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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
43 DAYS
COMFORT
LANGUAGE
RATING
  • Experience the vibrant life of New York
  • Retrace America's history in Philly and DC
  • Visit the birthplace of jazz and the home of country music
  • Experience Navajo culture in ancient Monument Valley
  • Be awed by the natural majesty of the Grand Canyon
  • Roll dice in Las Vegas and Reno
  • Follow pristine hiking trails in Yosemite
  • Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fran
  • Wander by bubbling geysers in Yellowstone
  • Get rowdy at a rodeo in Cody
  • Road trip across the vast American Prairies
  • Eat deep dish pizza in Chicago
  • Experience the sheer power of Niagara Falls
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Walking Tour
Other: Rafting, Mountain Biking, Waterfalls, Local Culture & Cuisine, Historical Sites, wildlife sanctuary, sightseeing, wine tour, Urban Exploration, Grand Canyon, Camping, Horse Riding
$5465USD
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TRIP MAP
See the locations you'll visit!

Best of America (Ex New York)

Looking for a grand all-American adventure? Then this 43-day cross-country round trip will really tick all the boxes. If it's big cities you love then this adventure will take you to New York, Las Vegas, Chicago and San Francisco.
Looking for a grand all-American adventure? Then this 43-day cross-country round trip will really tick all the boxes. If it's big cities you love then this adventure will take you to New York, Las Vegas, Chicago and San Francisco. Enjoy the great outdoors? Travel through some of best national parks in the country including Yosemite and Yellowstone. Throw in the musical meccas of Nashville, New Orleans and Memphis for good measure, as well as a rodeo and casino or two, and you have one exceptional trip which truly showcases the best of the US.
Day 1: New York
Welcome to the USA!

You can arrive at any time on Day 1 as there are no scheduled activities. You can check in after 3pm but if you arrive early you can store your luggage. You won't be meeting your leader or your group until the morning of Day 2.

New York is the city that never sleeps. Grab a slice and see those famous sites - Times Square, Broadway, Central Park and the Empire State Building.

As there's no time spent in New York City on this trip, we recommend you arrive a few days early to see the sights. Consider doing our one-day sightseeing tour of New York (see www.urbanadventures.com).

Accommodation
Hostel (1 nt)
Days 2-3: Washington DC
There will be an important welcome meeting at 8am this morning. Meet in the hotel reception/lobby. We'll be collecting your insurance details, kitty and next of kin information at this meeting so please ensure you have all details on hand to provide to your leader.

Head south to Washington DC, stopping to visit Philadelphia along the way. The journey will cover 400 km and, depending on the busy east coast traffic, can take anywhere from 4-5 hours, including a lunch stop.

Founded in 1682, Philadelphia is home to the Liberty Bell and it was here that Thomas Jefferson proclaimed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

The nation's capital, Washington DC, is easily explored by foot. Don't miss the White House, Capitol Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and National Air and Space Museum, as well as many other museums of interest. In the evening you can stroll through Georgetown, the centre of the city's nightlife.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)
Day 4: Appalachian Mountains
Journey into the breathtaking scenery of the Appalachian Mountains, also called the Blue Ridge Mountains (500 km, approx 5.5 hrs). We'll camp for one night en route to Nashville.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 5: Nashville
Continue on to Nashville (600 km, approx 6 hrs).

Known as 'Music City', most of Nashville's attractions revolve around country music.

Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, which contains Elvis' golden Cadillac. Another point of interest is Music Row, where more than 50 record studios and approximately 200 music publishing houses are located.

Optional Activities
Whitewater rafting, Pigeon River, Hartford - USD26.95
Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville - USD20.00

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 6: Memphis
Head south to Memphis (approx 3.5 hrs).

Memphis is the home of the Blues. In the evening, you can head down to Beale Street's traditional blues clubs. For those with an interest in history, there's the National Civil Rights Museum at the former Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Pay a visit to Graceland - Elvis Presley's home and his tomb.

Optional Activities
Graceland Museum, Memphis - USD31.00
Sun Studios, Memphis - USD12.00

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Days 7-8: New Orleans
Head 650 km across the state of Mississippi to New Orleans - the 'Big Easy' (approx 7 hrs with a lunch stop).

