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-   -   Road trip from Vancouver to LA #Califonia (https://www.fodors.com/community/road-trips/road-trip-from-vancouver-to-la-califonia-1293568/)

Patience May 7th, 2017 11:00 PM

Road trip from Vancouver to LA #Califonia
 
Hi
I am trying to map out an itinerary for our first ever road trip to LA from Vancouver -2 adults and 3 kids ages 9-15.My hope is to include both Disneyland park before we end up in LA for Universal studios.On our return my husband wants to visit Las Vegas which would be OK as we plan to get to Calgary via Montana- and my understanding is this would be a faster route?
This whole trip is 14 days including the driving.If anyone has done this drive especially with kids your input and advise would be greatly appreciated ! Also advise on safe affordable places to stay and eat
but keeping it fun for the kids.
Thank You

Patience May 7th, 2017 11:01 PM

Some corrections to above ( am new to forum)-posted from Canada.

janisj May 7th, 2017 11:51 PM

Two weeks is VERY short for Vancouver, through WA, OR, all of CA, Disney, Vegas, Montana, Calgary and back to Vancouver . . . You will quite literally be in the car ALL day at least 10 of your 14 days. And that is going the fastest, least scenic routes.

tomfuller May 8th, 2017 08:04 AM

Do you live in Vancouver? Are you driving your own BC licensed car?
Yes Interstate 15 from Las Vegas through SLC and Shelby Montana would be your fastest way to get to Calgary.
At least consider taking the Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles and then renting a car for southern California.
Make Calgary and Jasper another trip if you do live in Vancouver.

happytrailstoyou May 8th, 2017 06:32 PM

You can see we are a little confused. From Calgary, will you return to Vancouver?

Anyway, this is a lot of driving, and I'm surprised there is no mention of attractions such as Mt. Rainier, the Columbia River gorge, the Oregon coast, and the redwoods of northern California, which folks comes from all over the world to behold.

Perhaps that's because you seen those wonders previously.

However, if you are only interested in seeing Universal Studios, Disneyland, and Las Vegas, you have plenty of time if you like to drive and don't want to linger at any of them. You will spend a lot of time behind the wheel, but I doubt it will be ten full days.

HTtY

The distance between Vancouver and Disneyland is about the same as between Las Vegas and Calgary (1,300 miles).

janisj May 8th, 2017 06:45 PM

>>but I doubt it will be ten full days.<<

>>The distance between Vancouver and Disneyland is about the same as between Las Vegas and Calgary (1,300 miles)<<

So about a total of about 4000 miles when you figure in the drive from Anaheim to Vegas 300± and Calgary back to Vancouver 1000± . . . like I said about 10 days of full on driving. Well, 9 days anyway . . .

Patience May 9th, 2017 05:16 AM

Thanks for all the responses
To clarify
We live in Calgary but we will be Vancouver for one night with family then proceed from there using our own vehicle
In total I had hoped to at least be on the road 4-5 days going to LA
Also I have at most two and a half weeks at most to do this trip
The idea was to do the scenic route going there and the fast route coming back home which would be heading to Calgary without going through Vancouver.

janisj May 9th, 2017 06:05 AM

OK -- that helps a little.

Scratch the Calgary > Vancouver bit.

If you can manage 2.5 weeks it would be much more doable.

I'd take at least 8 days for the drive down to give you time to see some of the OR coast and the Redwoods in northern California. (10 days would be better to give you time for SF and maybe Monterey).

For just Disneyland, California Adventure and Universal you would want 4 nights (netting you 3 full days). So now we are up to 12 to 14 days. Giving you 3 to 5 days for the drive back through Vegas and north.

Patience May 9th, 2017 06:28 PM

Thanks that's helpful


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