Thanks everyone for your input.
With all this knowledge being dropped upon me I am considering a southern route of BBQ, desert and sadly, sans cat. He made the trip from southern California to Seattle without a fuss curled up on my lap but at that point he was just a pup and it was only three days with proper housing.

The New route is looking like NYC>Charleston>Saint-Louis>Denver>Arches Ntl Park Utah>Sun Valley ID and/or Jackson WY>Seattle.
still sleeping in the car with a therm-a-rest and my winter bag. Probably sticking to the interstates.
anyone have some must-sees, must eats, must dos?

I'll start us off: Pioneer Saloon in Ketchum Idaho, get the Prime Rib.

Thanks again,
J