San Fran, Big Sur, LA, Las Vegas, Zion NP, Grand Canyon, Texas, New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, Blue Ridge Parkway, Washington DC, NYC & more

Arrive in California, and take a taxi from the airport to find your hotel in the cosmopolitan city of San Francisco. Enjoy an evening meal in one of the city's excellent restaurants before settling in for the night, so you are ready and refreshed for two full days exploring in this wonderful city on the bay.

Enjoy a full day exploring San Francisco.You'll find a list of recommendations of what to see and do in your personalised Road Trip Pack. Some of our 'must see' places include Coit Tower, Lombard Street, the Painted Ladies, Union Square and Alcatraz to name just a few. Whilst you’re in San Francisco be sure to try and sample some of the best Chinese food in the world in Chinatown near Knob Hill.

Today you'll make your way out of the city to Monterey. This town was once California’s capital but today it's best known for the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium presiding on Cannery Row. Want to experience the bay first hand? Take a whale watching trip from Fisherman’s Wharf. In the early evening, cruise along the famous “17 Mile Drive” on your way to Carmel-by-the-Sea. You’ll pass millionaire mansions, Pebble Beach Golf Club and a beautiful rugged coastline.

Carmel offers two world-class beaches backed by a small town made up of beautiful homes, quaint streets and fabulous restaurants. The wild and wonderful Point Lobos is just a couple of miles south of Carmel and offers pure beauty that can be enjoyed through the many short hikes.

Start the day at Point Lobos, you’ll take short hikes around this stunning coastal reserve. Watch seals bask on the beaches and Sea Otters float in the turquoise waters. From here head south down the coast enjoying Big Sur and Highway 1 south to the town of Santa Barbara with a busy but beautiful range of beaches to enjoy. Nearby Hearst Castle is worth sampling too.

Continue south to Los Angeles today. Once settled into your hotel you may want to stay close to the coast sampling Santa Monica or Venice Beach which are both best explored by bike. Alternatively, head for the Hollywood Hills to see the Griffith Observatory for great views overlooking the city. Nearby Hollywood Boulevard is a tacky but important celebrity fan pilgrimage not to be missed. Tonight, you may want to enjoy dinner in downtown Los Angeles as you take in the skyscraper scenery.

There's plenty to keep you busy in Los Angeles for a full day. In downtown, the Grand Central Market is a fantastic place to grab breakfast from one of the local vendors. Nearby is the Los Angeles Art District too which is great to explore by foot.

Leaving Los Angeles today you'll drive east to Palm Springs. The city is a great place to fill up with a good lunch before exploring the Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve. As the sun starts to set, You'll witness another jewel in the desert, as the lights of Las Vegas start to appear on the horizon.

If your head hurts after a big night out, you can always relax by the amazing pools adorning nearly every hotel. Stretch your legs with a walk along the legendary 'strip', book tickets to one of the incredible shows or take some retail therapy. We recommend visiting one of the over the top buffets in the hotels. Just make sure you are hungry when you go, the range and quality of the food is amazing value!

Today you'll head to Springdale, Utah, which is the park entry point for Zion National Park. Emerald pools, lush green trees, rust red canyon walls and crystal clear skies are all crammed into this narrow valley which makes up the park. The combination of colours is a visual delight and the park's trails offer many more. Zion National Park is one The American Road Trip Company’s favourite destinations.

More time to wander the trails and take in the geological wonders of Zion National Park. You may want to try and tackle Angel's Landing trail, culminating at a lofty perch, boasting magnificent 360-degree views over the valley below. Alternatively, walk the famous 'Narrows' which are often knee deep in water. Tonight, enjoy a meal in Springdale, with plenty of local options to choose from.

Travel to Bryce Canyon today. This National Park is famous for more unique geology made up of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheatres carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. You'll then continue east to the Grand Canyon staying at the North Rim. Be sure to try and catch the sunset over the rim for a truly memorable evening.

