22 days in Western US Itinerary

An exceptionally diverse landscape and varied wildlife have made Yellowstone National Park one of America's most popular parks.

Start off your visit on the 6th (Sat): admire the sheer force of Gibbon Falls.

You can plan Yellowstone National Park trip in no time by asking Inspirock to help create your itinerary.

New York City to Yellowstone National Park is an approximately 9.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus, shuttle, and car. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time to Mountain Standard Time is minus 2 hours. Expect much colder temperatures when traveling from New York City in October; daily highs in Yellowstone National Park reach 47°F and lows reach 25°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 7th (Sun) so you can travel to Grand Canyon National Park.

The size, shape, and color of Grand Canyon National Park combine to leave an impression on visitors as deep as the canyon itself.

Start off your visit on the 8th (Mon): trek along South Kaibab Trail, then look for gifts at Canyon Village Marketplace, and then take in breathtaking views at Grand Canyon South Rim. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 9th (Tue): get curious at Yavapai Geology Museum and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Rim Trail.

To see more things to do, reviews, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Grand Canyon National Park travel planner.

Traveling by combination of flight and bus from Yellowstone National Park to Grand Canyon National Park takes 13 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car, flight, and bus; or do a combination of flight and shuttle. Traveling from Yellowstone National Park in October, expect Grand Canyon National Park to be a bit warmer, temps between 66°F and 31°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Tue) so you can drive to Las Vegas.

Nicknamed the "Entertainment Capital of the World," Las Vegas sits in the middle of a desert in the southern section of Nevada.

On the 10th (Wed), get a taste of the local shopping with The Strip, then try your luck at Bellagio Hotel and Casino, and then ponder the design of Fountains of Bellagio.

For reviews, traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, refer to the Las Vegas itinerary planner.

Getting from Grand Canyon National Park to Las Vegas by car takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: take a shuttle; or do a combination of bus and flight. Traveling from Grand Canyon National Park to Las Vegas, you'll gain 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Grand Canyon National Park in October, expect nights in Las Vegas to be warmer, around 60°F, while days are somewhat warmer, around 82°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Wed) early enough to travel to San Diego.

Divided into neighborhoods with distinct characters and cultural heritages, San Diego sits just north of the Mexican border and offers visitors a blend of tourist attractions, including a lively nightlife, diverse cuisine, and a thriving musical scene.

Start off your visit on the 11th (Thu): enjoy the sand and surf at La Jolla Cove and then enjoy the sand and surf at Mission Beach Park.

To see other places to visit, more things to do, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the San Diego trip planning app.

Getting from Las Vegas to San Diego by flight takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. In October, daytime highs in San Diego are 78°F, while nighttime lows are 64°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 11th (Thu) early enough to go by car to Long Beach.

Long Beach has long been overshadowed by its bigger and more famous neighbor known as the City of Angels.

On the 12th (Fri), stroll around Bluff Park.

To see maps, other places to visit, photos, and tourist information, refer to the Long Beach trip planner.

Drive from San Diego to Long Beach in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or fly. In October, daytime highs in Long Beach are 81°F, while nighttime lows are 62°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 12th (Fri) to allow enough time to drive to Los Angeles.

Surrounded by mountain ranges, forests, valleys, beaches, and deserts, the metropolitan area of Los Angeles is home to over 17 million people.

Start off your visit on the 13th (Sat): explore the different monuments and memorials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, take in the waterfront at Santa Monica Pier, then stroll through Will Rogers State Beach, and finally examine the collection at The Getty Center. Keep things going the next day: see the sky in a new way at Griffith Observatory, kick back and relax at Venice Beach and Boardwalk, and then examine the collection at GRAMMY Museum.

To see reviews, photos, maps, and more tourist information, go to the Los Angeles sightseeing planner.

Los Angeles is just a short distance from Long Beach. In October, daily temperatures in Los Angeles can reach 82°F, while at night they dip to 62°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sun) so you can go by car to Malibu.

Malibu is a beach city in Los Angeles County, California, situated 30mi west of Downtown Los Angeles. On the 15th (Mon), tour the pleasant surroundings at Nicholas Canyon Beach and then kick back and relax at Zuma Beach.

To find photos, maps, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Malibu route website.

Drive from Los Angeles to Malibu in an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of tram and bus. While traveling from Los Angeles, expect a bit cooler days and about the same nights in Malibu, ranging from highs of 77°F to lows of 61°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Mon) early enough to drive to Ventura.

Ventura, officially the City of San Buenaventura, is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States. Start off your visit on the 16th (Tue): tour the pleasant surroundings at Oxnard Beach Park and then enjoy the sand and surf at San Buenaventura State Beach.

To see photos, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Ventura trip planner.

Traveling by car from Malibu to Ventura takes an hour. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and train; or take a bus. In October in Ventura, expect temperatures between 75°F during the day and 57°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Santa Barbara.

