Moving from Dallas to Sacramento
 

I'm a relocating my job from Dallas to Sacramento. I plan to drive to Sacramento. I'm a single driver and I'm planning to drive over four days with stoppages at Santa Rose-NM, Flagstaff-AZ, Barstow-CA. Do you recommend any specific routes to follow or a different stoppage point?

What time of year will you be making the drive? The season may effect recommendations. Also, do you want to get there in as direct a way as possible, or are deviations possible for more interesting stops?

I'm planning to drive in the 3rd week of December. And, I do not want to deviate much. I just thought about visiting the South Rim of Grand Canyon alone. Please let me know if there are any must see places en route. Thanks!

In late December -- just get there. The Grand Canyon, and <i>maybe</i> Las Vegas. But up the CA Central Valley it is very possible to have either rain or heavy fog.

So I'd just plan on the South Rim (but accommodations would be an issue) Vegas if you are interested, and then get up to Sacto. After either the GC or LV it will be one long/boring/semi-ugly slog.

Weather this winter will be unpredictable but likely more snow/rain than usual. If you don't have time for weather delays, stay south, I-10 instead of I-40 which goes though some high country, so snow. Without deviations, your choices to overnight will be limited so I suggest you simply stop when you're tired and don't worry about what the place has to offer, although you may enjoy a night in the Palm Springs/Palm Desert area.

I agree with MmePerdu stick with I-10 to avoid getting stuck on the Tehachapi Pass (Barstow to Bakersfield) or in Flagstaff AZ.
Night #1 in Las Cruces NM, night #2 in Palm Springs CA.
If you need a place to stay in Sacramento while looking for a residence, try the Sacramento HI Hostel @ 10th & H streets.
It is a Victorian mansion and is my favorite HI hostel.

Dallas to Las Cruces and Las Cruces to Palm Springs are each 10+ hour drives plus stops. I sure as heck wouldn't try that driving solo . . .

If you stick with your route through Santa Rosa, have dinner at Joseph's for a little Route 66 trip back in time.

I would certainly try to include the Grand Canyon. Instead of Flagstaff you could also book in for Williams, AZ. Play it by ear. It may nor may not be bad driving weather.

Off Route 66 it's fun to stop at Seligman and go to Delgadillo's Sno Cap. Just a short detour of I-40.

Barstow is about as far as I would want to go the next day.