Route from Austin, Tx to Moab?

Hi we came back to Texas, from Moab (with a stop at Cortez for Mesa Verde, worth a night at least)using some of the route described . We took I 40 east from ALB. to Amarillo then 287 south, you could take 281 from there (or go up 281 and then 287 to 40 ect)


Not much to see between ALB and Cortez on 550 and not many places to stop before Farmington. 491 heads to Cortez via 64 first, and then 191 to Moab