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara is a solid vacation destination with its wide beaches, renowned wineries, and some of California's finest shopping and dining options.

Start off your visit on the 17th (Wed): make a trip to Old Mission Santa Barbara, meet the residents at Santa Barbara Zoo, and then kick back and relax at Butterfly Beach.

To see traveler tips, reviews, maps, and tourist information, read Santa Barbara trip maker site.

Santa Barbara is just a stone's throw from Ventura. Expect a daytime high around 77°F in October, and nighttime lows around 53°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Wed) so you can drive to San Simeon.

When you arrive in tiny San Simeon, which lies halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, you can see why William Randolph Hearst chose this coastal locale for his famous hilltop castle.

On the 18th (Thu), kick back and relax at Piedras Blancas and then enjoy the sand and surf at Moonstone Beach.

To find traveler tips, photos, where to stay, and other tourist information, go to the San Simeon vacation planner.

You can drive from Santa Barbara to San Simeon in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of train and bus. Traveling from Santa Barbara in October, you will find days in San Simeon are somewhat warmer (83°F), and nights are slightly colder (46°F). Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Thu) 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.

Kick off your visit on the 19th (Fri): make a trip to Yosemite Village, then admire the sheer force of Vernal Fall, then explore the striking landscape at Sentinel Dome, and finally explore the striking landscape at Glacier Point.

To see photos, more things to do, traveler tips, and more tourist information, go to the Yosemite National Park driving holiday planner.

Traveling by car from San Simeon to Yosemite National Park takes 5.5 hours. Plan for little chillier temperatures traveling from San Simeon in October, with highs in Yosemite National Park at 66°F and lows at 28°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 19th (Fri) so you can travel to Big Sur.

A sparsely populated area with stunning views, Big Sur attracts artists and tourists traveling California’s scenic Highway 1.

On the 20th (Sat), trek along Partington Cove, take in the dramatic scenery at McWay Falls, then enjoy the sand and surf at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and finally enjoy the sand and surf at Pfeiffer State Beach.

To see traveler tips, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, read our Big Sur travel planning website.

You can drive from Yosemite National Park to Big Sur in 5.5 hours. Traveling from Yosemite National Park in October, Big Sur is much hotter at night with lows of 52°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to Monterey.

Monterey is a city in the U.S. Start off your visit on the 21st (Sun): admire the majestic nature at Point Lobos and then stroll through Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail.

To find photos, where to stay, maps, and other tourist information, refer to the Monterey trip itinerary planner.

Getting from Big Sur to Monterey by car takes about an hour. Other options: take a bus. In October in Monterey, expect temperatures between 70°F during the day and 52°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 21st (Sun) so you can go by car to Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz remains synonymous with surfing, but this counterculture bastion offers plenty even if you don't plan to catch any waves.

Kick off your visit on the 22nd (Mon): enjoy the sand and surf at Natural Bridges State Beach, then enjoy the sand and surf at Shark Fin Cove, and then tour the pleasant surroundings at New Brighton State Beach.

To see other places to visit, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read our Santa Cruz trip planner.

Getting from Monterey to Santa Cruz by car takes about an hour. Other options: take a bus. When traveling from Monterey in October, plan for a bit warmer days in Santa Cruz, with highs around 76°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 51°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 22nd (Mon) to allow time to drive to San Jose.

The metropolitan center of Silicon Valley, San Jose considers itself a global city.

To find more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, go to the San Jose route builder.

Traveling by car from Santa Cruz to San Jose takes an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In October, daily temperatures in San Jose can reach 77°F, while at night they dip to 54°F. You will leave for San Francisco on the 23rd (Tue).

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

Start off your visit on the 24th (Wed): don't miss a visit to Golden Gate Bridge, then kick back and relax at China Beach, and then get great views at Twin Peaks. Here are some ideas for day two: explore the wealth of natural beauty at Alcatraz Island, then take a leisurely stroll along Fisherman's Wharf, and then buy something for everyone on your list at Ferry Building Marketplace.

To find photos, more things to do, where to stay, and other tourist information, use the San Francisco vacation site.

You can drive from San Jose to San Francisco in an hour. Other options are to take a bus; or take a subway. Expect a daytime high around 73°F in October, and nighttime lows around 56°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 25th (Thu) early enough to travel to Seattle.

Nicknamed the "Emerald City" because of its abundant evergreen trees, Seattle is the cultural and business center of the Pacific Northwest, as well as a popular holiday destination.

Kick off your visit on the 26th (Fri): see the interesting displays at The Museum of Flight, then admire the masterpieces at Chihuly Garden and Glass, then enjoy breathtaking views from Space Needle, and finally wander the streets of Pike Place Market.

To find photos, reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Seattle day trip website.

Fly from San Francisco to Seattle in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Traveling from San Francisco in October, things will get little chillier in Seattle: highs are around 63°F and lows about 50°F. On the 27th (Sat), you'll have the morning to explore before heading back home.