Put your spurs and chaps on, and head to cowboy country. As you cross the Utah and Arizona border you’ll witness proud and majestic “Mittens” of Monument Valley made up of every shade of orange and red. Spend the night on Navajo Territory taking in the view.

Cross the continental divide as you continue east. You'll pass Mesa Verde National Park which offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who carved out home here for over 700 years. Continue onto the noted scenic highway 84 on your way to Santa Fe.

After 30 miles or so you’ll join Interstate 40 which parallels or overlays the historic Route 66. After getting your kicks on Route 66 for a while, you'll pull off the Mother Road and head southeast towards the heart of the Texas panhandle.

Continue east onto the city of Dallas. With a past and present rich in the stuff that American legends are made of. The 'Big D' is famous for its contributions to popular culture – notably the Cowboys and their cheerleaders, and Dallas, the TV series that once was a worldwide symbol of the USA.

Spend the morning in Dallas if you wish before heading south to Houston. NASA belongs to America’s fourth-largest city, the Johnson Space Center literally providing you with an otherworldly experience. Witness the thrills that come with being an astronaut, or venture through the city to partake in shopping or the urban tunnel adventures.

East to the Big Easy. Along the way, you’ll pass multiple former plantation homes and the state capital Baton Rouge. Once you reach New Orleans, check in to your hotel before spending the evening at your leisure, perhaps hit the atmospheric Bourbon Street for dinner or drinks.

Built on the mouth of the Mississippi, New Orleans is the home of the blues, voodoo and the colourful craziness of Mardi Gras. The French Quarter offers great charm and is a great place to lose the car and take a walking tour.

Leaving New Orleans, you'll follow the scenic Natchez trail parkway northwards past palatial plantation houses and forests. Finally, you’ll arrive in Memphis, Tennessee - home of the Blues, Elvis and arguably America’s best BBQ food.

Second, only to The White House, Elvis Presley’s Graceland is the most visited home in America. But Memphis has much more to offer, including the legendary Sun Record Studios. Check the schedule in advance and see if you can catch an NBA basketball game playing at the city centre stadium.

The home of Country Music and proud of it. The city boasts about it's music heritage at every opportunity, including the incredible Country Music Hall of Fame, along with RCA Studio B and The Grand Ole Opry. However, it's not all about Country - there is a rich blues history here also and singer-songwriters from every genre enjoy playing the bars in this town.

The best way to enjoy this area is by driving the Blue Ridge Parkway from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This is a 469-mile scenic drive that makes the most of the mountain views with there famous blue haze.

Skyline Drive marks the start of the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway in Shenandoah National Park. Driving this 105-mile scenic route can take a whole day with the stunning surroundings, abundant wildlife and a 35mph speed limit. We recommend you park up at one of the scenic lay-bys and stretch your legs on one of the many trails.

Today you arrive in the nation's capital Washington, DC. The city is easy to navigate with its long roads lined with iconic museums and monuments. We recommend visiting one of the free Smithsonian Museums which are dotted along the 'Mall'. Georgetown is a charming corner of the city, and well worth a visit too.

Drive from the world's most powerful city to the world’s greatest city, and drop off the car at a central Manhattan location, alternatively we could arrange a train ride. New York is an epicentre of the arts and America's true dining and shopping capital. New York City wears many crowns and spreads an irresistible feast for all. Only the Big Apple can provide so much packed into five boroughs.

More time to explore New York, perhaps go downtown to the business district or the uber cool neighbourhoods like Greenwich or Soho. Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty can be visited by catching a boat from Battery Park right on the southern tip of Manhattan. In the evening a Broadway Show might in order or watch the sunset and the lights go up at “Top of the Rock” for the best view in New York.

Your last day of this mammoth road trip is here. Be proud in knowing you have seen more of what America has to offer than most Americans have in a lifetime. It's a road trip that will stay with you for ever, over 4000 miles of scenic highways, national parks and cities that will all blow you away. Tomorrow you'll check out and head to the airport for your overnight flight back to the UK.