Upgrading Steps v1.5.6c to v 2.1.0

I have upgraded Zen Cart several times of many years. However I haven't done it in quite a while. My store is currently running v1.5.6c and I would like to upgrade to v2.1.0.

I found a new theme. I know how to merge an all of that. My question is about upgrading steps and advice. Obviously I am not going to upgrade every minor step, theme, and modules for every step one by one. Who has that much time? So I was thinking of upgrading core Zen Cart from v1.5.6c to each major upgrade steps (skipping the minor upgrades), one by one, till I get to v2.1.0. Then after the core is at version 2.1.0. Install my new theme, and upgrade all the modules I want from the current shop. Would this upgrade step work? Or maybe I can just upgrade to each major that has a database upgrade? I think I am running on older database PHP v7.4 so I need to upgrade that with the proper steps. Just figuring out how to upgrade this in fewer steps without issue. Besides my current theme only goes up to v1.5.6c so I can't upgrade my theme with each step.

Your ideas and opinion are much appreciated.

Just go straight to 2.1.0, which contains all the intermediate updates.

And, in your situation, I would use the database upgrade method.

If you have cPanel and your host provides PHP at 8.2 or more, you might want to do a test install to get things going, then swap out the old with the new.

Great news that will save me a ton of time. Thank you both for your feedback!