I'll be an automatic so great driving roads isn't an issue, unless mind blowing views are part or the deal. Planning on yellowstone, glacier and badlands on the way out. Desert southwest, painted desert, Texas and gulf states on the way home, then up the smokies.
Stop only at local diners and restaurants. Avoid chains whenever possible. You truly don't know what you are missing until you travel like that.
We did a similar loop on spring break. Here's a few tidbits:
I-70 through Colorado(from Denver west) & Utah is amazing.
The family really enjoyed stopping at Buffalo Bill's museum & grave outside Denver - we could have spent more that the 2-hours we were there.
There's a rest area/park on the downhill side from the continental divide that's on the White River(IIRC), that we could have spent several hours enjoying as well.
Time your trip right & you can stop by Flyin' Miata in Grand Junction(we didn't 
).
Pretty much every rest area in Utah is a scenic lookout. Plan on stopping at each for at least a few minutes to enjoy the view - they're each different.
If you're anywhere near Vegas, stop & check it out, even if it's not your thing.
We were somewhat disappointed with the Grand Canyon. The views from the top are amazing, but you still can't really grasp the scale of it. We weren't prepared(physically or gear) to do any real hiking, so we couldn't really go far enough below the rim to take it all in. Still worth going though.
The town of Williams nearby was cool though & we enjoyed staying there.
Meteor Crater was cool. Expensive, but it's such a desolate area it seemed amazing to us.
Skip Winslow, AZ. Not worth detouring off the interstate for.
Not sure if your route will take you near any of those stops, but hopefully that gives you some ideas.
For food ideas, Roadfood website may be helpful
If you have a chance, take the "Million Dollar Highway" between Durango and Silverton CO. Every turn is like a postcard.
Zion National Park and Moab UT are mind-blowing places that are worth a detour.
West Texas is vast, windy and desolate. It's beautiful in it's own right, but be prepared for a LONG slog through nothingness. IIRC, it's over 1000 miles to cover Texas from West to East.
If you have the time in West Texas, stay in Marfa and go visit Big Bend National Park.
We are forever trying restaurants from the show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. We look up what's on our way from the shows' website and try to fit them into our itinerary. Don't waste your time on Wall Drug if you come anywhere near there.
Joe Gearin wrote: West Texas is vast, windy and desolate. It's beautiful in it's own right, but be prepared for a LONG slog through nothingness. IIRC, it's over 1000 miles to cover Texas from West to East.
Remember that the halfway point between San Antonio and LA is also in Texas.
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