Epic Road Trip: National Parks And California Coast

Itinerary of your Epic Road Trip

Day 1 and 2, Los Angeles

Arrival in Los Angeles for your epic National Parks and California road trip. Have a first look at the city, and settle in at your hotel for 2 nights. 

Teebsi tips:

Learn about the heritage and history of the city:

• Head to El mercado de Los Angeles in Boyle Heights, a traditional Latin American marketplace where you will find Mexican goods, authentic Mexican food, and live mariachi music.

• Visit the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, is the only museum in the USA dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art. 

• The California African American Museum conserves more than 3,500 objects of arts, historical artifacts and maintains a research library, all in the interest of preserving and interpreting the history, art and culture of African Americans.

Shop, eat, and visit to support the community and the environment:

• Enjoy fresh, local, plant-based food at Sage Vegan Bistro, and discover plant-based comfort food. In addition to their 4 locations around Los Angeles, they offer free delivery via their app. 

• Shop at Eso Won Books, an independent Black-owned bookshop that displays a range of books about and written by African American people. The store has seen an inspiring increase in business in June 2020 with the need for people to educate themselves on anti-racism.

Accommodation: Best Western Plus Dragon Gate

Day 3, Laughlin

Drive towards the southernmost tip of Nevada, Laughlin.

Teebsi tips:

On your way, get off the main tourist path at the Mojave National Preserve. Don't miss the Kelso dunes, Mitchell Caverns, and Teutonia Peak. In August 2020, the Dome Fire destroyed part of the trail and its surrounding. It is estimated that as many as 1.3 million Joshua trees were killed in the fire, as well as countless cactuses, bushes, shrubs, and grasses.

Accommodation: Aquarius Casino Resort

Day 4, Grand Canyon

Morning drive to Grand Canyon, superb geological phenomenon. 

Teebsi tips:

• A bike ride is a great way to step away from the crowds at the main view points on the South Rim and find your own private one. Rent a bike from the only small family owned business in Grand Canyon National Park, Bright Angels Bicycles. They participate in community outreach programs for local youth and support organizations involved in conservation and restoration work. 

• Listen to or read some of the Native people's stories and what the Grand Canyon means to them to get an understanding of their cultural connection to the area 

Accommodation: Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel

Day 5, Page

Page is your getaway to Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon.

Teebsi tips:

• Take a cruise on the Lake Powell to get a better view of this man-made reservoir on the Colorado River

• The Vermillion Cliffs National Monument is a lesser known but spectacular area, made of sandy canyons, rock formation, and miles of unmarked trails. Check the roads before heading there, as you need a high clearance, or 4x4 vehicle to access certain areas!

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Page - Lake Powell Area

Day 6, Monument Valley

Leave for Monument Valley in the morning.

Teebsi tips:

• Experience Monument Valley on a horseback riding tour with a Navajo guide

• Get off the main tourist path and admire the San Juan River twists and turns 1,000 feet below you from Goosenecks State Park. Don't forget your camera, and come back at night for stargazing, you won’t regret it!

Accommodation: Monument Valley Inn

Day 7 and 8, Moab

Settle in Moab for 2 nights, the gateway to two National Parks: Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Teebsi tips:

• Make sure to hike to 2 scenic vistas in Arches National Park: Landscape Arch in the morning, and Delicate Arch for sunset. The next morning, start your day early and drive to Mesa Arch in Canyonlands to watch the sunrise.

• Journey to Goblin Valley State Park, a strange and colorful valley, which is unlike any other in Utah. The landscape, covered with sandstone goblins and formations, is often compared to Mars. 

• Grab a bite at a local restaurant. There is a lot of good options to support small business, and we like 98 Center. They source their food from local farmers and are deeply committed to being sustainable by composting, recycling and using eco-friendly to-go containers.

Accommodation: Aarchway Inn

Day 9, Bryce

Drive towards Bryce across the Dixie National Forest.

Teebsi tips:

• Hike in Bryce Canyon National Park to admire the Hoodoos from closer on the Navajo Loop trail, a 1.3 miles moderate popular hike. 

• Head to the less-visited Capitol Reef National Park, which maintains over 3,000 cherry, apricot, peach, pear, apple, plum, mulberry, almond, and walnut trees and visitors can pick their own fruit. The Fruita Orchard has been planted by early settlers, and are now providing fruits to park employees and visitors alike. 

• Did you know that Bryce Canyon was certified as an International Dark Sky Park? Join locals and visitors alike on a night sky observation with park's rangers and volunteer astronomers. 

Accommodation: Ruby's Inn

Day 10, Zion NP

Zion National Park is the oldest park in Utah and is sure to make a lifelong impression on you.

Teebsi tips:

• Hike in Zion National Park: the Canyon overlook trail is short and rewards with incredible views on the canyon (moderate, 1 mile round trip) on the Zion - Mt Carmel highway, or ride a bike on the Pa'rus trail.

