My daughter and I will be driving from southern CA to Nashville at the end of July as she is moving there. I guess we will take I 40 as that seems the most direct route. I am wondering if any of you can suggest towns to stay in along the way, just for resting and eating, not sight-seeing. I figure 7 or 8 hours of driving each day should take us 3 days. I am looking at google maps and AAA, but I am finding it difficult to figure out.

How about overnight stops in Flagstaff, Amarillo, and Fort Smith?

It is 1910 miles from Barstow (west end of I-40) to Nashville.
Unless you're averaging 79MPH, you can't do 636 miles in 8 hours.
Try for 5 days with stops in Flagstaff AZ, Santa Rosa NM, Oklahoma City and Little Rock Arkansas.
Don't try this with a 16 foot moving truck.

Thank you so much for the guidance! That helps a lot.

And, not to worry—she travels light. Whatever doesn't fit in her Camry is not going.

If you have to come back to Southern California without the Camry, get to Memphis and take the City of New Orleans to Chicago and then the Southwest Chief back to LA.

Speed limit through NM is 75 on I-40 and the western panhandle of Texas just before Amarillo so you can make good time.

Santa Rosa or Tucumcari for a stop in NM. The next big town is Amarillo so just know there is spotty cell service and not much in between Tucumcari, NM & Vega, Tx which is 35 miles west of Amarillo. We were entranced in a book on tape and almost ran out of gas in that area -- thank goodness for a very small town of San Jon for gas!

I've driven Oklahoma City to Little Rock and that is a short drive especially if you are not stopping along the way (which there are no monuments or scenic spots). Tucumcari overnighting in Amarillo, then on through OK and overnighting in Ft. Smith. Then on to Nashville the next day. OKC to Nashville is a doable day drive but a full day. We took so many of those when I was younger stuck in a car with my dad smoking & the windows up driving a speedy 55 mph. Today's speeds are more expeditious!

In Arkansas, you could stay in Van Buren, Russellville or Little Rock. Crossing the Mississippi, head to the east side of Memphis or go on to Jackson TN. Just a warning: the truck traffic on I40 between Little Rock and Memphis is a nightmare.

Thanks very much! Solidifying plans today...