15 days in California & New York City Itinerary

San Francisco is a top holiday destination featuring scenic beauty and great ethnic and cultural diversity.

San Francisco is known for nature, parks, and museums. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: take in the views from Golden Gate Bridge, pause for some photo ops at Coit Tower, head off the coast to Alcatraz Island, and browse the different shops at Ferry Building Marketplace.

To find maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the San Francisco travel route planner.

Brisbane, Australia to San Francisco is an approximately 16-hour flight. Traveling from Brisbane to San Francisco, you'll gain 18 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Brisbane in August, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be a bit warmer in San Francisco, with lows of 17°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Tue) so you can travel to Yosemite National Park.

Massive granite mountains, towering waterfalls, groves of Giant Sequoia trees, and wilderness as far as the eye can see distinguish the landscape of Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite National Park is known for nature, trails, and scenic drive. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: take in the dramatic natural features at Glacier Point, explore the activities along Tenaya Lake, take in the dramatic scenery at Vernal Fall, and make a trip to Olmsted Point.

To find photos, where to stay, other places to visit, and tourist information, go to the Yosemite National Park online day trip planner.

Traveling by car from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park takes 4 hours. While traveling from San Francisco, expect somewhat warmer days and slightly colder nights in Yosemite National Park, ranging from highs of 32°C to lows of 7°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 26th (Fri) early enough to travel to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.

With mountain peaks reaching past 4,250 m (14,000 ft) and trees stretching to over 75 m (250 ft) high, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks present nature on a grand scale.

Start off your visit on the 27th (Sat): take in the dramatic scenery at Grizzly Falls, then get a dose of the wild on Sequoia Sightseeing Tours, then take a peaceful walk through Giant Forest, and finally explore and take pictures at Generals Hwy.

To find reviews, other places to visit, where to stay, and other tourist information, you can read our Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park day trip planning tool.

Getting from Yosemite National Park to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park by car takes about 5.5 hours. Plan for somewhat warmer temperatures traveling from Yosemite National Park in August, with highs in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park at 41°C and lows at 20°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 28th (Sun) early enough to travel to New York City.

Writer Pearl Buck once called New York City “a place apart,” and this giant urban center remains unlike any other in the world.

New York City is known for museums, nightlife, and shopping. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: take in the pleasant sights at Central Park, enjoy breathtaking views from Top of the Rock, make a trip to Grand Central Terminal, and stroll around The High Line.

To see reviews, photos, more things to do, and more tourist information, refer to the New York City visit planner.

You can fly from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to New York City in 12 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and train. The time zone difference moving from Pacific Standard Time (PST) to Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 3 hours. Traveling from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park in August, expect nights in New York City to be a bit warmer, around 25°C, while days are slightly colder, around 34°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Thu) to allow time to travel to Santa Monica.

A famed resort town since the early 20th century, Santa Monica sits on the picturesque Santa Monica Bay, bordered on three sides by the city of Los Angeles.

Start off your visit on the 2nd (Fri): see the interesting displays at The Wende Museum of the Cold War, buy something for everyone on your list at Two Rodeo Drive, then examine the collection at Paley Center for Media, then admire all the interesting features of Mulholland Drive, and finally take in the waterfront at Santa Monica Pier.

To find traveler tips, ratings, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the Santa Monica road trip planning site.

Getting from New York City to Santa Monica by flight takes about 10.5 hours. Other options: drive; or do a combination of train and tram. The time zone difference when traveling from New York City to Santa Monica is minus 3 hours. September in Santa Monica sees daily highs of 30°C and lows of 21°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 3rd (Sat) to allow enough time to travel back home.