies and explore town a bit. Maybe you’ll head to another craft brewery, or maybe you’ll try kayaking and canoeing through the beautiful water of Cascade lake. Or even better? Maybe you’ll do both!

Day 47 Bend/Redwood National Park
Rise and shine and hit the road early to take full advantage of the sights at gorgeous Crater Lake National Park. Grab some selfies or just sit and stare in awe at the crystal blue waters of one of the most pristine lakes on earth. Afterwards, head further south to California and Redwood National Park—home to the tallest trees in the world. Spend the evening gazing up at these gigantic coastal redwoods. To get a true sense of the enormity of these trees, try taking a picture of you hugging one of them.

Day 48 Redwood National Park
Wake up to the sounds of the forest before going on a morning hike through these old mystical trees. Don’t worry, it's not all about the redwoods, even though they are really something. After craning your neck for hours you’ll be excited for a chance to look down as you head to the rocky California coast, to enjoy tide pooling and small beach communities as you continue towards San Francisco.

Day 49 Redwood National Park/San Francisco
Catch yourself daydreaming as you cruise along the coast and then watch as vineyards pass by in California's famous wine region en route to San Francisco. Scoot over to the city on the Golden Gate Bridge and stop for pictures at this iconic site. We’re thinking group selfie?

Day 50 San Francisco
Get ready to explore this city by the bay with your adventure pals! Walk up winding Lombard Street, hop on a historic cable car and see the hills of the city, or get sprayed by the ocean at Lands End.

Day 51 San Francisco/Lake Tahoe
Continue on to idyllic Lake Tahoe, a jewel of the Sierra Nevadas. Known for its crystal clear waters and sweeping mountain views, it is truly a nature-lover's paradise. Enjoy a free afternoon for hiking, lake activities or relaxing. In the evening, hit up the Nevada side of the Lake and try your hand at the Casinos. Who knows, maybe luck will be on your side!

Day 52 Lake Tahoe/Yosemite National Park
Say, "see you later" to Lake Tahoe and travel south through National Forests and the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range on the way to Yosemite National Park. Tip your head back and relax or try to spot some wildlife. Once you arrive, hike amongst giant sequoias and past powerful waterfalls before setting up camp. Spend the night telling stories around the fire with your newest travel family.

Day 53 Yosemite National Park
Let your mind wander as you hike through this breathtaking park. Gaze in wonder at Yosemite's magnificent peaks and granite domes before turning your attention to the tranquil nature of the valley floor. Snap photos or simply take in the beauty of one of the country's most beautiful national parks. Keep an eye out for rock climbers and diverse wildlife within the park and consider renting bikes with some friends to better explore Yosemite Valley.

Day 54 Yosemite National Park/Santa Cruz
Leave the mountains behind and head to the coastal paradise of Santa Cruz. Conveniently located between San Francisco and Monterey this beach town is full of great surf, pristine waterfront, redwood-covered mountains, laid-back surfer towns, organic farms, and a growing beer and wine scene. Spend your free afternoon exploring the wharf, vintage shops, and beach coves with a friend or on your own. Either way you’ll be getting a true taste of what the laid back life on the West Coast is all about.

Day 55 Santa Cruz/Morro Bay
Travel down the famous Pacific Coast Highway and marvel at the beautiful coastline and mountain ranges of Big Sur. Have your cameras handy as you will be making multiple stops along the way at places you won't want to miss having a photo of. Take in the crashing waves, rolling fog, and sheer rocky cliffs that make this journey down California's coastal Highway 1 an unforgettable experience. Arrive in time to enjoy sunset on Morro Bay.

Day 56 Morro Bay/Los Angeles
Journey along the stunning Pacific coast to the 'City of Angels'. Stop in Santa Barbara for lunch in this famous coastal city as the group makes its way to LA (maybe sneak in a volleyball game on the beach if you have time). Your CEO will point out a few famous neighbourhoods and landmarks on the drive. And even though the trip ends upon arrival to Los Angeles you can certainly book some post accommodation and continue enjoying one of most geographically diverse states in America.