First Road Trip from San Diego to Denver, Colorado (Univ. of Denver)

[fnj04]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

The first thing you need to know is that under no circumstances could you ever make this drive in 15 hours. Best case, you're looking at 18-20 hours (likely a bit more considering you're a large group, in a large unstable van where lower speeds are required on the highway and each stop for foods/restrooms/etc will take longer). This is very much two very full days on the road, at the bare minimum.

Do you actually live in San Diego or are you planning to fly there and then start driving to Denver from there? If your plan is to fly to San Diego, I would strongly recommend you rethink your current plan.

I'll be honest, I love a roadtrip, but your plan doesn't sound like one that will be very fun. Sitting in a car all day long for 2 straight days just isn't that much fun, especially not for 4 small children. While there are some great views from the highway, if you want this to be a fun family trip, you need to plan for stops and do things that your children will remember for the right reasons. Your route goes past more than a half dozen National Parks, so there is no shortage of places you could visit to really make this a fun family trip - and not just a grueling drive. However, you'd need more than 2 days to really do that. Right now, I suspect, no one in your family will have much fun, and you're more likely to hate the idea of ever doing a roadtrip again than you will have anything resembling a vacation.

The direct route for this trip is about as simple as it gets: I-15 to I-70. The halfway point is between Cedar City and Beaver, Utah. You should have no trouble finding a hotel that meets your needs in either of those two cities. Those really are your only options to make this a safe trip.

Thank you Michael for the suggestions. It really helps a lot. Like what I mentioned above, it is too late to change because flight is already booked and we are flying to San Diego. Our total days in the mainland is 12 days. We will actually attend a graduation in denver first, (that's our main purpose) then drive to Las Vegas for 3 nights after, Disneyland for 3 nights after Las Vegas, and San Diego for 2 nights after Disney then fly back home. The first couple of days probably is not fun to the kids because they have to sit down that long but they will enjoy after Denver. Thank you.

[fnj04]

Thank you so much for your suggestion as well especially for letting us know that Salina and Green River doesn't have the cell coverage. I guess that is one of the most important to know. Thank you. Like what I mentioned to Midwest Michael, we will be staying in the west coast for 12 days and after denver, adults and kids will have fun. We will be stopping at Las Vegas for 3 nights, Disneyland for 3 nights as well, and San Diego for 2 nights then back home. I am a little worried about the kids but I am pretty sure they will be ok after Denver and next time we will come back, we make sure not to do long road trip again, but of course that depends on the situation again. :)

[fnj04]

Have you already booked your flights and rental ? I agree with Michael that this is going to be a long drive for the Kids, more so than what I would describe as a Roadtrip adventure. Why I ask is because I think it would be a whole lot more fun if you flew into Salt Lake City, or even Las Vegas and had less miles to drive and more time out of the vehicle.

Yes, all are purchased and booked before I asked here and too late to cancel. The kids probably will not have fun for this 2 days road trip but they will be after Denver. We will be stopping at Las Vegas for 3 nights and Disney for 3 nights as well then 2 nights to San Diego before fly back home. The kids will have fun after Denver for sure. :)

[Midwest Michael]

next time we will come back, we make sure not to do long road trip again, but of course that depends on the situation again. :)

Just to be clear, no one here will ever tell you shouldn't do a roadtrip. We WANT you to do roadtrips, and we want you and your family to LOVE doing roadtrips!

What we don't want is you to put your family in a position where they are so miserable that they never want to do a roadtrip again! I don't think you are necessarily there, but as has been said, those 2 hard days of driving, especially after a long flight (the previous day I hope?) will be a challenge.

The great part that you never mentioned before is all the time you have later on! You've got 12 days available, and you should take advantage of them! There is so much more to the US than just cities and theme parks, especially between Denver and Las Vegas. To me, it would be a real shame to have that kind of time and not spend some of it exploring the natural wonders you'll find nowhere else on earth - places like Arches and Canyonlands, the Million Dollar Highway, The ruins of Mesa Verde, Monument Valley, and of course, the Grand Canyon, just to name some of your options. That's where you can get start getting into a real fun roadtrip!

[ademerse]

Hi Donna,

I am considering driving from San Diego to Littleton, CO and although I don't want to sound like a scardey cat I was wondering if the drive through the mountains is intimidating? For example very narrow and steep roads. Thanks for any help. :)

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum, ademerse!

If you are sticking to the Interstates there are no very narrow or steep roads anywhere. They are all at least 4 lanes wide, with shoulders, and built with limited grades. That is true even while crossing the rockies on I-70.

[ademerse]

Thank you so much!! :)

[DonnaR57]

San Diego to Littleton on the interstate is a piece of cake drive, nothing steep or narrow, and it is gorgeous. Some of the most beautiful scenery along an interstate is I-70 between Salina, UT and Denver! The only thing to be concerned about is to make sure you are fueled up (car and bodies) and made a potty stop, at Salina when heading east. Between Salina and Green River UT is 108 miles of no services. One of the rest areas has a porta-potty and that's about it.

It's about a 2-day drive to Denver from here. We stay in Richfield, UT, by choice, but you could easily just stop at Cedar City or Beaver overnight, and make it to Denver the next day.


Donna