Day 1 San Francisco - Sacramento - Wendover (511 miles)
Day 2 Wendover - Casper (530 miles)
Day 3 Casper - Crazy Horse - Mount Rushmore - Devils Tower - Gillette (366 miles)
Day 4 Gillette - Yellowstone National Park (251 miles)
Day 5 Yellowstone National Park - Grand Teton National Park - Jackson Hole - Salt Lake City (330 miles)
Day 6 Salt Lake City - The Bonneville Salt Flats - Reno (437 miles)
Day 7 Reno - Lake Tahoe - San Francisco (236 miles)
Day 1:
San Francisco - Sacramento - Wendover (511 miles)
Today we will visit the California State Capital - Sacramento. In the afternoon we will head through the famous Donner Pass and enter Nevada - nicknamed the Silver State. We will stay overnight in Wendover.
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Sacramento, CA
Founded in 1849, Sacramento was at the heart of the gold rush, Pony Express, and first trans-continental railroad. Today it serves as the capital of the state of California and one of its most important cities.
California State Capitol
At the State Capitol, the past, present and future of California interact with equal force. The building serves as both a museum and the state's working seat of government. Visitors to the Capitol can at once experience California's rich history and witness the making of history through the modern lawmaking process.
Day 2:
Wendover - Casper (530 miles)
We will travel through the Great Salt Desert in the morning. The saline lake covers an area of around 1,700 square miles but is subject to substantial fluctuations. In the afternoon we will drive along the Emigration Canyon into Echo Canyon, visit the once traveled Oregon Trail. The highlights of the trail also include the historical landmarks of Independence Rock and Devil's Gate. Overnight stay in Casper.
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Casper, WY
Casper is a city in and the county seat of Natrona County, Wyoming, United States. Casper is also called "The Oil City" and has a long history of oil boomtown and cowboy culture. In 2010, Casper was named the highest-ranked family-friendly small city in the West, and ranked eighth overall in the nation in Forbes magazine's list of "the best small cities to raise a family".
Independence Rock
This granite monolith sits in the Independence Rock State Historic Site in central Wyoming. The rock served as an important landmark for those travelling west via the Oregon Trail in the middle of the 19th century.
Devil's Gate
The Devil's Gate is a natural rock formation that served as an important landmark on the Oregon Trail and helped guide pioneers westward across the barren United States of the 19th century.
Day 3:
Casper - Crazy Horse - Mount Rushmore - Devils Tower - Gillette (366 miles)
Today we will visit Crazy Horse Memorial in the morning. Then we will visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Next we will continue to Devil's Tower National Monument and spend the night in Gillette.
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Crazy Horse, SD
Crazy Horse Memorial is the world's largest sculpture-in-progress, and frequent drilling and mountain blasts make each visit unique. When completed, Crazy Horse Memorial will stand 563 feet tall by 641 feet long.
Crazy Horse Memorial
This in-construction monument to famous Native American war hero Crazy Horse is currently being carved into the side of Thunderhead Mountain in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The completed sculpture would be the largest in the world.
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Mount Rushmore National Memorial, SD
This famous United States monument in the Black Hills of western South Dakota depicts the busts of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The 60-foot tall statues are carved right into the side of the mountains.
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Devils Tower, WY
The first declared United States National Monument. It'is an igneous intrusion or laccolith located in the Black Hills near Hulett and Sundance in Crook County. A monolithic rock formation that rises 1,267 feet above the surrounding land and was once the neck of an active volcano.
Devils Tower National Monument
This massive monolith in the Black Hills of Wyoming was the nation's first national monument, anointed by Teddy Roosevelt in 1906. In recent years, climbing the rock has become popular. The stone column is considered sacred by many Native Americans.
Day 4:
Gillette - Yellowstone National Park (251 miles)
Today, we will visit Yellowstone National Park, the oldest in the U.S., where we will see the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone Falls, Mud Volcano, and Mammoth Hot Springs. There is also a diverse array of wildlife that inhabits the park, including elk, moose, and bears. We will spend the night in West Yellowstone.
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Yellowstone, WY
Largest, oldest and most famous national park - a fascinating scenery of hot springs, geysers, canyons & waterfalls
Lower Yellowstone River Falls
The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River in Wyoming are the largest by volume in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States, and they stand more than 300 feet tall-- almost twice as high as Niagara Falls.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This impressive gap in the earth in the first large canyon on the Yellowstone River. It is 24 miles long, and can reach a quarter-mile in depth and 3/4 a mile in width. It is gorgeously colored.
