Below is a sample itinerary from a trip our family took several years ago. The longer I have to plan a trip, the more detailed my itineraries become. (For a list of the money-saving sites I normally check while planning, see this post: Favorite Websites for Vacation Planning.)

I’ll admit the hourly schedule is probably overkill (although it sure helped us in Europe when we were juggling so many train schedules), and you may have no need or desire to plan your vacations down to 15-minute increments, but do consider keeping a master list of driving routes and mileage, hotel confirmation numbers, and information concerning any stops you plan to make along the way.

In this present age of smartphones, I know you can look a lot of these things up as you go, but I prefer having all the details written down in one place. A little advanced planning and preparation can make the journey more joyous.

I’ve received several requests from friends and readers to make my detailed itineraries available, so that is what I’ve done here. Since the work is already done, I reuse them myself whenever we make repeat trips to an area we’ve visited before.

Scroll down to read a sample itinerary from our family’s first trip to the West Coast, or if you’re planning to visit any of the locales listed below, click on the desired link to view another itinerary in pdf format.

Happy planning!

Friday, March 24

• 3:00 – Dress for trip – royal blue T-shirts, jeans, summer plaid
• 3:30 – Load Suburban/ pray/ set trip odometer to 000
• 4:00 – Tyler, TX >> Mesquite, TX via I-20 (99 mi)
  • Listen: George Washington Carver biography tape (1 hr)
  • Travel bags: coloring books and markers
• 5:30 – Dinner out with Cowans and Hancocks – Tony Roma’s (coupon)
• 7:00 – Visit @ Nana & Papa’s
• 8:00 – Mesquite , TX >> Arlington, TX via I-30 (about 30 mi)
• 8:30 – Hotel check-in
  • Springhill Suites – 1975 East Lamar – (817) 860-2737
  • One room, 2 double beds, 1 fold-out couch, 1 crib – $69
  • Confirmation # 8098 8233 (7 kids “no problem”)
• 9:00 – Swim in heated pool before bed?

Saturday, March 25

• 7:00 – Up and dress – teal diabetes T-shirts, summer plaid
• 8:00 – Continental breakfast at hotel
• 8:45 – Pray/ Check gas
• 9:00 – Arlington, TX >> Abilene, TX via I-30 to Ft Worth, then I-20 (170 mi)
  • Listen: John Bunyan’s HOLY WAR (3 hrs)
  • Snacks: cheese-n-crackers, water in sipper cups, Doritos
  • Travel bags: puzzles, stickers, gum, books
• 12:00 – Lunch in Abilene
• 1:00 – Visit Grace (Children’s) Museum
  • 102 Cypress Street – (913) 673-4587
  • Open Tue-Sat 10-5, Thurs until 8:30
  • No charge with DSP card
• 3:00 – Abilene, TX >> Big Spring, TX via I-20 (108 mi)
• 4:30 – Take bathroom break at Heritage Museum
  • 510 Scurry Street – (432) 267-8255
  • Open Sat 10-5
  • No charge with DSP card
• 5:00 – Big Spring, TX >> Eunice, NM via Hwy 176 (100 mi)
• 6:30 – Reset watches to Mountain time (back one hour)
• 5:30 – Eunice, NM >> Carlsbad, NM via Hwy 62/180 (70 mi)
• 6:30 – Eat dinner in Carlsbad
• 7:30 – Carlsbad, NM >> Whites City, NM via Hwy 62/180 (18 mi)
• 8:00 – Hotel Check-in
  • Best Western Cavern Inn (505) 785-2291, (800) 730-2851
  • Carlsbad Cavern Hwy: 62 /180 at jct. SR 7
  • Military rate $55 per room per night
  • Two adjoining rooms reserved w/ 2 double beds ea.
  • Includes free passes to adjoining water park, but no breakfast.
  • Confirmation # 113-359-996
• Dusk – watch bats?

Sunday, March 26

• 6:30 – Up and eat breakfast food (fruit cups, granola bars, juice)
• 7:00 – Dress – dark green polos, green plaid
• 7:30 – Pack up/ Hotel Check-out
• 8:00 – Pray/ Check gas
• 8:30 – Carlsbad Caverns opens: Big Room Tour
  • Admission $5 adult, $3 ages 6-12,under 6 free [$22 total]
  • Bring jackets; allow 1 ½ hours
• 10:30 – Whites City, NM >> El Paso, TX via Hwy 62/180 (150 mi)
  

  Listen: Scott O’Dell’s Sing Down the Moon
  Snacks: beef jerky, juice, granola bars, raisins
  Travel bags: beady buddies, markers

