West - Las Vegas to Denver by road

Anything I should know?

What's the prettiest part of the drive, or a short detour off the main road?

Anything I should know?

What's the prettiest part of the drive, or a short detour off the main road?

The fastest route, I-15 north to I-70 east, traverses several very scenic areas. You'll cross through a pretty canyon on I-15 in Arizona, several red rock "reefs" along I-70 in the middle of Utah, and of course the Rocky Mountain crest on I-70 west of Denver. Of these my favorite is the reef area but YMMV.

Worthwhile detours will depend on what you mean by "short". Are you thinking 1-2 hours or 4-5 hours?

How much time for the drive? How many stops along the way?

The way Id say to go....

drive to St George...take UT 9 toward Zion..then US 89 north, then UT 12 East/North by Bryce/Escalante/Capitol Reef

Then UT 93 and then to Durango then uo US 550 to US 50 through Gunnison, then up US 285 to Denver.

There are other diversions...

1. Take UT 9 through Kanab to Pafe through Monument valley to Durango

2. Take UT 24 then go north to Green River, Ut then on I-70 to glenwood springs then go through Aspen and Independence pass down to Beauna Vista then up US 285.

The fastest route, I-15 north to I-70 east, traverses several very scenic areas. You'll cross through a pretty canyon on I-15 in Arizona,

I've done the Arizona portion of the route many times.

several red rock "reefs" along I-70 in the middle of Utah, and of course the Rocky Mountain crest on I-70 west of Denver. Of these my favorite is the reef area but YMMV.

I-70 was the route Google came up with.

Worthwhile detours will depend on what you mean by "short". Are you thinking 1-2 hours or 4-5 hours?

2 hours would be the most I would want to do.

How much time for the drive? How many stops along the way?

The way Id say to go....

drive to St George...take UT 9 toward Zion..then US 89 north, then UT 12 East/North by Bryce/Escalante/Capitol Reef

Then UT 93 and then to Durango then uo US 550 to US 50 through Gunnison, then up US 285 to Denver.

Nice, but too far out of the way.

There are other diversions...

1. Take UT 9 through Kanab to Pafe through Monument valley to Durango

Again, way too far.

2. Take UT 24 then go north to Green River, Ut then on I-70 to glenwood springs then go through Aspen and Independence pass down to Beauna Vista then up US 285.

This looks like a possibility. What are those parks it goes though like?

2 hours would be the most I would want to do.

Hmm. A 2 hour time limit is tough. It doesn't allow much time to drive out of your way and stop to appreciate something while you're there. One detour other than the great ideas djp98374 suggested would be to take US 34 through Rocky Mountain National Park northwest of Denver. The road passes above 12,000' in the park. I think it's more like an added 3-4 hours versus the quickest route (I-70), though, especially if you make a few stops along the way.

Nice, but too far out of the way.

Then just do the drive and enjoy the scenery, wherever your GPS/Google take you. It's beautiful country. I did LAX-DEN the fast way by car a few summers ago, and then hit all the monuments on the return. It's beautiful country either way... the side trips just turn the wow to 11.

...then UT 12 East/North by Bryce/Escalante/Capitol Reef

Perhaps my favorite drive in the United States (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/04/travel/driving-the-rhythm-of-utah-s-highway-12-climb-turn-gasp.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm).

You can cut up from Torrey to Moab and then on to I-70.

If all you have is a 2 hr time limit that is making it very difficult

the easiest things to do with such a short window....

1. Kolob Canyon in Zion national park...just off I-15 between St George and Cedar City. You exit the freeway then immediatly enter the park.

2. From I-70 in from around Richfield you can go through Torrey then through Capitol Reef National Park then up to I-70

3. Off I-70 with UT 24 is Gobbin Valley State Park

4. Along I-70 divert south to Moab where you can quickly drive in/out of Arches. You could also drive in/out of Canyonlands or Dead Horse Point State park byt its a little farther of a drive.

5. In Colorado you can drive into some of the ski towns of Vail or Brackonridge.

6. In Colorado you can take CO 82 through aspen and Independence Pass then either back up to I-70 or take Us 285 to Denver.

Also just some clarity here....Las Vegas to Denver is about 750 miles which would be 10+ hr drive alone not including stops.

Going UT 9 through Zion to US 89 to UT 12 to UT 24 to I-70 on to Denver is 800 miles.

The drive would add the 2 hrs or so in terms of sites to see on your trip.

Followup--I had more time than I originally expected.

I hit Bryce Canyon and Arches National Park on the way up. I decided that Monument Valley wasn't worth 200+ miles and an extra day of travel so I came home the straight route.