Visit New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Dude Ranch, Amarillo, Route 66, Santa Fe, Monument Valley, The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas & Los Angeles.
Are you looking to cross the USA from New Orleans to Los Angeles? Then take this popular road trip, which starts in The Big Easy on the banks of the Mississippi and then ventures across the southern States of America to finish in The City of Angels on the West Coast. NOLA to LA in 18 (or more) epic days and nights.
Key road trip highlights:
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We’ll suggest properties to match your preferred budget, be it low-cost, mid-range or high-end luxury that you’re looking for. We can also mix it up so you’ll experience a range of standards and experiences along your road trip.
All of our American road trips can be tailored to meet your requirements. Do you have more or less than 18 days for your road trip? No problem, we can bolt on extra nights to allow more time to explore or shorten the number of destinations as required.
Fly directly from London to New Orleans and settle into one of the many charming French Quarter hotels. Built on the mouth of the Mississippi River, the city has seen a lot of changes in recent years, with the regeneration work bringing out the best of the “Big Easy” character.
Built on the mouth of the Mississippi, New Orleans is the home of the jazz, voodoo and the craziness that is Mardi Gras. The French Quarter offers so much charm, and it’s a great place to take a walking tour, sampling fantastic food and live music as you stroll.
Start the drive from New Orleans to Los Angeles by heading up the Great River Road to historic Baton Rouge on the banks of the Mississippi. Visit the impressive Oak Alley Plantation (pictured), which sits handsomely on this famous route. After a tasty lunch and a quick tour of the Louisiana State Capital, you’ll turn west and take the speedy and scenic I-10 West to find the undiscovered gem that is Lafayette. Complete the day by spending the late afternoon exploring the Bayou Landscapes found at Lake Martin or in Chicot State Park.
Spend the morning in Cajun Country, if you wish, before heading west to Houston in Texas. As you approach Houston, you can visit the NASA Johnson Space Center, where you can witness the thrills of being an astronaut, gape at gigantic space rockets or stand in the location which oversaw the moon landings and Apollo 13. The sprawling city of Houston has excellent museums, dining and shopping options, and it’s a truly cosmopolitan metropolis. The fourth largest city in the US, with towering skyscrapers dominating downtown Magnolia City.
Spend the morning in Houston before continuing west to the home of Texas BBQ. It would be best if you skipped breakfast today so that you can indulge in a mouthwatering BBQ lunch in Luling or Lockhart before moving on to Capitol City of Texas, cool and happening Austin. Austin is the self-proclaimed live music capital of the world; it also has a legendary food scene and loves anything that’s a little offbeat – its unofficial motto is “Keep Austin Weird”. Multiple breweries of the highest quality are also found here, complementing the exotic cuisine served by the food trucks.
Why not start by exploring the Texas State Capitol grounds or visiting Austin’s notable galleries and museums? How about a refreshing swim to cool off? Then, dive into the Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park if this appeals. Finish your day off in the bustling bars, restaurants and entertainment venues found on Sixth Street after checking out the nightly flights of the free-tailed bats that call Congress Avenue Bridge home.
Arrive in the neighbouring cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. Today, you’ll start by exploring Dallas, with a past and present rich in what American legends are made of. The ‘Big D’ is famous for its contributions to popular culture – notably the Cowboys and their cheerleaders, and Dallas, the TV series that once was a worldwide symbol of the USA. Check out the Reunion Tower, which gives you a 360-degree view of the city from its observation deck. Further highlights include The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, chronicling JFK’s assassination and its aftermath. Check out Deep Ellum; this former warehouse district is home to live music, brewpubs and restaurants with incredible barbecue and Tex-Mex.
Put on your cowboy hat and spend a while discovering Fort Worth’s Wild West heritage and highlights. Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District is the primary draw here, where you can watch a cattle parade and maybe even a live rodeo. Finish the day (or night) off with a visit to the iconic watering hole that is Billy Bob’s Texas, the largest Honky Tonk on the planet. Be sure to practice your line dancing and even bull riding before you arrive.
Want even more Texas fun? Then why not stay a night or two on a Dude Ranch like Wildcatter Ranch in Graham, TX. Enjoy a sunset horseback ride, clay shooting, axe throwing and more. Like every stop on every road trip we create, this destination can be removed or extended to meet your likes and preferences. Just let us know if you want to skip the ranch experience or extend it when you request your personalised quote.
