Where to stop from New Orleans to Los Angeles?

Baton Rouge

Albuquerque

My friend moved to LA from BR and drove there. She said driving through West Texas (anything past San Antonio) was the most miserable boring drive ever

When we moved out here from Louisiana we stopped in Dallas, Roswell NM, and Sedona AZ

West Texas and most of New Mexico are the most desolate lonely aweful places I've ever been. Northern Arizona is georgeous.

We took a route further north than 10. The route along I10 may be a little shorter but you might as well just drive across the Mexican desert.

You will hate Texas when driving thru there. It never freaking ends

Go up to Dallas, drive the State highway to Amarillo, (both good stopping points depending on the amount of hours you like to drive. You will drive past Cadillac Ranch.
LINK

There is some great bbq out there too.

Then you want to shoot over to Albuquerque, you can stop there or santa fe. Both are worth seeing. Take 40 in. I prefer I-40 to I-10 because much of that I-10 stretch is horribly boring, while I-40 gets more interesting, as the plains become desert, then mountainous desert then mountains. If you drive at night you can pull over and see more stars than you ever saw in your life, it's just so dark.
I also like 40, because it takes you near the Grand Canyon (which you need to see if you haven't) and also through the painted desert and the petrified forest.
You then take 40 into California past the Mohave and meet up with I-15 and go to LA.

This is the more scenic route and more enjoyable if you have days on your trip. The northern route also takes you close to Colorado and Las Vegas. You could actually got up to the Hoover Damn, then on to Vegas or just see the Dam and then get on I-15 into the LA.


Of course you can take I-10.
I-10 if you want speed, as you can legally average 80mph through Texas. San Antonio is a good stop. See the Alamo and the Riverwalk. I don't like El Paso, but if you are tired when you near there, you could at least say you went, I would try to soldier on to Tuscon at least. That part of New Mexico is barren, right by White Sands (the Trinity bomb site) and the only interesting thing near there may be Roswell, but even that is just a tourist trap.
Arizona is nice, Tuscon then not far away Phoenix, just not many big places to say stop, unless it was for a nice restaurant or a bar.
Then of course I-10 goes to LA.

If you want a quicker trip take ten. If you want a better road trip, go up to I-40

Phoenix area is awesome. There are some cool towns between there and LA not far off I-10 as well. Texas is boring. New Mexico and Arizona are beautiful but the sun in your eyes as it sets is tough to drive in.

Tijuana is a shithole.

I went a few years back. It took longer to get back into the US than it took going in and walking around for a while.

There isn't anything to see or do there.

Depending on the number of days and detours, I can personally recommend:
On I40ish corridor:
Painted Desert/petrified national forest- at least one half day. Walking through the badlands + seeing the Sam Francisco peaks (must be a clear day) were the top points, if choosing to hurry through
Walnut Canyon (carved Native American homes in the side of a canyon spanning several miles long and probably 500ft of elevation, but I'm ballparking. And you can't walk/see the whole 3ish mile bit, just a very small part but very worth doing. It's a quick detour, the hike can be done in 2ish hours or so. The rim tour is not nearly impressive as the trail, but still neat.
Grand Canyon- spend a day. Or two. It's tougher than you think to hike it, and if you're from louisiana; you may fight the altitude more than you realize when hiking in here- especially if it's hot. It's very doable unless you're nearly disabled in terms of activity levels, but it's a tough day. Very awesome. I could probably spend a whole week there.
If going to Vegas, see the Hoover Dam. If nightlife and casinos aren't your thing, consider trading the time up in that direction for a day or two trip up Highway 1- especially if going to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (only went to the beach, not the actual park) or (even better) Pfeiffer Beach (google it. The sand is purple. It is awesome).

On that i-10 corridor, Austin kind of has it all- nightlife + outdoor activities.
Before then, though, the battleship in San Jacinto (and accompanying monument) are neat if either of you are into that.
San Antonio is a place I enjoy. The Alamo, however, was fairly disappointing. The river walk has a really neat boat tour that I've gone on a time or two. Unless it's a convenient stopping point, I'd skip it though.
Off the beaten path (maybe a place to turn North to hit the landmarks above): Carlsbad Caverns. They're not the biggest or deepest US caves. There are several other caves in the W Texas thru New Mexico region. If picking the one people anywhere will know what you're talking about, this is it. It was a good stop. Probably 4-6 hours, if I recall correctly. You can skip "the big room" and get out quicker (you can definitely take an elevator out. I think you can take an elevator to The Big Room and just walk around it. Walking to the bottom was my favorite part though)
Saguaro National Park: know those goofy cactuses from the roadrunner and practically every cartoon featuring a cactus you've ever seen? They're only in Southern AZ. You'll see plenty along the interstate. If you like them, the park is a neat picnic place. There are trails. But mostly there are 10-30 foot tall cactodes.
Phoenix, as a city, didn't particularly strike me as impressive for anything other than the sunset. I never went with intent to spend a significant amount of time there, though, so I could very well be wrong.
I guess it's kind of assumed, but since you're going to LA, drive on out to the Santa Monica Pier. It marks the end of I-10. You can fish off the pier. It's most definitely an interesting place. When you hear there's an "aquarium" on the bottom and get excited, realize that it's more like a children's museum with a few small fish. Neat, but not even the same beast as the one in New Orleans (nor is it even trying to be). In other words, don't go to the pier for the aquarium.

Now, I did not go to Joshua Tree National Park, but you will be driving by it on 10. I do believe.


Hope this helps.

Roswell

Taos if you have the time. But it's a long detour from your route. Carlsbad Caverns, Death Valley, Guadalupe Mtns.

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Are there enough gas stations in West TX, NM, and AZ where I wont have to ration my gas (500 miles per tank)?

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You'll be fine on the interstate. Services can be few and far between if you get off the beaten path, and cell coverage is sketchy in remote areas.