Western USA by car

Stovepipe Wells

Nevada, Arizona, California... Three states that are best visited by car.

If you can choose a rental car on several websites, if you can get a discount by booking it while booking a flight, I like to compare the prices on sites like Priceline, where you can name your own price, or vroomvroomvroom.com, for any country in the world.

Like for flights, you need to make sure every additionnal fees are included in the price. And don't assume the smallest cars will be the cheapest.

Note you may have a surcharge if you wish to drop the car in a different place than the pick-up place. The fees might be worth it if you don't want to go back to your starting point. It is impossible to name you price on Priceline if don't drop the car where you picked it up.

I for one had a better deal with a bigger car in Las Vegas. But that meant paying more for the fuel. Choosing a company located outside of the airport also helped getting a better price.

For the insurance, make sure your credit card doesn't cover you before accepting to pay a surcharge. Your own car insurance may or may not cover the responsability too. Check that before you leave on your trip.

Idiot tip : in very warm states, think about the A/C... and choose the color wisely. This idiot, had he thought about it, would not have chosen a black Mistubishi.

In Las Vegas

True you don't need to drive in Las Vegas. The main boulevard (the Strip) has shuttles and a monorail. The traffic lights make you go slowly anyway. But being behind the wheel helps getting away from the bling-bling. Like if you want to go to Red Rock Canyon. Most casinos have a free parking... which is technically for clients. But in Vegas, we're always a client in every casino aren't we?

The Grand Canyon

True also it is possible to book a tour to the grand Canyon. Once again, the car means freedom. It will cost 25 $ for each car to get in the park. The permit is valid for seven days. Then you can beat the crowd for sunrise, leave any time you want or drive from the South Rim to Desert View Watch Tower.

If you plan on visiting some other national parks, you could get a discount on a package ticket. With Zion, Antelope Canyon, Glenn Canyon or Death Valley, all very close, you might want to consider it.

Death Valley

Death Valley without a car? Never. Because it's a desert. Because the fun part is going from one point to another on the road. Because you can't get there with public transportation... or hitchiking.

The price to get in the park is 20 $.

If you go in winter, think about renting a higher car and decide if you need winter tires...

The coast

The West Coast is totally worth it. Road 1goes along the Pacific Ocean in California to merge on Highway 101 all the way to Canada. Small cities along the way might be worth a pit stop. But one must consider it takes more time to drive on that road than on the boring but direct highway.

Note the fuel price varies in every state. It is cheaper to get it in Las Vegas than in San Francisco, for example. Knowing that, you can save depending on your strategy.

A lot of gaz stations will ask you to pay before you start fueling. Paying cash, sometimes, might be cheaper. If you plan on using a credit card, they might ask for an american zip code on the pump or an ID if you pay inside.

Pit stop in Death Valley

Death Valley National Park

There is a lot of national parks in the Grand Canyon area. Other visitors wouldn't stop talking about those in Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California. But one has to choose and to like driving to have a good time.

After leaving Tusayan, I got back in Las Vegas, something like four hours later. The plan : find cheap tickets for O, another Cirque du Soleil show.

After I found a closed Tix4Tonight desk, I decided to embrace my backpacker status and to save money. I went back to the hostel and left to visit casinos with a German tourist I just met. Biggest win : 4,50 $. But I lost it all after that. Poor me! Good news are, for drinkers, alcohol is free as long as you play on slot machines... and if you leave the waitress a tip.

The next morning, I said goodbye to Vegas and left for Death Valley. There, temperature is no joke. It is the warmest place in North America. January, in a t-shirt... in a dark car. Will have to review my strategy when choosing a rental car.

Strolling in Death Valley is obviously done by car. With frequent stops to look at the landscape. With a "detour" on the 178, instead of taking the shortest road by the 127, from the South, I felt alone in this world. You can walk in the middle of the road without any problem. And the view is very nice.

Well... In a curve, a few coyotes ran to my car. They looked like they've been fed by humans before. They circled my car, looked at me throught the window for a couple of minutes and understood they would get nothing from me. They let me go. Mip! Mip!

I stopped at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North American, 86 meters under sea level.

The sun setting slowly, I drove through Artist's Drive, where I came face to face... with a guy from Victoriaville. Was a perfect place to see the sunset. Artist's Palette, during the day, is breathtaking because of the colours in the rock. With a little chance, you can even listen to real silence.

For the sunrise, Zabriskie Point is recommended, The shadows on the dunes, for those who manage to stay one or two hours, are worth it. With a little more time, Eureka sand dunes offer a great escape too.

Note the hotels are expensive in the valley, but may be worth to spend one night. Camping sites may be cheaper. Gaz price is out of this world. More than 5 $ a gallon in Furnace Creek or Stovepipe Wells. Same for the food.

Visiting in January seemed like a good idea. They say they sometimes refuse to rent Jeeps in summer in fear of tourist dying from a heath stroke in the middle of nowhere.

In winter, it is recommended to be careful on the icy roads... when you drive on one. Which wasn't my case. I just wonder if they are really that dangerous or if it's just because people there are not used to snow and ice when they drive.

Leaving again

Gilly is ready to go.

After a five months hiatus, the time to leave again has come.... Already? Not too soon I'm tempted to say.

They say the best way to conquer a fear is to face it. The best way to get over a trip might be to travel again. We'll see.

In a few hours, I'll be flying to Las Vegas. Not exactly an adventure like the one I lived last year. But the concept was a road trip across Nevada, Arizona and California. With an Australian friend I met traveling. That sounds more like an adventure.

But things happen and I'll go solo. Too bad! Same road, same destinations. Can't wait for others to come with you they say.

I still have some fears. Irrational ones, like being afraid of boredom and the discomfort to leave alone (!), and the more rationals, like being afraid of being a grandpa in a Vegas hostel, where other guests will probably be wilder than me. Hostel in Vegas, we'll see what it's like. With a little luck, I'll find some partners to share the road to the Grand Canyon.

Also in the plan : a detour in Death Valley, a stop in Los Angeles, where I should spend some time with a friend I met in Jordan, and a drive on the californian coast to San José, where I should reunite with a friend I met in Greece.

If I was really lucky, the Los Angeles Kings would start their season on the day I get in LA. Everybody, let's ask the Universe! Haha!

Tip

In the category "search for promo codes on Google before booking anything", I found the website broke.travel which, for now, helps me save the booking fees on hostelworld.com