[AKQJ10]

FWIW I did more or less the same last fall, going on an extended road trip from Boston to California and back. In my case the motive was to visit friends and other contacts along the way; playing certainly played a big part in my routing, but it wasn't the only thing i did.

I don't know what i can say/do to help you, but here's a rough itinerary for you off the top of my head:

NORTHERN ROUTE
Tunica
St. Louis
Kansas City

[Option 1: Harrah's Praire Band, near Topeka, KS]

[Option 2: Council Bluffs, IA (Omaha)
Now you've got a bit of a gap without getting outrageously north
Deadwood, SD]

Colorado
Vegas

SOUTHERN ROUTE
Tunica
Shreveport
Oklahoma (several new ones)
little bit of a gap
Albuquerque (Sandia is quite nice)
Vegas

Keep us posted! Maybe blog from the road or something?