NY and Westcoast in July for solo traveller

Thanks for reading my post. I have looked through previous posts in this forum and tried to do as much research i could.

I'm a solo male traveller who likes nightlife, nature, action / adventure.I try to avoid museums and historical places. Also worth mentioning is that I'm not restricted by a low budget so any suggestions of activities are welcome (even though i would like to stay in Hostels and airbnb to save money and socialize).

So far i have come up with the following plan for my desired USA trip in July

08.07 - 13.07 New York
14.07 Morning, NY - Buffalo airport and hire a rental car
14.07 Visit the Niagra falls and stay overnight
15.07 Morning, See the falls again during the day
15.07 Afternoon, fly to Las vegas
15.07 See the strip and experience vegas
16.07 See the strip and experience vegas
17.07 Rent a car and visit grand canyon
18.07 - Visit Los angelas by car
18.07 - 23.07 LA
24.07 morning, drive to Yosemeti national park
25.07 See the Yosemeti park
26.07 See the Yosemeti park
27.07 Drive from Yosemeti to Sanfranciso
27.07 - 28.07 Drop of rental car and see San franciso
28.07 - 30.07 Fly back to NY and stay there 2 days and then fly home.

I have already booked a return flight from New York so i have to get back there. I don't want to use much time on travel as I'm a solo traveler with no company, however i read that its difficult to get to the parks without a car and its good to have the rental car in LA.

Any suggestions to this iteniary would be welcome. As i realize this is last minute, I'm looking to book internal flights, rental car, and lodging at yosemeti as soon i get some feedback from you guys.

Thanks again for reading my post :)

Welcome to the USA Branch.

Just a couple of spelling corrections:

• Niagara Falls
• Yosemite National Park
• San Francisco

These are my initial comments:

1. You're spending too long in New York relative to the length of your trip
2. You might be too long at Niagara Falls as well
3. Your Las Vegas / Grand Canyon NP / Los Angeles time is too short
4. Return from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas perhaps
5. Two nights in Yosemite NP is probably sufficient on a trip of this length
6. Aim not to be in Las Vegas Friday or Saturday
7. Aim not to be in Yosemite NP Friday or Saturday either

But it seems to me your biggest challenge (once you settle the genuine itinerary issues above) is securing accommodation at this late stage at the Grand Canyon NP South Rim, and in or near Yosemite NP.

Hey Ianw6705,

Thanks for your great feedback. Sorry for the spelling mistakes. Please see my questions and comments below

"You're spending too long in New York relative to the length of your trip"
I was thinking the same, i will amend this

You might be too long at Niagara Falls as well
Do you think it will be possible to fly into buffalo in the morning, see that wall and fly from buffalo in the afternoon (all in one day)

Aim not to be in Las Vegas Friday or Saturday
Whats the reason for this? Isn't the nightlife better on a Friday and Saturday?

Aim not to be in Yosemite NP Friday or Saturday either
Whats the reason for this? More expensive prices and crowds?

A few responses:

• yes, take two nights minimum from NYC at the start
• I have not been to Niagara Falls, so will leave this for others
• Las Vegas room costs are much higher Friday / Saturday
• however nightlife might also be much better, so your choice
• Yosemite is dearer and busier on weekends for sure

Good luck knocking it into shape, and once you do, you really must book all of this if you can. Many popular places book out months ahead.

One of the best party town in the US is NOLA and you are skipping it?

Maybe try this instead:

8 Jul - NYC
9 Jul - NYC
10 Jul - NYC
11 Jul - (rent a car) Saranac Lake or Lake Placid (or thereabouts in the Adirondacks)
12 Jul - Saranac Lake or Lake Placid (or thereabouts)
13 Jul - Buffalo or Niagara
14 Jul - Ithaca
15 Jul - Ithaca or NYC (return car in NYC)
16 Jul - NYC
17 Jul - Las Vegas
18 Jul - (rent a car) Grand Canyon
19 Jul - Las Vegas
20 Jul - LA
21 Jul - LA
22 Jul - San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, or Pismo Beach
23 Jul - Monterey
24 Jul - Yosemite
25 Jul - Yosemite
26 Jul - (return car) SF
27 Jul - SF
28 Jul - SF
29 Jul - NYC
30 Jul - NYC, leave

As noted, lodging in Yosemite can book months in advance, for any time of the week. A brief search currently shows nothing available in the park, which means you'll have to look outside for lodging.