Most of the action in New Orleans takes place in the French Quarter, where Bourbon Street's many jazz clubs come alive at night.

Optional Activities
Honey Island Swamp Tour, New Orleans - USD23.00

Accommodation
Hostel (2 nts)
Day 9: Houston
It's quite a journey from Louisiana to Houston, Texas (nearly 700 km, approx 7 hrs).

Houston is the largest city in Texas and home of the NASA Kennedy Space Center.

Visit the NASA Kennedy Space Center for an insight into mankind's adventures in space. It features a multitude of permanent exhibits, attractions and theatres.

Optional Activities
NASA Space Centre, Houston - USD20.95
Cajun Jack's Swamp Tour, Patterson - USD35.00

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 10: San Antonio
Drive with the truckers along Highway 10 to San Antonio (430 km, approx 4.5 hrs).

A little piece of Mexico in the US, San Antonio is the home of the Alamo, an original reconstructed Spanish-Mexican fort from the 18th century. You can stroll along the famous River Walk and get to know the city's many canals and backstreets by night.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 11: Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Driving across Texas, enter the deserts of New Mexico on our way to Carlsbad Caverns (745 km, approx 9 hrs including our lunch break).

One of the largest caverns in the world, Carlsbad Cavern is still only partially explored. Hike deep into the 8.2 acre 'Big Room' and beyond. In the evening, take a seat outside the park to witness the overwhelming sight of a bat flight - thousands of bats swarming out of the caverns. This is seasonal, as the bats migrate south in October for the winter, and is best viewed in July/August.

Included Activities
Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 12: Santa Fe
Continue the journey north to Santa Fe (470 km, approx 6.5 hrs).

The capital of New Mexico, Santa Fe, is the oldest capital city in the US. You can visit the town plaza surrounded by pueblo architecture, view the south-western art and décor at local museums or enjoy a drink and take in Santa Fe's quaint atmosphere.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 13: Mesa Verde National Park
Drive to Aztec Ruins National Monument.

Famous for its sandstone pueblo, Aztec Ruins National Monument was built around the 11th century and contains almost 500 rooms. Take a self-guided 800 m walk through rooms built centuries ago, where you can discover skilful stone masonry remarkably preserving the original walls.

Continue on to Mesa Verde National Park. Total driving distance is about 430 km (approx 6.5 hrs).

Mesa Verde National Park is home to the largest and best-preserved cliff dwellings of the Anasazi Indians. It protects over 4,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the US.

Explore a cliff dwelling on a short walk or (for a small fee) join a ranger-led walk to the harder-to-access sites.

Included Activities
Aztec Ruins National Monument
Mesa Verde National Park

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 14: Monument Valley
After a ride through fascinating desert regions, we reach Monument Valley (200 km).

The backdrop for countless westerns, Monument Valley is part of the biggest Indian reservation in the US and home to more than 200,000 Indians of the Navajo Tribe. Monument Valley is so-named for the giant sandstone formations scattered across the desert. The angle of the sun means that the landscape is constantly changing colour and it's near impossible to take a bad photo.

See all the magnificent sights Monument Valley has to offer in the back of a jeep with a Navajo guide. Visit areas only open to the Navajo, see traditional Navajo homes, hike the sand dunes and gaze up at spectacular rock formations - all with the insight of a local guide.

Included Activities
Monument Valley National Tribal Park

Optional Activities
Navajo-guided jeep tour (2.5 hrs), Monument Valley - USD35.00
Jeep tour & overnight experience, Monument Valley - USD75.00

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Days 15-16: Grand Canyon
Drive from Monument Valley to the Grand Canyon (260 km, approx 3 hrs), stopping at Native American trading posts on the way.

The Grand Canyon is one of the world's seven wonders! It's 450 km long, 6-30 km wide and 1600 m deep. Marvel at this immense canyon on a rim walk or, for those that are feeling more active, a short hike into the canyon will help stretch those legs out.

For a bird's-eye view, there's an option to take a helicopter ride over this breathtaking landscape.

