Driving with the Family to California, which route and other suggestions?

I-20 is a terrible choice

Whatever Waze suggests.

Drove both routes when I was stationed in SoCal while in the Air Force. If I had to drive it now, I’d take 10 instead of 20/40. To me, 10 is the easiest route.

yes take 10 to San Antonio
from there if you have a couple days to burn you can detour to big bend, if not press on to El Paso (and that drive SUCKS). If you stop the night in El Paso you can easily cross into Juarez (having passports makes this a lot easier but not required). It’s a cool town and hey, you went to Mexico.

From El Paso all the way to LA there’s tons of stuff to see and do

Traditionally for a coast-to-coast drive, you picked I-10 in winter when more northern roads might have snow. Starting in La, I-10 makes the most sense. Whichever take a few detours on 2-lane blacktop (mostly 4-lane now).

My favorite detour in NM is the very large array...LINK /

Sorry, but you can't avoid Texas, drive longer and see less!

The bus route we took when I was kidnapped was I-10.

Its definitely best to drive South to North on the PCH. Your view is the Pacific and the other way is rock!

Lucky you!
Gas in most of Commiefornia is now over $5/gal.
Fill up at the Love's off the 10 before you cross The River.