Am arriving on international flight, renting car, and driving to Grand Canyon with 4 kids. Will need to break the journey somewhere. Suggestions on this forum for a route seem to go on I-10 East and onwards with some variations. On Google Maps the most direct route to me seems I-15. Am I missing something here or is there some reason not to take that route.

Any help would be appreciated with suggested routes, where to break journey etc. Thanks

It would add about two hours to your trip if you take I-10 instead of I-15/I-40.

Mapquest indicates 501 miles, estimated 7:30 driving time from LAX to Tusayan, just outside the south entrance to the south rim. This is via I-15 to I-40. It could be very slow leaving the LA area if you hit rush hour traffic.

Not many places to stop, it would depend on how late you arrive at LAX and how long you wish to drive. Maybe Barstow, Needles, Williams, etc.

The previous poster is dead on. In one of your posts, you indicated you would stay overnight somewhere near LAX. So, the next morning, wait till about 9 to hit the road, then take the 10 east to the the 15, and then the 15 north to Barstow. From there take the 40 all the way to Williams, AZ, where you then go north on State Rte. 64 to the south rim of the canyon (where "everybody" goes).
Barstow could be a lunch stop. From there it would be a little over 2 hours to Needles. I have avoided staying overnight at Needles, because it is very hot there, and it isn't much of a town. In the past I have gone on to stay at Kingman, which is a little bigger, and cooler, because it's over 3000 ft.elev.

I may be prejudiced because I drove this route a couple of times (long ago) when it was still US 66 and my car wasn't air conditioned. Things have gotten more comfortable since then. And yes, I have taken this route in recent years, but have not cut off to the GC. The last time I was there was in the mid 60s. But according to geologists, it hasn't changed much.

Thank you - I agree with the route suggested. I think now we may leave LAX and drive as far as Barstow (which according to the maps is about a 2 hour drive) where we will overnight before heading for Teyasan. So much research - so little time!

Just to fine tune it a little, I would take the 10 to the 605 North to the 210. Traffic will be lighter, you'll hit the 15 just below the Cajon Pass.

logandog,
do you mean "105 {not 10!} to the 605 North to the 210" ?

105 Fwy is just a mile south of LAX, and 105 Eastbound is nearly always faster than 10 Eastbound (which goes thru downtown LA).

Here's what Mapquest suggests (from LAX), basically agreeing with tom_h on 105, then agreeing with both tom and logandog the rest of the route (105E - 605 N - 210 E - I-15N):

1: Start out going EAST on WORLD WAY/CENTER WAY. 0.0 mi

2: Merge onto S SEPULVEDA BLVD/CA-1 S toward I-105. 0.8 mi

3: Take the IMPERIAL HWY WEST/I-105 E ramp toward IMPERIAL TERMINAL. 0.1 mi

4: Merge onto I-105 E toward NORWALK. 17.0 mi

5: Merge onto I-605 N. 18.0 mi

6: Merge onto I-210 E toward SAN BERNARDINO. 8.1 mi

7: I-210 E becomes CA-210 E. 18.9 mi

8: Merge onto I-15 N toward BARSTOW. 67.6 mi

I-15 to I-40 is most direct but going I-10 to 89 is most scenic. That route goes through Prescott, Jerome and Sedona AZ.

Thank you so much for taking the time to go into such detail on my behalf. We are doing a "circle" beginning in LAX, GC, Yosemite, SF, Big Sur, LA, San Diego and back to LAX for departure. I have yet to figure out the exact details of each part of the trip and where to devout time sightseeing as opposed to just getting to a destination, but you are so helpful that its proving easier than I thought. I would like to return once I have the bones of the trip in place and ask you to critique it for me.

Don't know what time of day your flight arrives or how likely you are to be exhausted on arrival. No disrespect to Barstow, but Barstow is not a holiday destination and putting in two hours just off the plane may be unnecessary punishment.
Plenty of pleasant options from nearby LAX and outward to San Bernadino that are better than camping in Barstow.

Thanks stumpworks73. As yet do not know time of flight so am just thinking if it arrived in early afternoon we could get some of the journey started before we get to bed and make it that bit shorter the next day?

Cathycon: I used to live in CA and have driven to all the places you mention. In early August I intend to replicate exactly the route you are taking. How many days are you allocating for your trip? My children may get anxious to stop after a while. Incidentally, Barstow does have a Casa del Desierto (also known as the Harvey House Railroad Depot) railway station worth knowing about and possibly visiting.

Hi,
I live near Barstow, and seriously, I can't imagine stopping in Barstow in August, unless it is dark and time to call it a night-very hot!! Otherwise I agree with others about staying in Kingman-small town, not much to talk about when it comes to lodging or food, but certainly an ok place to stop for the night. If you want to get out of LA but not drive too long the first night, you could always stay in Ontario or Rancho Cucamonga, both along the I-10 or 215 freeways.The drive the next day would be pretty light from there. However, if you do stay in Barstow, there is a very enjoyable Steakhouse, off the beaten path, that you might not otherwise find. It is called Idle Spurs Steakhouse-love their scallops and prime rib dinners-reasonable too. Enjoy!!

Karn may follow your advice and give Barstow a skip! Nearly have the outline of my trip planned so will be back shortly with that for any of you very helpful people to critique before I book.

SimonSaivil: Just some background info this is Leg 1 of our Great American Adventure! Basically we are doing circular route starting LA, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, SF and down coastal CA. Like you we dont want it to be an endurance test for either us or kids and are trying to balance downtime with seeing as much as we can. Not too easy! We are allocating 1 night somewhere in the drive from LA to Grand Canyon. We are planning 3 nights in GC, Southern Rim (maybe Bright Angel Lodge) and then heading for LV to overnight before continuing to Yosemite. Hope this is useful to you and if I can help anyway with your research I will of course. I have read so many guide books I feel I know it like the back of my hand but it is on sites like this that you get the real picture from other travellers or locals themselves who are kind enough to take the time to share. Good luck

cathycon: I didn't see your thread earlier. IMO - since you are flying in long haul, I'd stay Near LAX or maybe Santa Monica (depending on arrival time and if you'd have an sightseeing time) the first night. Then drive all the way to Arizona the 2nd day. It would not change your total travel time at all but would be much safer if you are jet lagged or sleepless. Plus you wouldn't be stuck in Barstow or some other dump (tip) just because you needed to stop.

If you are from the UK -- Barstow and some of your other options out that way are pants (you'll know what that means )

I get the gist of it!

I have 2 issues -1) Am unable to book flights yet or even view timetables because most of the airlines are not giving access to June 2010 schedules yet. If the flight is in early in the day it would be good to get even 2 hours of the journey done so that the next day wouldn't be so difficult.

2) We are planning to spend 3 nights in LA on the coastal side of the trip so would rather not spend a "throw away" night there at the start of the holiday if I can help it.

believe me - LAX or Santa Monica would not be a throwaway night -- Especially if Barstow or such are your alternatives. Now THAT would be a throw away night.

Or - consider this instead: Land at LAX, book a flight from LAX to Phoenix 4 or 5 hours after your arrival time. Southwest flies that route so fares are generally low. Then spend the night and pick up your rental car the next morning and drive to Sedona and then the Grand Canyon.

Have thought of flying however the rental car will be with us for the entire vacation and wouldnt it mean paying extra to drop it off in LAX instead of Phoenix? Add on the cost of the flights to Phoenix for the 6 of us and it might prove quite costly