Nj to Las vegas
 

Hi,

I and my family are planning a road trip from NJ to Las Vegas to san diageo, Los algeles and San Fransisco and back to NJ in the last week of June spanning 16 days. We are 4 in number and 2 of us would do all the driving. Now we don't want to spend more than a couple of days in Vegas. We want to explore the route in between.

We were thinking of taking the route NJ - Cleveland - Chicago - Omaha - Denver - Moab - LV while going and LV - Antelope canyon (AZ) - Albuquerque (NM) - Oklahoma - St.Louis - Indianapolis - Columbus (OH) - NJ

This is our first road trip anywhere outside the east coast and we would be glad to get some suggestions and advice.

Thanks
Bharvin

>> from NJ to Las Vegas to san diageo, Los algeles and San Fransisco and back to NJ in the last week of June spanning 16 days.<<

16 days is way (waaaay) too short a time for all that.


>>This is our first road trip anywhere outside the east coast and we would be glad to get some suggestions and advice.<<

For a first road trip of any distance why are you trying to cover the whole country? The bare minimum would be 6,500 miles and 110+ hours behind the wheel. So @ even 8 hours butts in seats without any stops - you are talking 13+ full days in the car - with no time for detours or sightseeing. With two stuck in the back seat all day every day. Back to the drawing board.

Between LV and Antelope Canyon is Grand Canyon, do stop there.

What is the "idea" of this trip--to get to LV for a few days (to each his own!!) or to enjoy the magnificent west.
If you wanted to choose places to really see and not drive by on the way, maybe aim for Denver/Rocky mountain National Park. That would be 2 (long) days of driving. Stay ____ days.
Then head south west toward Antelope Canyon and Grand Canyon and spend ____ days. Then go to LV and spend your 3 days. How much time do you have to come back.
Driving in the west--or to get TO the west can make for long days, but you can cover a lot of miles--IF you want to.

I'd just fly, lot of boring cities and not much time.

In your first paragraph, you include San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco, but they are missing from your contemplated routing. If California is, in fact, part of your plans, you need to entirely re-think driving the round-trip from NJ. Just California + Las Vegas could easily take 16 days.

Understand you want to see a lot on your trip, but you'll be seeing it all from the interstate! I agree with some of the comments above. Pick an area you want to focus on. If Las Vegas is your main goal, spend a few days there then visit the surrounding area where you can get out of the car and see some amazing scenery, hike, picnic, etc. Here are a some areas within a few hours of Las Vegas: Red Rock Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon. You'll truly get a flavor of the southwest at any of these places. I would also suggest stopping in Santa Fe, NM - amazing food and rich history. If you care to do hiking in any of the above areas, here's some good information: Discover the West