Included Activities
Grand Canyon National Park

Optional Activities
Helicopter flight (25 mins), Grand Canyon - USD190.00
IMAX movie, Grand Canyon - USD13.72

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)
Days 17-18: Las Vegas
Drive on from the Grand Canyon and cross the western deserts of Arizona to Las Vegas (450 km, approx 5 hrs).

Along the way, drive a section of the famous Route 66 and stop in the nostalgic township of Seligman.
Las Vegas is the gambling capital of the world, but there's plenty to do along the Strip for gamblers and non-gamblers alike - there's the casinos and shows, of course, plus shops, amusement rides, dance clubs and great value 'all you can eat' buffets.

Included Activities
Las Vegas Strip tour
Route 66

Optional Activities
Limo tour, Las Vegas - USD25.00

Accommodation
Hotel (2 nts)
Day 19: Death Valley/Sierra Nevada
This is a long driving day covering more than 550 km through Death Valley and across the Eastern Sierra.

One of the hottest deserts on the planet, temperatures in Death Valley rise to record-breaking levels (up to 56C in summer).

Death Valley National Park includes a wealth of geological phenomena: large sand dune formations, sculpted rocks, isolated valleys and volcanic craters. The canyon and mountain walls change colour with the changing sunlight. Elevations fluctuate from 85 m below sea level near Badwater Point (the lowest point in the United States) to 3756 m above sea level at Telescope Peak. Stop at the visitor centre and, heat permitting, take a walk on the stunning salt flats.

Included Activities
Death Valley National Park

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Days 20-21: Yosemite National Park
Drive 300 km to the west, travelling over the Tioga Pass into the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Our destination is Yosemite National Park.

One of the most famous parks in the USA, Yosemite National Park's colossal granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls and redwood trees attract visitors from all over the world.

There are plenty of hikes available in Yosemite, each varying in steepness and difficulty. Hike under the cooling breezes of Nevada Falls (4-5 hours) or to the serenity of Mirror Lake (45 minutes). For the more active, the views from atop Yosemite falls or Glacier Point are hard to beat. And keep an eye out for squirrels, and perhaps even a bear, along the way. There are also non-hiking activities such as bicycling around Yosemite Valley, visiting the park's museum, photo gallery, shops, restaurants and just walking the trails on the valley floor. In the heat of summer, a relaxing float down the Merced River followed by a few drinks at the park's cafe is just the trick.

Included Activities
Yosemite National Park

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)
Day 22: San Francisco
Leave Yosemite behind and drive 240 km (about 3.5 hrs) west towards San Francisco - the 'City by the Bay'.

San Francisco is a chilled out city with a vibrant, multicultural heart. You can catch a tram to visit the waterfront, feast like a king in Chinatown or peruse zany artwork in SoMa.

As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary and you're welcome to attend, as this is a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 nt)
Days 23-24: Yosemite National Park
Drive north through the Central Valley back to Yosemite National Park.

We have another two days to soak in the sights, smells and sounds of Yosemite's awe-inspiring granite cliffs and majestic waterfalls. Enjoy an afternoon hike in this unforgettable setting or see the beauty of Yosemite Valley by bike on the flat, paved trails of the Yosemite Valley Loop.

Included Activities
Yosemite National Park

Optional Activities
Bike rental (2 hrs), Yosemite National Park - USD20.00

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)
Day 25: Lake Tahoe
Travel through the breathtaking mountain terrain of the Sierra Nevada to Lake Tahoe (315 km, approx 4.5 hrs).

Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in the US. Its waters shimmer in hues of blue and green and its shoreline offers white sand beaches next to quiet pine forests. You can enjoy swimming, watersports, hikes and casinos, which are located on the Nevada side.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 26: Reno/Salt Lake City
Drive 100 km to Reno (approx 1.5 hrs).

Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Reno is known as the 'little sister' of Las Vegas. You can walk the colourful streets and soak in this unique western casino city.

Hold on to your hats as we head east on Highway 80 to Salt Lake City. Our route, taking in more than 800 km, leads us to the Great Salt Flats, a huge salt desert with spectacular scenery. You'll be surprised at the size and emptiness of this part of America.

