Me too. These are the best sort of road trips, where you still need to plan things out and when you do finally stop it's a dusty service station with a local diner next door, not another McDonalds.

It definitely takes longer, but this is why I avoid interstate highways if I have the time. I also find pathfinding and turning more fun than passing.

You wouldn’t have much choice for most of the route unless you decided to detour onto I15, adding an extra hour to the trip with worse scenery.

Went through the SE corner of Oregon last weekend, camping on Steens mountain. It's amazingly and wonderfully empty, which isn't how I'd like to live, but is great to experience. Had lunch in Fields, Oregon (no, didn't get the milkshake, as I am not a milkshake guy).

I'm from North Dakota and the last time I drove through Wyoming, I learned very quickly that those signs are no lie. You, wildlife, and other cars is all you will see and not much of the later. ND felt packed compared to WY.