• Some other fun things to do in Zion are a bike on the Pa'rus trail or the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive or participate in a guided Bird Walk lead by a ranger from Zion Canyon Visitor Center to share a convivial moment and connect with fellow travelers. 

Accommodation: Pioneer Lodge

Day 11 and 12, Las Vegas

Drive from the calm and serenity of the parks to the lights and extravagance of the legendary city of Las Vegas.

Teebsi tips:

Get off the main tourist path:

• On your way south, visit some Mormon historic sites. St George Temple (first temple built in Utah after the arrival of the Mormon pioneers), St George Tabernacle ('The Jewel of the Desert'), Brigham Young Winter Home (former Mormon Church president)

• If you’re travelling with kids, you can learn about the local eco-system in a fun way at the Springs Preserve, the original source of water for Native Americans thousands of years ago. 

Accommodation: Excalibur Hotel and Casino

Day 13, Mammoth Lakes (or Bakersfield)

This morning, cross the Nevada desert on the way to Pahrump and Shoshone and enter California.

Teebsi tips:

• Inyo National Forest abounds with lakes; choose one or a couple and spend some time relaxing or rent a kayak, and get on the water. We recommend Lake Mary close to Mammoth Lakes for its easy access to water, or Lake Sabrina and Convict Lake on your way to Mammoth.

• Near Bishop, visit the Laws Railroad Museum & Historical Site, including 11 acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits; experience a connection to the past as you immerse yourself in pioneer life.

Accommodation: Mammoth Mountain Inn (or Hampton Inn & Suite Bakersfield North before June 30th 2021 and after October 6th 2021 and if the Tioga Pass is closed)

Day 14, Yosemite

Access to Yosemite National Park from the Tioga Pass if you're staying in Mammoth Lakes.

Teebsi tips:

• Once in Yosemite valley, park your car and switch to a bike, a fun and sustainable way to visit the park on the easy valley loop trail.

• There is a hike for all levels of fitness; for an easy discovery, follow the river on the Valley loop trail and don’t miss the viewpoints for the scenic Bridalveil Falls, Lower Yosemite Falls, Tunnel View, and Glacier Point.  For a moderate hike, we recommend Taft Point, with fantastic views of the Valley with less crowds. If you are up for a full day hike, then get up to Vernal and Nevada Falls, or Yosemite Falls for a challenge!

• Take the time to cool down in the river or find a good spot to look for climbers on the famous El Cap!

Accommodation: Miners Inn Mariposa

Day 15 and 16, San Francisco

Drive down from the mountains and across the fertile agricultural lands of Central Valley then towards the Pacific to reach San Francisco.

Teebsi tips:

• Rent a bike near Fisherman’s Wharf and cross the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. Enjoy the local galleries, shops and restaurants and when you’re ready, head back to San Francisco via the ferry. 

• Climb one of the famous hills to see the city from above; some of our favorite are Grandview Park (take the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps on your way up!), Corona Heights Park, and the famous Twin Peaks.

• Spend an evening with the locals at the Church of 8 Wheels. Rent skates for a couple of hours at this former Church now used as a roller disco, a unique San Francisco experience.

• Find women-owned food businesses near you; we love California Kahve, a vintage caravan serving delicious coffee sourced from a carbon negative coffee company. Find Molly on Saturday mornings at the North Beach Farmers Market, and in Ocean Beach on Lincoln and La Playa. 

Accommodation: Hotel Vertigo

Day 17, Monterey

Drive to Monterey, a small charming coastal town. 

Teebsi tips:

• On your way, you might drive through Gilroy, the Garlic Capital of the World, and Castroville, the Artichoke Capital of the World. Visit local stores to learn more and taste some delicious produce, on find a pick-your-own farm.

• Pick up a Seafood Watch guide from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is considered one of the world’s best sustainable seafood advisory lists. 

Accommodation: Casa Munras Garden Hotel and Spa

Day 18, Santa Maria

Today you are driving on the scenic Highway 1 along the Californian coast, one of the most beautiful roads in the United States.

Teebsi tips:

• Visit Point Lobos State Natural Reserve for some very short yet incredibly rewarding hikes with dramatic views of the ocean 

• For a meal with a view, stop at Nepenthe, a coffee and restaurant with a patio directly overlooking the Pacific Ocean, which is also committed to donating funds to local nonprofits working for the Big Sur community.

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Santa Maria

Day 19, Los Angeles

Stop in Santa Barbara to visit the famous Mission before arriving in Los Angeles for your last full day of the trip. 

Teebsi tips:

• Attend one (or more!) of 50 free concerts and festivals at the Levitt Pavilion in Macarthur Park during the summer weekends. 

• A cool way to explore the area is to go fruit picking in the city! One of Endless Orchard’s projects is to map all the fruit trees that grow in or over public space.

Accommodation: Best Western Plus Dragon Gate

Day 20: Check out and last day of your National Parks and California road trip

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. The final hotel list will be sent to you 15 days before your departure.