Welcome to the RTA Forum!

The great thing about a cross country trip is that you've got a million options and possibilities, the downside is that you've got a million options and possibilities. With all of those options, and really no idea of what you and your son are interested in or what you and your son consider kid-friendly, it's very difficult for anyone else to narrow things down for you.

I would say if you are taking a southern route west, then I'd certainly go farther north to head back east. That could be going up to Utah and Colorado and making your way back along I-70. That could mean going even farther north, perhaps up to Yellowstone and MT. Rushmore and head back along I-90. You could do any number of things in between.

Is your final destination Vegas or are you continuing all the way to California, and if so, how much time are you hoping to spend there?

I will say that 2.5-3 weeks isn't a whole lot of time for this trip. You're going to need close to a week each way just to cover the miles, especially if you're going all the way down to Atlanta and New Orleans. As it is, covering the miles, plus spending a day each at all of the cities and attractions you've already listed, and you're already starting to run out of time. If you want this trip to be fun, and help raise your spirits, then one of the most important things I could tell you is to take your time, make sure you are able to stop and enjoy things every day. With that, I would strongly advice that you not plan to drive more than 500 miles on any single day, and keep that in mind as you continue to build up the plan for your trip.