Attractions of the West
17 Days/2500 Miles
Driving time: 54 hours (3 hrs per day average)
This itinerary can be booked to start/end
in Los Angeles, Las Vegas or
San Francisco - simply re-arrange
the campground bookings to fit.
This tour is available May to
September.
Day 1
On arrival into Los Angeles, make your way to the airport area hotel you have booked and enjoy a relaxing overnight stay.
Day 2
Call Our Principals first thing to arrange the time for motorhome collection. Unless you have pre-purchased the 'Early Bird' departure special, you will make your own way by taxi to the rental office this afternoon. Once you have your motorhome, get yourself on to Route 101 and head north - you are on your way to stay at Santa Margarita Lake KOA, just under four hours (240 miles) away.
Day 3/4
Dying to get going towards San Francisco today? Please, be sure to stop at that well-known 'Folly', Hearst Castle, as you drive through San Simeon - 65 miles into your journey. Take time to enjoy amazing coastal scenery through the Big Sur and Pebble Beach; with maybe a stop at Carmel or Monterey. Then cross the famous Golden Gate Bridge. You are heading for the Petaluma KOA, 34 miles north of that famous icon. A petting farm with cattle, sheep, donkeys, goats and peacocks enhances the ranch atmosphere at this campground. Summertime fun includes an inflatable water slide; bounce house and sunset hayrides - so plenty to do as well the option to take guided tours of San Francisco, which depart daily May through October. Enjoy a second night at Petaluma KOA.
Day 5/6
An early start is recommended today for the drive across California; 192 miles to the town of Midpines and the Yosemite/Mariposa KOA, the gateway to the first National Park of this trip - Yosemite (Yoss-em-i-tee). Watch for the views across San Pablo Bay as you leave San Francisco. Stay at Yosemite KOA for two nights. Your campground is at the edge of the Park and you will enjoy a drive of just under an hour to the Park itself. Spend the day exploring the fascinating scenery and return to Yosemite KOA for your second night.
Day 7
The drive is about 260 miles today and it will be quite a long day so an early start is recommended. The driving will hopefully be leisurely as you drive once more through Yosemite National Park before taking the southerly route through the Sierra National Forest to the town of Fresno and maybe an hour for lunch. Then take the winding, easterly route 198 to Sequoia (Si-koy-a) National Forest, home to some of the world's largest trees, and to one of the oldest cities in California, Visalia. Drive through the town to the Visalia/Fresno South KOA to overnight.
Day 8/9
Heading for Las Vegas - and a two night stay at the Circus Circus KOA campground. It is almost a seven hour drive, mainly freeway, but worth it to get to the 'fun capital'! NB: If you are feeling brave enough to extend this journey, and you are travelling between October and May, a route through Death Valley may be your choice but be aware it will be a very long day. Circus Circus is right on the Las Vegas Strip and campers have access to one of the city's top family resorts featuring an indoor theme park Adventuredome, daily circus acts, three full size casinos, swimming pools, spa, awardwinning restaurants and more. Enjoy the fun and return to your own 'home' at night.
Day 10
The third National Park of this tour is coming up today - it is in Utah and just three hours from Las Vegas. Like Yosemite and Sequoia, but very different, Zion National Park is spectacular. Just 30 miles northeast of Zion is your overnight stop, the Glendale KOA, set right in the middle of the natural wonders of Utah. Take a dip in the pool or saddle up for a horseback trail ride.
Day 11
Not travelling far today, in fact only 43 miles in just under an hour, to the Cannonville/ Bryce Valley KOA located just about 12 miles from the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park. This Park is totally different again from the other three, so much not to be missed and we want you to have the opportunity to spend the day. Giant amphitheatres bristling with pink rock pinnacles that seem to glow at sunrise and sunset are the background to hundreds of back roads, hiking and biking trails and guided horseback rides. You can even take an air tour from Bryce Canyon Airport.
Day 12
Leave around 8am and arrive at Flagstaff KOA in Arizona by 6pm - and this includes the time for a three or four hour trip on Lake Powell. This is a fabulous man-made lake on the Colorado River and, if available on the day, we suggest you rent a speedboat and take it to the famous Rainbow Bridge National Monument - a journey that would take over 150 miles overland!
Day 13/14
After your overnight, 7,000 feet above sea level, you will probably want to ride the nearby Skyride up to 11,500 feet for an overview of the Grand Canyon, Coconino (Cocoa-nee-no) National Forest and Flagstaff itself. There are hiking trails from the campsite or go south and visit Walnut Canyon and its ancient cliff dwellings carved in the walls. Head west now, just 43 miles, to Williams KOA, the gateway to the Grand Canyon, where you are booked for two nights! You have three choices for going to the Grand Canyon. Take the hours drive so you have all the home comforts; join KOA's van tour or arrive by rail on the Grand Canyon Railway. Your KOA hosts will help with reservations and taxi to the railway as well as book a helicopter tour of the Canyon (definitely not to be missed!) or jeep and rafting tours. At the campground you can enjoy live Western music, hayrides, fun-bike rentals, mini-golf and horseback riding.
Day 15
On the homeward road today but there is no need to rush away from Williams - so do spend the morning enjoying some of those activities they provide. The drive is 125 miles today - 82 of them on State Road 66, better known as the world-famous 'Route 66' - where we hope you'll get some kicks!! Head for Kingman, where a visit to the Route 66 Museum is a must. Then unwind in the huge pool at Kingman KOA, high in the desert surrounded by the Hualapai (Hu-al-apie) Mountains. Nearby you can see traces of the pioneer wagon ruts that still mark the Fort Beale Wagon Trail.
Day 16
The next to last day is a long one - 340 miles but with three stops. Heading west, the first stop is another icon of the Colorado River - the world-famous Hoover Dam on the border of Arizona and Nevada. Stop a while and stare at this man-made wonder before heading into Boulder City, then go south and skirt the Providence Mountains before diverting to the Mojave National Preserve for the penultimate stop on this itinerary. Overnight tonight at the Barstow KOA. Day 17 150 miles to drive back to Carson and Our Principals this morning - and it will take at least 3.5 hours.so it has to be an early start unless, of course, you have taken the 'Early Bird' option, in which case you don't have to be back until 3pm. thank goodness!
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