Clayton arrives at his mother's house and surprises her with the news that he is the next bachelor. The 30 contestants prepare for the first night. Entrances include Sarah presenting a pin from Clemson University; Susie holding a buzzer to shock Clayton's right hand; Kate presenting two mini-bottles of whiskey, hidden in her dress; Sierra's reference to Back to the Future; Melina bouncing in modified kangaroo boots; Marlena throwing a penalty flag; Jane driving a vintage car, and Kira in a sexy doctor's uniform.

On the season's first group date, Teddi, Ency, Melina, Gabby, Kira, Mara, Sierra, Genevieve, Serene, and Cassidy go to a Beverly Hills mansion and meet Hilary Duff to help plan a children's birthday party. Genevieve decorates a cake for Maya, and Cassidy drops it on the lawn when she brings it to her. The women talk about Cassidy, and Serene tells Clayton that she is a teacher who loves children. Teddi and Clayton kiss, and Genevieve makes him another cake. Cassidy receives the group-date rose.

Cassidy admits lying, and Clayton sends her home; he also sends Ency, Kate, and Tessa home. Serene, Susie, Eliza, Marlena, Mara, Genevieve, Hunter, and Jill, on a group date, have a therapy session with season 11 bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe. Hunter talks about her ex-boyfriend's infidelity, Serene about her struggle with anorexia, and Mara about being bullied at school. At the after-party, he gives Eliza a group-date rose.

Sarah has the one-on-one date, and she and Clayton meet season 14 bachelorette Becca Kufrin for a scavenger hunt in Los Angeles. They go for a long run in a park, smash piñatas and go to the Van Gogh Exhibit Los Angeles, where Sarah talks about her adoption and receives the date rose.

Clayton talks to Shanae and Elizabeth; Elizabeth, Kira, and Melina are sent home. Jesse announces that they are going to Houston. Clayton is surprised to see Clarence Green, his former Missouri Tigers football teammate, visiting their hotel and they catch up. Rachel has a date with Clayton in Willis, Texas, where they ride horses to a farmhouse for a barbecue, and see the band Restless Road.

Susie, Rachel, and Jill discuss Shanae's behavior. Serene goes to Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier to meet Clayton, who used to work there; they eat ice-cream cones, go on a ride, and play games. She talks about her recent loss of two family members and her upbringing by a single mother. Clayton talks to last week's group date, and Sierra tells him about Shanae's behavior. Clayton pulls Shanae aside; she apologizes for throwing the trophy and apologizes to the others. Jill, Lyndsey, and Sierra are sent home, and Clayton announces that he and the 12 women are going to Toronto.

Genevieve, Shanae and Clayton picnic on the Dufferin Islands, and Genevieve apologizes to Shanae. Shanae apologizes to Clayton, who gives each woman a rose and sends Shanae home. Rachel and Clayton kiss; Hunter and Marlena are sent home, and Clayton announces that the remaining women are going to Hvar, Croatia. They explore the old town; Clayton meets them for lunch, and picks Teddi for the one-on-one date. They stroll around Hvar; Teddi tells Clayton that she is a virgin, and has never been in love.

Serene, Rachel, Susie, Gabby, Eliza, Genevieve, and Mara are chosen for the group date; Mara is discouraged because she has not had a one-on-one date. The women accept a challenge and meet Katrina; Serene wins. Clayton prepares for hometown dates, and asks each women about their hometown. Rachel is eager for Clayton to meet her family; Mara is ready to marry, but is not connecting with Clayton.

Eliza and Mara are sent home. The women explore Vienna, and Susie has her second one-on-one date: to Innere Stadt. She and Clayton shop for clothes at Fisher's; after Susie returns to the hotel, a bellboy arrives with a red Eva Poleschinski dress. At Schönbrunn Palace, Susie tells Clayton about her life; he gives her a rose, and Chris de Burgh serenades them with "The Lady in Red".

In the season's final group date, Genevieve, Sarah, Teddi, Rachel, and Gabby have couples-therapy sessions with Dr. Katherine and Clayton. Teddi talks about her childhood, and Genevieve looks miserable as she talks about her feelings; Clayton sends her home. Sarah has a difficult session; Clayton talks to her at Palais Modena, and sends her home crying.

Clayton visits Poquoson, Virginia to meet Susie. She tells him about her father's health, and invites him to meet her family and her best friend. Clayton tells Susie's mother that he is fond of her, and Susie says that she and Clayton are falling in love. The next hometown date is with Gabby in Denver; her father cannot be there because his girlfriend has cancer and cannot risk being exposed to COVID-19. Clayton meets Gabby's grandfather, aunt, uncle, and cousin. Gabby runs outside when she hears a car horn, and her father holds up a sign to greet her.

Serene meets Clayton in Oklahoma City. He conquers his fear of heights with a free-fall ride and meets her mother, brother, and best friend. Serene and her mother talk about the deaths of her cousin and grandmother.

Clayton arrives in Reykjavík for overnight dates with the three remaining women. He and Rachel take a helicopter ride over the Fagradalsfjall volcano and Reykjanes Peninsula; they kiss and descend 400 feet (120 m), below the dormant volcano. Rachel tells Clayton that she is falling in love with him, and he tells her the next morningl that he is in love with her.

Gabby and Clayton ride an ATV to a nearby café in Suðurland. They have dinner at Hafið Bláa in Eyrarbakki and enjoy a hot tub at Reykjavik Domes. Clayton tells Gabby that he is falling in love with her.

The day after Clayton’s date with Susie, Clayton is in the Hallgrímskirkja church. He and Jesse talk at Austurvöllur.

At the Harpa concert hall, Rachel and Gabby notice that Susie is missing. Clayton tells them that he is in love with Susie and was intimate with them, and is in love with them both. The women walk out, crying; Rachel says that she thought she was special. They talk separately to Clayton, who apologizes and hopes they can reconcile.

Jesse asks Susie if she wants to talk with Clayton. Susie meets Clayton’s parents at the rental home; she and Clayton talk privately, and he apologizes. She returns to the hotel. The next day, Clayton writes to Susie and tells Rachel and Gabby that he is in love with her. Gabby walks away angrily, saying that she cannot trust him, and Rachel is heartbroken.