Denver to San Francisco: National Parks and National Icons

The quickest route between Denver and the National Dinosaur Monument covers 375 kilometres; a trip that will take roughly 4.5 hours. This leg of your motorhome itinerary starts and ends in the same place, but covers almost twice the distance and takes twice the time - and leaves both your memory bank and photo album significantly richer for it. You’ll start off in Colorado’s colourful capital before veering south on a detour that will take you through Colorado Springs and its countless historic, natural and adventure attractions. You’ll tire yourself out then recuperate in hot springs more than once on this leg as you delve beneath the ground, climb to the highest of mountains and soak in natural thermal pools. All of that, and it’s only just the beginning!
 
Denver, Colorado, is the state’s capital and one of those rare places where the outdoors endlessly beckon you to indulge in every adventure and leisure activity under the sun - literally. The city is an ideal spot to start a road trip in Colorado thanks to its central location, but don’t forget to spend some time here before hitting the road. For example, how could you leave Denver before checking out the Denver Botanic Gardens? Not your average gardens, this area is one of the top-ranked in the country, and covers 23 acres with various themed areas, a conservatory, and live outdoor events throughout summer. Get a feel for the city’s vibe with a stroll through lower downtown (LoDo) and see how history meets modern culture with classic architecture from the 19th century, the famous Tattered Cover bookstore (one of the biggest independents in the country), and endless brewpubs with live music for all your dining and drinking needs. While you’re there, make a stop at the Denver Aquarium to meet more than 500 species of animals, then enjoy a unique meal in the facility’s full-service restaurant. And if you time your trip just right, you might be in town to watch the Colorado Rockies take on an opponent at the Coors Field, the home of Denver’s thriving baseball scene. Plus, if you really get your timing right, you might be in town for the annual Great American Beer Festival, which is usually held in early August and features many of the best craft breweries in Colorado and from around the country. 
 
All of that will just about cover it for Denver’s modern-day culture, but the city is equally packed with history that even the non-historians will want to see. Anyone who has seen Titanic (which is pretty much everyone) will enjoy a stop at the Molly Brown House Museum, which is an ode to this larger-than-life activist and philanthropist who was personified in the film as the cheeky and sharp ‘Unsinkable’ Molly Brown. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science will give you a natural perspective of the state’s history, and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will add a touch of beauty and religion to your trip. This massive cathedral is almost 100 years old and is a ‘mother church’ for 144 other parishes in the region. As a fitting goodbye to Denver before you begin your Colorado to California road trip, make one final stop at the Forney Museum of Transportation to see just how far travel has come! 
 
When you leave Denver, the most direct route would be to head west - but as usual, the most direct route is simply not the most interesting. Instead, take the I-25 south to Colorado Springs. 
 
Before you reach the centre of Colorado Springs, take a turn off to the Garden of the Gods. If the name itself doesn’t give it away, it’s a place so magnificent that it’s worthy of the gods themselves. It’s known largely for its red rock formations, and was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Some of the best sites in the park include the Balancing Rock - a hulking chunk of earth precariously balanced upon another rock, the Three Graces - a trio of tall red rock spires, and the Sentinel Spires. As well as these fantastic natural formations, the park is filled with outdoor activities to get even closer with nature. You can rock climb, hike, bike, or take a jeep tour through the park. Plus, a visit to the info centre will reveal a 15-minute Geo-Trekker Movie that covers a billion years of geological history and explains how the area came to be as we see it today. And in case you’d like to spend a little extra time here, there is an RV park on West Colorado Avenue right next to the entrance to the Garden of the Gods. 
 
