Understand

United States is a beautiful country with many natural sights and cities. It is usually difficult to decide which places to visit and which places to omit. Distances in USA are also very long, so good planning can save a lot of miles to your car and many hours of your time.

This itinerary starts in the east in New York and ends in the west in Los Angeles, stopping at many famous national parks and a few cities along the way.

Prepare

Before you leave, make sure that you made reservations of as many campgrounds as possible. Staying in campgrounds in national parks [http://www.nps.gov] or state parks [http://www.recreation.gov/] is preferable, because it is a very cheap way of travelling (One night in campground costs about $10-$20 per spot).

Buy an Annual Pass at the entrance of the first national park you visit. It costs $80 and it saves you a lot of money (if you don't have it, you will have to pay the entrance fee anytime you enter any national park. This entrance fee may be between $15-$25 per car).

Get in

The trip begins at noon in Schenectady, NY. You can start your trip from any location which is reachable from Schenectady in 4-5 hours and you can still follow the itinerary described in this article. For example, you can start in Boston or New York City in the morning.

Go

This article is for people who are going to travel by car. The USA doesn't have a system of public transportation which can take you around the entire country in just 30 days.

When traveling from outside of the USA, you may fly to Boston or New York City and rent a car there. After the trip you can return the car in Los Angeles and fly to NY or drive all the way back.

Renting a car can be quite expensive. If you are over 25, you will pay $1500 to $2000 per month. If you are under 25, an underage fee will be surcharged (in New York $115 per day, but in Massachusetts only $25 per day).

Day 1 - New York to Cleveland, Ohio

Start the trip early morning from Schenectady, New York. Drive to Cleveland, Ohio, a 474 mile journey that will take about seven and a half hours.

Cleveland offers a range of accommodation options; the following has been used before by travelers that have followed this itinerary:

  • Econo Lodge Airport West. 2989 Lorain Rd , North Olmsted. (440) 734-1100.

    Day 2 - Cleveland, Ohio to Chicago,Illinois

    Depart for Chicago in the morning, the 329 mile journey will take around five and a half hours to complete.

    Do

  • Go to the top of the '''Sears Tower''' [http://www.thesearstower.com/] - the tallest building in North America
  • Visit '''Millennium Park''' [http://www.millenniumpark.org/] - do not forget to see Cloud Gate
  • Drive another 110 miles (''2 hours'') to Janesville to spend the night.

  • Motel 6. 907 Milton ave, Janesville, WI. 608) 756-1742.

    Day 3 - Chicago, Illinois to South Dakota

    Depart from the motel in the morning. Drive 608 miles (10 hours), it will take you the whole day. There is nothing of incredible interest to see on the way.

  • Snake Creek Recreation Area. 5316 SD Hwy 44, Platte, SD 57369. 605) 337-2587. , http://www.sdgfp.info/Parks/Regions/Heartland/SnakeCreek.htm The campground is open till 11pm, so you can come later.

    Day 4 - South Dakota to Badlands, Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park

    Depart from the campground in the morning. Drive 213 miles (4 hours). Arrive in Badlands National Park about noon. Spend 1 hour in park.

    Depart from Badlands National Park at 1pm. Drive 70.4 mi (1.5 hour) to arrival in Mt. Rushmore at 2:30pm. Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial, spending 2 hours there.

    Depart from Mt. Rushmore at 4:30pm. Drive 15.5 mi (1/2 hour). Arrive to Custer State Park at 5pm. You can observe bison and other wildlife in the park.

  • '''Blue Bell Campground''', Custer State Park
  • Day 5 Custer State Park, South Dakota to Devils Tower and Yellowstone

    Depart from Custer State Park in the morning. Drive 145 mi (3 hours). Arrive in Devils Tower National Monument at 11am. Visit Devils Tower. One hour is enough to see it.

    Depart from Devils Tower at noon. Drive 34.8 mi (1 hour). Arrive in Keyhole State Park. You can eat your lunch here. You can also swim there.

    Depart from Keyhole State Park at 3pm. Drive 411 mi (8 hours). Arrive in Yellowstone National Park at 11pm.

  • Bridge Bay Campground. ellowstone National Park", phone="1-866-439-7375. , http://www.travelyellostone.com . Important: it is necessary to reserve your spot a few weeks in advance!

    Day 6 - the whole day in Yellowstone

  • Old Faithful - geysers
  • Upper Geyser Basin
  • Stay in the same campground.

    Day 7 - the whole day in Yellowstone

  • Mammoth - mud volcanos
  • Boiling River - the best place in Yellowstone. It is a river where hot and cold water are mixed together!
  • Tower Falls
  • Stay in the same campground.

    Day 8 - the whole day in Yellowstone

  • Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
  • Awesome Boiling River - swimming in hot water
  • Yellowstone Lake - swimming in cold water
  • Stay in the same campground.

