Wild Wild West: Road trip through the shifting landscapes of the American West

After two days in San Francisco, it’s time to leave the ocean and skyline behind—this is where your road trip really begins. As the excitement settles into the car, you’re off to your first stop. In the next four hours, you’ll swap buildings for towering pines, and the sea for still, mirror-like lakes.

Set off early and follow the road as it winds through mountain passes, flanked by giant trees that almost give off a Christmas-card charm. In winter, the snow calls for a bit more care, but it adds a crisp, magical touch to the drive.

When you arrive at the campgrounds that mark the start of Yosemite’s trails, the scale of it all hits you. Giant rocks and peaks—probably the biggest you’ve ever seen—waterfalls and wild nature that can make even the most city-loving traveller fall for the outdoors. For those after the full experience, staying in the tented accommodations at Curry Village nearby brings you right into the heart of it. Wait for the wow effect as you wake up after a night under the stars in one of the United States’ most beautiful national parks.

If Yosemite is for the trails and outdoor activities, your next stop is more about taking in the view from the open window of your car. Once you’ve walked the most beautiful parts of Yosemite National Park, get back behind the wheel and prepare for a long drive to your third stop: Death Valley. In winter, the main road that links the two is closed, which means you might end up driving for seven hours straight—and even the best playlist won’t make it feel any shorter. It’s worth downloading a few podcasts so you can switch things up when needed.

If you’re driving by night, you can make a stop in Ridgecrest, California—one of the closest towns with hotels in the Death Valley area. But if you feel like you can go a little further, Death Valley is home to The Oasis at Death Valley—a historic hotel and resort set right in the middle of the desert. Think palm trees, spring-fed pools, and views over endless sand—an actual oasis, both in name and feel.

After a good night’s rest, the road calls again, this time to explore the Death Valley National Park, where the scenery changes fast: endless mountains, salt flats and deep red canyons, all within the same stretch of land. The drive will eventually lead you out of the quiet and straight into the city of all dreams—Las Vegas—where the silence of the desert fades into a blur of light and spectacle.

For many, no trip to the United States is complete without visiting Las Vegas the city of bright lights and bold dreams. For decades, it’s been hailed as the playground of the daring and glamorous, setting the stage for iconic films like Ocean’s Eleven and The Hangover. It’s no wonder it remains one of the most visited destinations in the country.

As you drive through the Nevada desert and approach the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign, you’ll find yourself stepping into something truly one-of-a-kind. Only in Vegas can you travel the world without leaving the city. The best part? You won’t need much time to soak up its atmosphere—all the hotels, entertainment, and casinos are conveniently lined up along one street: The Strip.

Take the evening to walk it. Las Vegas comes alive at night, and there’s no better way to see it than on foot. The hotels are part of the show—start in Egypt, where the Luxor rises like a giant glass pyramid with a Sphinx guarding the entrance, and end at the Venetian, where gondolas glide past faux Italian façades.

After a night spent gambling—and doing what Las Vegas will, as always, keep secret—it’s time to get back behind the wheel and head towards one of the most jaw-dropping sights of this road trip: Horseshoe Bend in Arizona.

A few hours out from the neon lights of Vegas, the surroundings gradually transform. As you get closer to the city of Page, Arizona, it feels like you’ve crossed into another country—one with a red-hued filter layered across the earth.

Page makes a great base for the night, especially with another big highlight coming up the next day: Antelope Canyon. Before the sun sets, make your way to Horseshoe Bend, just a short drive from town. Call this one of the most restful—but also most breathtaking—days of the trip. Horseshoe Bend is one of the most striking natural views in the United States, and without a doubt, one of the best of the journey.

Here, the Colorado River cuts a perfect U-shape through the red rock, 300 metres below the lookout. As the light softens, the landscape glows in deep oranges and dusty rose—a view that really does stop you in your tracks.

Before leaving the area, make sure to set aside time for one of the most photographed slot canyons in the world: Antelope Canyon. From the outside, it looks like a narrow crack in the rock—easy to miss—but step inside and you’ll find a sculptural maze carved over centuries by flash floods and desert wind.

