Michael J Fromholtz · Public domain
14 daysplan for
10stops
~2,830 kmon the road
Los Angeles (LAX)fly into
You have seen every stop on this road trip in a movie. It starts in Los Angeles, at the observatory from La La Land and the backlot where Back to the Future was filmed. Then it crosses Death Valley, where Star Wars filmed Tatooine, and ends the first week in Las Vegas, at the fountains from Ocean's Eleven.
From there the desert takes over. Captain Kirk dies in the Valley of Fire. Forrest Gump stops running on the road into Monument Valley. Indiana Jones begins in Arches, and Thelma & Louise drive off a cliff at Dead Horse Point, not at the Grand Canyon. You see the real Grand Canyon too, then drive old Route 66 back to Los Angeles.
Michael J Fromholtz · Public domain
Day 1–3
Los Angeles
2 nights · Travel guideFly into Los Angeles and check in near Hollywood. At sunset, drive up to Griffith Observatory. Sebastian and Mia visit it in La La Land, and the tunnel on the road up is in Back to the Future Part II.
Back to the Future day. Ride the backlot tram at Universal Studios Hollywood, past the streets where the film was made. Then drive to Pasadena: the Gamble House played Doc Brown's 1955 home. It is a museum now, with tours from Thursday to Sunday.
Things to do
Nearby: Griffith Observatory · Universal Studios Hollywood · The Gamble House
NASA · Public domain
Day 3–4
Death Valley
1 night · Travel guideDrive into Death Valley, where Star Wars filmed parts of Tatooine. Take Artists Drive past the colored hills of Artists Palette, where R2-D2 rolls through. At sunset, drive up to Dante's View: Luke and Obi-Wan look down on "Mos Eisley" from here. Sleep in Furnace Creek.
Nearby: Dante's View · Artists Palette · Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Day 4–6
Las Vegas
2 nights · Travel guideDrive on to Las Vegas, a short morning on the road. In the evening, watch the fountains of Bellagio dance to music. This is where the crew of Ocean's Eleven stands at the end of the film.
Day trip to the Valley of Fire, an hour northeast. Captain Kirk dies here in Star Trek Generations, at the Silica Dome. Go early, before the heat, and be back on the Strip for dinner.
Things to do
Nearby: Fountains of Bellagio · Valley of Fire State Park · Silica Dome
Day 6–7
Page
1 night · Travel guideA long drive east to Page. The desert scenes of the original Planet of the Apes were filmed around Lake Powell; see the lake from Wahweap Overlook. End the day at Horseshoe Bend.
Things to do
Nearby: Horseshoe Bend · Wahweap Overlook
Day 7–9
Monument Valley
2 nights · Travel guideDrive into Monument Valley, Navajo land. Back to the Future Part III filmed here: it is where Marty jumps to 1885. Check in and watch the sunset over the buttes.
Drive the valley loop to John Ford's Point, the view from the old westerns. In the late afternoon, drive north on US-163 to Forrest Gump Point. This is where Forrest stops running: "I'm pretty tired... I think I'll go home now." Take your photo from the shoulder, it is a real highway.
Things to do
Nearby: Forrest Gump Point · John Ford's Point · Monument Valley Visitor Center
Day 9–11
Moab
2 nights · Travel guideDrive north to Moab and into Arches National Park. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade opens at Double Arch. Walk to Delicate Arch for sunset.
Dead Horse Point State Park. Thelma & Louise did not drive into the Grand Canyon: the final scene was filmed here, at what is now called Thelma & Louise Point. See the canyon from the Dead Horse Point overlook.
Things to do
Nearby: Double Arch · Delicate Arch · Dead Horse Point · Thelma & Louise Point
Day 11–13
Grand Canyon
2 nights · Travel guideThe longest drive of the trip, back south through Monument Valley to the Grand Canyon. Catch the sunset at Mather Point on the South Rim.
A day on the South Rim. The Griswolds stop here in National Lampoon's Vacation. Walk part of the Rim Trail, or take the shuttle out to Hermits Rest.
Things to do
Nearby: Mather Point
Day 13 · on the way
Seligman
On the way · about 60 minJoin old Route 66 at Seligman. Its neon signs and old cars are the kind of Route 66 town that inspired Cars. Stop for lunch.
Day 13–14
Kingman
1 night · Travel guideFollow Route 66 west to Kingman for the night. The longest unbroken stretch of the old road runs between Seligman and Kingman.
Michael J Fromholtz · Public domain
Day 14 · on the way
Los Angeles
On the way · about 30 min · Travel guideDrive back through the Mojave to Los Angeles. On the way, the Bagdad Cafe from the film of the same name still stands on Route 66 in Newberry Springs. Check that it is open before you stop. Fly home from LAX.
Things to do
Nearby: Bagdad Cafe
Make this trip yours →
from ~$2,350 p.p. · a rough estimate for flights and stays; you pick the real ones
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14 days · 10 stops
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