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.

On the 6th (Sat), take in the dramatic natural features at Gibbon Falls.

To see more things to do, ratings, reviews, and other tourist information, refer to the Yellowstone National Park trip planner .

New York City to Yellowstone National Park is an approximately 9-hour combination of bus, flight, and car. You can also do a combination of bus, flight, and shuttle; or drive. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Mountain Standard Time (MST), which is usually a -2 hour difference. Plan for much colder temperatures traveling from New York City in October, with highs in Yellowstone National Park at 47°F and lows at 25°F. Finish 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.

On the 8th (Mon), trek along South Kaibab Trail, then stop by Canyon Village Marketplace, and then explore the stunning scenery at Grand Canyon South Rim. Keep things going the next day: examine the collection at Yavapai Geology Museum and then hike along Rim Trail.

To find maps, more things to do, reviews, and other tourist information, refer to the Grand Canyon National Park trip planner.

Getting from Yellowstone National Park to Grand Canyon National Park by combination of car, flight, and bus takes about 10.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of taxi, flight, and bus; or take a bus. Traveling from Yellowstone National Park in October, things will get somewhat warmer in Grand Canyon National Park: highs are around 66°F and lows about 31°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 9th (Tue) early enough to travel 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.

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

To find ratings, reviews, and other tourist information, you can read our Las Vegas trip planning app .

You can do a combination of flight and car from Grand Canyon National Park to Las Vegas in 4.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a shuttle. The time zone changes from Mountain Standard Time to Pacific Standard Time, which is usually a -1 hour difference. When traveling from Grand Canyon National Park in October, plan for somewhat warmer days and warmer nights in Las Vegas: temperatures range from 82°F by day to 60°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 10th (Wed) so you can 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.

Kick off your visit on the 11th (Thu): tour the pleasant surroundings at La Jolla Cove and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Mission Beach Park.

To plan San Diego vacation without wasting time, ask Inspirock to design an itinerary.

Getting from Las Vegas to San Diego by flight takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. October in San Diego sees daily highs of 78°F and lows of 64°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Thu) to allow time to drive 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), enjoy the sand and surf at Bluff Park.

For photos, where to stay, and tourist information, refer to the Long Beach trip planner.

Getting from San Diego to Long Beach by car takes about 2 hours. Other options: take a bus; or do a combination of flight and bus. In October, daytime highs in Long Beach are 81°F, while nighttime lows are 62°F. On the 12th (Fri), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can 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.

Kick off your visit on the 13th (Sat): stroll the grounds of Hollywood Forever Cemetery, take a leisurely stroll along Santa Monica Pier, then kick back and relax at Will Rogers State Beach, and finally see the interesting displays at The Getty Center. On your second day here, see the sky in a new way at Griffith Observatory, then enjoy the sand and surf at Venice Beach and Boardwalk, and then examine the collection at The Grammy Museum.

For other places to visit, photos, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Los Angeles online tour planner .

Los Angeles is very close to Long Beach. Expect a daytime high around 82°F in October, and nighttime lows around 62°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Malibu.

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

To see more things to do, other places to visit, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Malibu trip planner .

Getting from Los Angeles to Malibu by car takes about an hour. Other options: do a combination of tram and bus; or take a bus. Expect little chillier weather when traveling from Los Angeles in October: highs in Malibu hover around 77°F, while lows dip to 61°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 15th (Mon) early enough to go by car to Ventura.

Ventura, officially the City of San Buenaventura, is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States. Kick off your visit on the 16th (Tue): immerse yourself in nature at Oxnard Beach Park and then stroll through San Buenaventura State Beach.

For photos, traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, use the Ventura tour itinerary builder .

You can drive from Malibu to Ventura in an hour. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and train; or do a combination of taxi and bus. Expect a daytime high around 75°F in October, and nighttime lows around 57°F. 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.

Kick off your visit on the 17th (Wed): don't miss a visit to Old Mission Santa Barbara, then meet the residents at Santa Barbara Zoo, and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Butterfly Beach.