    Day 9 - Yellowstone to Grand Teton

    Departure from Yellowstone in the morning. Drive 68.6 mi (2 hours). Arrive in Grand Teton National Park at noon.

    Do

  • drive to the top of '''Signal Mountain'''
  • <sleep name="Gross Ventre Campground" address="Grand Teton National Park" phone="800-628-9988"></sleep>, http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm#CP_JUMP_31287 No reservation necessary, it is a first come first serve campground.

    Day 10 Grand Teton to Rye Patch, Nevada

    Depart from Grand Teton National Park in the morning. Drive 597 mi (10 hours). Arrive in Rye Patch at 7pm.

    Rye Patch is a state park hidden in the Nevada desert. It has good conditions for swimming.

    Stay overnight in Rye Patch.

  • Rye Patch State Recreation Area. 505 Rye Patch Reservoir Road, Lovelock, NV 89419. 775) 538-7321.

    Day 11 - Rye Patch to Bodie State Park and Mono Lake

    Depart from Rye Patch in the morning. Drive 208 mi (4.5 hours). Arrive to Bodie State Historic Park at noon. Visit the park. It is a ghost town where gold was mined. Nowadays it is an empty town.

    Depart from park at 3pm and drive 36.4 mi (1.5 hours) to Mono Lake.

    Depart from Mono Lake at 7pm and drive 30.9 mi (1 hour). You'll arrive in the campground at 8pm.

  • Sherwin Creek. ammoth Lakes CA 93546.

    Day 12 - Mono Lake to Yosemite

    Depart from Sherwin Creek Campground '''no later than 5am!''' It is important to leave early, because you need to book Camp 4 in Yosemite Valley Village. This is a first come first serve campground and you need to be there about 8am. Otherwise you have almost no chance to get a spot.

    Drive 99.2 mi (3 hours), arrive to Camp 4 at 8am, and get a spot in campground.

    Camp 4 is one of the first come first serve campgrounds. There are also many campgrounds which can be reserved. Reservation must be made a few weeks (or months) in advance. The second first come first serve campground is called Tamarack Flat.

    Do

  • '''Yosemite Falls''' - the highest falls in USA
  • '''Glacier Point''' - observing sunset, nice view of Half Dome
  • Camp 4. osemite National Park.

    Day 13 - Half Dome

  • Hike Half Dome - it is 17 mile hike and it will take you the whole day to get to the top. You can also do it in two days and sleep in campground in the middle of the trail.
  • Stay in the same campground.

    Day 14 - Yosemite to San Francisco

    Do

  • Drive to Tunnel View. There is a beautiful view of Yosemite Valley.
  • Depart from Yosemite National Park at noon. Drive 203 mi (5 hours). Arrive to China Camp State Park at 6pm.

  • China Camp State Park Campground. , http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=466.

    Day 15 - San Francisco

    Depart from China State Park in the morning. Drive 21.5 mi (1 hour). Visit Alcatraz prison - reservation is necessary http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/. Take the tour at 10am. Return from Alcatraz at 4pm.

    Take a walk through city center, visit Golden Gate Bridge.

    Day 16 - Silicon Valley

    Visit Silicon Valley (HP garage, Google headquarters, Intel museum).

    Drive on Pacific Coast Highway # 1.

    There are many campgrounds at Big Sur. Take any of them.

  • '''Veteran's Memorial Park''', Monterey, [http://www.monterey.org/rec/vetspark.html].
  • Day 17 - Pacific Coast Hwy #1

    Continue driving on Pacific Coast Hwy #1.

    Do

  • '''Bigsby Bridge'''
  • '''Pfeiffer Beach''' - the water is very cold for swimming, but you can make it if you are hardy.
  • '''Big Sur Bridge'''
  • Day 18 - Pacific Coast to Sequoia

  • Visit '''Hearst Castle''' http://www.hearstcastle.org/ in the morning.
  • Drive 152 mi (4 hours) to Sequoia National Park.

  • Sequoia National Park
  • Do

  • Hike to the '''General Sherman Tree''' - the biggest tree in the world (in volume)
  • Hike to the '''Nation Christmas Tree'''
  • Campgrounds in Sequoia are first come first serve.

    Day 19 - Sequoia to Death Valley

  • continue in visiting Sequoia National Park in the morning. You can drive to Kings Canyon.
  • Drive 361 mi (7 hours).

    Arrive at Death Valley in the evening. Take enough water with you. There is water in campground, but it is warm.

    Day 20 - Death Valley to Lake Mead Recreational Area

    Get up as early as possible. It is too hot during the day.

    Do

  • '''Stovepipe Wells''' - dunes in Death Valley
  • '''Badwater Basin''' - the lowest point in USA
  • Drive 198 mi (4 hours) to Lake Mead Recreational Area
  • Sleep in a campground in Lake Mead Recreational Area.