Colorado Springs is a small town at the base of the Rockies, and it’s a great place to base yourself for a few days of adventures in this dynamic region. While you’re in the city itself, discover your inner historian at the Glen Eyrie, a fantastic Tudor-style castle that was built in 1903. You can take the 90-minute tour ($9 per adult) for the history of the castle or a rock tour to see the geology of the site, or even stay the night so you can tick ‘being a king/queen’ off your bucket list. Colorado Springs is also where you’ll find the United States Air Force Academy, and you can visit this National Historic Landmark between the hours of 9am and 5pm. If you’re really into your aviation, this is also the site of the National Museum of World War II Aviation, where there are 22 flyable aircraft (one of the largest collections in the country) and a number of vehicles, uniforms and other items of interest. Like many American towns, there’s a historic district here called Old Colorado City, which dates back to 1859 and is full of awesome shopping opportunities and a fantastic laid-back vibe year round. 
 
Only a little out of Colorado Springs (approx 15 minutes) is the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. With roughly 150 species (but 750 animals), this zoo is something very special: it’s the only one in the country found on a mountain. It’s even home to one of the largest giraffe herds in the world. The zoo is specially geared towards kids, as there are several experiences just for children such as pony rides, a carousel and a chance to hand feed birds in the aviary. That said, there are plenty of fun things to do for grown-ups as well - from giraffe feeding to a chairlift ride over the zoo for a bird’s eye view of the animals and the city sprawled out from the base of the mountain. The zoo is open throughout the year.
 
Leaving Colorado Springs will be tough, but you can rest easy knowing that Manitou Springs is only 15 minutes up the road. There are a number of places where you can soak in the natural hot springs, such as SunWater Spa or at the Manitou Springs Resort. However, it might be best to save this relaxing treat until after you’ve tackled the Manitou Springs Incline. This hike is only a mile long - but it’s just about vertical as it covers 2,000 feet in that time. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart but makes for a great workout that will have those legs literally aching for a soak in the springs back at the bottom again. If you liked Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs, you’ll love Manitou’s Miramont Castle Museum, a stunning old Victorian building filled with artifacts that you can tour through for a closer look. 
 
Spiking into the sky behind Manitou Springs is Pike’s Peak, one of the state’s ‘fourteeners’ (a peak that reaches more than 14,000 feet) and the most visited mountain in North America - second only in the world to Mt Fuji in Japan. Unless you’re prepared for an epic hike, you will likely visit this mountain the same way that more than half a million other people do each year, on the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway. This historic railway has just celebrated its 125th year in 2016, and it will take you on a three-hour ride across 8.9 miles of track and right to the top of the mountain. Along the way you’ll see everything from boulder fields and waterfalls to yellow-bellied marmots and Bighorn sheep. Once at the top, you’ll have roughly half an hour to admire the view before taking the train back down again. It might not seem like much time, but since the peak is at such a high altitude, some people can start experiencing the effects of altitude sickness at this point and will need to come back down anyway! 
 
Before you leave this enchanting area, you’ve got one more stop - this time you’ll be heading underground at the Cave of the Winds. Located at Williams Canyon just out of Manitou Springs, this cave offers three tour options to suit you and your travelling companions. The discovery tour is an easy 45-minute guided walk through the systems, while a lantern tour will take 1.5 hours and is only lit by the light of your hand-held lanterns. For those looking to really get into the caves, a caving 101 tour will have you crawling and walking through the system with nothing more than a flashlight for two hours. No matter which option you’re into, you’ll learn all about the Cave of the Winds, which was discovered in 1881 and remains as one of the highest systems in the states at 7,000 feet. 
 
From here, enjoy a scenic drive north-west following Route 24 before turning off onto Route 82 just after Twin Lakes.
 
As it’s Colorado, it would almost be rude not to stop off at one of the many ski resorts dotted around the state. Together, they’re known for some of the best adventure activities throughout the year - in winter and summer - and there just so happens to be a main resort along your route. Aspen, Colorado is a stunning resort town, and a perfect place to stop for a day or two to enjoy its outdoor activities. If you’re there during winter or spring, a day on the slopes on any one of the four mountains is a must-do whether you’re an absolute beginner or a seasoned pro. Throughout summer, the mountains will call to you just as much (if not more so for warm-weather fans), as you can take the lifts to the top to see the wildflowers, play a round or two of disc golf, hike, bike, and enjoy sun-soaked meals overlooking the township. 
 