• 1:00 – Lunch in El Paso
• 2:00 – Magoffin Homestate Historical Site
  

  1120 Magoffin Ave, (915) 533-5147
  No charge with DSP card

• 3:00 – El Paso, TX >> Las Cruces, NM via I-25 (46 mi)
• 3:45 – Las Cruces, NM >> Tucson, AZ via I-10 (about 280 mi)

note – If ahead of schedule, tour Amerind Foundation Museum in Dragoon (closes at 4 pm. $3/adult, under 12 free)

• 6:00 – Dinner on the road
• 8:30 – Hotel check-in
  

  Clarion Hotel Tucson Airport – (520) 746-3932
  One room w/2 queen beds, 1 crib (no charge), $75
  Includes free kids, breakfast buffet, late night snacks/drinks
  Confirmation # JH 031500

Monday, March 27

• 6:30 – Up and dress – kelly green T-shirts, jeans, green plaid
• 7:30 – Breakfast buffet/ check-out
• 8:00 – Pray/ Check gas
• 8:30 – Visit Sonora Desert Museum (open 7:30-6:00)
  

  Tucson Mountain Park – allow 2 hrs. min
  Admission: $8.95 adult, $1.75 ages 6-12, under 6 free [$24.90 total]

• 11:00 – Lunch out with Uncle Henry and Aunt Imogene
• 1:00 – Tucson, AZ >> El Centro, CA via I-8 (292 mi)
  

  Listen: Louis L’Amour
  Snacks: water in sipper cups, oatmeal cookies, cheetos
  Travel bags: Crosswords, math drills, stickers, yarn crafts

• 5:30 – Reset watches to Pacific time (back another hour)
• 4:30 – El Centro, CA >> San Diego, CA via I-8 (114 mi)
• 6:30 – Eat dinner??
• 8:00 – Hotel Check-in:
  

  Holiday Inn Express – 3950 Jupiter Street – (619) 226-8000
  One room, 2 double beds + crib, $89/night, includes continental breakfast
  AAA Tour Book, p. A451. Confirmation # 64959194

• 8:30 – Ask concierge about discounts to Zoo and Legoland ?

Tuesday, March 28

• 6:00 – Up and dress – red polos, red plaid
• 7:00 – Breakfast at hotel
• 8:00 – Pray/ Check gas
• 8:15 – Walk around Balboa Park – listen for Carrion Bells
• 9:00 – San Diego Zoo opens – off I-5 at Pershing Dr. exit – (619) 234-3153
  

  General admission: $13 adult, $6 ages 3-11
  Deluxe: (incl. bus tour, aerial tram, children’s zoo): $19 adult, $11 ages 3-11
  [$56 total general/ $93 total deluxe]
  Ask about group rate/ family membership?

• 1:00 – Drive to Old Town – eat on the way?
  

  Robinson-Rose House – 4002 Wellas – (619)220-5422

• 2:00 – Walking tour of Old Town (free)
• 4:30 – Eat at Casa de Pico in Old Town, 2754 Calhoun St (619)296-3267
• 6:00 – Swim in hotel pool?

Wednesday, March 29

• 6:00 – Up and dress – yellow polos, jeans, red plaid
• 7:00 – Breakfast at hotel
• 8:00 – Pack up/ hotel check out?
• 8:15 – Pray/ Check gas
• 8:30 – San Diego, CA >> Carlsbad, CA via I-5 (30 mi)
• 9:15 – Stop at Beachview Lodge to get discounted Legoland tickets? ($25 ea)
  

  Go North on I-5, exit Carlsbad Village Drive. Go west, TR on Carlsbad Blvd, hotel is next right – must fill out paperwork, then get tickets at sister hotel 4 blocks away.

  10:00 – Legoland in Carlsbad, CA

  30 million bricks; 5000 models, 40 attractions
  Open 10 am – 5 pm. Information: (760) 918-5346 [$210 total]
  Admission: $34 adult, $27 ages 3-16, under 3 free; parking $7 (MC/V)
  Ask about group rates?

• 5:00 – Eat dinner
• 6:00 – Hotel check-in:
  

  Best Western Beachview Lodge, 3180 Carlsbad Blvd, (800) 535-5588
  One suite with King bed, foldaway sofa, crib? $154, includes breakfast
  Confirmation # 26777

• 6:30 – Walk along the beach? Swim?

Thursday, March 30

• 6:00 – Up and dress – New Orleans T-shirts
• 7:00 – Continental breakfast at hotel
• 8:00 – Pack up and check out
• 8:15 – Pray/ Check gas
• 9:00 – Carlsbad, CA >> Laguna Beach, CA via I-5 to Doheny/ Hwy 1 (50 mi?)
• 10:30 – Laguna Beach
  

  Park and walk to beach. See sea lions, sea anemones, urchins, starfish.

• 11:30 – Laguna Beach, CA >> Los Angeles, CA via Hwy 1 to I-110 (30 mi?)
  

