Driving from Denver to San Francisco in July
 

I will be driving with my 15 year old son and husband from Denver to San Francisco this summer. We have about 5 days to drive there and would like to see some of the amazing sites along the way. Where would you stop?

I have heard people say to avoid the interstate? What do you think?

Thanks

Good luck on finding a reasonably priced one way car rental in July.
For a driving route to see great scenery - Denver to Glenwood Springs fro lunch. Continue west on I-70 into Utah.
Turn south on US 191 and go to Moab. Day 1 = 380 miles.
If you have time left on day 1 spend it in Arches NP. Sunset pictures are great there.
Day 2 See some more of Arches before heading west on I-70 to I-15 north to get on US 50 and US 6 to Ely NV. See Great Basin NP and the huge copper pit.
Day 3 head out of Ely on US 6. It's your choice if you want to detour south on Rt. 318 off US 6 for the chance to drive the "Extraterrestrial Highway" (Rt. 375). Otherwise, just stay on US 6 to Tonopah. In Tonopah, I once stayed in America's scariest motel -aka the Clown Motel in the north end of town. It is next door to the old cemetery just to make it more creepy.
Day 4 206 miles over the Tioga Pass from Tonopah to Yosemite Valley. If you can't get lodging in Yosemite get a reservation in El Portal.
Day 5 190 miles from Yosemite Valley to San Francisco.

I like tomfuller's suggestion for going to Moab to see Arches and/or Canyonlands, but would have you leave I-70 at Utah route 128 (I think it is exit 214) and follow the Colorado river into Moab. This is a very beautiful drive.

Have a great trip.

What if the trip had to be done in 3-4 days, what would you suggest? and must see salt lake city
please help!! its my mother's and I first road trip together and I am actually moving from denver to san fran and we want to make it special

Welcome to Fodors skunz13. You should start a new thread of your own.

The Main stops would be SLC and Reno/Tahoe