🚗 Guide to the West Coast of the USA: itinerary for 2 weeks
For most, the visiting cards of the United States are the skyscrapers of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. For some – the Capitol, the White House and the granite obelisk in Washington. But only a select few know that the real pearls of the United States are located on the west coast, in California. We invite you to join the club of these chosen ones and draw up your own plan for conquering the Golden West, based on the author’s experience.
Why California?
Among the nicknames of this richest part of the USA are the Eldorado State, the Golden State, the land of milk and honey, the grape state, and the beach state. In general, we can stop here with the rationale for choosing California. Her nicknames speak for themselves. Not a single tourist will be bored there. There is a treatment for everyone: both for those who want to lazily stretch out on a lounger by the ocean (by the way, we recommend paying attention to the east coast and resorts in Charleston), and for tireless hikers on wild trails.
For those only superficially familiar with the United States, California is Los Angeles. In my experience, Los Angeles and even bohemian Hollywood and Beverly Hills are the least attractive part of the route. Like all the most valuable things in life, the best of California is hidden within.
The state is home to eight national parks, including the legendary Yosemite, Sequoia, Redwood, Kings Canyon and Death Valley. The most beautiful (no, not beautiful, amazing!) road that I have ever seen in my life, the Pacific Highway, leads to them. It will be brightened up by grape plantations with a tasting of Californian wine and seafood cuisine in Monterey, which will prove that Americans still know how to cook. Add to this the hills of San Francisco, Silicon Valley, shopping on Rodeo Drive and… you will understand that you need to budget a couple of months for the trip. That's right, but we have to limit ourselves to eight days.
What do you need to know to organize an independent trip to California?
In the 19th century, travelers went to California in search of fortune. But luck today favors the prepared. Preparations should begin with obtaining an American visa,
Choosing a convenient air harbor
No matter how much I scold the most famous city in California, Los Angeles, your journey will probably begin from here. Because it is the main air hub for flights arriving from Europe. If you are looking for ways to save on purchasing airline tickets, read our article on how to do it. Or buy tickets on Travel Hub.
The second arrival option, which is usually more expensive and the choice of flights is poorer, is San Francisco. Whether we begin our conquest of California from the hills of Hollywood or from the Golden Gate of San Francisco is unimportant; our route will be circular.
Expensive – period!
First of all, be prepared for the fact that California is a very expensive state. Probably even the most expensive. You can save, but trying will be fruitless. If a gallon (about four liters) of gasoline in South Carolina cost $1.7, then in California it cost $4.5.
The most faithful friend on a trip is a car
The conversation about gasoline came for a reason. The second important point when planning a trip is that you can’t live without a car in the third largest state of the USA. You can rely on organized tours, but then be prepared to increase costs several times.
Renting a car will not be difficult, because the States are a kind of Mecca for the rental business. The main thing is that you have an international driving license in your hands. To search for a car, I recommend using the Rentalcars aggregator, which will collect the best offers from companies. It is quite possible to find offers for $30-35, which is lower than European prices.
The ideal portrait of a car renter in the USA: from 30 to 65 years old, at least three years of driving experience, having a credit card. If you do not fit into these parameters, you will most likely have to pay extra. Companies weigh all the risks and burden them with the final amount in the contract.
Don’t forget to read our car travel life hacks before your trip.
About the nuances of traffic
For a European, a car in the USA is like a wild mustang. It’s not enough to get it, you need to keep it. Therefore, here are some tips on how to make a driver’s life on American roads easier.
The first concerns the number of drivers. If you, like me, have limited time, you will have to move around a lot. My friends and I traveled on average 450-500 kilometers a day. This is difficult for one driver. Therefore, it is ideal to have several on board.
Take a close look at traffic patterns in California. Speed limits, toll roads and differences in traffic rules. The fines are large, there is no need to burden an already considerable travel budget with them. From what will definitely be a discovery for you: in California there is a “diamond stripe,” a road with a diamond image (usually on the far left). Only cars with at least three passengers on board can move along it. This was done for the benefit of the environment and to relieve highway congestion.
Finally, don't skimp on parking. They are everywhere paid. And if you thought “I’ll jump out for five minutes, no one will notice,” then after five minutes you may not notice your car. And instead of seeing Beverly Hills, the day is to look for a parking ticket.
Softly lay, but hard to sleep
What could sound more pathetic but also richer than “a night at the Hilton”? There are two news for you: good and bad. The good thing is that chain hotels in the USA such as Hilton, Marriott, Accor are not that expensive. They are presented very widely, for different segments of travelers and, accordingly, at different prices. Therefore, it is quite possible to wring the sighs of your friends and family with a story about a night at the Hilton in Los Angeles.
Now about the bad. Hilton in Europe and Hilton in the USA are two different hotels. For us this is a luxury hotel, but there is an absolutely ordinary accommodation facility. The rooms can be shabby, and the buffet is a recipe for gastritis. Nothing natural: rubber cutlets, blue potatoes and plastic vegetables. In general, food quality in the States is mediocre. The placement will not cause delight either, but it will not fall below the average level. The main thing is not to choose cheap motels that will spoil the impression of the trip.
Don't go there – come here
This advice applies primarily to large American cities. Literally each of them has its own “ghettos,” that is, Roman areas where the poor population lives. There is absolutely no need to walk there.
Gone are the days when getting into certain areas of Los Angeles, like the notorious South Central, was deadly. But, according to reviews from ordinary people, in the capital of the film industry it is better to avoid the areas of West Adams, South Los Angeles, the largest homeless shelter Skid Row and, oddly enough, Downtown (center). And in Hollywood, which is unlikely to be avoided, keep your valuables close – there is a high percentage of pickpockets here. Walking here at night is not recommended at all.
Not every American city is a Roman haven. Megacities require vigilance. The outback is mostly calm, and you can feel relaxed there.
Loyalty programs help you save money
I believe you will not refuse the opportunity to save money on your trip. I recommend paying close attention to Hilton Honors, the loyalty program of the Hilton hotel chain. Registration in it will help you find promotional offers for overnight stays and collect points. Also, feel free to explore all the discounts available when visiting national parks and attractions.
A nice bonus in a number of American hotels is Happy Hours. Usually in the early evening, guests can get a light snack and alcohol for free or for a small fee. Such compliments are common in American customer service.
Route
Owning an iron mustang gives you significant freedom in organizing your route. But you still need to think about it in advance. An adventure of several thousand kilometers awaits you. Therefore, clearly set your priorities: do you want to devote more time to California's megacities? Lay on the Pacific beaches, master the art of surfing, and then become a sommelier at a nearby vineyard? Or will you devote yourself entirely to exploring virgin nature?
Such trips happen literally once in a lifetime, so we’ll try to combine all of the above. I strongly advise you to focus on point three: the megacities are good, the beaches are seductive, but both of them can be found in Europe. But you won’t find similar Californian nature. The national parks here are simply gorgeous.
My recommended route looks like this:
- One or two days – Los Angeles.
- Two days – Pacific Coast Highway, route No. 1. With a must-see en route to Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Solvang, the Bixby Bridge, the narrow Big Sur coastline, and Monterey.
- One or two days – San Francisco.
- At least one full day (better, of course, a week) – Yosemite National Park.
- One or two days – Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks, located nearby.
- One day – Death Valley.
- One day – return to Los Angeles along Highway 101.
You can safely multiply the timing either by two or by 10. California is truly a boundless land of surprises, mysteries and dreams.