  Listen: Your Story Hour

• 11:30 – Eat lunch on the road
• 12:00 – Visit Exposition Park (off I-110)
• 12:30 – Tour Natural History Museum of LA, 900 Exposition Blvd. (213) 744-3466
  

  Tue-Sun 10-5, Admission: $6 adult, $3 ages 5-11 [$24 total]

• 2:45 – Tour California Museum of Science and Industry?
  

  700 State Drive
  Open daily 10-5. Free admission to museum

• 3:30 – Leave downtown before rush hour
• 4:00 – Hotel Check-in – Best Western Golden Key – Glendale
  

  123 W Colorado – (818)247-0111
  One room w/ 2 Q beds + crib: $116.10 first night (SAM’s Club)
  Includes: free continental breakfast, free video movies, popcorn and peanuts.
  Check-in at 1pm, Check out at noon. Cancel by 4 pm date of arrival.
  AAA Travel Guide p. A244. Confirmation # 534-940-290

• 5:00 – Eat dinner
• 6:00 – Do laundry at hotel

Friday, March 31

• 6:00 – Up and dress – yellow polos, jeans, red plaid
• 7:00 – Eat breakfast at hotel
• 8:00 – Pack up/ hotel check-out
• 8:15 – Pray/ Check gas
• 8:30 – Tour Forest Lawn Memorial Park – 1712 S. Glendale Ave – (213) 254-3131
  

  Park open daily 8-5, Museum open daily 10-5 (Admission: donation)
  Artwork: “Last Supper shown every ½ hour 9:30-4
  Artwork “Crucifixion and Resurrection every hour 10-4

• 9:30 – Last Supper?
• 10:00 – Resurrection?
• 11:00 – Lunch
• 12:00 – NBC Studio in Burbank? (p.103)
  

  3000 W. Alameda Ave – (818) 840-3537 – Mon-Fri 9-3
  1 hr.15-min. tour: $7 adult, $3.75 ages 5-12, under 5 free

• 2:30 – Stop by Visitors Bureau in Beverly Hills – get free driving tour guide
  

  239 S. Beverly Drive – (310) 271-8174, (800) 345-2210

• 2:45 – Tour Beverly Hills/ Hollywood
• 4:00 – See Mann’s Chinese Theater – 6925 Hollywood Blvd.
• 5:00 – Eat Dinner
• 6:00 – Los Angeles, CA >> Tulare, CA via I-5 (170 mi)
• 9:30 – Hotel Check-in:
  

  Best Western, 1051 N. Blackstone Ave, (559) 688-7537
  One non-smoking room with 2 Queen beds + 1 crib, $58
  Confirmation # TRACY

Saturday, April 1

• 6:00 – Up and dress – red polos, red plaid
• 7:00 – Breakfast/ hotel check-out
• 8:00 – Pray/ Check gas
• 8:15 – Tulare, CA >> Sequoia National Park, CA via Hwy 63 to 198? (50 mi?)
• 9:15 – See Sequoias
• 10:30 – Sequoia National Park, CA >> Las Vegas, NV via Hwy 198 to Hwy 65 to
  

  Hwy 58 @ Bakersfield to I-15 @ Barstow to Vegas (about 360 mi)
  Snack: goldfish, juice
  Travel bags: yarn crafts, activity books

• 12:00 – Eat lunch on the road
• 4:30 – Leid Discovery Children’s Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd
  

  Open Tue-Sat 10-5
  No charge with DSP card

• 5:00 – Eat Dinner – Rainforest Café? Use coupon.
• 6:30 – Hotel Check-in:
  

  Fairfield Inn – 3850 Paradise Road – (702)791-3600
  Non-smoking King Suite w/ sofa sleeper + crib: $80
  Includes free continental breakfast. Cancel by 6 pm date of arrival
  AAA Guide p. A688. Confirmation # 8287 1458

Sunday, April 2

• 1:00 – Reset watches for Daylight Savings Time (forward one hour)
• 6:00 – Up and Dress – dark green polos, jeans, green plaid
• 7:00 – Breakfast at hotel
• 8:00 – Pack up and Check-out
• 8:15 – Pray/ Check Gas
• 9:00 – Tour Hoover Dam – (702)293-8321
  

  Park along US 93 and ride free shuttle
  40-min. tour: $5 adult, $2.50 ages 10-16, Under 10??

• 11:00 – Crossing into Mountain time (no time change – no daylight savings in AZ)
• 11:00 – Las Vegas, NV >> Flagstaff, AZ via US 93, I-40 (251 mi)
  

  Listen: Scott O-Dell book
  Snack: Cheerios, raisins, nuts, water in sipper cups

• 4:00 – Flagstaff – Lowell Observatory
  

  1400 West Mars Hill Road, (520) 774-3358
  (This observatory was founded by Percival Lowell, a Boston aristocrat and amateur astronomer who built it back in 1894, hoping to find life on Mars. In the past century, Lowell Observatory has helped discover Pluto, map out the moon, locate the rings of Uranus, and provide evidence of an expanding universe.)

