First long trip, AZ to FL route help

[sonbeau]

We are planning our first long trip in our new 32' class A motorhome starting May 1 traveling with 2 medium sized dogs.
Right now we are looking at going I40 out of AZ to NM, pick up US84 out of Santa Rosa NM to US86. Go across US86 to US 287 down through Witchita Falls and then pick up US 82 to at least Texarkana TX. After that I am not sure but we want to end up on I10 avoiding major city congestions. Our final destination will be St Petersburg FL. We have no time constraints and would like to take in some sights along the way. Any suggestions or alternate routes will be appreciatedl from seasoned travelors. We'd like to do a fair amount of boonedocking and plan on only driving 2 - 300 miles/day. Thanks in advance. 🙂

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

RE: I-10 in LA

I have driven this in the past month.

The very worst section is actually the last 16 miles in Texas from Orange to the LA state line. Construction project has the surface in horrible condition, especially eastbound. Avoid that no matter what else you do.

The only construction on I-10 other than th bridge rebuild in Lake Charles is from the I-49 junction eastward for about 15 miles, and only at overpasses. This can be a slight delay with short rough stretches of pavement.

The Atchafalaya Causeway is smooth and in very good shape. Frankly I-30 from Dallas to Texarkana is rougher. But the causeway is essentially a 35 mile long bridge. If there is an accident or lane closure - you are stuck with no exits or no alternates - maybe for hours.

Baton Rouge - did not notice any construction, however the day we drove in from Lafayette to see a sick relative - I-12 was closed. In both directions due to a fallen power line across all traffic lanes - all traffic was stopped for four hours. As you would expect - the whole city was in gridlock.

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Your route - I grew up an hour east of Texarkana just off US-82. Other than visiting my brothers and sisters, other relatives and a couple friends, I’d never stop there. Lake Wright Pattman COE parks south and west of Texarkana are nice. Have visited Shady Pines RV west of Texarkana on US-67, but never stayed there. Looks nice and I’ve heard many people who like it. Lake Claiborne SP (LA) is also a nice place to stop in that area.

If you are going to be farther north, Arkansas has the second best state parks in the nation - behind only Oregon. Millwood SP north of Texarkana is probably the least attractive in the state. White Oak Lake east of Prescott is very nice. Many folks like to visit Crater of Diamonds SP near Murfreesboro. Have never been there though I practically grew up at COE parks on Lake Greeson. Some years 30 or more weekends.

(In 2013 my family celebrated our 50th consecutive year of at least one of us camping at Kirby Landing on Lake Greeson).

When I leave that area headed to Florida, I cut east on I-20 to Rayville/ US-425. South on US-425 to Natchez, MS. Good well rated Passport America park - Riverview RV onnthe West Bank of the Mississippi. Natchez SP is a very good alternative. If you must have cell service - don’t stay at the SP. Natchez is a fabulous place to visit.

Take US-98 east from Natchez. Either turn south on I-55 to I-12 and a couple nice state parks on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain near Mandeville. Like to stay there and drive across the causeway to visit New Orleans.

Or you can take US-98 all the way across Mississippi to Mobile. Where we always stay with some cousins with a yard/ shop big enough that I don’t have to unhook my rig.

Beyond that, we are usually headed to Fort Lauderdale - more relatives- and just push down the interstates.

[Floridafrances]

For things to see, if you haven't already been to the Naval Aviation Museum on the west side of Pensacola it's worth doing. And it's free, except for the IMAX theater show. Most Tuesdays and Wednesdays the Blue Angels do practice shows in the morning. The schedule is posted on both the Blue Angels and Naval Aviation Museum websites. Both Big Lagoon State Park and Fort Pickens in the Gulf Islands National Seashore are nice campgrounds and can be used as a base for the museum and doing other stuff in the greater Pensacola area.

Florida has a lot of beautiful state parks. Hope you get to enjoy some of them.

As for routing. Unless you plan to go to St. Andrews or St. George Island State Parks, I'd avoid US 98 through Destin/Sandestin/Panama City. Traffic is never good and we've entered the time of year where it gets horrendous.

Safe travels.

[Gulfcoast]

I like simple routes....

I-10 from FL to AZ works for me.

It has an east bound lane to FL also.

[sayoung]

Another is 287 down to FtWorth & pu I20 to Georgia then head south.lots of places to stay . At Vicksburg is a Civil War battlefied

[tatest]

Depending on what you want to see along the way, you might go as far as Little Rock on I-40, then down I-530/US-65 crossing the Mississippi on US-278 into Greenville then south on the Blues Trail (US-49W to US-49) through Jackson and Hattiesburg, then US-49 on to Gulfport (visit the Gulf casinos) or US-98 into Mobile. These are good diagonal routes, mostly four lane divided (but not limited access) with lots of interesting sites along the way.

Once on I-10, I usually go east to US-19 then down the west side of Florida into the Tampa-St Pete area. If you are in more of a hurry you can continue on to I-75 and ride with the heavy traffic going toward the turnpike to Disney World.

