3 Months Across America: Our Complete Route from NYC to LA

A coast-to-coast dream come true: from the skyscrapers of New York City to the golden beaches of California. Three months, more than 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles), and a lifetime of memories.
Our road trip from New York to Los Angeles took us through 20 states, countless landscapes, and unforgettable encounters. We explored national parks, wandered through bustling cities, and cruised endless highways with our van as our home on wheels.

In this post, we’ll share our entire USA road trip route, reveal our favorite stops and highlights, and reflect on our biggest learnings after three months of Vanlife across North America.

1. Our Route from New York to Los Angeles – Stage by Stage
2. Highlights Along the Route – Our Favorite Stops & Surprises
3. What We Learned After 3 Months on the Road
4. Photo Gallery: 3 Months Across America

1. Our Route from New York to Los Angeles – Stage by Stage

Here’s a full breakdown of our route, including distance, driving time, main stops, and links to our detailed blog posts for each leg:

Stage	Distance (miles)	Drive Time (h)	Main Stops	Blog Post
New York City → Boston	230	6–7	6	Road Trip Series NYC to LA – Part 1
Boston → Toronto	560	8–10	7	Road Trip Series NYC to LA – Part 2
Toronto → Detroit	280	7	4	Road Trip Series NYC to LA – Part 3
Detroit → Chicago	285	6–7	5	Road Trip Series NYC to LA – Part 4
Chicago → Badlands	850	13–14	4	Road Trip Series NYC to LA – Part 5
Badlands → Yellowstone	840	18	7	Road Trip Series NYC to LA – Part 6
Yellowstone → Denver	680	11	5	Road Trip Series NYC to LA – Part 7
Denver → Moab	620	12	4	Road Trip Series NYC to LA – Part 8
Moab → Las Vegas	520	12	7	Road Trip Series NYC to LA – Part 9
Las Vegas → San Francisco	800	15	6	Road Trip Series NYC to LA – Part 10
San Francisco → Los Angeles	465	8–10	8	Road Trip Series NYC to LA – The Grand Finale
Gesamt	~ 6.200	~ 130	63

2. Highlights Along the Route – Our Favorite Stops & Surprises

After driving more than 6,000 miles across the United States, it’s hard to choose just a few highlights – but some moments truly stood out.

Our Favorite Nature Highlights

Badlands National Park (South Dakota): A surreal landscape of jagged rock formations and vast prairie.
Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming): A high plateau of wild rivers, steaming geysers, and bubbling hot springs – plus the thrill of spotting bison, elk, and even grizzlies.
Arches National Park (Utah): Home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. The red-rock scenery is otherworldly and amazing for photographers.
Sequoia National Park (California): Walking among the giant sequoias makes you feel tiny – and incredibly humbled by nature’s scale.
Pacific Coast Highway (California): The legendary Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles is the perfect finale to a coast-to-coast journey. Rugged cliffs and ocean views.

Regions That Stole Our Hearts

New York City: A powerful, exciting starting point for a cross-country adventure.
Massachusetts & the New England Coast: Golden Atlantic beaches, charming historic towns, and a relaxed coastal vibe – perfect for 3–4 days. (Boston in 48 Hours)
South Dakota: An underrated gem! The state surprised us with landscapes and quirky roadside attractions. (Stage 6)
Monterey: Right by the ocean, Monterey is ideal for whale watching or spotting sea otters. It’s also the gateway to the iconic Big Sur drive – one of the most scenic stretches of the trip. (Discover Big Sur)

Places We’d Probably Skip Next Time

Wyoming (Between Jackson and Cheyenne): Beautiful but mostly vast stretches of open road. Great for covering distance, but fewer must-see stops – and not many Planet Fitness gyms for showers!
Las Vegas & Death Valley in Summer: Stunning, but brutally hot. With temperatures above 40°C (104°F), we recommend booking an air-conditioned hotel instead of sleeping in your van during this leg.

3. What We Learned After 3 Months on the Road

Three months on the road taught us that the USA is the ultimate road trip country. Everything is designed for travelers – it’s easy, convenient, and surprisingly comfortable if you plan smartly. A few of our biggest takeaways:

Slow down: Don’t try to cram in too much. Rest days and lazy mornings are worth gold.
Be spontaneous: Check local events – many of our favorite memories came from stumbling into festivals, concerts, or small-town fairs along the way.
Plan for variety: Mix big cities, national parks, and smaller, lesser-known stops. That balance kept our trip full of contrast.