Suggest you go from St. Louie down to (Joplin) Missouri
Oklahoma city (oh so pretty)
Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona. don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San bernardino.
Enjoy that California trip. I've done Seattle to Frisco in a jeep;
Denver to aspen in a BMW 528 in snow. Not good idea.