After Aspen, it’s more than likely that your muscles will again be aching after some serious physical activity. For your final stop on this leg of your Denver to San Francisco motorhome trip, stop off at Glenwood Springs, home to another of the state’s fantastic natural thermal pools.  The Glenwood Hot Springs Pool is the largest mineral hot springs in the world, where the Yampah spring produces 3 million gallons of water every single day. Plus, the water is naturally a piping hot 122 degrees Fahrenheit (or 50 degrees Celsius), which also makes it one of the hottest in the world (but don’t worry, they cool the water slightly to make it comfortable). There are two waterslides that operate throughout summer for the young ones, and the pools are open until 10pm daily throughout the year so you can enjoy an evening soak after a long day. This makes for a perfect stop to reflect on this epic leg of the trip.

Get ready to step back in time, because Leg Two of your motorhome itinerary is going to take you back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Western Utah was under water, and the Arches National Park was much the same as it is now. You’ll start out at the National Dinosaur Monument and see countless real life fossils, and later in the leg you’ll visit a place with more real dinosaur bones than anywhere else. Of course, you’ll get to enjoy a serving of the present mixed with the past in Salt Lake City, where fantastic old temples sit alongside bustling shopping areas. If there’s one thing to keep in mind for this leg, it’s to bring plenty of water, especially if you’re travelling during the warmer months. You can dehydrate quickly, and you’ll need all your energy to make the most of this leg and get out to explore! 
 
Young or old, nobody can resist the pull of a good dinosaur exhibition, and they don’t get much better than the National Dinosaur Monument on the border of Colorado and Utah. This isn’t just a museum of ‘skeletons’ made from plastic, but a place where dinosaurs really once roamed - and you can tell because of all the real fossils! You can see fossils clearly embedded into the rockfaces, and get a real feel for how big these giants once were. In fact, there are more than 1,500 specimens in the Quarry Exhibit Hall. Plus, you can head out with a park ranger for a guided tour of the quarry on the Utah side, where you’ll get to see and learn more of these magnificent extinct beasts. As well as dinosaur fossils, the area is rich in petroglyphs (art carved into the rock) and pictographs (art painted onto the rock). The closest one is at Swelter Shelter just 200 feet from the parking area, and you can see more in the region with directions from the visitor centre. For the adventurous, take a trip on a raft or boat on the Green and Yampa Rivers to see more of this stunning area. At the end of your visit, pick from any one of the six campgrounds dotted around the monument (there are three on the Colorado side and three on the Utah side) to spend the night. 
 
On one side, Salt Lake City is bordered by the massive Great Salt Lake (more on that later), and on the other lies the massive Wasatch mountain range. The overall visual effect is something on the edge of reality. The main attraction within the city itself is Temple Square - a 10-acre area rather than your typical ‘square’ - that’s named for its famous Salt Lake Temple. This towering structure was completed in 1893 and stands as one of the most beautiful buildings in the city by far. Unfortunately, you cannot tour inside the Latter-day Saints temple, but a walk around is still a treat. The square is also home to an 11-foot statue of Jesus Christ, the Family History Library (which contains the world’s largest collection of genealogical resources), and the Salt Lake Tabernacle (where you can watch a beautiful performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir). In all, there are almost 20 attractions in the square related to Mormon history, and each one is as visually stunning as it is fascinating. Another popular spot is the City Creek Center, an atmospheric open-air shopping district not far from Temple Square where you can shop, eat and drink, and admire the architecture all in the same place. 
 
Naturally, one of the biggest attractions of Salt Lake City is the Great Salt Lake itself. It measures 120 kilometres long by 48 kilometres wide - or, to put that into perspective, it’s bigger than Delaware. There are ten islands within the lake and somewhere in the vicinity of 4.5 to 4.9 billion tons of salt. Thanks to that high salt content, you can easily float in this water (especially in the north arm, which is twice as salty as the south). As with any body of water, there are a number of activities to try on the lake (in addition to simply floating around and marvelling at its saltiness!). Hiking and cycling around the shoreline are popular activities for the views alone, but this also helps you get a better look at the old Lake Bonneville shoreline that covered a huge chunk of western Utah - you can still see some of it on the mountainside terraces today! For boat excursions, head to the Great Salt Lake Marina to hire a kayak or take a sunset cruise. Because of the high salt content, you’d be lucky to find anything worth fishing in this lake, so you can leave your rods in the motorhome for this one! 
 