For a more leisurely trip through the beach resorts, leave I-10 at Pensacola and follow US-98 to connect with US-19 at Perry.

I've gone through Texarkana (I pick up US-82 at Paris if I go that way) on the way to Louisiana destinations, but never for a destination on east of Gulfport. I don't much like traveling through Louisiana if I'm not actually going there. I-49 down to I-10 puts you on one of the most congested sections of I-10/I-15 and some really rough riding on the Atchafalaya causeway. I've also tried crossing to Jackson on I-20, found I-20 across northern Louisiana to be some of the worst maintained superhighway in the country. I think it has more to do with the soil foundation than the state, because Vicksburg to Jackson has some pretty nasty dips and heaves as well.

Main reason for recommending I-40 all the way to Little Rock is that there are more interesting places to visit, more things to see, because of its heritage as the Flagstaff to OK City section of Route 66. A steady supply of Route 66 tourists keeps tourist businesses open to attract them and get some of their money.

I've taken US-84/US-60 Santa Rosa to Amarillo, to visit Ft Sumner, Clovis and Canyon. The road is not particularly bad, but neither is it particularly good, and there is not much between those destinations. If my plan were to use 287 to Wichita Falls (have done that) to take up US-82 across north Texas (have not done that west of Paris), I would go all the way to Amarillo on I-40 rather than leave it at Santa Rosa.

[doxiemom11]

We tried routing around Houston on the coast last year and it was a nightmare of traffic. I would just stay north and take US49 down to I-10, or do the route advised above to Mobile, then over on I-10. US45 from Tupelo MS is a peaceful drive also. 4 lane divided, not much traffic except going thru a couple of towns (not bad) and 65 mph. No rest areas on US hwys though (usually) so you get to stop in some of the small towns along the way - shop, use facilities, have lunch, ice cream etc.

[ken56]

If you have no time constraints then why not look at some secondary roads and get off the interstate? Never been to San Antonio? Galveston? The drive along the Gulf coast is decent road and a lot less hectic than the interstate. There is always a route around the big city.

[rocmoc]

Texas & Alabama have rest areas and visitor centers nicer than some RV parks that you can legally stay overnight in. Try to avoid Dallas and Houston Regions, traffic is bad.

rocmoc n AZ

[prichardson]

Since you are planning the northern route thru Texarcana I would advise waiting until you are in Mississippi before dropping down to I-10. Currently there are several construction areas east of the I-49/I-10 interchange and also a major bottleneck eastbound in Baton Rouge.

[tinstartrvlr]

A route I've done (used to live in St Pete) to your part of the country. US82 is a good road, and recommend you stay on 82 as far as El Dorado. There pick up US63 south to I-20. At Jackson, pick up US49 to Hattiesburg. Then pick up US98 out of Hattiesburg to Mobile and I-10 the rest of the way. All good roads. Once you get past Tallahassee, work your way down to US 27/98/19 and take US 19 all the way past Homossassa. If you don't mind tolls, the Suncoast Parkway (take the US50 exit off US19)is an awesome alternative to US 19 from Weekie Wachee, (US19 past Weekie Wachee is nothing but stop and go,,its stinks) or I-75, (which is a madhouse) into St Pete. The Suncoast Parkway takes you to West Tampa, right at the bridge over the bay to St Pete.

[Isaac-1]

I drove 82 from near Texarkana to Wichita Falls last August, there was about 25-30 miles of bad construction zone then (pavement ground down, large bumps at bridges, etc.). Hopefully it is better by now.

As to making the transition down to I-10 there are a couple of valid options

1, I-49 from Texarkana down to I-10, only issue is coming into Shreveport where there is about 5 miles that must be done on surface streets as the interchange between the I220 loop and I-49 is still under construction (may be finished this year). I-49 is a relatively new interstate highway which tends to see relatively low traffic volume compared to other interstate highways in the region, as a result overall the pavement is in good shape, though there are few services along the way as much of it travels through national forest, timber and farm land.

If taking I-49 one still has to deal with Baton Rouge, though New Orleans can be avoided by taking I-12 across to meet back up with I-10 in Slidel

2, US-49 through Mississippi, another good route, though it has been a few years since I was last on this highway.

[agesilaus]

There are a couple good state parks near Amarillo, Palo Duro SP to the south is well worth a visit. Good camping and they have a dinner theater that is worth seeing too. Once you are passed that area the pickings are slim in TX. There are some other state parks and Texas has good parks so almost any of them are worth
checking out. The River Walk and the Alamo in San Antonio are worth seeing, there are a lot of missions in that area too.

Once passed Houston I-10 doesn't hit any major traffic jam cities, assuming you take the I-12 bypass around New Orleans that is.

New Mexico has a lot of State Parks and National Parks that are worth a look. Blackwater River SP in FL, right after Pensacola is a good place to spend a night. St Joseph and St George SP on the coast south of Tallahassee are also popular. And there are a string a major springs state parks on the west side of Florida, Rainbow, Manatee Springs and others. They are also good for a day or two.

[midnightsadie]

for a nice break stop at a cracker barrel for the evening. and a nice meal. sounds like a great trip.