A three-week loop from San Francisco: the Big Sur coast, Los Angeles, Route 66 across the Mojave Desert, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Page, Bryce, Zion, Las Vegas, the crossing of Death Valley and the return over Tioga Pass and through Yosemite. About 3,600 km, all on paved roads, driven anticlockwise so you cross Tioga Pass as late as possible in the season.
| Days | Stop | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 2 | San Francisco | Start |
| Day 3 | Cambria | 347 km · 4h50 |
| Days 4 to 6 | Los Angeles | 367 km · 4h55 |
| Day 7 | Needles | 416 km · 4h45 |
| Days 8 to 9 | Grand Canyon (Tusayan) | 355 km · 4h50 |
| Day 10 | Monument Valley (Goulding's) | 304 km · 4h30 |
| Days 11 to 12 | Page | 206 km · 2h55 |
| Day 13 | Bryce Canyon City | 239 km · 3h20 |
| Days 14 to 15 | Springdale | 134 km · 2h05 |
| Days 16 to 17 | Las Vegas | 264 km · 3h05 |
| Day 18 | Lone Pine | 367 km · 5h10 |
| Days 19 to 20 | Yosemite Valley | 321 km · 5h |
| Day 21 | Back to San Francisco | 302 km · 4h35 |
Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.
Mid-May to June and September to mid-October: Tioga Pass (Yosemite) is usually open from late May or June until November, and Death Valley stays bearable. In July and August, the average daily high tops 47°C in Death Valley; in winter, Tioga Pass is closed and Yosemite can only be reached from the west, with chains sometimes required.
🚗 347 km · 4h50 of driving from San Francisco
The 101 and the 156 to Monterey, then Highway 1 through Big Sur: winding, clinging to the cliffs, with few petrol stations before Cambria.
🚗 367 km · 4h55 of driving from Cambria
The fast 101 to Ventura, then the Pacific Coast Highway via Malibu to Santa Monica. Traffic jams almost certain late in the day.
🚗 416 km · 4h45 of driving from Los Angeles
Interstate 10 and the 15 to Barstow, then Interstate 40 through the Mojave: more than 150 km with no town, so fill up in Barstow.
🚗 355 km · 4h50 of driving from Needles
Route 66 via Oatman and Sitgreaves Pass, narrow with tight hairpins, then Interstate 40 via Seligman and Route 64.
🚗 304 km · 4h30 of driving from Grand Canyon
Desert View Drive to the east exit, then Cameron, Tuba City, the 160 and the 163. The Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time.
🚗 206 km · 2h55 of driving from Monument Valley
The 163 to Kayenta, then the 160 and the 98 across the Navajo plateau: straight two-lane roads, few services.
🚗 239 km · 3h20 of driving from Page
The 89 along Lake Powell to Kanab, then north to the 12. Cool nights at Bryce, even in summer.
🚗 134 km · 2h05 of driving from Bryce Canyon City
The 89 to Mount Carmel Junction, then Route 9 and its 1.8 km tunnel, closed to oversize vehicles since 7 June 2026.
🚗 264 km · 3h05 of driving from Springdale
Route 9 then Interstate 15 via St. George and the Virgin River Gorge. In Nevada, clocks go back one hour.
🚗 367 km · 5h10 of driving from Las Vegas
The 160 via Pahrump, then the 190 across Death Valley: the longest stage, with only three petrol stations. In summer, set off at dawn.
🚗 321 km · 5h of driving from Lone Pine
The 395 to Lee Vining, then the Tioga Road (Route 120) at over 3,000 m, with no petrol station at all: fill up in Lee Vining.
🚗 302 km · 4h35 of driving from Yosemite Valley
Drop the coast, Los Angeles and Needles, and drive the loop the other way round: San Francisco, Yosemite, Tioga Pass, Lone Pine, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce, Page, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon, back to Las Vegas and fly home from there (13 nights). A one-way hire between two cities carries a drop-off fee, so compare before booking.
| Car, San Francisco, January | ≈ $44 a day (€39) |
|---|---|
| Car, San Francisco, June | ≈ $72 a day (€63) |
| SUV, San Francisco | ≈ $87 a day (€76) |
| Car, Los Angeles, January | ≈ $36 a day (€32) |
| Car, Los Angeles, December | ≈ $54 a day (€47) |
| SUV, Los Angeles | ≈ $86 a day (€75) |
| Vehicle | Saloon or mid-size SUV: everything is paved, and a 4x4 is no use. |
|---|---|
| Motorhome | Zion tunnel off limits above 10.9 m long, 2.39 m wide or 3.45 m high. |
| Where to pick it up | San Francisco airport (SFO), returning it there; a one-way hire usually costs extra. |
| Insurance | Take LDW or CDW (damage to the vehicle) and extended liability cover (LIS or SLI). |
| Age | 21 at Enterprise, 20 at Hertz; surcharge of about $25 a day under 25. |
| Licence and card | Hertz requires a licence held for over a year and a card in the driver's name, preferably a credit card. |
| Prices quoted | Kayak averages for September 2026, excluding additional insurance. |
⚠️ Rental contracts forbid unpaved roads and void the cover there: no Monument Valley dirt track in a hire car.