Once you’ve had your fill of the salty lake and its city, drive south on the I-15, turning off at Spanish Fork for Route 89 and the eventual road to the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry. 
 
Even though you’ve already seen the Dinosaur Monument, the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry is still worth the slight detour. Why? Because it has the densest collection of Jurassic-aged dinosaur bones ever found. More than 74 dinosaurs ended up here, leaving behind more than 12,000 bones that have now been excavated. You can see real bones in the Butler Buildings and walk one of the three hiking tracks on site to learn more about the history and geology of the area. You’ll also have to visit the on-site museum to see some of these bones reassembled into the gigantic beasts that once roamed in what is now modern-day Utah. You might even spend time trying to deduce exactly why so many dinosaurs came to rest in this spot, as even though many scientists have put forth educated guesses, no one is really sure exactly what happened to bring so many to one place. 
 
Rejoin the main road south, and head to the Arches National Park just 8 kilometres from the city of Moab. This park holds another title unclaimed by anywhere else in the world as the spot with the largest concentration of natural sandstone arches. While that sounds impressive enough in writing, it’s nothing on the experience of being there and seeing them for yourself. For a fee of $25 per vehicle, you can enter this park and stay for up to seven days exploring and enjoying the surreal landscapes around you. The Scenic Drive covers 58 kilometres and is an ideal way to get acquainted with your surroundings without even leaving your campervan. Once you’ve completed the drive (it will only take 2-3 hours), head out of the vehicle and start hiking. Some of the more famous arches include the Double O Arch, Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch and Tower Arch, and you can see many of them on the longer walking routes in the park. Note that the park attracts more than a million visitors each year, so if you prefer to enjoy the area with fewer crowds, aim to get there early (before 8am) - naturally, the sunrises and sunsets are also the best times to see the magnificent red rock light up with the sun. You can stay in the Devil’s Garden Campground roughly 30 kilometres from the park, or in the nearby town of Moab. 
 
From here, it’s a short drive over to the Canyonlands National Park, and the next leg of your campervan tour.

When you begin leg three of your Denver to San Francisco motorhome tour, you’ll quickly see what makes Utah so memorable. Here, it’s less about the cities and towns, and all about the natural landscapes that will take your breath away in one moment, then have you pulling out your camera the next. In fact, this entire portion of the trip consists entirely of state parks, national parks, and monuments, including some of the oldest and most popular in the US. These parks are ideal for hikers with endless trails offering access to extra hidden gems, but you can just as easily make the most of them from the comfort of your RV. Be sure to stock up on water whenever you get the chance, and don’t forget that a few of these areas get cold enough over winter for snow! 
 
Canyonlands National Park seems more like something cooked up in a particularly creative author’s mind than anything from this planet. There are gorges, cliffs, spires, mountains, rocky sculptures and everything in between, all of it bathed in a rich red hue. This is truly the wild west and there’s no way to prepare yourself for it - so it’s best to simply dive in. The entire park covers more than 337,000 acres, but a good place to start is at ‘Island in the Sky’, as it’s the most accessible. This paved, scenic drive will show you some of the highlights in the park and will give you access to a handful of the hikes. It’s important to note that some areas, such as the White Rim Road and The Needles will require four-wheel-drive vehicles, so don’t be tempted to make the trip if you’re in an everyday motorhome. Should you wish to see the more rugged and remote areas of the park, consider taking an expert-led tour. You can choose from 4WD tours, as well as white-water rafting canoeing, and mountain biking. There are two campsites in the Canyonlands, one at The Needles and the other at Island in the Sky. There aren’t any restaurants or lodges in the park, so be sure to stock up on supplies if you’re planning to stay a while!
 
