West Coast road trip: California highlights, Las Vegas and the national parks

A West Coast road trip works best with roughly ten to fourteen days and a rental car, linking San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the national parks. Distances are large, so choose some legs rather than everything, and check road and park conditions on official websites before each drive.

What are the legs of the classic West Coast route?

The classic route splits into five or six legs, starting in San Francisco (SFO) and ending in Los Angeles (LAX) or looping back. The table summarises the highlights and what to check on each leg.

How many days do you need for a West Coast trip?

A comfortable trip usually takes about ten to fourteen days. With less time, choose just San Francisco to Los Angeles, or Los Angeles with Las Vegas.

• About five to seven days: San Francisco, Big Sur and Los Angeles
• About eight to ten days: add Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon or Zion
• About eleven to fourteen days: add Yosemite and spare days for rest or closed roads

Can you rent a car in one city and return it in another?

Yes. Most rental companies offer one-way rentals, such as picking up in San Francisco and dropping off in Los Angeles, usually with an extra drop-off charge. Check the current terms and costs directly with your chosen company.

• Driving the coast north to south keeps you on the ocean side of Highway 1, which makes viewpoints easier to use
• Carry your Thai licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP) from the Department of Land Transport, since rental companies often ask for both
• Drive on the right, read speeds in miles per hour and wear seat belts in every seat

How far is each stretch of driving?

Distances between the big western cities are longer than many travellers expect, and some legs take most of a day at the wheel. Check live drive times in Google Maps before leaving and allow time for stops.

• San Francisco to Los Angeles along Highway 1 takes far longer than the inland highway, so split it over two days
• Los Angeles to Las Vegas is a desert drive of half a day or more depending on traffic
• Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon or Zion is a long single-day drive, so do not stack heavy activities on top

What are the safety rules for deserts and parks?

The main concerns are water, fuel and signal. The National Park Service advises carrying enough drinking water and checking park alerts before entering, because services in remote areas are limited.

• Refuel when the tank is about half full before a desert or park, because stations are far apart
• Keep spare drinking water in the car even if you only plan to drive through
• Avoid hiking in the hottest part of the afternoon and wear a hat and sunscreen
• Tell someone your route plan, and call 911 in an emergency

How do you handle internet and signal on the drive?

Cities and main highways have good coverage, but parks, deserts and mountain stretches can lose signal. The major networks are AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, and phones need 4G LTE or 5G because 3G networks have been shut down.

• Download Google Maps offline areas for the whole route while you still have data, before heading into remote areas
• Save park information from nps.gov, such as maps, alerts and reservation details, as files or screenshots
• Use your phone as a hotspot for a laptop or other passengers, and check that your eSIM plan allows tethering
• Keep your Thai SIM for bank OTPs with data roaming off, and set your phone to automatic time

For more options, see “Prepaid eSIM USA: how to choose one for your trip” and “Preparing for Your First USA Trip and Choosing Internet: eSIM or Another SIM”.

See eSIM plans for the USA