Mammoth Hot Springs
This large complex of hot springs is impressive both for its unique beauty as well as its scale. Formed hundreds of thousands of years ago by volcanic and seismic activity, these springs are one of Yellowstone's most popular spots.
Mud Volcano Area
The Mud Volcano blew itself apart in the early 20th century, but visitors can still see the impressive crater and other geothermal features in the surrounding area, such as the Mud Cauldron, Black Dragon's Caldron, and Dragon's Mouth Spring.
Upper Yellowstone Falls
Located a quarter-mile upstream of the larger Lower Falls, the Upper Yellowstone River Falls plunge 109 feet down an eroded lava cliff into the basin below. The area below the falls has been subject to heavier erosion than above.
Grand Prismatic Hot Spring
The third largest hot spring in the world, the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring gets its color from bacteria around its rim that feed off of the mineral-rich water. In the summer months, the hot spring is a vivid red-orange shade.
Day 5:
Yellowstone National Park - Grand Teton National Park - Jackson Hole - Salt Lake City (330 miles)
After breakfast, we will continue exploring Yellowstone National Park, making a stop at Old Faithful. Then, we will drive along the Snake River to reach Grand Teton National Park, where we will have some time to see this breathtaking landscape. After a stop in Jackson Hole, WY, we will drive to Salt Lake City, where we will spend the night.
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Yellowstone, WY
Largest, oldest and most famous national park - a fascinating scenery of hot springs, geysers, canyons & waterfalls
Old Faithful Geyser
Old Faithful is a cone geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. It is one of the park's most well-known natural features, and is famous for its predictability. It generally erupts every 91 minutes.
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Grand Teton National Park, WY
Grand Teton National Park is is located in the Rocky Mountains, Northwest Wyoming. Grand Teton National Park is noted for its stunning mountain vistas, its shimmering alpine lakes and its abundant wildlife.
Day 6:
Salt Lake City - The Bonneville Salt Flats - Reno (437 miles)
We will visit Utah State Capitol Building and Temple Square. Then we will head to the Bonneville Salt Flats. We will arrive in Reno, Nevada in the afternoon.
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Salt Lake City, UT
Utah's gorgeous capital city sits amidst the mountains of the American Southwest on the shores of the breathtaking Great Salt Lake. The city is steeped in history and architecture in addition to wondrous vistas and scenery.
Utah State Capitol
The home of all of the governmental processes for the state of Utah, the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. The building is done in the ornate neoclassical revival style, purposefully reminiscent of the nation capitol in DC.
Temple Square
Approximately ten acres in size, Temple Square is the center of religious activity for the Church of Latter Day Saints, housing the Temple and Tabernacle that are central to the religion.
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Tooele, UT
Tooele is a city in Utah, approximately 30 minutes west of Salt Lake City. It offers stunning views of the nearby Oquirrh Mountains and Great Salt Lake. The Tooele Arts festival is a popular annual event that attracts many artists and musicians.
Bonneville Salt Flats
One of the prominent salt flats in western hemisphere, and considered the twin sister of Bolivia's Solar de Uyuni, the Bonneville Salt Flats are a favorite among photographers who enjoy mountain range scenery. Given its flat terrain, the area is known for speed trials available to the public throughout the summer and fall.
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Reno, NV
West Coast is inspirational for its scenery and lifestyle. desert landscapes, lush forests and windswept bays provide the backdrop to huge cities and sprawling suburbs.Whether you're looking for art, entertainment, history or culture, West Coast USA truly has it all.
Day 7:
Reno - Lake Tahoe - San Francisco (236 miles)
In the morning, we will visit Virginia City and then go to visit Lake Tahoe. In the afternoon, we will make our way back to San Francisco. Please see "Departure and Return" for more detailed information regarding pickup and drop-off times and locations.
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Reno, NV
West Coast is inspirational for its scenery and lifestyle. desert landscapes, lush forests and windswept bays provide the backdrop to huge cities and sprawling suburbs.Whether you're looking for art, entertainment, history or culture, West Coast USA truly has it all.
Virginia City
Silver and gold made the old mining town Virginia City, one that is recognized as the character of Nevada. Guests will experienced its boomtime as they visit historic buildings, some of its open mines.
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Lake Tahoe, NV
The scenic Lake Tahoe nestled in the crook of California is the largest alpine lake in North America. In addition to being a wonderful place to swim, fish, and boat, Lake Tahoe features winter activities like skiing and snowboarding.
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