From here, get back on the I-70 and head west before turning off onto Route 72 to get to the Bryce Canyon National Park. 
 
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you’ll arrive at the Bryce Canyon National Park and once again be awed by the sight. Before you arrive, it’s important that you know what a ‘hoodoo’ is. A hoodoo is a pillar that has been left standing from erosion, and while you might find them all over the world, you won’t find anywhere else with this many in one place. There are forests of them throughout the canyon, and once again each one is made of brilliant red rock that’s stunning by day and unbelievable at sunrise and sunset. Because of this, staying in the campground isn’t just an option, it’s highly recommended so that you get the chance to see this wonderful sight. You might also enjoy hiking in the area. There are options for quick 1-mile walks, 11-mile treks and everything in between. During such outings, look out for bristlecone pines, which are another famous attraction here. These trees can grow to be immensely old, with some of them reaching ages of around 5,000 years. The Bryce Ampitheatre is easily the most popular attraction - and for good reason - so don’t miss the chance to see it just southwest of the visitors’ centre. One more thing about Bryce Canyon - it can get very cold, and it even snows in winter, so come prepared!
 
You haven’t got far to travel to your next stop at the Cedar Breaks National Monument. Rather than a full national park, this area is smaller at just 25 square kilometres. The main attraction is the huge natural ampitheatre made of bright red and orange rock, but there are a number of other fantastic reasons to stop by. Firstly, this park is much less well known than the major sites like Canyonlands and Bryce Canyon, so you’ll be less likely to arrive amidst crowds of people. As well as that, there are activities and events throughout summer and winter to keep you on your toes. In summer, there are regular ‘star parties’ where you can head along at night-time to make the most of the impossibly clear skies and check out the stars with free telescopes provided. There’s an annual Wildflower Festival held every July (although you can see these beautiful plants throughout the warmer months), as well as a Plein Air Art Event that runs through July and September. If you miss all that fun and arrive in winter, you’ve still got plenty to get excited about - the high elevation of the Cedar Breaks National Monument means snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing are all on the cards. Plus, there’s a campground on site should you wish to stay a night or two. 
 
Head back to Route 89 and turn off onto Route 9. You’re well and truly on your way out of Utah now, but there’s one more stop you’ll need to make before leaving the state. 
 
The Zion National Park is the kind of destination that turns up on top 10 lists of ‘most beautiful places in the world’, but that you don’t think you’ll ever actually get the chance to see for yourself. The name itself means heavenly city, and it’s both the oldest National Park in terms of when it was designated (1919) and oldest in terms of the geology, which sets it at roughly 150 million years. It’s the most popular in the state for visitors with roughly 3 million stopping by every year (that’s roughly the same as the entire population of Utah), but don’t let a few people stop you from making the trip. You’ve got most of the same leisure activities here as you would expect such as ATV tours, guided treks and horseback riding, but really, this park is all about the views. Sit still or see more of it on a walk - so long as you soak up as much as possible you won’t regret your visit. Also, note that shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) will be best if you want to avoid the bulk of the crowds but still arrive when it’s nice and warm.

This leg is a long one, but you’ll have ample opportunities to break it up into bite-sized chunks. For example, one of the biggest attractions in the US - the Grand Canyon - will likely slow you down for a couple of days as you explore its nooks and crannies through walks, biking tours and perhaps even a ride on a mule. From there, you’ll check out two of Nevada’s other biggest attractions - the city of Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam. Between these three sites, you’ll get a great picture of the state, from epic natural scenery, to historic man-made structures, to the glitz and glamor of the City That Never Sleeps. Finally, you’ll cross the border into California, stop off at a couple of interesting sites, and arrive in the City of Angels - Los Angeles. 
 