You won't want to spend much time at Niagara. Take the boat tour, then move on.

Do not take day tours of the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas. Most of the go to the "west" rim, which is on tribal land. This is still the "grand Canyon," but it's not as wide or deep as in the park, you're very limited as to what you're allowed to do, and it's more expensive--it's basically the "Las Vegas" version of the canyon, designed to separate you from your money. The south rim is where you'll want to go.
Day tours of the south rim will spend most of the time on the bus. Eight or so hours for a couple at the canyon.

Good advice from bzookaj, if you cannot find a place inside Yosemite try El Portal, Yosemite View Lodge appears to have some space for July. Otherwise you may have to keep calling daily to snag a cancellation.
If you can find the time, the drive up Highway 1 through Big Sur is one of the best the US has as far as drives go.

This post has been removed by its author.

One of the best party town in the US is NOLA and you are skipping it?

Hey Katzgar, Thanks for your advice. But New orleans is some way from the west coast. How would you suggest i include it in my current plan?

I would pull 3 days from the lake placid, ithaca area and go to NOLA. there is nothing cooler than walking up Bourbon st with a cup o Joe at dawn.

http://www.neworleansonline.com/

If you go to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon you can visit Zion National Park en route. Yes, from LA go north on Highway 1 to Monterey and then head over to Yosemite. It's one of the most scenic roads in America. New Orleans is one of the more interesting cities in the U.S. but it will be extremely hot and muggy then with the possibility of a hurricane.

If you can find the time, the drive up Highway 1 through Big Sur is one of the best the US has as far as drives go.

OP, in the route I provide above, this would be the section between SLO and Monterey.

I would pull 3 days from the lake placid, ithaca area and go to NOLA.

OP, the underlying question here is whether you want to spend more time partying or more time outdoors.
Though if you were to take something out, I'd say Ithaca and Niagara. Keep the Adirondacks (if you consider them).

If you go to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon you can visit Zion National Park en route. Yes, from LA go north on Highway 1 to Monterey and then head over to Yosemite. It's one of the most scenic roads in America. New Orleans is one of the more interesting cities in the U.S. but it will be extremely hot and muggy then with the possibility of a hurricane.

Hurricane thing is ridiculous

Another option for you. Do your homework on the Niagara thing, doesn't seem like a fun place for a single dude, could be wrong?

8 Jul - NYC
9 Jul - NYC
10 Jul - NYC
11 Jul - NYC
12 Jul - SF
13 Jul - Yosemite
14 Jul - Yosemite
15 Jul - Lee Vining or Tom's Place
16 Jul - Las Vegas via Death Valley
17 Jul - Zion
18 Jul - Zion
19 Jul - Grand Canyon
20 Jul - Grand Canyon
21 Jul - Las Vegas
22 Jul - LA
23 Jul - LA
24 Jul - Coast Drive
25 Jul - Coast Drive
26 Jul - SF
27 Jul - SF
28 Jul - SF
29 Jul - NYC
30 Jul - NYC, leave

Might consider getting a www.escapecampervans.com
in SF and camp in Yosemite, Eastern Sierra's, Zion and Grand Canyon, easier to get a camp spot and more fun to stay in the park. Turn the van in at Vegas and get a car for the LA-coast part.
Started you in the west in SF so you can hit Yosemite mid week.

RE: Yosemite. In summer it can be very crowded, more so on the weekends. When things get really bad, they even close the park entrances.

I will repeat: lodging inside Yosemite Park, including most campsites, books up months in advance. It may be impossible to find a place to stay within the park now, except for some of the more remote campsites. You should look into booking NOW. Keep trying--sometimes there are cancellations.

Hurricane thing is ridiculous

How do you spell KATRINA?

I think the point being made is the very low risk of hurricane activity on any specific date in July ... you're probably more likely to get mangled in a taxi driving in from the airport.

