9 days in Continental USA Itinerary

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: go for a walk through Central Park, admire the masterpieces at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, admire the landmark architecture of Rockefeller Center, and enjoy breathtaking views from Empire State Building.

To find where to stay, ratings, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the New York City holiday site.

London, UK to New York City is an approximately 11.5-hour flight. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 5 hours traveling from London to New York City. Plan for somewhat warmer temperatures traveling from London in May, with highs in New York City at 24°C and lows at 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Wed) to allow time to take a train to Washington DC.

The capital of the United States, the District of Columbia contains the lion's share of the country's most treasured monuments, memorials, and public museums.

On the 13th (Thu), pause for some photo ops at Lincoln Memorial, appreciate the history behind Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and then admire the masterpieces at National Gallery of Art.

For more things to do, where to stay, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read Washington DC online visit planner.

Getting from New York City to Washington DC by train takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: fly; or drive. Traveling from New York City in May, expect nights in Washington DC to be about the same, around 17°C, while days are somewhat warmer, around 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Thu) to allow time to travel to Monument Valley.

Monument Valley is a region of the Colorado Plateau characterized by a cluster of vast sandstone buttes, the largest reaching 1000ft above the valley floor. Kick off your visit on the 14th (Fri): take in the dramatic natural features at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and then hit the best photo ops around with an inspiring photography tour.

To see more things to do, photos, ratings, and other tourist information, read our Monument Valley trip itinerary planner.

Getting from Washington DC to Monument Valley by combination of flight and car takes about 10.5 hours. Other options: drive. You'll gain 2 hours traveling from Washington DC to Monument Valley due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Washington DC in May, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be little chillier in Monument Valley, with lows of 7°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Fri) so you can travel to Phoenix.

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. Kick off your visit on the 15th (Sat): take a memorable tour with Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours, then awaken your taste buds at Arizona Scenic Tours - Day Tours, and then examine the collection at Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson.

For reviews, ratings, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Phoenix trip website.

Getting from Monument Valley to Phoenix by combination of car and flight takes about 5 hours. Other options: drive. While traveling from Monument Valley, expect somewhat warmer days and much hotter nights in Phoenix, ranging from highs of 39°C to lows of 24°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 15th (Sat) early enough to go by car to Palm Desert.

Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately 14 miles (23 km) east of Palm Springs and 122 miles (196 km) east of Los Angeles. On the 16th (Sun), see Off-Road Tours, then view the masterpieces at CODA Gallery, and then walk around Civic Center Park.

To see ratings, other places to visit, and more tourist information, use the Palm Desert tour itinerary maker app.

Drive from Phoenix to Palm Desert in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or take a bus. The time zone difference moving from Mountain Standard Time (MST) to Pacific Standard Time (PST) is minus 1 hour. May in Palm Desert sees daily highs of 39°C and lows of 22°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Sun) early enough to travel to San Francisco.

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

On the 17th (Mon), step off the mainland to explore Alcatraz Island, take in the waterfront at Fisherman's Wharf, and then take in the views from Golden Gate Bridge.

To see traveler tips, ratings, maps, and other tourist information, use the San Francisco trip itinerary builder app.

You can fly from Palm Desert to San Francisco in 4.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or do a combination of bus and train. Expect cooler weather when traveling from Palm Desert in May: highs in San Francisco hover around 24°C, while lows dip to 13°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 18th (Tue) early enough to travel back home.