Which route are you taking? Going straight through NM, TX, LA, MS and AL? I went to A-School in Pensacola (drove back from Pensacola to Dallas) there's some great scenery but not much in the sense of big Cities, might want to check out Dallas/Ft. Worth or Shreveport, spent some time there and it's interesting. Kind of depends on route and how much out of the way you'd drive
I will say Shreveport and the more rural areas had some of the most interesting items to eat, turtle soup and Racoon
I think just straight through on the 10.
Don't forget to see the Air Museum when you get there!
I've been to Pensacola a handful of times (my oldest brother lived there for a few years).. it was only about a 6 hour drive from my place in GA, but I never went to the museum! Didn't even know about it, lol.