You didn't mention if you were on a restricted time line or not. If I were doing the trip, I would follow this route.
1. North on 49 to Jackson, MS
2. I-20 to US-65
3. US-65 to Little Rock ( Visit Clinton Museum)
4. I-40 to Muskogee Turnpike
5. Circle around the east side of Tulsa to US 75 north to Bartlesville. ( stop and see Woolaroc Museum south of Bartlesville)
6. Go north out of Bartlesville to Kansas and then follow Hwy 99 to US 54
7. Follow US54 to El Dorado and turn north on US 77.
8. Follow 77 through the Tall Grass reserve to US 56.
9. Stay on US 56 to Great Bend, Kansa where you then follow 281 to I-70.
10 Go west on I-70 to Hays, Ks where you follow US 183 north to I-80 where you go West to Ogallala where you would follow US-20 (the Oregon Trail) to Wy.
We made this trip returning from Yellowstone last year and took our time and visited all the forts and sites along the way. It is 1,803 miles this way.