Coming from Michigan and leaving Monday after dinner(so kids sleep thru the night) heading for Denver. Gonna crash in Denver Tuesday afternoon and night so kids can play in a pool at a hotel and then head to Silverton Wed morning.
I'm not sure exactly where you are in Michigan, but making it all the way to Denver sounds like one heck of a first leg. Coming from Columbus, we got as far as eastern central Kansas on day 1 and it was time to get the kids out of the car and a beer in dad's hand (about 785 miles). We did another 630 miles on day 2 which got us within striking distance of Silverton.