[Gogar]

Before you start, check the weather in

Raton, NM and
Flagstaff, AZ.

If everything's ok then start early on I25 South and eat lunch with the Mrs. in Santa Fe.

Turn west on I40 and spend the night in Gallup. There's plenty of $100 tier hotels in Gallup. I would book one in advance though.

Next day through Flagstaff in the AM and to Barstow for the night, or Las Vegas if you want to make a thing out of it.

That's about 550 miles a day for the first two days.