    Day 21 - Lake Mead Recreational Area to Las Vegas

    Do

  • Hoover Dam Hoover Dam in the morning
  • Drive 33.3 mi (1 hour). Arrive in Las Vegas at noon.

    Do

  • '''Airplane tour''' above Las Vegas, Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon http://www.alllasvegastours.com/Body.asp?tour=LAS-A0016&page=TourDetails at 1pm.
  • Return from airplane tour at 7pm.

  • '''Stratosphere Tower''' http://www.stratospherehotel.com/ - visit 3 rollercoasters at the top of the building
  • '''Bellagio Fountain''', performance each 15 minutes
  • Win some money in Paris Casino Las Vegas http://www.harrahs.com/casinos/paris-las-vegas/hotel-casino/property-home.shtml
  • Travelodge. 735 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109.

    Day 22 - Las Vegas to Zion

    Depart from Las Vegas in the morning. Drive 164 mi (3 hours). Arrive in Zion Canyon National Park at noon.

    Do

  • Riverside Walk in Zion - hiking mostly in shallow riverbed.
  • Travelers that have followed this itinerary slept in this campground:

  • South Campground. ion Canyon National Park. No reservation needed, it is a first come-first serve campground.

    Day 23 - Zion to Bryce, Capitol Reef and Arches

    Depart from Zion early in the morning. Drive 80.5 mi (2 hours).

    Arrive in Bryce Canyon National Park at 9am.

    Do

  • take scenic drive
  • visit Inspiration Point
  • hike down to the rocks along Navajo Loop Trail
  • Depart from Bryce Canyon at 1pm Drive 121 mi (3 hours). Arrive to Capitol Reef National Park 4pm.

    Do

  • take Scenic Drive in Capitol Reef(1 hour)
  • Depart from Capitol Reef at 6pm. Drive 131 mi (2.5 hours). Arrive to Arches National Park at 8:30pm.

    There are many first come-first serve campgrounds, take any of them.

    We stayed in Goose Island Campground Hwy 128, 1.4 miles from Hwy 191, outside the Arches NP, because all of them were already filled. (9pm)

    Day 24 - Arches to Mesa Verde

    Do

  • visit of Arches in the morning
  • hike to Deliate Arch Trail
  • hike to Devil's Garden
  • Depart from Arches at 3pm.

    Drive 127 mi (3 hours). Arrive to Mesa Verde at 6pm.

    Travelers that have followed this itinerary slept in this campground:

  • Morefield Campground. esa Verde. This is a first come, first serve campground, no reservation necessary.

    Day 25 - Mesa Verde to Grand Canyon

    Do

    Visit Mesa Verde. Take the following trails with ranger.
  • Cliff Palace Trail with ranger
  • Balcony House with ranger
  • Depart from Mesa Verde at 2pm. Drive 63.7 mi (1.5 hours). Arrive in Four Corners National Monument at 3:30pm. 1/2 hour is enough to visit monument.

    Depart from Four Corners at 4pm. Drive 93.2 mi (2 hours). Arrive in Monument Valley at 6pm.

    Depart from Monument Valley at 8pm. Drive 175 mi (4 hours) Arrive to Grand Canyon National Park at 12am.

    Travelers that have followed this itinerary slept in this campground:

  • Mather South Rim Campground. rand Canyon. Make reservation in advance.

    Day 26 - Grand Canyon

  • hike down the Grand Canyon. Take Kaibab Trail on the way down, sleep in Bright Angel Campground.
  • It will take you 4-6 hours to descend.

  • If you want to sleep down in the Grand Canyon, you must ask for permit a few months in advance. Take enough water. There is no water in Kaibab Trail.
  • Day 27 - Grand Canyon

  • hike up the Grand Canyon. Take Bright Angel Trail. It will take you 7 hours to ascend.
  • Travelers that have followed this itinerary slept in this campground:

  • Mather South Rim Campground. rand Canyon. Make reservation in advance.

    Day 28 - Grand Canyon to Joshua Tree

    Depart from Grand Canyon in the morning. Drive 366 mi (6 hours) to Joshua Tree National Park.

  • When you drive on I-40, you can bypass I-40 (close to Seligman City) and drive approximately 100miles on famous Route 66.
  • Arrive to Joshua Tree National Park in the evening.

    Day 29 - Joshua Tree to Los Angeles

    Depart from Joshua Tree National Park in the morning.

    Drive 128 mi (3 hours) to Los Angeles.

    Do

  • take picture of you with Hollywood sign
  • spend afternoon in Venice Beach. Water is warmer than water in San Francisco. It is good for swimming.
  • walk over Venice Canal
  • Day 30 - Los Angeles to New York (state)

  • walk on Hollywood Blvd. in the morning
  • flight from Los Angeles back to Albany, then take the bus to Schenectady
  • Stay safe