Twenty days, nearly five thousand kilometers, national parks, the 100th anniversary of Route 66, and Halloween. At the end of October, we are setting off on WandersKaty’s biggest journey yet – a road trip across the American West.
We have a journey ahead from Los Angeles to San Francisco, during which we’ll drive through California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. We’ll see arid deserts, red rock arches, one of the world's most famous canyons, giant sequoias, and the granite walls of Yosemite. And so much more.
We know we are definitely not setting off to explore an uncharted world. You just need to open social media, and within minutes, the algorithm starts feeding you one American road trip after another. Everyone has their "secret tip" or ultimate itinerary. It's easy to get the feeling that Route 66, the Grand Canyon, or Monument Valley have been written about so many times that there’s simply nothing left to add. And there is some truth to that.But that’s exactly why we don’t want to create just another cookie-cutter bucket list of places you "must see."
We want to show our real journey: what you can actually manage in twenty days, how much time we’ll spend in the car, how much we’ll pay for accommodation and entrance fees, which places actually live up to the hype, and what we would skip without hesitation upon our return.
No "secret spots" that everyone already knows from social media anyway.
Here is why it makes sense to follow our journey:
- We are traveling in the fall, not during the peak summer season.
- Route 66 is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
- We will spend Halloween in Flagstaff.
- We got a permit for Angels Landing.
- We won't pretend that every famous viewpoint is a "hidden gem."
Once we return, we will report back on:
- What was overcrowded
- Where we arrived too late
- What we missed out on
- Which places weren't worth the money
- Where the itinerary was just too ambitious
- How the plan differed from reality
Trip Dates: October 28 to November 16, 2026
Starting Point: Los Angeles
Ending Point: San Francisco
Duration: 20 days
Planned Distance: Approximately 5,000 kilometers
States: California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada
Transportation: Rental car booked through DiscoverCars
Number of Travelers: Two – because everything is better in pairs.
Luggage: Backpacks only. We plan to buy a suitcase right before our flight back so we can bring home our favorite American treats and clothes.
The Biggest Unknown: The weather and potential November road closures.
How much should this road trip cost us?
Approx. $2,525 per person
The budget outlined below is tentative for now. The flights, accommodations, car rental, and certain entrance fees already have fixed prices. However, for gas, food, and other expenses, we are working only with estimates that might change during the trip. The permit for Angels Landing has cost us $6 for both of us so far, and we will pay an additional $3 per person on-site. Once we return, we will compare this planned budget with our actual expenses.
Why we are heading to the American West in the fall
Late October and the first half of November are not exactly traditional dates for a road trip like this. Most people set off during the spring or summer when the days are longer and mountain roads are more likely to remain open. However, autumn has several perks of its own. In the desert areas of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California, we won't have to face extreme summer heat. At the same time, the parks should be less crowded than during the peak season.
On the flip side, we have to prepare for short days, freezing mornings, and the possibility of snow in Bryce Canyon, Sequoia, or Yosemite. Some mountain roads or viewpoints might already be closed. That is why our itinerary is not a rigid bucket list that we must check off at all costs. For several locations, we have backup plans ready depending on the weather and current conditions.And honestly, doing this trip is simply a dream come true :). And dreams are meant to be chased, right? After all, if not now, when?
Our Tentative Itinerary
- Arrival in Los Angeles (we'll see what we actually manage to catch)
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Williams, Seligman, Oatman, and driving along Route 66
- Flagstaff and Halloween
- Grand Canyon
- Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend
- Monument Valley
- Arches National Park
- Canyonlands
- Capitol Reef
- Bryce Canyon
- Zion National Park, Valley of Fire, and Las Vegas
- Hoover Dam and Death Valley
- Alabama Hills
- Sequoia National Park
- Yosemite National Park
- San Francisco
On the map shown below, you can find the main stops, national parks, cities, and individual points of interest that we want to visit during our twenty days on the road.
Roadtrip WEST USA
How much we will actually visit along the way remains to be seen, because planning is one thing, and the reality on the ground is another. We would rather travel at a relaxed pace than try to fit everything in by the skin of our teeth. The itinerary above highlights the fixed points we want to visit; I intentionally left out some details because we’ll see what we can truly manage once we're there.
However, it's not just about the number of pins on our map. We want to find out which places actually look like their photos, which ones are overrated, and where we would return in a heartbeat.
What could change our itinerary
The biggest wild card will be the November weather. Because of this, we will continuously adjust the plan as we go. Some locations are set in stone, while others will remain strictly optional. Likewise, we don't want to risk dangerous driving conditions or rush at all costs toward a viewpoint we can no longer catch in daylight.
What will follow after our return
From the entire journey, we will prepare standalone travelogues, practical guides, maps, and an overview of our actual expenses. We will show you:
- Exactly how much our 20-day road trip cost
- What our rental car was like
- Where we stayed
- How much time you really need for individual parks
- How we managed Angels Landing
- What the 100th anniversary of Route 66 looked like
- Whether American Halloween is truly just like in the movies
- What we would do differently in our itinerary next time
Right now, we have a plan in front of us. After we return, we’ll show you just how much it differed from reality. As for information regarding booking flights, getting the ESTA, and all the other essentials—I will break that down in future articles.
Want to know how the plan turned out in reality?
Upon our return, we will publish our actual route, full costs, and the places we would skip the second time around. Subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss the next chapter!Have you ever been to the American West in the fall?
What was the weather like for you?
Do you have a tip for us on something we absolutely shouldn't miss?
Let us know in the comments below!
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