Vista Travel National Park Tours
PL
Example road trip • 18 days • Chicago + American West

One map. The complete route.

Use this loop as a practical example for planning an American West journey. Click a gold point to view photographs, a richer description, transport notes, optional hikes, distance to the next attraction and year-round temperatures.

Chicago skyline beside Lake Michigan
Days 1–3 • The journey begins

Chicago

We spend three days exploring the skyline beside Lake Michigan, outstanding architecture and the essential sights of downtown Chicago. On day 4 we fly to Las Vegas, where the American West road loop begins.

Chicago — original photographs
Jay Pritzker Pavilion Cloud Gate Chicago downtown skyline Chicago skyline from the lakefront Chicago lakefront
✈
Domestic flightsDay 4: Chicago → Las Vegas. Day 18: Las Vegas → Chicago.
18 days about 2,800 miles driving 14 main attractions 3 days Chicago + Las Vegas road loop
How to read the map: Chicago is the start of the full 18-day trip, but it is not part of the road loop. After three days in Chicago we fly to Las Vegas, where the main driving route begins.
Click a point on the map
The gold line follows the journey on a real geographic map. Select a numbered stop, zoom in or move the map freely.
Important for Highway 1: transit overnights include Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Barstow, Williams, Hatch and St. George. San Francisco → Big Sur → Bakersfield is a long and closure-sensitive day; check current Caltrans notices and keep US 101 as an alternate.
The real scale of the journey

Distance is part of the adventure.

In the American West, attractions are often hundreds of miles apart. Each point therefore shows the distance and typical driving time, helping both independent travellers and trip guests understand the real pace.

Powiększone zdjęcie

Plan beyond this example itinerary

The map above retains the original trip. These independent guides help plan additional destinations.