Newbie roadtriping it with the fam from L.A. CA to Denver CO

[KALeos]

HELP!!! I am looking for advise on what to see and what to skip. We are going to visit friends in Denver. We live in Los Angeles. We are doing this in a week. There is so much I want to do!!! I want the kids to see Vegas, The Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce, and spend at least two days with our friends in Colorado and that is just the tip of the iceberg. Please help!!!! I was thinking we could go one way there and come home a different way in order to see the most we can see. Suggestions.........Please!!!!
Thank You :)

[glc]

Welcome!

Is this exactly one week (7 days) for a round trip? If so, the iceberg is a lot smaller than you may be thinking - it's a 2 day drive from LA to Denver via fastest route with no sightseeing stops. 2 days each way plus 2 days in Denver doesn't leave you much time to do anything enroute.

[Southwest Dave]

As glc mentioned, you really are up against the clock with so many great sites to see and you won't have time for much more than a 'drive thru' of the places you mention. If you spent night 1 at the GC you could then exit by the east entrance to Cameron and then make your way to Durango and then north on US550 to Montrose on the spectacular 'Million dollar Highway' section before heading east on US50 to Gunnison or Poncha Springs and finish the journey to Denver early next morning. If you spent the rest of the day and the following day visiting friends, you could then make a long drive to Tropic UT/Bryce canyon, Take a quick look at the ampitheatre area before driving through Zion to Vegas.

This is going to be extremely rushed, and would be even if you weren't spending time with friends. You really need to try and make this a 10 day trip and then at least you would have a little time to explore.

[RahRah]

How many days do you have planned - there is a ton to see in between and without firm or fluid days you have it's hard to say what you can see?