Day 1
New York
Fly to New York and then either pick up your hire car or transfer independently to your hotel, where you will spend two nights.
Day 2
New York
A full day to enjoy the Big Apple – tour the iconic sights the Empire State Building, Central Park, Statue of Liberty, visit one of the world-class museums or indulge in the fantastic shopping.
Day 3
New York – Philadelphia – Washington DC (240 miles)
Drive to Philadelphia where you can spend the morning exploring the “Birthplace of the Nation”. See the Liberty Bell and stroll through Independence National Historic Park. Continue to Washington DC for a two night stay
Day 4
Washington DC
Spend the day exploring the fantastic sights of Washington, with a hop-on hop-off bus tour being a great way to get around to make sure that you see all the highlights such as Lincoln Memorial, US Capitol Building, the White House and the Smithsonian Museums.
Day 5
Washington DC – Gettysburg – Niagara Falls (429 miles)
Today you’ll drive north-west into Upstate New York, and en route you can visit Gettysburg where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous speech in 1863. You’ll continue to Buffalo and then over the border into Canada to the mighty Niagara Falls.
Day 6
Niagara Falls – The Great Lakes - Detroit (240 miles)
Spend the morning at Niagara Falls, perhaps taking a boat trip to the base of the falls or strolling along Table Rock to view Horseshoe Falls. Then drive to Detroit, just over the U.S.border
Day 7
Detroit - Chicago (283 miles)
Travel Lake Michigan to Chicago for a two night stay allowing you to enjoy this lovely city.
Day 8
Chicago
Take the day to explore Lake Shore Drive, the Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier and the Willis Tower. You could also take a river cruise for a leisurely way to enjoy the sights.
Day 9
Chicago – Mississippi River Crossing – Sioux City (574 miles)
Drive through Midwest farm country, with its corn fields and dairy farms, then cross the Mighty Mississippi into the state of Iowa. Overnight in Sioux City.
Day 10
Sioux City – Badlands – Mount Rushmore – Deadwood/Rapid City (354 miles)
Travel to the Badlands National Park filled with colourful rock formations, then continue to the Black Hills - home to iconic Mount Rushmore – monument to four American presidents, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln & Roosevelt.
Day 11
Deadwood/Rapid City – Bighorn Mountains - Cody (390 miles)
Drive into the state of Wyoming. which has 12 mountain ranges, interspersed with deserts and rolling grasslands, and end in Cody for the night.
Day 12
Cody - Yellowstone (65 miles)
A short drive this morning into the very first National Park – Yellowstone. Tour this geo-thermal wonderland, seeing the highlights such as Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone Lake and Mammoth Hot Springs.
Day 13
Yellowstone – Grand Teton – Salt Lake City (337 miles)
This morning you will take the scenic drive through Grand Teton National Park, where mountains soar to 13,000 feet. Visit the Snake River Outlook for stunning views, then arrive in Salt Lake City. You will have the afternoon to see the sights such as Temple Square and the Tabernacle.
Day 14
Salt Lake City – Bryce Canyon (268 miles)
Continue to spectacular Bryce Canyon where you will see myriad multi-coloured sandstone spires and pinnacles (called hoodoos). This evening, venture out to see the unpolluted night sky in all its glory.
Day 15
Bryce Canyon – Lake Powell – Grand Canyon - Flagstaff (367 miles)
A feast for your eyes today, starting with stunning Lake Powell where crystal blue water laps against towering red-rock canyon walls. Then visit the spectacular Grand Canyon – one of the seven great natural wonders of the world. Stroll to a viewing point to drink in its vastness.
Day 16
Flagstaff – Seligman/Route 66 – Las Vegas (252 miles)
En route on today’s journey, you will pass through Seligman – a town built on the famed Route 66 which looks frozen in the 1950’s. Next stop Vegas for a night of fun in the Entertainment Capital of the World.
Day 17
Las Vegas – Mojave Desert – Los Angeles Area (270 miles)
Drive through the Mojave Desert, where clusters of unique Joshua trees dot the mountainous landscape. Upon arrival in Los Angeles, you might want to detour through famous districts such as Sunset Strip, Hollywood and Beverly Hills.
Day 18
Los Angeles Area
A full day in the City of Angels so decide if you want to take a tour of Universal Studios, cycle in the Hollywood Hills or do a bus tour of movie sites and movie star homes (all attractions at extra charge). There’s so much to do, it is worth planning this day in advance and we can pre-book any tickets for you.
Day 19
Los Angeles Area – Malibu – Santa Barbara – Shell/Pismo Beach (177 miles)
Head north up the Pacific Coast through some of the famed seaside resorts. A lunch stop in Santa Barbara is a must, with its pretty Spanish-influenced lanes and palm-lined white sandy beaches. Then continue along the coast for your overnight stay.
Day 20
Shell/Pismo Beach – Carmel/Monterey – San Francisco (244 miles)
Make your way north to the Monterey Peninsula, enjoying this beautiful, picturesque part of the world. Stroll Old Fishermans Wharf and Cannery Row in Monterey, then continue to your final destination – San Francisco
Day 21
San Francisco
A full day to explore the charming and charismatic city of San Francisco. We can book a wide variety of tours for you to enjoy here, and the cycle ride over the Golden Gate Bridge comes well recommended. There are some great places in San Francisco to enjoy your final dinner, perhaps try out Chinatown or one of the restaurants in Union Square.
Day 22
Your Grand American Road Trip now comes to an end, so return your hire car before boarding your plane home.
