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Originally Posted by The_Jazz
Stop at the Dinosaur National Monument in Utah (I think). That's one of the coolest places I've ever been, but I was a 13 year-old boy at the time and easily impressed.
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Pending my house being done, but if you go out of your way to get to Dinosaur National Monument you may as well swing by my place for a BBQ. Dinosaur is right on the Colorado/Utah border, and I'm two hours from there.
Aside from 66 are you planning to use Interstates? If you are not in a hurry to get anywhere avoid them.
My suggestion would be after Roswell, go to Taos or Angelfire, New Mexico there should be plenty of camping in the vicinity, enjoying the view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. Then go North on New Mexico Highway 522 which turns into Colorado Highway 159 to Blanca, Colorado. Then you could go to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. From there I could go on all day about Colorado highways, PM me if you want to know more about scenic driving through Colorado.
I would definitely recommend swinging through Rocky Mountain National Park. I also agree with ubertuber on Grand Teton and Yellowstone. From the Front Range of Colorado you really have two driving choices. Either going North on I-80 from Rock Springs, or from Rawlins. The southern part of Wyoming can be boring and super windy in the afternoons, but there are some hidden gems (like free hot springs in Saratoga). Both outside of Rock Springs and Rawlins is kind of ho-hum, and does not get interesting until you are almost to the National Parks (50-60 miles out). If you take the Rawlins road just be mindful that there are 150 mile stretches with no gas stations.
It also depends what you want to do, are you looking for more camping style, or want to experience food joints, or see different cities?
If the National Parks interest you, buy a National Parks pass (should only need one for the vehicle). It's $50 for a year, and you can go to any National Park. It'll be a lot better than paying $25-35/day just to drive through each one. If you plan on camping at the parks make sure and reserve a spot LONG in advance. If you want opinions on camping sites at Rocky Mountain National, or the Great Sand Dunes let me know. I really like the camp sites on the western side of Moraine Park campground in Rocky Mountain National (you're away from the main part of the camp, and have a great view of where the creek comes down from the mountains).
Road-trips are fun!