Road trips are a great way to see the USA, and with so many various states and cultures to explore, getting on the road and traveling at your own pace can result in a fantastic holiday. A popular route to explore is the path from San Francisco to Monument Valley, and there are many interesting and exciting locations along the way that you shouldn’t miss.
Car hire can be arranged online and allows you to set your own itinerary. Rather than packaged holidays where you might find yourself tied to a single resort or city, renting your own transport with an outlet such as Avis, gives you the freedom and flexibility to head out onto the highways and really explore true American culture. If you’re staying in San Francisco, then you can pack your bags and travel towards Monument Valley, taking in Yosemite National Park, Death Valley, Zion and Bryce Canyon along the way.
Tips for Your Trip
One of the most important things to do if you’re planning this little adventure is to be organized. Several of the attractions have camping available, but this often gets booked fast, particularly in national parks. It’s, therefore, vital to book well ahead of schedule. In addition, temperatures in this area can become exceedingly hot, so even if you’re looking to save money on accommodation, camping might not be the best idea. Furnace Creek in Death Valley, for example, can reach temperatures upwards of 40°C and so you should plan to stay in a nearby motel for the night.
Another important tip, particularly if you’ve never driven this route before, is to ensure you have plenty of time to explore each location. Yosemite National Park is particularly beautiful and you should allow enough time between driving to actually explore, take photos and enjoy the stunning scenery. For this reason, it’s a good idea to be a little more flexible in your approach to road trips. Whilst it’s important to keep to a schedule, especially if you’ve booked hotel rooms, not being afraid to scrap a destination from your itinerary so you can explore another site more thoroughly is a good mind-set to have.
On your initial trip from San Francisco to Death Valley, it’s highly recommended you spend at least one night in Yosemite National Park. Monument Valley is also very close to several southern Utah national parks, so it’s an ideal time to take in a few extra sights if you have time. Individual entry to each park can be expensive. However, you can buy an annual pass which will save you money and allow you immediate access to all the parks in the area. The famed Grand Canyon is easily accessible, and if you’re traveling near the northern rim, then Zion isn’t far. The Escalante Staircase National Monument is also a fantastic spectacle that needs to be seen to be believed. Monument Valley itself provides a lot to see too, and if you want a day away from the road, the Gouldings Lodge museum is ideal. In addition, though it’s not cheap, the FireTree Inn offers native American-built Hogan’s to sleep in.
Taking a road trip from San Francisco to Monument Valley can be a fascinating and eye-opening experience. There are a huge number of attractions in the area, including national parks and monuments, and the notorious Las Vegas. Not too far a Big Sur road trip is another alternative to explore California. In many ways, renting a car to explore this area is far more sensible than booking multiple tours. And, by driving, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a relaxed and flexible holiday taking in the spectacular scenery that’s iconic for this region of the USA.
Are you about to take this route? What are you looking forward to? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below and this post too if you liked it!