We’ll show you the way to Amarillo today; as always, your meticulous Road Trip Pack will detail a recommended route along with all the things you can see and do along today’s route. Finish the day’s drive by joining historic Route 66 in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. Cadillac Ranch, just outside Amarillo, is a classic, fun Route 66 stop that’s not to be missed.
Cruise west along an old section of the original “Mother Road” to find the Spa Town of Santa Fe. Art lovers should visit The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum whilst in town. It’s a beautiful celebration of her life’s work and her love for the State of New Mexico.
More Wild West scenery today as you continue west to the magical landscape of Monument Valley, which sits on the border between Arizona and Utah. It’s a long drive today, but it’s a scenic cruise for most of the route. At its conclusion, you’ll be rewarded with an awe-inspiring sight as you witness the sunset over the proud and majestic “Mittens” of Monument Valley. This is another chance to prove your photography skills, as the landscape and sky turn to every shade of orange and red.
The world’s biggest and most famous geological wonder is just staggering. Two billion years in the making, the Colorado River has forged a mile deep, 18 miles wide and 277 mile long gouge into northern Arizona. Tonight, you’ll stay in the heart of this incredible National Park, close to the canyon’s rim. Our Road Trip Experts will help you decide whether the North or South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the best overnight stop for your party.
The penultimate stop on your epic adventure today… Las Vegas. After checking into your luxury Las Vegas hotel, get dressed up and hit Sin City’s fabulous casinos, bars and restaurants. Alternatively, take this time to relax around the pool at your hotel; after a few days of driving, the chance to unwind and rest for a few days might be the ticket.
Stretch your legs with a stroll along the legendary ‘Las Vegas Strip’, grab tickets to one of the incredible shows or shop til you drop in one of the many malls. We highly recommend visiting one of the over-the-top buffets found here. Just make sure you’re hungry when you go; the range, quality and quantity of food is truly remarkable.
If you’d like, we can add in an overnight stay in Palm Springs en route; whilst this will improve the drive, Palm Springs is a beautiful desert city, and it will give you more time to visit Joshua Tree National Park; just let us know if this appeals when you request your quote. Once you’ve settled into your LA hotel, stay close to the recently found coastline, exploring Santa Monica or Venice Beach by bike, foot or car. Alternatively, you can head for the Hollywood Hills to visit the Griffith Observatory for incredible views of the City of Angels. Nearby Hollywood Boulevard is a tacky but essential celebrity fan pilgrimage that’s not to be missed.
There’s plenty to keep you busy in Los Angeles. Downtown, the Grand Central Market is a superb place to grab breakfast from one of the local vendors. Nearby is the Los Angeles Art District, which is great to explore on foot. The Broad and Walt Disney Concert Hall (pictured) are just some of the iconic buildings in this part of town.
Spend the day relaxing by the pool on a beach, or head out to sample more of the iconic sites of Los Angeles. One of our favourite places to visit when we’re in town is the extraordinary Getty Center, located in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Your detailed Road Trip Pack will explain how to visit this attraction and all the other essential places to see in La La Land.
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You’ll find answers to most of your questions right here. If you still need assistance, Feel free to get in touch, and we’ll be sure to get back to you promptly!
Not a problem. If you are lucky enough to have extra time to explore more places or add more rest days, then just let us know and we’ll adjust your trip to match your preferred timescale.
We strongly advise that you purchase travel insurance for your holiday to cover you against medical expenses, theft and other financial costs. Should you need to cancel before travelling, some insurance policies may pay out for any loss of funds that have been paid to us and which cannot be refunded under our cancellation policy.
Many of our trips have a different end destination than the starting point, so this is not a problem. Please note a fee sometimes applies for one-way rentals between other regions or states, which will be paid to the supplier directly when collecting the vehicle. We’ll endeavour to inform you of this charge within your quote.
No, far from it. We work with a range of properties from 3* to 5*, so we can adapt the trip to match most budgets. We have access to rooms in more than 800 hotels, motels, lodges and B&Bs across North America.
The minimum age to rent a car is 21 in the United States or Canada, although, in addition, any drivers under 25 years of age will generally incur a surcharge.
Please use the form below to request a quote from our team. Fields marked with an * are mandatory. Please note that we currently only serve customers based in the UK & The EU.
Not quite what you’re looking for? Get in touch to discuss your Bespoke Road Trip plans, or check out these similar road trip itineraries…
ARTCo customers can be confident that we only work with the very best service providers, such as Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Alamo. Any payments made to us are fully protected via the government’s ATOL scheme (Flight packages) or Financial Failure Insurance (Non-Flight Packages).