Welcome to Nevada! The Valley of Fire State Park is the last of its kind on this trip. But before you start thinking you might have seen enough parks for one vacation, steel yourself for one last stop and you won’t be disappointed. You’ve got a little bit of everything at this 150-million-year-old park, from a history of dinosaurs and 3,000-year-old Indian petroglyphs to awesome camping opportunities and a modern visitors’ centre for more information and guides on the location. The name, as you may have guessed, comes from the red rock formations found in abundance throughout the area. By now, you’ll be quite familiar with this beautiful geology, so you might even be able to spot the shales, limestones and conglomerates. As well as rocks, you may even spot some of the local wildlife such as coyote, kit foxes, and spotted skunks. A rarer (and even more special) sight is the desert tortoise, which is protected by state law. Note that there’s an entrance fee to this park and that RV sites with water and power will cost an extra $10. 
 
When you think of bucket list items - especially those that are places you want to see - the Grand Canyon is often high on that list. Even its name doesn’t do it justice, as this canyon covers 446 kilometres along its base, and is up to 29 kilometres wide in some parts. The deepest section of the canyon is a phenomenal 1.6 kilometres. To put that in perspective, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world - but it’s still only half the height of the canyon. No numbers or description will ever come close to describing the Grand Canyon, and even the photos are but a shadow of the real thing. The only option is to see it for yourself. There are a number of ways to see the canyon, so it will really depend on how active you want to be, how much you want to see, and possibly also your budget. For example, one unique way to explore is on the back of a mule - although these are so popular that sometimes the tours will be booked out for a year in advance. Of course, there are a good supply of walking and biking tracks for you to get around on your own steam, and there’s even an ‘EarthCache’ activity here that works in the same way that Geocaching does, whereby you have to find certain points of interest and learn more about them once you get there. There are guided tours, special events and even art exhibits at the canyon, so be sure to check the website for upcoming activities you can enjoy when you arrive. To stay, book in at one of the campgrounds. There is one on the North Rim and one on the South Rim, although the North Rim Campground is only open May - October, while the South is open year-round. 
 
From one of Nevada’s top attractions to the next, the Hoover Dam is unmissable both in nature and geography - you will pass right by it on your drive through to Las Vegas. This dam was originally planned back in the early 1900s when the US Bureau of Reclamation decided it would be the perfect spot to create power from the Colorado River to supply the southwest region. It wasn’t until the mid 1930s that the structure was built (at which time it was the largest ever of its kind). The scale of this dam is massive - it’s 726 feet high and weighs more than 6,600,000 tons. You’ll learn all of this and more when you visit, drive over the top, take a tour and check out the visitor’s centre. Approximately one million people stop by every year, so it may pay to book in advance if you’re travelling during the busy (summer) season. 
 
If there were such a thing as a place to start in the endless excitement that is Las Vegas, it would be The Strip. This stretch of road is the rapidly beating heart of the city, with one hotel after another, a bar or nightclub every few steps, and entertainment in every direction you look. Start by driving up and down to get a feel for where everything is, then park your motorhome in a secure spot and try walking throughout this area. You can pick up tickets for one of the many live shows and concerts at cut-rate deals here, but be sure to look for ticket booths (rather than just buying off people on the street) to avoid being ripped off. The Strip is also where you’ll find casinos, so if you came to Vegas to try your luck, you’ll be spoiled for choice with establishments such as the Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino, The Luxor, and The Venetian to name a few. Another popular activity in Vegas is the chance to shoot a high-powered gun at one of the shooting ranges. An experienced instructor will set you up with all the equipment and safety advice you need, then you can take aim at targets in a safe environment. One of the big must-dos in the city is a spin on the ‘High Roller’ - it’s not a casino game, but rather a massive ferris wheel that will give you a relaxing break from the busyness of the city and a fabulous view of The Strip to boot. That said, if you like a view but prefer some adrenalin with it, book yourself a ride on the SlotZilla Zipline that starts 10 storeys in the air and flies you 1,750 feet over the Golden Gate casino. Las Vegas is non-stop, so keep up your water intake and do as much as you possibly can with your time here!
 
After Las Vegas, you’ll cross your final state line for the trip and enter California. Simply follow Route 15 all the way down to your next stop.
 