... and go to NOLA. there is nothing cooler than walking up Bourbon st with a cup o Joe at dawn.

I don't have any strong feelings about New Orleans one way or the other, but walking up Bourbon Street with all the other badly dressed, rather lubricated rubbernecks is just the sort of touristy image of the place that keeps me away (in addition to bad honky-tonk jazz of course).

Hurricane thing is ridiculous

How do you spell KATRINA?

you spelled it correctly but a hurricane is still an irrelevant concern.

This post has been removed because it may not have met our community guidelines.

The odds of a given vacation intersecting a proper hurricane are quite low, and 95% of the time, a hurricane watch is no big deal. The only concession I'd make for that time of year is to not book prepaid accommodation in the rare case it's a good idea to zig instead of zag for that part of the trip.

I will however note that July is rainy season along the northern Gulf coast, and some of our ordinary stalled front rain systems can generate 15-30 cm of rain in 24 hours, and are pretty indistinguishable from many a named tropical storm

rain systems can generate 15-30 cm of rain in 24 hours

That's a lot ... I've been through 400 mm (40 cm) is ~24 hours in the (mostly un-populated) Northern Australia tropics, and it was unbelievably heavy for a very long time.

Another option for you. Do your homework on the Niagara thing, doesn't seem like a fun place for a single dude, could be wrong?

8 Jul - NYC
9 Jul - NYC
10 Jul - NYC
11 Jul - NYC
12 Jul - SF
13 Jul - Yosemite
14 Jul - Yosemite
15 Jul - Lee Vining or Tom's Place
16 Jul - Las Vegas via Death Valley
17 Jul - Zion
18 Jul - Zion
19 Jul - Grand Canyon
20 Jul - Grand Canyon
21 Jul - Las Vegas
22 Jul - LA
23 Jul - LA
24 Jul - Coast Drive
25 Jul - Coast Drive
26 Jul - SF
27 Jul - SF
28 Jul - SF
29 Jul - NYC
30 Jul - NYC, leave

Might consider getting a www.escapecampervans.com
in SF and camp in Yosemite, Eastern Sierra's, Zion and Grand Canyon, easier to get a camp spot and more fun to stay in the park. Turn the van in at Vegas and get a car for the LA-coast part.
Started you in the west in SF so you can hit Yosemite mid week.

Dear All,

Thank you for your very useful advice's ! I have decided to skip the waterfalls and spend more time on the west coast since i have been to Foz de igazu and i doubt the Niagra will have the same wow factor to it. I also think i would feel much more alone in a camper than using Airbnb (where i can socialise with local people)

I have decided to leave out NOA for another time as i dont want to be flying around so much and would rather spend that time in west coast socializing with the opposite gender :). My revised itinerary below, please comment if you think it can be improved.

8 Jul - NYC
9 Jul - NYC
10 Jul - NYC
11 Jul - NYC
(Fly from NYC to SF)
(Pick up rental car in SF)
12 Jul - SF
13 Jul - Yosemite
14 Jul - Yosemite
15 Jul - Lee Vining or Tom's Place
16 Jul - Las Vegas via Death Valley
17 Jul - Zion
18 Jul - Zion
19 Jul - Grand Canyon
20 Jul - Grand Canyon
21 Jul - Las Vegas
(Fly from Las Vegas to LA)
(Hire new rental car in LA)
22 Jul - LA
23 Jul - LA
24 Jul - LA
25 Jul - Coast Drive
(Drop of rental car in SF and explore the city by public transportation)
26 Jul - Coast Drive
27 Jul - SF
28 Jul - SF
(FLY from SF to NYC)
29 Jul - NYC
30 Jul - NYC, leave

Compared to hermosajoe's iteniary i have added in flights in between Las vegas and LA as i dont want to tire myself by driving so much.

Are those dates the nights where you stay? Also, it would be good to know what day of the week each date is, so:

Fri 08 Jul: NYC
Sat 09 Jul: NYC

and so on ... it makes it clearer in terms of providing you with possible adjustments.

