USA Road Trip: Best of Nashville to San Francisco - United States

Now's the time to explore the United States on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. Take 14 days, a bus full of like-minded travellers, and your own sense of adventure and you've got a road trip that zips across the very best of the U.S. Go from the musical melting pot of Memphis to the rim of the Grand Canyon (where you'll catch the sunset, no less), and the vibrant city of San Francisco to see its iconic Golden Gate Bridge. These two feel weeks might fly by, but you'll collect a lifetime worth of memories.

Day 1 Nashville
Arrive at any time.

Put on those dancing shoes and get ready to bust a move. Take to the streets in the home of dive bars and honky tonks and let the music guide you to your next destination. Get to know the locals, swap travel stories, sip some Tennessee Whiskey, and get ready to sing your heart out as the night goes on.

Day 2 Nashville/Memphis
It’s time to head south through Tennessee to explore the vibrant musical and cultural melting pot of Memphis. Good ole’ Elvis may have left the building, but get ready for a ‘hunk of burning love’ and take an optional tour of Graceland.

Feeling more historical than musical? Delve into the past at the National Civil Rights Museum and learn how Memphis played a role in this historical movement, or jam out on a tour of the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum. As the sun begins to set head to Beale Street for an evening out. Experience mouth-watering cuisine, live music, and a buzzing energy that will have you out spinning on the dance floor in no time.

Day 3 Memphis
Ready...set...go! Today is your free day in Memphis—a chance to experience the “Home of Blues, Soul & Rock ‘N’ Roll” the way you have always wanted. Pay your respects to Martin Luther King Jr, feel the wind in your hair as you ride a bike along the Mississippi River, or catch a world-class show at one of the theatres in Memphis.

Day 4 Memphis/New Orleans
Drive through the bayous, crank up the jazz and head into the Big Easy. Home of Mardi Gras, Voo Doo, and Gumbo. Get ready to head out and explore the French Quarter, where you'll join fellow revellers on Bourbon Street until the early hours.

Day 5 New Orleans
Get ready to take on NOLA all on your own today! Grab a buddy or head out solo— just make sure to soak up as much as you can. Trust us there’s plenty to do: from taking part in a creole cooking demonstration, to taking a bike tour around the city you’re sure to find your own way to make your New Orleans experience unique and special. But, if all else fails and you can’t decide what to do; simply grab some beignets at Café du Monde and wander the streets downtown soaking up the music and culture as you go.

Day 6 New Orleans/Panama City Beach
Hop across the state line and arrive at Panama City Beach—the quintessential Florida getaway. What’s here you ask? Well for starters there’s 27 miles of pearly white beaches and a subtropical climate that practically guarantees warm sunny days. On top of that it’s a great place to enjoy an afternoon on the water before hitting the town in the evening. Bonus fact: because Panama City Beach has the highest concentration of bottlenose dolphins your chances of watching some play in the waves are pretty high.

Day 7 Panama City Beach/Orlando
Let your inner child run wild as you head to the home of ‘The Most Magical Place on Earth’, Orlando. With endless shopping, nightlife, and famous amusement parks like Disney World and Universal Studios there’s plenty to explore. So take that selfie you’ve always wanted with Cinderella’s Castle or sip on a butterbeer from Harry Potter World and make the most of your day together!

Day 8 Orlando/Los Angeles
Hop aboard a place and head to the City of Angels, Los Angeles. Enjoy a free evening to explore some of the most iconic celebrity enclaves in the U.S. Visit the Santa Monica Pier, walk the boardwalk at Venice Beach, or make the trek out to Hollywood.

Day 9 Los Angeles/Lake Havasu
Wake up in the “City of Angels” before heading inland to the desert. Don't forget to watch for celebrities on the way out of California's most glamorous city. Gear up for your visit to Joshua Tree National Park. It might be short and sweet but no less impactful. Trek amongst the boulders and famous Joshua trees and find the unexpected beauty and serenity of such a barren landscape. Then cool off with some of your buddies in the crystal-clear waters off Lake Havasu.

Day 10 Lake Havasu/Grand Canyon
Start your day by visiting London Bridge (an exact 1800s replica shipped to Arizona from London) before heading off to Grand Canyon National Park. Grab a buddy or set off on your own into one of the deepest canyons in the world. Flip a coin to decide if you should hike along the rim or down into the canyon itself (just remember if you hike down you must hike up). All that effort will be worth it because guess what? You will get to enjoy a pizza dinner at the rim while watching sun set before you. The South Rim might end up being the best spot you have ever eaten a slice of 'za!

Day 11 Grand Canyon/Las Vegas
Another day, another adventure! Not feeling a hike this morning? That's cool, you have the option to splurge on an unforgettable helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. Get ready to feel incredibly small as the world opens up at your feet. Then cruise along historic Route 66 en route to... Vegas baby! Discover ghost towns and funky roadside attractions and bask in the fading sun as you head into “Sin City”. Explore the Las Vegas strip for a truly unforgettable evening of fun with your fellow trip mates. If you decide you want to cruise Vegas in style head out on an optional VIP party limo ride.

Day 12 Las Vegas/Sierra Nevadas
Experience a land of extremes in Death Valley National Park. Visit the driest, the hottest, and the lowest places in the U.S. From Badwater Basin to Zabriskie Point and Dante's View to Furnace Creek – it is easy to fall in love with this desolate landscape. The adventure doesn't stop here you'll continue on to Bishop for a night of campfires, stories, and don't forget s'mores!

Day 13 Sierra Nevadas/Yosemite National Park
Yosemite can best be described as out of this world. Catch a glimpse of the beauty on the drive from Bishop through the Sierra Nevadas along Tioga Pass. Once in the park itself let your mind wander as you hike past roaring waterfalls and giant sequoias. Gaze in wonder at Yosemite's magnificent peaks and granite domes before turning your attention to the tranquil nature of the valley floor. Snap photos or simply take in the splendour of one of the country's most beautiful national parks.

Day 14 Yosemite National Park/San Francisco
Catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge on the way into one of America's most popular cities. Even though the trip ends on arrival the fun doesn’t have to stop just yet. Ride a cable car, walk down winding Lombard Street, indulge in some erotic shaped treats in the Castro District, get lost at the botanical garden, chill out at Baker's Beach, and simply enjoy being in the moment.