The All Saints Lunatic Asylum is every bit as fascinating and frightening as it sounds. The facility was once home to many patients when, roughly 50 years ago, the funding ran out and the doors were closed for good. It wasn’t until 2011 that those doors opened again, and gave the public a glimpse at what life would have been like for those living within its walls. With ‘therapy sessions’ ranging from electric shocks to isolation, the asylum wasn’t always the happiest of places, which is possibly why it still seems haunted to this day. Take a look at the laboratory, mortuary, cemetery and more as you scare yourselves silly and add a highly memorable stop to your campervan road trip in California. 
 
Today, the iconic golden arches of McDonald’s are known all over the world - but it had to start somewhere. That somewhere was in San Bernadino a little outside of Los Angeles in 1940, and it’s marked with a special McDonald’s Museum to this day. The site is free to enter from 10am to 5pm any day of the week, and it’s a good place to stop to stretch your legs and giggle over the old-school menus, giant hamburgers, and anything and everything McDonald’s related that you can imagine. Even for those who aren’t terribly interested in the current menus, this historic stop is worth it just to see how far the food chain has come.

It’s the final leg of your road trip, and it’s a beaut’. You start in one of the most iconic and famous cities in the United States (and the world) - and end in one. After miles of national parks and red rock, you’ll have the chance to tick off many of the country’s best and biggest attractions, from the Hollywood Boulevard right up to the Golden Gate Bridge. Along the way, you’ll add coastal scenery, sealife, a castle and more to your tour, making this an unforgettable drive with every turn of the wheel. While the Napa Valley will require a detour before you reach your final destination, you have every reason to take the time to rest and relax with a vino in hand in one of the premier wine destinations on the planet. 
 
Los Angeles is a place of movies, movie stars, and memories so unreal you’ll think you were watching a movie. The first place to go is straight up to Griffith Park to stretch your legs on the hiking trails above the city. It’s a great place to spot A-listers getting some fresh air, and if you make it to the Griffith Observatory, it’s one of the best places to see the iconic Hollywood Sign. Just like Las Vegas, the main street in Los Angeles also has its own pulling power - notably, Hollywood Boulevard. This is where you’ll find the long line of stars (there are more than 2,500 of them) on the ground on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and it’s also where you can ‘see’ the names behind the stars at the Hollywood Wax Museum. Nearby the wax museum are two more odd-but-awesome attractions; the Ripley’s Believe it or not Odditorium, and the Guinness Book of World Records Exhibition. Both of these facilities are a great example of the bizarre and fantastic craziness that is Los Angeles. For a touch of art and culture in your trip, take a look at what the Getty Center has on offer while you’re in town. There are often live performances and theatre productions through summer, as well as all the usual free art exhibits indoors. Finally, it wouldn’t be Hollywood without some good old fashioned celebrity stalking, so pick up a map of stars’ homes (you’ll see them everywhere in town) and take yourself on a tour to see what some of the biggest names in the biz go home to at the end of the day.
 
The handsome prince, the beautiful princess, the dreamy castle - there’s no company in the world as well known as Disney for its epic fairy tales and classic reimaginings. Disneyland, or Disneyland Park, is the epitome of all our favourite childhood films, and it’s found just outside of LA. From Beauty and the Beast to Peter Pan and more recent flicks such as Tangled and Frozen, this site is a fan favourite for the young and old alike. The park was opened in 1955 and has undergone many transformations and expansions since then. It now houses a number of ‘lands’ such as Adventureland, Tomorrowland, and Fantasyland. Each area offers a specific theme, and you can count on many princes and princesses (as well as other Disney characters) wandering around the park ready to meet the young ones and pose for photos with everyone. There will be rides suitable for all ages, from exciting but ultimately serene rides for the kids, to thrilling roller coasters for the older (and taller) ones. Note that you might be able to get tickets online for a little cheaper than at the gate, and afternoons (once all the kids have got tired and gone home) are often the quietest time of day to explore.
 