Are those dates the nights where you stay? Also, it would be good to know what day of the week each date is, so:

Fri 08 Jul: NYC
Sat 09 Jul: NYC

and so on ... it makes it clearer in terms of providing you with possible adjustments.

Apologies,

Fri 8 Jul - NYC
Sat 9 Jul - NYC
Sun 10 Jul - NYC
Mon 11 Jul - NYC
(Fly from NYC to SF)
(Pick up rental car in SF)
Tuesday 12 Jul - SF
Wednesday 13 Jul - Yosemite
Thursday 14 Jul - Yosemite
Friday 15 Jul - Lee Vining or Tom's Place
Saturday 16 Jul - Las Vegas via Death Valley
Sunday 17 Jul - Zion
Monday 18 Jul - Zion
Tuesday 19 Jul - Grand Canyon
Wednesday 20 Jul - Grand Canyon
Thursday 21 Jul - Las Vegas
(Fly from Las Vegas to LA)
(Hire new rental car in LA)
Friday 22 Jul - LA
Saturday 23 Jul - LA
Sunday 24 Jul - LA
Monday 25 Jul - Coast Drive
Tueday 26 Jul - Coast Drive (Big Sur)
(Drop off rental car in SF and explore the city by public transportation)
Wednesday 27 Jul - SF
Thursday 28 Jul - SF
(FLY from SF to NYC)
Friday 29 Jul - NYC
Saturday 30 Jul - NYC, leave

(Pick up rental car in SF)
Tuesday 12 Jul - SF

Consider flying into Oakland and leaving as soon as possible for Yosemite. You don't want to be in SF with a car.
That may grant you time to visit Bryce. (A half day here is enough, though a full day is better.)

Thursday 21 Jul - Las Vegas
(Fly from Las Vegas to LA)
(Hire new rental car in LA)

Waste of time and money. Make the drive. It's roughly five hours.

I like your new itinerary.

I like your new itinerary.

Thanks :). I don't see what the big deal is with accommodation booking in Yosemeti. A search in "airbnb" show several private rooms available in surrounding town and if i cant find accomodation i can see the park, sleep somewhere else and then get back to the park next day ,right?

I don't see what the big deal is with accommodation booking in Yosemeti

Park lodging is the issue. Looking "outside the park" may mean you're traveling an hour or two each way to get where you want to go. Roads are slow and often crowded (in other words, don't trust Google Map's times), there are often lines to get into the park, and parking lots become filled. Oh, and on very busy days, they won't even let you in the park. This is why staying within the park is generally more desirable.

But staying outside the park is still better than not going. Just be sure you get an early start.

Btw, "Yosemite."

Agree, keep the car and drive to LA, probably just as fast.
Leave Las Vegas by 8-9 in the morning so you arrive in
LA by early afternoon avoiding the major traffic, hopefully.

Be careful of the lodging " close " to Yosemite, as stated it can be a very long drive just to the entrance.

Don't worry about being alone in a campervan, you'll meet ton's of other travelers, from the US and around the world in the campgrounds, its a very social atmosphere and often turns into a nice party by someone's campfire, anyone with a foreign accent becomes very popular. It's really a excellent way to explore NP's and the scenic west.

Agree, keep the car and drive to LA, probably just as fast.
Leave Las Vegas by 8-9 in the morning so you arrive in
LA by early afternoon avoiding the major traffic, hopefully.

Be careful of the lodging " close " to Yosemite, as stated it can be a very long drive just to the entrance.

Don't worry about being alone in a campervan, you'll meet ton's of other travelers, from the US and around the world in the campgrounds, its a very social atmosphere and often turns into a nice party by someone's campfire, anyone with a foreign accent becomes very popular. It's really a excellent way to explore NP's and the scenic west.

Thanks for your reply. I was just checking the prices for lodging outside the park and it looks very pricey (excess of 100 pounds for a night). Do you recommend certain cheap places to stay inside the park ?

I was wondering whether i could park my car somewhere inside the park or outside and sleep in it?
or if that's nonlegal or unpractical for some reason, whether i could take my tent with me and sleep in that inside the park?

Any ideas / suggestions are greatly appreciated

Do you recommend certain cheap places to stay inside the park ?