No charge with DSP card, open noon-5:00
note – If we’re running significantly ahead of schedule, we will see Tuzigoot National Monument before heading back to Williams. It’s open 8-5, $2 adult, kids free (520)-634-5564

• 5:00 – Flagstaff, AZ >> Williams, AZ via I-40 (30 mi)
• 5:30 – Dinner
• 6:30 – Shop Safeway – 637 W Rte 66 – get picnic food for tomorrow
• 7:00 – Hotel Check-in:
  

  Best Western Inn of Williams, 2600 W. Bill Williams, (800) 635-4445
  Railway/ room package — $402.66
  Includes two non-adjoining rooms with 2 double beds each + crib, continental breakfast, drinks, round-trip RR passage for 2 adults, 5 children, 2 lap children
  See AAA Tour Book p A17
  Confirmation # 402 TPD 169 B2

Monday, April 3

• 7:00 – Up and dress – kelly green T-shirts, green plaid
• 8:00 – Breakfast at hotel
• 9:00 – Gunfight in front of Grand Canyon Depot?
• 9:30 – Board train
• 11:45 – Arrive at Grand Canyon
• 12:00 – Eat lunch – Picnic??
• 1:00 – Trek around Grand Canyon Village, trails, and Visitors Center
  

  note – In event of inclement weather, we can hop a bus to the Grand Canyon IMAX Theater in Tusayan and see 34 minute film. Tickets $8 adult, $6 ages 3-11

• 3:15 – Train leaves Grand Canyon
• 5:30 – Back in Williams
• 6:00 – Eat dinner

Tuesday, April 4

• 7:00 – Up and dress – New Orleans T-shirts, jeans
• 8:00 – Breakfast at hotel – check out
• 9:00 – Pray/ Check gas
• 9:15 – Williams, AZ >> Albuquerque, NM via I-40 (356 mi)
  

  Listen: Anne of Green Gables
  Snack: malt balls, Wheat Thins, juice
  Travel bags: books, flash cards, travel games

• 12:00 – Reset watches for Daylight Savings Time (forward one hour)
• 4:30 – Visit Explora Science Center in Albuquerque
  

  800 Rio Grande, (505) 842-1537
  No charge with DSP card

• 5:30 – Eat dinner
• 6:30 – Albuquerque, NM >> Tucumcari, NM via I-40 (about 174 mi)
• 9:30 – Hotel Check-in:
  

  Holiday Inn Tucumcari – Exit 335 (East of town) – (505) 461-3780
  One room w/2 double beds *request crib $50.50 (gov. discount)
  Two Adults, 7 children, includes full breakfast
  Confirmation # 6495 7015

Wednesday, April 5

• 7:00 – Up and dress – teal diabetes T-shirts, summer plaid
• 8:00 – Breakfast @ hotel, check-out
• 9:00 – Pray/ Get gas
• 9:15 – Tucumcari, NM >> Amarillo, TX via I-40 (100 mi)
  

  Listen: Anne of Green Gables
  Snack: oatmeal cookies, crackers
  Travel Bags: stickers, postcards

• 10:45 – Reset watches to Central time (forward one hour)
• 11:45 – Visit American Quarterhorse Museum
  

  2601 I-40 E at Nelson St exit 806, (806) 376-5181
  Open Mon-Sat 10-5
  No charge with DSP card

• 12:30 – Eat lunch
• 1:15 – See Don Harrington Discovery Center
  

  1200 Streit Drive, (806) 355-9548
  Open Tue-Sat 9-5
  No charge with DSP card

• 2:15 – Look at Helium monument – world’s largest quantity
• 2:30 – Amarillo, TX >> Oklahoma City, OK via I-40 (245 mi)
• 6:30 – Hotel Check-in:
  

  Best Western Tradewind, 1800 E Reno, (405) 235-4531
  One room with 3 double beds + crib, $58.50.
  Cancel by 4pm day before arrival
  Confirmation # 224-940-891

Thursday, April 6

• 8:00 – Up and dress – royal blue T-shirts, summer plaid
• 9:00 – Breakfast at hotel?? Check out
• 10:00 – Pray/ Check gas
• 10:15 – Oklahoma City, OK >> Sulphur via I-35/ Hwy 7 (90 mi)
• 12:00 – Visit Aunt Gwen
• 3:00 – Sulphur, OK >> Madill, OK via Hwy 177/ 199 (almost 40 mi)
• 4:00 – Visit Aunt Irene
• 6:00 – Madill, OK >> Tyler, TX via Hwy 70 to Durant, then 69 home (about 170 mi)
• 9:00 – THERE”S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!!