Bodie is about a 15 mile drive each way on a graded, but dirt, road. I found Bodie to be mostly full of campers/trailers when I went but maybe October is enough off-season that it won't be so bad. I'd be inclined to skip it but then I tend to go to real ghost towns.

Mono Lake, Manzanar, and Red Rock Canyon are close to the highway. Bristlecone Pines is interesting but it is a detour. You will be driving at around 11,000 feet when you get there, that is interesting in itself.