When it comes to "inside" the park, you take what's available.

I was wondering whether i could park my car somewhere inside the park or outside and sleep in it?
or if that's nonlegal or unpractical for some reason, whether i could take my tent with me and sleep in that inside the park?

All camping inside the park must be within designated campgrounds, with the exception of some backcountry areas (which requires a backcountry permit). Campground reservations fill within minutes of opening, four months in advance. There are a couple first-come, first-served areas, but you'll have to get to them early in the morning (9 am may be too late).
Outside the park, there are other federal lands (BLM, National Forest, etc.) where you may find places where you can camp where you please. However, these will likely be very primitive (may not even have toilets), and likely to be farther than other lodging you may find near the park.

bzookaj didn't specifically address sleeping in your car inside the park. This is prohibited, and rangers will find you. In addition to rangers patrolling, there will also be bears patrolling. The bears will be interested in anything in a car that looks or smells like food. Yosemite bears aren't that much interested in humans (except that humans tend to be associated with edibles) , but if they smell food or toiletries in the car, they may try to break into it. People using campgrounds are required to empty cars of anything that attracts bears & store it in bear-proof lockers.

No problem tent camping. You can bring your own or buy a cheap tent and sleeping bag, about 25 us each at a Walmart. Sleeping in a car sucks and it's not very comfortable plus officials frown upon it.
If you go to Yosemite on a weekday you should be able to get a camp spot on top, White Wolf or Porcupine Flats. White Wolf is my favorite, if you get there around 11 to 12 you should get a spot, nice hiking from camp.
Don't even try in the valley where the chances are slim to none, never know.
It's about a 45min. drive from White Wolf to the Valley.

If you decide to camp on the first part of your trip I'd seriously consider the campervan, it'll be much easier and comfortable, they include all the gear to cook.

This post has been removed by its author.

I think the point being made is the very low risk of hurricane activity on any specific date in July ... you're probably more likely to get mangled in a taxi driving in from the airport.

... and go to NOLA. there is nothing cooler than walking up Bourbon st with a cup o Joe at dawn.

"> I don't have any strong feelings about New Orleans one way or the other, but walking up Bourbon Street with all the other badly dressed, rather lubricated rubbernecks is just the sort of touristy image of the place that keeps me away (in addition to bad honky-tonk jazz of course)."

this poster is describing miles davis as honkytonk...Really?
there is no such thing as honkytonk jazz. bourbon street at dawn is devoid of people except for early deliveries and a few breakfast places opening up. Bourbon street will provide various kinds of acts during the day so we can know the quote is incorrect.

The post is dead and buried Katz ... do you really have nothing better to do than stalk others?

Hello wonderful people. You have been so helpful ! I will try to ring Yosemite everyday for the last two weeks to get a camping spot ! I have seen some pictures of Lake Tahoe and it looks amazing. So I'm thinking of including it in my itinerary(below), as i would then drive from there to Yosemite in the night . I have also put the driving route in googlemaps and made out that i will be driving more than 2000 miles only to get to these places. This is the first time i'm trying to drive so much and i afraid i wont manage. Any advice on what to leave out ?

SF - Lake Tahoe - Yosemite - Lee vining - Toms place - Death valley - Las vegas - Zion - Grand canyon - Las vegas = 1422 miles and Las vegas - LA - Big sur - SF = 752 miles, 1422 miles + 752 miles = 2174 miles.