Founded by the Mormons as a religious centre in 1847, Salt Lake City is today the centre of the Mormon State. You can visit the historic Temple Square area among other city sights.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Days 27-28: Jackson Hole/Grand Teton National Park
Our first stop of the day will be the beautiful Bear Lake where a picnic lunch and a quick swim are great options. Then continue on to Jackson Hole (440 km, which will take most of the day with our various stops).

Home to rodeos and real country nightlife, Jackson Hole offers mountain biking, hiking and rafting trips on Snake River.

With its awe-inspiring mountain range, lakes and incredible wildlife, Grand Teton National Park is perfect for a hike to a picturesque picnic spot. Hire a ferry on the beautiful Jenny Lake or hike into the stunning Teton Range. Keep a lookout for wildlife in the area including Teton's most famous resident - the moose.

Included Activities
Grand Teton National Park

Optional Activities
River rafting, Jackson Hole - USD70.00
Mountain biking, Jackson Hole - USD60.00

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)
Days 29-30: Yellowstone National Park
Travel 200 km north to Yellowstone National Park.

America's first national park and largest thermal basin, Yellowstone represents one of the earth's thinnest surfaces, which in turn has created a fantastic world of bubbling geysers ('Old Faithful'), sulphuric springs and colourful paintpots (boiling mud).

Take time to visit the park's famous sites as well as the impressive Yellowstone Falls. Short walks on wooden platforms allow us to walk around the geysers, staring into their epicentres of fantastic turquoise colours, all with the familiar scent of sulphur in the air. This park is also home to grizzlies, elk, deer, wolves, coyotes and a host of other creatures. However, the most notable resident is the American bison. These incredible animals roam freely in herds throughout the park and often use the park roads as well (not to mention wandering through the campgrounds).

Your group leader will explain the special precautions we must take while camping in this wild area - such as storing food in animal-proof boxes and cleaning the camp of all food items like dishcloths, snacks/food and any other scented items.

Included Activities
Yellowstone National Park

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)
Day 31: Cody
Drive to Cody (210 km).

The famous cowboy town of Cody was named after Buffalo Bill Cody, a legend of the old west. You can visit the Old Trail Town, which features 26 buildings that date from 1879 to 1901, over a hundred horse-drawn vehicles, plus an extensive collection of Native American artefacts and memorabilia of the Wyoming frontier.

Cody is also known as the 'Rodeo Capital of the World' with the only seven-nights-a-week rodeo in the country. From June through August, the Nite Rodeo features professional and novice cowboys and cowgirls competing under the lights set against the picturesque backdrop of Heart Mountain.

Optional Activities
Cody Nite Rodeo, Cody - USD18.00

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 32: Devil's Tower National Monument
Journey east to Devil's Tower National Monument (480 km).

Devil's Tower is an iconic monolith formed through volcanic intrusion, which was featured in the film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'. Hiking around the tower provides us with great scenery and an opportunity to spot wildlife.

Included Activities
Devil's Tower National Monument

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Days 33-34: Mt Rushmore/Custer State Park
Travel between Devil's Tower National Monument and Custer State Park with a few stops along the way (200 km).

Visit the gold mining town of Deadwood to recapture the old days of the gold rush. Walk in the footsteps of legends like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock as you discover Deadwood's Wild West ways.

See the Crazy Horse Memorial - Mount Rushmore's Indian counterpart - where the image of the 19th-century Lakota Indian Chief is being carved into the Black Hills as the centrepiece of the Indian Museum of North America.

Get some great photos on a visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, an American icon with its giant sculpture of four eminent American presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln - carved into the cliff. Each head is approximately 20 m high.

Explore Custer State Park, named for General Custer whose infamous 'Last Stand' ended in defeat by the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne Indians led by Sitting Bull. Custer State Park is home to the world's largest free-roaming bison herds (about 1,500).

Included Activities
Deadwood visit
Crazy Horse Memorial
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Custer State Park

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)
Day 35: Badlands National Park
Drive to Badlands National Park (410 km, some of which is slow in places).