You’ve probably seen photos before: those smooth, twisting walls that look more like brushstrokes than stone. The colours shift in layers, and it’s at its best when the light streams in from above, casting soft beams across the red sandstone.

Most people visit on bright, sunny days—but there’s something magical about coming in winter. If you’re lucky, snow might fall through the narrow gap above, settling quietly on the ground. It’s a rare sight—even for those who live here.

We say goodbye to the city of Page and set off once more, heading towards the image that always comes to mind when thinking of the American West—the one that’s served as the backdrop for films like Forrest Gump and Thelma and Louise. The drive itself isn’t the most exciting—just over two hours with barely any turns and not much traffic—but the destination is worth every mile.

Aim to arrive in Monument Valley by early afternoon to make the most of it. There are a few ways to soak in the far-west atmosphere. If you’re up for more driving, there’s a 27-kilometre loop that takes you deeper into the valley. But there’s something special about experiencing it on horseback, guided by locals who know the land inside out. If you’re short on time—or just want the view—the main lookout by the visitor centre delivers the postcard shot straight away.

We’re getting closer to the end of the trip, and that familiar sense of nostalgia starts to take its seat in the car. But before we let those feelings settle in, there are still some final views to take in. We’re not leaving the western spirit of Monument Valley too far behind as we make our way to Grand Canyon National Park—another place where the vastness of the landscape leaves you quietly in awe.

The Grand Canyon stretches over 470 kilometres in length and drops more than 1.6 kilometres deep. Each layer of rock tells a story, revealing a timeline that goes back nearly two billion years. The beauty of it is how accessible it feels—whether you’re just walking along the rim and taking it all in, or setting off down Bright Angel Trail to see a wilder side of the canyon.

If time allows, settle in at the Grand Canyon for one last slow pause before the final stretch of the trip. A few more hours on the road still lie ahead. The next day, leave the canyon behind and take an unexpected detour into a town that feels like it’s stepped out of another era: Oatman, Arizona—a former gold mining town that refuses to be forgotten.

Perched along the legendary Route 66, a classic must for any West Coast road trip, Oatman feels like a real-life Western film set. Think old saloons still pouring whiskey in shot glasses and wild burros roaming the streets, nudging car windows in search of treats.

Just walking down the main street feels like time travel. You’ll find old mines, a blacksmith’s forge, a tiny jail, and even a preserved brothel room—tucked between dusty gift shops and vintage displays.

You won’t need much time in Oatman—just a few hours are enough to catch its quirky charm before making your way to Palm Springs, the Californian desert escape beloved by Hollywood stars.

We went through the peaks of Yosemite, the desert of Death Valley, the lights of Las Vegas and the deep stillness of the canyons. Now, we’re easing into the calm of Palm Springs, surrounded by palm trees and a warm breeze that settles gently on the skin.

Palm Springs has always been a favourite hideaway for Hollywood stars—a second home to Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe, whose larger-than-life statue still stands in town as a tribute to her memory. Everything here invites you to slow down.

Start your morning with a quiet stroll through downtown, stopping at independent boutiques and art galleries before settling in for an alfresco lunch under the sun. In the afternoon, it’s all about easy living: a book by the pool or a little me-time at one of Palm Springs’ many spas is the perfect way to soak in the laid-back rhythm of California’s desert escape.

From Palm Springs, the last hour or so of driving separates you from the final stop of the road trip—Los Angeles. The energy shifts as the city draws near: traffic builds, there’s a quiet buzz in the air, the unmistakable feeling of coming full circle.

If the trip began by the ocean in San Francisco, it only makes sense to finish the same way—the Pacific stretching out before you. And there’s no place quite like Santa Monica Pier, a backdrop to countless movie scenes (any 90210 fans will know exactly what I mean). After days on the road, there’s something grounding about being still here. Watching the sun set over the Pacific feels like the perfect way to say goodbye. Bonus: Santa Monica marks the end of Route 66—a fitting full stop to the journey.

Los Angeles has no shortage of things to do, but before heading to LAX, be sure to tick off a few essentials: a coffee and stroll along Venice Beach, a wander through Beverly Hills, and a stop at Lake Hollywood Park for the best view of the iconic Hollywood sign.

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