Classic US West Route

The classic American West route of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, San Francisco and Yosemite, covering cities, casinos and national parks in one trip.

"Meixi" (the US West) is the term Chinese-language travel markets use for the classic combination of California, Nevada and Arizona in the western US. Trips usually fly in and out of Los Angeles or San Francisco and link big cities, the casino city and national parks. A typical combination: Los Angeles (Hollywood, Universal Studios, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills) and San Diego (SeaWorld, La Jolla); east to Las Vegas (the Strip at night, shows, outlet malls); then to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, or a larger loop that adds Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Zion; heading north in California brings Yosemite National Park and San Francisco (the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street), with the return trip along Highway 1 via Big Sur and Monterey. The classic itinerary takes 10–14 days: Los Angeles 3 days – Las Vegas 2 days – Grand Canyon/Antelope Canyon 2–3 days – Yosemite 2 days (via Death Valley or back the way you came) – San Francisco 2–3 days – Highway 1 2 days. Driving is the most common way to travel, and many Chinese-language local tour operators run group tours; domestic flights can be combined between cities. Note that desert sections are very hot in summer, so carry plenty of drinking water. The national parks annual pass ($80) is good value. In summer, Yosemite requires a reservation to enter at certain times.

Destinations

• Los Angeles
• Las Vegas
• Grand Canyon South Rim
• Yosemite National Park
• San Francisco
• San Diego
• Santa Barbara

Itineraries

• US West National Parks & Coast Grand Loop – A Los Angeles loop passing through Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Yosemite, and San Francisco, returning…
• Pacific Coast Highway: San Francisco to Los Angeles – Drive south along Highway 1, connecting San Francisco, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, and Santa Barbara
• Death Valley, Sequoia & Yosemite National Parks – Fly into Las Vegas and out of San Francisco, visiting Death Valley, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite in succession
• Southwest Grand Circle Self-Drive in – A loop from Las Vegas linking Utah's red-rock parks, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon South Rim.
• Los Angeles Neighborhood Life and Santa Barbara – Stay downtown and use the metro to explore Olvera Street, Hollywood and Fairfax, plus a day train trip to Santa Barbara.
• Eastern Sierra US-395 & Yosemite Crossing – Head north from Los Angeles along US-395, crossing the mountains via Tioga Road to Yosemite and San Francisco
• Southern California Coast & Desert Loop – From Los Angeles to San Diego, then to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, split evenly between beaches and deserts
• Route 66 Southwest Road Trip – Drive west from Tulsa along historic Route 66, passing through Amarillo, Santa Fe, and Flagstaff, ending in Las Vegas.
• Los Angeles First Visit Classics – Stay in Hollywood; three days covering Hollywood and the Observatory, the Getty and Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica Pie…
• Las Vegas First-Timer's Classics – The Strip's themed hotels, the Bellagio Fountains and Sphere, plus a half day at Hoover Dam and Downtown's Fremont Stre…
• Las Vegas Downtown and Museums in Depth – Use historic Fremont Street as your base. Visit the Neon Museum, the Arts District and the Springs Preserve, then take…
• Valley of Fire, Zion & Bryce Loop – A 4-day loop from Las Vegas featuring the red rocks of Valley of Fire, Zion Canyon, and the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon.