I am 36 mom of 3. What is the best route to obtain my degree in becoming a registered nurse?

Am doing this myself, took advice from my aunt who is RN for 16 years. This is what I am doing. Get your LPN first, you can do this in no more than 18 months, depending on the programs available to you. I did it in 11 months. Then you have a decent paying job to get you through while you work at RN. Right now the nursing system is changing and at least in florida if you fail a year in RN school, you dont get to just do that year, you have to start all over again. Also, if you obtain LPN first, you can do that for a couple years or whatever to get oyur feet wet, then do what is called a bridge program, which is shorter than just going into RN b/c you are already nurse. Have friend doing bridge and is taking her about 2 years to get RN, and she is taking her time with it. Another advantage, become LPN first, RN will be much easier.

community college that has a well established nursing program

Try a local community college to handle the requirements such as English 101 etc. Ask if life credit is available for having lived to 36 and having 3 kids or travel etc. Springboard from the local community college to the college w/ the program. You may see if the local college will accept any on-line or correspondance work which is often much cheaper.
Great career move. With our aging population you will be very much in demand.

night and internet classes at community college and the Vocational Med. Tech school ( they have streamlined eve classes for RN)