Driving from Las Vegas to Disneyland

Gambling is generally the first image that comes to mind, but Las Vegas offers an abundance of other attractions worth seeing before you venture out on your road trip. If you're on the Strip, meander on over to the fountains at the Bellagio to watch the synchronized water and light show that performs every 15 to 30 minutes. For a dazzling view of the city and surrounding area, hop aboard the High Roller, a 550-foot tall observation wheel with 28 pods that can hold up to 40 people.

A bit of advice to remember when driving through the desert – never hit the road on an empty stomach. Vegas is the perfect place to fill up your tank and we’re not talking about your car. For quick eats, stopping at In-N-Out Burger or Shake Shack are no-brainers, but if you want a renowned experience, head to Lotus of Siam. This hot spot is considered the best Thai food in the whole country.

Once you leave Las Vegas, travel 58 miles south on Interstate 15 to the Mojave National Preserve. This stretch of protected area in the Mojave Desert includes canyons, mountains, sand dunes and Joshua tree forests.

If you like kitschy roadside attractions, head to the town of Baker, California, to see the World's Tallest Thermometer. This gigantic electric sign stands 134 feet tall and can display a maximum temperature of 134 degrees, which is the record temperature recorded in nearby Death Valley on July 10, 1913.

For impressive natural beauty, drive 40 miles into the park from Baker to check out the Kelso Dunes. Covering 45 square miles, the dunes are the largest area of eolian sand deposits in the desert. You'll find several trails in the area to hike around the dunes. While you're here, slowly slide down some of the dunes and listen for the phenomenon known as singing sand – a low-frequency rumble that you can feel as well.

From Kelso, you can also proceed wind 45 miles around the providence mountains to Mitchell Caverns, which is a trio of limestone caves in the Mojave Desert. During a tour of these caverns, you'll see stunning limestone formations that include stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, cave coral and more. To maintain the natural integrity of the caverns, only two tours occur each day. The tour includes a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike to and from the caves and an hour-long, guided trek inside. Should you opt to spend the entire day exploring the preserve, overnight stays at Baker or a little further down the road in Barstow will recharge you for the second half of your trip.

It's about another hour (64 miles) on I-15 S from Baker to Barstow, California. Barstow is a small city that offers a friendly place to get out and walk around for a bit to stretch your legs. You'll find several small museums that are ideal for taking a little stroll.

The Western America Railroad Museum is a gem for train enthusiasts. Found within the historic Harvey House, this museum features all manner of railroad memorabilia. The site also has two cabooses that you can tour. If you have a budding astronaut in your party, head to the Desert Discovery Center to see the second largest space rock found in the U.S., the Old Woman Springs Meteorite.

About 75 miles and an hour and 15 minutes later, you'll reach the vibrant city of Rancho Cucamonga. Known as the "Gateway to Southern California Adventure," this makes a great final pit stop before reaching your Disneyland destination. Head to the Victoria Gardens Regional Town Center for all the shopping and dining you could want. With over 150 restaurants and stores, you'll find plenty to browse if you need a break from the car.

If it's time for a bite, you'll find everything from sweet treats at Ben & Jerry's to salty Wetzel's Pretzels snacks to Johnny Rockets or Blaze Pizza for a full meal. Take care of your last bathroom breaks now, because your destination isn't far.

Take I-10 W and CA-57 S for 37 miles on the last leg of your journey, and you'll reach Disneyland Park in about 50 minutes. Hop out of the car and get ready for a vacation that makes all your dreams come true in this world-famous theme park destination. If you're returning your rental car, do it after your Disneyland adventure by driving about 12 miles on I-5 and CA-55 to John Wayne Airport.