The Pacific Coast Highway - otherwise known as California State Highway 1 - is one long stretch of road that runs between Morro by the Bay (which is right next to LA), and Carmel (which is right next to San Francisco). This is the ribbon of road that will take you to your destination, and it just so happens to be so scenic and memorable that it’s officially been labelled as an ‘All-American Road’. The directions are simple: just follow the coast. As well as that, you might like to check out a few of the highway’s biggest attractions along the way. For example, Hearst Castle sits just off the road roughly halfway between the two cities, and is a grand example of an old mansion that has been beautifully restored - and fortunately for passers-by, is open for tours. Drive a little further along and you’ll see signs for the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. These huge creatures spend most of the year at sea, but they do come ashore twice per year, generally around mid-February and over the New Year. Big Sur, further along the drive, is arguably the most famous of the highway’s sites. This is the last section of the road before you reach Carmel, and is known for its ocean views, ragged cliffs and moody mists, as well as the beautiful Bixby Creek Bridge that’s worth a photo stop on its own. If you missed the elephant seals at the rookery, you still have another chance to see sealife up close at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. There are more than 600 species on display, including plenty of US natives and a collection of sea life from around the world. 
 
It’s been a long, long trip, and you’re almost at the end. But before you pull into your final destination in San Francisco, make time for a celebratory detour to the Napa Valley. The valley is one of the foremost wine-producing regions in the world, and it’s one of those names that you can trust to be delicious when you see it on a bottle. Naturally, it’s the perfect place to wind down your road trip with a few well-earned vinos and tasting platters to match. There are more than 400 wineries in the area, and with them come a plethora of leading restaurants, spas and tour options so that no one has to worry about driving. Some of the most notable names in wines in this area include the Castello di Amorosa (a real life castle), Alpha Omega (one of the easiest ones to get to along Highway 29), and Beringer (a name that needs no introduction to the seasoned wine connoisseur). 
 
It’s hard to say what exactly is San Francisco’s most iconic attraction. Is it the ruby red cable cars, the equally colourful Golden Gate Bridge, or perhaps Alcatraz Prison jutting out of the ocean in the bay? It may be more accurate to describe the city as a collection of fantastic sights and sites, each one as alluring as the last for its own unique reasons. While you will no doubt visit all of these during the last days of your vacation, don’t forget about all the smaller spots around the city. For example, many people will bike over San Francisco’s famous bridge and spend an afternoon or a day in cutesy Sausalito on the other shore. Drive a little further and you’ll find Muir Woods, a lush forest of gigantic redwood trees that you would never expect to find so close to the city. Fisherman’s Wharf is another lively area down on the waterfront, where you’ll be spoiled for choice for fresh seafood restaurants and endless souvenir stores to pick up some final mementos from the trip. And to truly test out your skill behind the wheel of your campervan, take a drive to Lombard Street. The city is known for its steep and winding roads with homes and buildings that look like they’re leaning over, and this section is one of the best examples with eight hairpin turns along the way (note that early morning is best to avoid traffic). Finally, try a taste of history with a twist at the Musee Mecanique. There are more than 200 antique arcade games in this fantastic ode to our gaming past, and you can stop off for a trip down memory lane to play them!
 
Without a doubt, you’ll be left feeling a little tired at the end of this tour. There are physical challenges and so much to take in mentally - such as the scale of the Grand Canyon and the history behind the dinosaur monuments - that you’ll arrive in San Francisco ready for a rest. That said, for every ounce of tiredness you feel, you’ll also have exhilarating memories, unbelievable experiences, and hundreds and hundreds of photos. Driving Denver to San Francisco is the epitome of classic American road trip holidays, and you’ll be raving about it for years to come.
 
The US has a whole lot more waiting to be explored! Aside from fantastic RV offers for the likes of Sacramento and cheap campervan rentals from Los Angeles, with Motorhome Republic expect to book only amazing motorhome rental deals from Billings in MT, from Baltimore in MD, or Chicago in IL, and all destinations worldwide.