Overview
30 days is the sweet spot for a once-in-a-lifetime US trip. This route covers New York, Washington DC, Chicago, New Orleans, Austin, the Grand Canyon, Zion, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco — 10 states, 6 national parks, 5 iconic cities. It combines flights and a rental car for the Southwest parks leg.
Week 1 — East Coast
- Days 1-3: New York City — Central Park, Liberty, Brooklyn, one museum, one Broadway show
- Day 4: Amtrak to Philadelphia (1h15) — Independence Hall, Reading Terminal Market
- Days 5-6: Amtrak to Washington DC (1h45) — National Mall, Smithsonian museums (free)
- Day 7: Fly DC to Boston — Freedom Trail, Fenway, lobster roll
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Week 2 — Chicago + South
- Days 8-9: Fly to Chicago — architecture boat cruise, Bean, deep dish
- Day 10: Fly to Nashville — honky-tonks on Broadway, hot chicken
- Days 11-12: Memphis (drive or fly) — Graceland, BBQ, Beale Street
- Days 13-14: New Orleans — Jazz on Frenchmen, Garden District, swamp tour
Week 3 — Southwest Parks
Fly NOLA → Las Vegas. Pick up rental car. Epic road trip week:
- Day 15: Vegas Strip, Fremont Street
- Day 16: Drive Vegas → Zion NP (2h45). Hike Angels Landing or The Narrows.
- Day 17: Drive to Bryce Canyon (1h30). Sunrise at Sunrise Point.
- Day 18: Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (4h). Sunset at Hopi Point.
- Day 19: Grand Canyon rim hike + Desert View Drive
- Day 20: Drive to Monument Valley (2h30) — Navajo Tribal Park
- Day 21: Drive to Arches NP (3h). Delicate Arch at sunset.
Week 4 — California
Return car in Las Vegas or Los Angeles.
- Days 22-23: Los Angeles — Griffith Observatory, Venice, Santa Monica, Hollywood
- Days 24-25: Drive Pacific Coast Highway LA → Monterey → San Francisco (2-3 days)
- Days 26-28: San Francisco — Golden Gate, Alcatraz, Mission burritos
- Day 29: Day trip to Napa or Yosemite (if time)
- Day 30: Fly home from SFO
Costs
| Category | Budget | Mid | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels (30 nights) | $2,400 | $5,200 | $11,000 |
| Flights (5 domestic) | $500 | $800 | $1,400 |
| Rental car (7 days) | $420 | $560 | $900 |
| Food | $1,100 | $2,200 | $4,400 |
| Activities | $600 | $1,100 | $2,200 |
| Total (1 person) | $5,020 | $9,860 | $19,900 |
Tips
- Book multi-city flight: JFK in, SFO out
- Southwest and JetBlue for cheap domestic flights
- National Parks $80 annual pass covers all 6 parks
- Book Grand Canyon and Zion lodging 6+ months ahead
- SafetyWing travel insurance is non-negotiable