On an ESTA, a foreign licence is accepted from age 18 in California. An International Driving Permit is strongly recommended.
As in mainland Europe. Almost all hire cars are automatic.
25 mph in town, 55 on two-lane roads; up to 80 mph (Nevada, Utah) and 75 (Arizona) on rural interstates.
0.08% (California, Nevada, Arizona), 0.05% in Utah. Zero tolerance under 21. Open bottles in the boot.
Come to a full stop and give way to pedestrians, unless there is a NO TURN ON RED sign. Never on a red arrow.
When every approach has a stop sign; if you arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first.
For as long as its red lights are flashing, except on a divided road. Fine of up to $1,000 in California.
Holding your phone while driving is banned in California.
Arizona does not change its clocks in summer, but the Navajo Nation does: check the times of your tours.
Death Valley: plenty of water, offline maps downloaded, patchy signal. In summer, no walking at low elevation after 10:00.
≈ €1.11 to €1.44 per litre depending on the state ($4.78 to $6.24 per gallon, AAA, September 2026)
Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Today's price: AAA Gas Prices →
⛽ 3,622 km at 9 l per 100 km: about €410 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.
Arizona and Utah are cheaper than California. Three petrol stations in Death Valley, none on the Tioga Road. Non-US card: pay inside at the till.
| Motorways | No tolls |
|---|---|
| Golden Gate Bridge | $10.25 to $11.25 southbound, no booths, via the rental company's electronic toll service |
| 17-Mile Drive (Pebble Beach) | Private toll road |
| Yosemite, Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon | $35 per vehicle plus $100 per non-resident aged 16 and over |
| Death Valley | $30 per vehicle |
| Monument Valley | $10 per person |
| Antelope Canyon | $15 per person plus the tour |
| Horseshoe Bend car park | $10 per car |
| Valley of Fire | $15 per non-Nevada vehicle |
| Springdale car parks | Paid |
| Tioga Road (Route 120, Yosemite) | From November to late May or June (opened on 15 May 2026) |
|---|---|
| Glacier Point Road (Yosemite) | Same as the Tioga Road, first 8 km open from mid-December to March |
| Mariposa Grove Road | From around 30 November until 15 April at the earliest |
| Highway 1 at Big Sur | Possible with every winter storm: check Caltrans QuickMap |
| Zion Canyon Scenic Drive | To cars from March to November (shuttle season) |
| Zion tunnel (Route 9), oversize vehicles | Banned since 7 June 2026 |
| Hermit Road (Grand Canyon) | To cars from 1 March to 30 November (free shuttle) |
| Scotty's Castle and Bonnie Clare Road (Death Valley) | Closed for repairs after flooding (September 2026) |
| Southern Badwater Road (Death Valley) | Damaged in September 2026: gravel, collapsed verges |
| Route 190 (Death Valley) | Open all year |
| Valley of Fire trails | Mostly closed from 15 May to 30 September |
| Valley of Fire State Park | Closed from 1 to 14 December, west entrance partly closed in 2026 |
| Grand Canyon North Rim (off the route) | Reopened on 15 May 2026, with no lodging or drinking water |
Three weeks for the big loop from San Francisco: 20 nights, twelve stages, about 3,600 km, rarely more than four to five hours' driving a day. With 14 days, drop the coast and Los Angeles and loop through the parks between San Francisco and Las Vegas. With under ten days, choose between California and the canyons.
Mid-May to June and September to mid-October. Tioga Pass, between Death Valley and Yosemite, is usually open from late May or June until November (15 May in 2026). In July, the average daily high reaches 47°C in Death Valley, and the park advises against walking at low elevation after 10:00.
Yes, from the first park for two people. Since 1 January 2026, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon charge $100 per non-resident aged 16 and over, plus $35 per vehicle: $235 per park for a couple, $970 over the loop. The non-resident pass ($250) covers everything except the Navajo sites and Horseshoe Bend.
No: every stage of this loop is paved, and a saloon or SUV is enough. In any case, rental contracts forbid unpaved roads and damage on a dirt track is not covered. For the 17-mile track in Monument Valley, take a Navajo guided tour.
Yes, for a tourist stay under ESTA: an EU licence is tolerated, and California accepts a valid foreign licence from age 18. An International Driving Permit is still strongly recommended; apply for it in the country that issued your licence, well before departure.
Excluding flights and accommodation: $900 to $1,800 for car hire (Kayak, September 2026), $450 to $500 of fuel at September 2026 prices for 3,600 km at 9 l/100 km, and $250 for the parks pass. Add the Navajo fees ($10 per person at Monument Valley, $15 plus the tour at Antelope Canyon) and parking.
Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.
Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/american-west · by Tom, updated 1 October 2026
