San Jose to Philadelphia via I-10 through New Orleans (11 Days)

You can't do Bryce Canyon as a daytrip from Vegas, it is just too far away. Its also a challenge to do both Zion and Bryce Canyon in a day even if you didn't also have to add in 8+ hours of driving, to do it as a round trip from Vegas. If you have your heart set in staying in Vegas, Zion is close enough to just do that as a daytrip, but skip Bryce. Otherwise, a perhaps better idea would be to try to stay right near Bryce, and then instead of backtracking to Vegas, start making your way back to I-40, either going past the Grand Canyon, or even spending more time and working your way to Albuquerque via Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, and/or Santa Fe.

For your New Mexico section, unless you really have your heart set on seeing El Paso, I'd head to White Sands and then go to Roswell, again to avoid backtracking. You could spend the night right in Roswell, which would give you time to stop at Carlsbad Caverns on your way to Fort Stockton the following day.

Based on what appears to be your strong interest in cities, I'd look at adding Austin to your itinerary. If you want to see any of LA, then I'd look at more time there, as right now, you really have no time available to see much anything, once you factor in how big LA is and that you'll need time to pick up your car.

Michael is right -- one morning in LA isn't enough to see anything except a lot of traffic, unfortunately. What is it you want to see? For instance, it can take an hour to rent a car, another 30 minutes to drive to Griffith Park and find a parking spot, and then 3-4 hours just to check out one or two things in the Park. Wanna do Hollywood Walk of Fame? Allow a couple of hours.

Driving to Las Vegas can take from 4-1/2 to 6 hours, depending on your starting point in LA and if you hit any traffic snarls (which happen any time of the day or night in LA metro area). It took us 3 hours to drive from the intersection of I-10/I-15, to the intersection of I-15 and US-395 north of Cajon Pass one time -- bad accident.

I concur with the comments regarding Las Vegas, Zion and Bryce, too. Beautiful, but definitely not day trips out of LV.


Donna

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At this point I have two extra days to plan for...I am thinking staying in Vegas an extra night to explore Zion and Bryce a day each.

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Using the extra time would make visiting Bryce possible, but even then it still wouldn't make any sense in heading all the way back to Vegas, you may as well spend your time in Vegas and continue on your way from Zion or Bryce as Michael suggested. One thing to consider is Bryce canyon is at high altitude and you have a real chance of ice and snow with the really cold temperatures.

I'd also question whether it's worth catching a train to LA and battling with the traffic for just a few hours there. If it's important to you then that's fine but if not you could drive direct from San Jose to Vegas on the 26th.

The train ride from San Jose to LA is a memorable one from what I have read - the Surfliner track.

LA is just a stop over for us - I have been to LA many a-times and personally dislike it quite a bit, thus the hurry to get out to Las Vegas.

Point taken with Zion and Bryce. Vegas is an easy spot to stay with cheap rooms - will be making Zion a day trip. Bryce may be in/out depending on the weather but its sensible to stay over night near there.

From Bryce through the Grand Canyon to Flagstaff? From Flagstaff to Albuquerque. Then White Sands staying in Roswell. Roswell to either Austin or San Antonio?

It is true, that it is quite a nice train trip, as most Amtrak trips are. But I doubt that coping with the LA traffic is worth it. It is not that great. You see very little of the coast. So brief that it is easily missed. You'd probably be better off taking the train to Bakersfield. That is also a great train trip through the valley.

Lifey

ABQ to White sand-ElPaso seem legit.
Flagstaff to Albuquerque is flat 5 hour drive, From ABQ, White Sand is another ~240 miles.
from White sand you will come to Lac Cruses, NM (can stay here) and carry on to El Paso, After ElPaso, you wont find anything until Fort Stockton (a fuel stop i would say) and than San Antonio or Austin. Austin would be my choice. both are an hour apart anyway,

You should drive 550 miles on average for relax trip, anything more than that is headache.