Hey...what's wrong with a couple of pit stops? Unfortunately, the halfway point is about Alabama and trust me...you don't want to make any of the kind of stops to which I believe you are referring.
Alabama?? You must be coming up I-65 NB, there's a couple of those places North of Huntsville on I-65 at the TN/AL state line. If on I-65NB take SR/I-840 just S. of Franklin, TN. It will by-pass N'ville and bring you out on I-40 EB, about an hour or less from Monterey.
If on I-65NB take SR/I-840 just S. of Franklin, TN. It will by-pass N'ville and bring you out on I-40 EB, about an hour or less from Monterey. 
