Drive from Denver to Anaheim?

[wannabimagineer]

I'm trying to budget for a trip back to Disneyland next year and I was considering driving the family instead of flying, we live a little south of Denver. I saw one thread where someone was going to attempt the drive in 2 days but, I would rather try and get it done in one day. I don't mind driving and according to google maps it estimates almost 17 hours. Has anyone attempted this trip in one day, is 17 hours accurate?

 

[disneymom0104]

We leave today from just south of Denver We have never done the trip before so don't know exactly how long it will take, but I am guessing (hoping) 15-ish hours. We are leaving today at around 3pm and hope to be at DL for magic morning on Sunday. I know tomorrow will be a lot of driving. I have a friend that does the drive quite often and she told me Richfield, UT was the half way point- so maybe that will help!

ETA- My husband and I have done 17 (even 19) hour drives in one day, so I do think it can be done. I think my older kiddos could maybe tolerate a drive that long, but I also have a 1 year old who would NOT. So that is why we have to split it up.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

It sounds like it could be right. I find that generally we make it there maybe an hour to a half hour sooner than google maps says. You also have to factor in potty/food stops etc.

From where I live it's around 11 hours..we do it in two days (Vegas is our stopping point)

 

[mrswh]

Wow. That's a long drive to do in one day. I have not done it myself, but being from Denver would suggest (unless you *want* to drive) checking Frontier's fares every now and then. They have fare sales every so often where you can get to SNA nonstop for $69 each way - not bad!

 

[skiingfast]

It's doable but time wise I guess it depends on how quickly you can get through and out of Denver.

Last time I had to leave later in the day, I stopped in Vegas at the South Point Hotel. It's on the south side of Vegas so I avoided the traffic and construction and got back on I-5 and on my way to LA quickly.

The South Point is cheap but good with great rooms.

 

[wannabimagineer]

I'm definitely in the preliminary stage of planning, I haven't even told my wife I was considering it. I wanted to go out there to see DCA after the remodel was completed. Plus sometimes I just feel like going on a good road trip.

I would like to try and get it done in one day though, because I already have a good chunk of my vacation time spoken for next year. I want to conserve my days off.

 

[goodriddanceyalooney]

we did this drive last summer, 2010. We were going to try and make it in one day but the drive through the mountains slowed us down. We ended up staying overnight in St George UT. Took us about 11 hours there. From there to Anaheim it was about 6? My kids were at ages where it was tough to keep going. This year we drove to the east coast and my kids had no problem with a 15 hours + in the car at a time...thanks goodness for DSi XL!! We are going to Disneyland in 2 weeks and were contemplating the drive but there was a really good fare sale so we decided to fly. Just too much driving for us this year! The problem with the drive west is that beyond the mountains, there is nothing! It can be pretty boring. Travel safe...once you get to Disney there is nothing better!
If I were to drive again I would absolutely do it in one day...It will be hard on the kids but they can do it now...My kids are 8 and 4. I hate wasting time in the middle of nowhere!

 

[mrswh]

You can also take I-25 to I-40 through New Mexico and Arizona - an easier drive, IMO (especially if you are going in the winter) but it might add another hour. How old are your kids?

After having done Denver to VA and back several times for school, I'm all road tripped out and just want to get to my destination! Plus I think being in a car with my kids for 17 hours might take 10 years off my life!

 

[wannabimagineer]

..thanks goodness for DSi XL!!

You got that right, also a portable dvd player helps.

So, it sounds like 17 hours is about right. I love Colorado, I just wish it were a little closer to Disneyland!

 

[wannabimagineer]

You can also take I-25 to I-40 through New Mexico and Arizona - an easier drive, IMO (especially if you are going in the winter) but it might add another hour. How old are your kids?

After having done Denver to VA and back several times for school, I'm all road tripped out and just want to get to my destination! Plus I think being in a car with my kids for 17 hours might take 10 years off my life!

My kids are 6, 9 and 10. I guess the other thing that would be needed before taking this road trip would be having a vehicle w/ 3 rows. For anything over an hour I need the kids separated.

 

[tzeitel]

I am still debating whether to fly or drive - the plan is drive to DLR but I rather drive 2 hrs to Denver and catch a 2 1/2 hour flight than 13hrs in a car. What complicates matters is that the other family going with us is all set with driving.

We used to drive from MD to MA 1-2 a year and hated it - and that is just half of what I am looking at going to DLR! I just think of a happy place, Mr Toad is waiting for me!!!!!

 

[CoriCW]

We live just south of Denver, and have a 7, 9 & 10 year old. We found RT flights on Southwest for under $180, which includes bags, so we jumped on that and saved ourselves about 3 days of travel. We had seen RT tickets on Frontier for a little less, but the cost of checking bags would have made it more.

We don't mind driving, and trying to do it all at once, but then we need at least a half-day (sometimes more!) to recover from not getting enough sleep. When we only have 4-5 days for a vacation, I would MUCH rather fly and save the time and energy for FUN!

