Organizing a road trip in the USA is no easy task. This country, one of the largest in the world, offers a vast choice of road trips, all different and unforgettable. To prepare your road trip in the USAyou will need various tips and itineraries depending on what you want to do and when you want to go. In this article, discover different tips and itineraries for your road trip in the USA packed with breathtaking scenery.

Our tips for a road trip to the a successful road trip

For a successful road trip to the USAyou’ll need to follow some tips. D’abord, bien analyser vos envies et répondre à ces différentes questions :

• Which part of the U.S. do you want to visit?
• how long are you planning to stay in the USA?
• which towns/parks would you like to explore?
• etc.

Answering these questions will help you determine which area of the U.S. territory to focus on.

The time of year you plan to travel is also important. A road trip to the USA in summer is not at all the same as one in winter.

Tip 1: Choose the right period for your trip to the USA

Choosing when to go on a road trip in the USA is very important, and is one of the questions that naturally comes to mind. When you’re working, it’s not always easy to choose your vacation dates, and it’s even harder when you’ve decided to take a group trip. That’s why you need to know when to leave, so you can get organized and already order and book certain aspects of your stay in the USA.

Of course, the timing of your road trip in the USA also depends on the area of the U.S. territory you wish to visit.

In winter, some parks may be closed, or the roads to them blocked. This is the case, for example, of the Tioga Road, which rarely opens before mid-May and closes at the latest in early November. This road is the gateway to Yosemite Park. Crater Lake generally opens from late April to early November.

Summer can also be a problem, especially in very hot weather. For this reason, we strongly advise against visiting or crossing Death Valley from May to October. Some states, such as Texas and Arizona, can be very difficult to visit in summer. What’s more, places of interest are likely to be crowded, prices soar and it’s harder to find vacant accommodation.

Tip 2: Determine an appropriate length of stay in the USA

You may not be able to choose the number of days/weeks for your road trip in the USA. In this case, you don’t need to ask yourself the question, and determine your itinerary accordingly.

We recommend a minimum 2-week roadtrip. A shorter trip is likely to leave you hungry for more. What’s more, you’ll be spending a lot of time on the road, and that’s something to keep in mind.

It’s also better to take your time and see “less”, but “better”. There’s no point in spending just two hours in each national park. We advise you to focus on one or the other and to spend at least a day and a half, or even two, in each park, to get the most out of it.

Of course, the length of your stay depends not only on your availability, but also on your financial situation. If you want to make the most of your trip without overstretching your budget, we recommend that you leave in the off-season, and camping as much as possible.

Tip 3: Visit the national parks of the Western USA for your first road trip

As we’ll see in the section on itineraries for a road trip in the USABut the American West is an ideal area for your first trip to the USA by car.

In fact, there are many mythical places to visit in this region. These include

• contemplate the immensity of Death Valley from Dante’s View and watch the sun rise over the orange rocks of Zabriskie Point ;
• discover the Strip from the panoramic terrace of the Stratosphere Tower, Las Vegas;
• follow the route of the legendary Route 66 step by step;
• board the Grand Canyon Railway ;
• raft down the rapids of the Colorado ;
• ride between the rocky peaks of Monument Valley ;
• hiking along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone ;
• admire the majestic trees of Sequoia Park;
• take a walk in Arches National Park;
• and a thousand other unforgettable activities!

Tip 4: Find out what documents you need to obtain

Going to the USA is not the same as visiting a Schengen country. You’ll need a number of different documents, depending on your situation.

Passport

A prerequisite for most countries outside the European Union, the passport (biometric or electronic) is the key document for your trip to the USA. You need to order it from your local town hall, but if you live abroad, you can apply at your embassy or consulate.

Visa or ESTA

A passport is not enough to travel to the United States. You also need a travel authorization. If your trip lasts less than 90 days, you are entitled to apply for an ESTA.

If you’re planning a tourist trip lasting more than 90 days, you’ll need to apply for a U.S. visa at the U.S. embassy.

Driver’s license

Don’t forget your driver’s license for your road trip in the USA. Generally speaking, a regular driver’s license will be accepted. However, more and more car rental companies are asking for an international passport. Find out more before you leave.

Insurance

When renting a car, you will be asked to take out various types of insurance:

• insurance against damage and theft, car damage waiver or CDW in English;
• civil liability (person and property of others), personal liability in English

Depending on the credit card you use to book your rental car, CDW may already be included (this is the case with many American Express cards).

A advice for a road trip in the USA is to take out travel insurance in the event of accident or illness on American soil. Hospitalization costs can be enormous.

Various ideas foritineraries for a road trip in the United States

A wide range of itineraries is possiblefor a road trip in the United States. Cependant, nous vous avons réservé les itinéraires les plus magiques afin que votre voyage américain reste gravé dans votre mémoire pour très longtemps.

Itinerary no. 1: California-Nevada-Arizona-Utah, the classic road trip

Rent a car and set off to conquer these extraordinary states. A great trip and thrills guaranteed.

In two weeks, discover the cities of San Francisco and Las Vegas and sleep in the country’s most beautiful national parks.

• Arrival in San Francisco and 3-day city tour;
• 2-day visit to Yosemite Park;
• visit to Sequoia Park ;
• Tioga Road itinerary;
• passage to Mono Lake ;
• a day and a half in Death Valley ;
• a day and a half at the Las Vegas casinos;
• a day at Bryce Canyon ;
• two days at Antelope Canyon;
• two days at the Grand Canyon ;
• passage to Point Reyes ;
• passage through Silicon Valley;
• back to San Francisco.

Itinerary no. 2: the sunshine road trip in South Florida

It’s for lovers of sun and beach days, as well as snorkeling and diving. You’ll find superb wildlife parks in the Everglades and great museums in Miami. What’s more, you’ll find beautiful botanical gardens all over Florida.

Places to see in Florida: the Keys, Naples, Miami Beach.

Itinerary for a road trip in the USA in one week: the excessiveness of Miami – the Everglades – the Keys (allow at least 3 days for the Keys).

15-day itinerary: Miami – The Keys – Naples and its sublime beach – Fort Myers – Palm Beach – Fort Lauderdale.

We hope that these various tips and road trip in the USA will help you enjoy your trip, and give you plenty to look forward to!