This is plan so far

Day 1: Fri 8 Jul - NYC
Day 2: Sat 9 Jul - NYC
Day 3: Sun 10 Jul - NYC
Day 4: Mon 11 Jul - NYC
Day 5: Tuesday 12 Jul - NYC
Day 6: Wednesday 13 Jul - (Fly from NYC to SF in the morning)
Day 6: Wednesday 13 Jul - (Pick up rental car in SF early afternoon)
Day 6: Wednesday 13 Jul - SF to Lake Tahoe (Stay and see the lake until the evening, stay overnight)
Day 7: Thursday 14 Jul - Lake Tahoe to Yosemite (Drive in the night to arrive there early morning)
Day 7: Thursday 14 Jul - Yosemite
Day 8: Friday 15 Jul - Yosemite (Leave in the evening to Lee vining, stay overnight in Lee vining)
Day 9: Saturday 16 Jul - Lee Vining - Tom's Place - Death valley (drive to these places and see them)
Day 9: Saturday 16 Jul - Death valley - Las Vegas (stay overnight in vegas)
Day 10: Sunday 17 Jul - Las vegas - Zion (stay overnight in Zion)
Day 11: Monday 18 Jul - Zion (Stay overnight in Zion, drive from there early morning to Grand canyon)
Tuesday 19 Jul - Grand Canyon
Wednesday 20 Jul - Grand Canyon
Thursday 21 Jul - Grand Canyon - Las Vegas (Arrive early morning)
Thursday 21 Jul - Las Vegas (sight seeing)
Friday 22 Jul - Las vegas - LA (Leave early morning)
Friday 22 Jul - LA
Saturday 23 Jul - LA
Sunday 24 Jul - LA
Monday 25 Jul - Coast Drive
Tueday 26 Jul - Coast Drive (Big Sur)
Wednesday 27 Jul - SF (Drop off rental car in SF early morning and explore the city by public transportation)
Thursday 28 Jul - SF
(FLY from SF to NYC)
Friday 29 Jul - NYC
Saturday 30 Jul - NYC, leave

Im also worried whether i can manage to get to see Lake Tahoe in the sunlight, which i am hoping i can because of the long days in July (I will drive from SF around 2 pm). Let me know if there is another things i should be aware of. Thanks alot !!

Lake Tahoe is indeed a beautiful Lake, but I think it is one thing you can miss. It is best seen when you have a day to do some driving and, even better, hiking. Those "amazing" photos probably include snow covered mountains. You aren't going to see much snow in July. The photos all make the lake look isolated, but actually there are many towns along hte lake shore, and casinos in Nevada.

To minimize your driving time, your route is going to look like this. That means you will arrive at the town of South Lake Tahoe and your view ofd the lake is going to be something like this. You can drive around the lake a bit for some better views, but you aren't going to have time to really see it.

Iforgot to add--leaving SF at 2 PM is going to put you in Sacramento in time for rush hour, and most of them will be heading east. Google says the drive is about 3 ½ hours. I'd say 4 ½ to 5 when you add rush hour.Sunset at Tahoe will be around 8:30 PM. Sunrise is at about 5:54.

I wouldn't drive at night from Tahoe to Yosemite. A lot of the drive is going to be on mountain roads, which may not be safe if you are tired,and the road & the car are unfamiliar. Besides, the drive itself is pretty scenic.

In addition to cutting Tahoe, I would reduce the Grand Canyon nights from three to two, and move that night to Zion, SF, or Big Sur.

The post is dead and buried Katz ... do you really have nothing better to do than stalk others?

just interested in some correct information, other people do read things dont they and clearly the post isnt dead nor is it buried. you are batting 1000

I see plenty of advice regarding the East coast part of the trip, Yosemite, Vegas and Grand Canyon, so I am not going to add anything to it. Maybe if you have some time to spare you can stop in the area around Sedona when you are near the Grand Canyon, the Red Rock County is something special.
When you are in California, don't forget that there are not only mountains, there is the ocean too! Whale watching will be really good in July. You can go from SF (good trips go to the Farallon Islands, setting off from Pier 39) or in Monterey. Wildlife in the Monterey Bay will be peaking while you are there: you might see humpbacks, blue whales, otters, California sea lions, harbour seals, dolphins and if you are incredibly lucky even orcas. It seems that Monterey is not part of your trip, but you may want to consider it for the aquatic wildlife, and nightlife is not bad either.
In Point Lobos, south of Carmel bay, you have good chances to see some whale tails and sprays from the coast and you can then go to Carmel, which has one of the best beaches in the State.
If you do scuba diving, you can have a good dive in Monterey, surrounded by sea lions. Point Lobos is a good diving site too, as well as La Jolla near San Diego, but I think that is out of your planned route.
Surfing is obviously good in California, and you can do that pretty much anywhere. In SF you can also kite surf under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Enjoy

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