 

[rentayenta]

The drive from Denver to SLC is one of the worst ever imho. I did it twice last summer taking the kids to/from camp. This year they flew. The Wyoming part of the drive is painful at best. I'd say the drive is closer to 19 hours. I'd do a kayak.com search with your dates and get their daily emails.

 

[alivingxerox]

We did it last year, the year before and will again next year. But we don't do it in one day we stop in vegas for the night and then the next days drive is a lot shorter. My son did great in the car on previous trips he was (1 & 2) at the times we went.

 

[HydroGuy]

We have done the drive to SoCal numerous times from the Colorado Springs area with four kids starting from the time some kids were under five years old. One of the primary reasons we have driven is because we do other things in SoCal than DLR and we need to take a lot of stuff (like sand castle building tools ). We also need a car while there and flying means renting a car.

Anyhow, the drive is about 17 hours if you push. Short stops. Leave early. We usually leave in the 4:30-6AM time frame. We always make it there in one day. The one hour time change works in your favor. We usually take two days coming home - partly because the time change works against you. Partly because I am cautious about driving across the Rocky Mountains at night - even if on I-70 - especially in non-summer months.

We have never done the drive and then gone to DLR the next day. We stay with family for a few days. We are usually pretty tired. So if you do the one day drive I would plan an easy day at DLR on Day 1.

My two cents...

 

[disneymom0104]

We are almost there! I can't believe we will be at Disneyland in the morning!

Anyway- we left Denver about 3-ish yesterday and drove 5.5-ish hours and stayed in Green River, UT overnight. Left there at 7:30 and after a stop in St. George for lunch and about an hour in Las Vegas (kids wanted to see the strip- bad move- it was a nightmare) and a rest stop bathroom stop we got to Ontario, CA at 5:30 (6:30 CO time). The drive was long, but not bad at all. I have a 9.5, 7 and 1 year old and the 7 year old had the hardest time but I think part of it is because this is a total surprise and they still don't know we are going to Disneyland! This is their first time to CA and they are just excited to be here. So- it really was about 16-17 hours for us and that is with basically no traffic and always going the speed limit (which was mostly 70, 75 or 80mph)

Hope that helps!

 

[IUTBAM]

We live in the southern 'burbs of Denver, and I was contemplating driving to SoCal when we go over Christmas, since we have two weeks. BUT, I am certain that taking I-70 would not be advisable during the winter months, which leaves us with the I-25 route...has anyone done that route in the winter? I'd appreciate hearing about your experience, including how long it took.

 

[HydroGuy]

We live in the southern 'burbs of Denver, and I was contemplating driving to SoCal when we go over Christmas, since we have two weeks. BUT, I am certain that taking I-70 would not be advisable during the winter months, which leaves us with the I-25 route...has anyone done that route in the winter? I'd appreciate hearing about your experience, including how long it took.

We have driven I-25 in winter at least 10 times and never had an issue. The key for me is to do the mountains in the morning. We leave for SoCal from CO early. And when we come back we usually stay in Grand Junction and drive home the following morning.

I have driven the I-25 to I-40 route and will never do so again unless I have absolutely no choice. It is longer - from the Springs by about 100 miles and from Denver 200. And it is ugly.

There is a third option. Drive thru thru Durango and the Four Corners. The worst part of that is Wolf Creek pass. We have done this drive twice in the winter on the way back from SoCal. We have stayed near the Grand Canyon and also in Durango.

HTH

 

[wannabimagineer]

We are almost there! I can't believe we will be at Disneyland in the morning!

Anyway- we left Denver about 3-ish yesterday and drove 5.5-ish hours and stayed in Green River, UT overnight. Left there at 7:30 and after a stop in St. George for lunch and about an hour in Las Vegas (kids wanted to see the strip- bad move- it was a nightmare) and a rest stop bathroom stop we got to Ontario, CA at 5:30 (6:30 CO time). The drive was long, but not bad at all. I have a 9.5, 7 and 1 year old and the 7 year old had the hardest time but I think part of it is because this is a total surprise and they still don't know we are going to Disneyland! This is their first time to CA and they are just excited to be here. So- it really was about 16-17 hours for us and that is with basically no traffic and always going the speed limit (which was mostly 70, 75 or 80mph)

Hope that helps!

Thanks for the update it sounds like it is pretty much a 2 day drive. Or at least have a rest day if we do try it one.

I hope you guys have a great trip! We'll be there (flying this time) in a couple of weeks!

 

[skiingfast]

We live in the southern 'burbs of Denver, and I was contemplating driving to SoCal when we go over Christmas, since we have two weeks. BUT, I am certain that taking I-70 would not be advisable during the winter months, which leaves us with the I-25 route...has anyone done that route in the winter? I'd appreciate hearing about your experience, including how long it took.

I find driving in Winter goes two different ways. You go in areas that always have snow like the Rockies and people drive fine in it. You go somewhere that gets snow on occasions like the passes on I-5 and people appear to be struggling to drive.

So while I-70 will move along nicely, you get into Utah and I-15 can be tough because of all the Utes who aren't conditioned to driving on snow all the time. If doing the southern route I-25 to I-40 people will be acting like the white stuff is a dissaster on each pass. You may want to decide last minute and see if a storm will effect one route of the other.