Hello All.
I am making a trip from Richfield, WI to San Luis Obispo, CA with my daughter's car, loaded, for her new home, this coming Monday. I am making the trip solo, will be traveling over Thanksgiving, with my last stop being Las Vegas before heading to her new place.
Because it's late November, I decided that weather-wise, I would go the southern route ; DesMoine, Wichita, Amarillo, Gallup, LV), instead of going thru Colorado and Utah. I am a bit nervous about the mountains, height, winding roads, bridges and ICE!!! Otherwise, I'm cool, but would rather do that northern route in the summer.

I am 56, love to drive, but didn't feel like pushing the driving hours per day, if I didn't have to. And I don't. I am planning on 6-7 hours a day, but if I feel like keeping on, I shall.
This is a chance for me to chill a bit, so if anybody has any cool ideas along the way, or warnings or tips for lodging, eating, and stretching, please inform.
I am thinking I might be in Gallup for Thankgiving. I would rather be in Vegas, so I might push. If you are familiar with that span of I-40, I would love the head's up about food, little towns, etc.
Thanks much,
Jill

Seriously, I would not want to be in Gallup for Thanksgiving. It is a challenge on a regular night, T'giving could be a real problem. I would stop in Albuquerque.

Push for Las Vegas is a big push, from NM seeing as to you thinking of doing 6 -7 hours a day. Maybe push to Flagstaff.

I can give you info on ABQ.

If you must do Gallup, read this for some ideas:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/643733

I agree with Deb. If you stop in Amarillo the night before, Albuquerque would be a good stop for your next evening.

Lee Ann

Thank you all very much. This helps a lot!
I can survive on a slim jim and jerky, if I must, but I would like to treat myself to some turkey and dressing and a side of sweet potatoes, if at all possible.
I am playing all of this by ear, so I might even leave on Tuesday, and lollygag.
My plan of having a comp'd room in Vegas has gone by the wayside, as the days that I might be there are holiday-ish, and I wouldn't get my cheap or free room until Sunday. Oh,well. I might have to pay for a room.
I might ask about Albuuerque after I look over my sketchy plans again.
Thanks much.

If you want, Amarillo to Albuquerque isn't that much of a push. Of course there are lots of reasons to stop in Albuquerque from food and shopping to musuems. DW and I went from Flagstaff to Albuquerque with no problem in Decmeber last year.
On I-40 you don't really have any high mountain passes, winding roads or steep drop offs. You can get snow and ice this time of year.
The drive from Albuquerque to Las Vegas in a day would be a stretch. From Flagstaff it is less than 250 mile3s to LA via Kingman and the new Hoover Dam Bridge.
The weather forecast looks pretty for the Sothwest though Thankgiving. No winter storms.

I am cementing this plan, and barring my exhaustion quotient and the weather, the plan now is thus: Richfield, Wisconsin, to St.Louis, St.Lou to OK City, OK, next night, Albuquerque, then instead of Las Vegas, and since I have never been to Lauglin, I will get my kicks on the slots there, and then push the following day, to San Luis Obispo, California.
This will still give me time to chill off the road, taking breaks, and I can always shave off an hour or two a day or take an extra day.
This will help the cost factor, too. Though I am going to see about comp'd rooms at Harrah's, though you know for sure that there is no such thing as a free room.
We'll see.
Landing in Albuquerque looks likely still for Thankgiving, so that information on a good place or more to eat would be very helpful, if anybody has a personal experience to share. Otherwise, I can look online at reviews.
Thanks so much.
Jill

I would suggest that you stay adjacent to I-40 in ABQ. The uptown area is where I would head. What is your budget for the night? Are you willing to do Priceline or Hotwire? There is a Sheraton, a Radisson, a Hyatt Place, a Marriott in that area.

I will find some places that are serving a good T'giving meal and post.

Thank you! I did see your list of restaurants a bit ago when I looked up the city. Nice job on that list.
I have no budget, really. My practical, cheap brain says no more than 110 for a room and that is a slurge. For food, if I am sitting down, the menu is the only thing I am looking at. I forgo the booze, so the price is always in a reasonable ballpark. And for T-day, who cares.
I would do priceline or hotwire, and have in the past. I am thinking of doing free rooms in St.Louis and Laughlin, with my Total Rewards points. I really don't gamble much, but they like slot players, and I play them when I go to Canada twice a month, just to keep the card active and get a little fix. Last week, I played a whole 20 dollars, as I actually went in Caesar's just to use the bathroom, in case I got stuck at the border!!!
I will have some money provided by my daughter and her husband, as well as their credit card for gas, etc. I will have some of my own money, about 500 hundred, so I should be able to stay and eat within safety and convenience.
I must say, I have been looking at the Motel 6 site, and I love that you can make a roadtrip based on their motels. And I just heard of one that is super green and ahead of it's time, that made me think they really are leaving the light on for me, but it might be solar powered.
Interesting.

I just checked Hotwire for the night of 11/25 and they are showing a 3.5* hotel in Uptown area for $56.

The amenities listed are:
Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, Laundry Facilities, High-speed Internet Access.
and it shows "Recommended in 95 % of Hotwire customer reviews".

I won't guarantee it, but I am pretty sure it is the Sheraton Uptown, based on a recent booking shown on betterbidding.com

That is a really good price, with free parking and close to I40 and in a good area. It was renovated 2 years ago and is very nice, we have stayed there a few times since renovations and liked it.

Since you like to gamble I'd say go for it!

Will work on restaurants later, heading out for the day.

Thank you! I am going to take a nap, then go out with my daughter that is local. The one that I am supposed to be helping move, is MIA, so I imagine she will fetch me when she needs me. She better hurry up and ship me up there on the train, and book my flight back home, as I hate to see the high rates when it's so unnecessary.
Oh, well, if she is not freaking out about when I am coming up there to Wisconsin, then I won't either.
I will do priceline as soon as I know what day I hit the road. FOR SURE. Man, I shoulda been there already...