Badlands National Park is a highly impressive moon-like landscape, full of bizarre cliff sculptures, making a welcome change from the flat grasslands of the prairie. We'll take several scenic short walks to take in the wonderful scenery. Keep your eye out for the prairie dogs, buffalo and pronghorns along the way.

Stay at a ranch within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Badlands National Park.

Take a trail ride though 1 ½ hours of the most beautiful land the eyes can behold. No riding experience is necessary. There is a professional wrangler present to make certain you are safe and the horses stay in order during the entire ride. The ride will take you over grasslands and buttes which overlook the White River. You will come to an old buffalo jump used by the Lakota people in days past. Next you will travel down a hill-side and around to a small portion of the Badlands. The ride will go though this piece of Badlands and up another hillside and back up onto a grassland. The ride will conclude by arriving back at the corral.

Included Activities
Badlands National Park

Optional Activities
Horseback trail ride, Badlands National Park - USD47.70

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 36: Minnesota
Follow Highway 90 across the Great American Prairie, through the state of South Dakota to Minnesota
The total distance covered will be just over 800 km, which will take most of the day with lunch stops and rest breaks.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 37: Milwaukee
Head to Madison (270 km, approx 3 hrs).

Madison is the capital of Wisconsin. A city framed by four lakes, Madison is known as one of America's safest and most liveable cities.

Drive on to Milwaukee (130 km, approx 1.5 hrs)

Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin. The population of this cosmopolitan city is composed of people from more than 30 European countries. Famous for its brewing industry, Milwaukee was also the setting for the sitcom Happy Days.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Days 38-39: Chicago
Travel 150 km south along Lake Michigan to Chicago (approx 2 hrs).

Chicago is the 'City of Skyscrapers'. Located on Lake Michigan, it's also known as the friendly city. Locals are more than happy to tell you about their favourite restaurant or cafe, or perhaps which music club plays the most authentic blues music. With more than 45 km of lake front paths, Chicago is also one of the world's most walkable cities.

Take a trip to the Willis Tower. As one of the highest buildings in the world, it offers a fantastic view of the city and the lake from the 103rd floor.

Optional Activities
Willis Tower Skydeck, Chicago - USD15.95

Accommodation
Hostel (2 nts)
Day 40: Lake Erie
Drive 400 km on Highway 94 to reach Lake Erie.

Lake Erie is one of America's Great Lakes. This chain of freshwater lakes form the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world, and their combined surface area is almost the same size as the United Kingdom.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 41: Niagara Falls
Our path leads us 510 km east along Lake Erie to Niagara Falls (approx 6 hrs).

As one of the most well-known waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls is a truly majestic sight not to be missed. There are numerous viewpoints at which we can appreciate the pure power of this amazing set of falls.

There's no better way to get a feel for their true immensity than to approach them from the water. So after donning raincoats, head straight up to the falls at the Horseshoe Basin on the thrilling 'Maid of the Mist' boat ride.

Included Activities
Niagara Falls

Optional Activities
Maid of the Mist boat tour, Niagara Falls - USD11.20

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 42: Finger Lakes
It's a relatively short drive to Finger Lakes (260 km, approx 3 hrs).

The Finger Lakes are a chain of seven lakes, each long and narrow in shape and orientated north-south. They contain some of the deepest lakes in the US. As well as its picturesque beauty, the Finger Lakes district is also known for its wine production.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Day 43: New York City
Travel 350 km to the bustle of New York City (approx 4 hrs).

Our arrival time at the hotel depends on each group, but we generally aim for a 4pm arrival. If you are flying out today we suggest you don't book a flight before 8pm to allow enough time to transfer to the airport for check-in 2 hours before your flight.

As there's a great deal to do in New York City, we recommend staying a few extra days to make the most of this exciting city. If you need help booking extra accommodation, our reservations team will be happy to assist. Consider doing our one-day sightseeing tour of New York (see www.urbanadventures.com).
TRIP INCLUDES
  • Van
  • Camping (with facilities) (34 nts), Hostel (5 nts), Hotel (3 nts)
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Allow USD $645 for meals not included.
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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