To find traveler tips, ratings, other places to visit, and tourist information, use the Santa Barbara day trip planning site .

Santa Barbara is just a stone's throw from Ventura. In October, daytime highs in Santa Barbara are 77°F, while nighttime lows are 53°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 17th (Wed) so you can go by car 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.

Kick off your visit on the 18th (Thu): enjoy the sand and surf at Piedras Blancas and then kick back and relax at Moonstone Beach.

To see ratings and more tourist information, refer to the San Simeon online travel route planner .

Drive from Santa Barbara to San Simeon in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of train and bus. When traveling from Santa Barbara in October, plan for somewhat warmer days and a bit cooler nights in San Simeon: temperatures range from 83°F by day to 46°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Thu) early enough to drive 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.

Start off your visit on the 19th (Fri): make a trip to Yosemite Village, then take in the dramatic scenery at Vernal Fall, then take in the dramatic natural features at Sentinel Dome, and finally explore the striking landscape at Glacier Point.

For where to stay, maps, other places to visit, and more tourist information, use the Yosemite National Park online trip builder .

You can drive from San Simeon to Yosemite National Park in 5.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of bus and taxi; or do a combination of bus, ferry, and taxi. Traveling from San Simeon in October, things will get slightly colder in Yosemite National Park: highs are around 66°F and lows about 28°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Fri) to allow enough time to travel to Big Sur.

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

Start off your visit on the 20th (Sat): hike along Partington Cove, then take in the dramatic scenery at McWay Falls, then admire the majestic nature at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and finally kick back and relax at Pfeiffer State Beach.

To find other places to visit, where to stay, photos, and tourist information, go to the Big Sur online trip itinerary planner .

Getting from Yosemite National Park to Big Sur by car takes about 6 hours. Expect much hotter evenings in Big Sur when traveling from Yosemite National Park in October, with lows around 52°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 20th (Sat) to allow time to take a bus to Monterey.

Monterey is a city in the U.S. Start off your visit on the 21st (Sun): tour the pleasant surroundings at Point Lobos and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail.

For traveler tips, where to stay, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our Monterey road trip app .

Traveling by bus from Big Sur to Monterey takes an hour. Alternatively, you can drive. In October, plan for daily highs up to 70°F, and evening lows to 52°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Sun) early enough to drive 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): stroll through Natural Bridges State Beach, then enjoy the sand and surf at Shark Fin Cove, and then enjoy the sand and surf at New Brighton State Beach.

To find reviews and more tourist information, read Santa Cruz trip itinerary maker website .

Traveling by car from Monterey to Santa Cruz takes an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Traveling from Monterey in October, you will find days in Santa Cruz are somewhat warmer (76°F), and nights are about the same (51°F). Finish up your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Mon) so you can go by car to San Jose.

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

To see ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, read San Jose driving holiday website .

Traveling by car from Santa Cruz to San Jose takes an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 77°F in October, and nighttime lows around 54°F. On the 23rd (Tue), you're off toSan Francisco.

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

Kick off your visit on the 24th (Wed): take in the views from Golden Gate Bridge, enjoy the sand and surf at China Beach, and then take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Twin Peaks. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: step off the mainland to explore Alcatraz Island, take a leisurely stroll along Fisherman's Wharf, and then buy something for everyone on your list at Ferry Building Marketplace.

For maps, reviews, ratings, and tourist information, use the San Francisco day trip app .

Traveling by car from San Jose to San Francisco takes an hour. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 73°F in October, and nighttime lows around 56°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Thu) to allow enough time 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.

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

To find more things to do, photos, and more tourist information, refer to the Seattle trip itinerary builder .

Traveling by combination of subway and flight from San Francisco to Seattle takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive. Expect little chillier temperatures when traveling from San Francisco in October; daily highs in Seattle reach 63°F and lows reach 50°F. You will have some time to spend on the 27th (Sat) before leaving for home.