Florida to Texas

[M_R_E_]

Best route to Galveston, Tx from I75 in Florida in April.

[campigloo]

TxGearhead wrote:
I've thought about getting on/off I-10 in Denham Springs LA. Baton Rouge traffic has always been a nightmare for me. I'm going that way in April and might try it. I'll see how bad 190 can get going through Baton Rouge.

Coming in to town get 1150 am for traffic reports. If it sounds bad take a look at the Plaquemine ferry. It leaves going west at the 15 and 45 min mark. Jump on hwy 1 to get back to I-10. It’s kind of out of the way, so it’s probably not practical if you’re in a hurry. If you do, try Louisiana Bayou Bistro in Brusly (brewly) for lunch.
Looking for good seafood? Don’t waste your money in Texas. That’s for bbq. Stop at Mike Anderson’s. You can park for the night at Faar Park fairly close by.
If you take 190 don’t go after 3:00. Be sure to stop at Billy’s in Krotz Springs and treat yourselves to some boudin (boodan ) balls. Watch your speed from there to I-49.
It’s crawfish season! Yummy from most any place along the route.
Have a good trip!

[prichardson]

As long as you avoid rush hour going west thru Baton Rouge on I12 & I10 is not a problem. Weekends are even easier. US190 is street level city traffic.

[one_strange_tex]

TxGearhead wrote:
I've thought about getting on/off I-10 in Denham Springs LA. Baton Rouge traffic has always been a nightmare for me. I'm going that way in April and might try it. I'll see how bad 190 can get going through Baton Rouge.

I think you mean getting off I-12 at Denham Springs, though I-12 is definitely the "non-New Orleans" alternative to I-10.

US-190/US-61 is the Airline Highway. I used to go to a trade show located on it several years ago and seem to recall it is stop-and-go heavy traffic. I actually got off I-12 with a pop-up over 20 years ago at the Airline Highway exit and had a horrendous time moving around and getting back on the interstate around rush hour. I can't say I have found any good way through Baton Rouge, though I have not tried it in the middle of the night ;).

[TxGearhead]

I've thought about getting on/off I-10 in Denham Springs LA. Baton Rouge traffic has always been a nightmare for me. I'm going that way in April and might try it. I'll see how bad 190 can get going through Baton Rouge.

[sayoung]

TxGearhead wrote:
^^x2. Dead on it.
Very heavy construction at Orange Tx with narrow lanes.
Very rough road at Sulphur LA.
If you need an overnight stop the Rv park at Coushatta Casino in Kinder LA is pretty good.
If you are on Bolivar, Stingaree Marina overlooking the ICW has pretty good food. Should be able to park a RV among the boat trailers.

I'll give a second hooray on the Stingray Resturant. I just got back from Florida and no fseafood out there was close to Thiers.

[TxGearhead]

^^x2. Dead on it.
Very heavy construction at Orange Tx with narrow lanes.
Very rough road at Sulphur LA.
If you need an overnight stop the Rv park at Coushatta Casino in Kinder LA is pretty good.
If you are on Bolivar, Stingaree Marina overlooking the ICW has pretty good food. Should be able to park a RV among the boat trailers.

[one_strange_tex]

I have mentioned on previous similar posts that I tend to jump over to US-190 from I-10 using LA-415 just west of the Mississippi River right after Port Allen, LA. I continue on US-190 west to Ragley, LA and continue west on LA-12 in Ragley when US-190 turns north. LA-12 turns into TX-12 at the Texas state line and TX-12 rejoins I-10 in Vidor, TX.
This route avoids the long Atchafalaya bridge, which still may be under construction and occasionally is closed if there is a traffic incident, a very rough stretch of interstate in Sulphur, LA and construction in Orange, TX. It is not a controlled access highway, so there are occasional traffic lights. The roads are fine and the towns are not large. It may take a little longer, unless there is an incident or heavy traffic in the bigger cities on I-10, but I believe it is much less stressful.
Definitely get off I-10 at Winnie and take the ferry via the Bolivar Peninsula, as others have suggested. You may go through a security check and may also have to valve in your LPG tanks prior to boarding the ferry. The crossing doesn't take long and is interesting, not to mention shorter and minus the traffic of the Houston metropolitan area. On weekends and other peak times there may be a wait to board, but most of the time the wait is not very long.

[sayoung]

ken56 wrote:
Best route has different meanings for people. What would you consider the best route? I-10 all the way to Winnie, TX 124. and through the Bolivar peninnsula and ferry over to Galveston. Oh yeah, do the by pass around New Orleans on 12.
Plan on a meal at Gaidos restaurant on Seawall Blvd. Have the bread pudding for dessert, it's huge so share. Great steaks and seafood.

We use 124 to go to Crystal Beach. Slow way down when you get to the bridge over the Intercoastal Waterway as the expansion joint is a trailer shaker in both directions. Several good rv spots there on Boliver such as Paula's Vinyard & just take Ferry over to Galveston

[prichardson]

Ditto. Time your travel to avoid "rush hours" in Baton Rouge and be careful in the construction areas between the Atchafalaya Basin bridge and Lafayette and the Texas line to Beaumont.

[ken56]

Best route has different meanings for people. What would you consider the best route? I-10 all the way to Winnie, TX 124. and through the Bolivar peninnsula and ferry over to Galveston. Oh yeah, do the by pass around New Orleans on 12.
Plan on a meal at Gaidos restaurant on Seawall Blvd. Have the bread pudding for dessert, it's huge so share. Great steaks and seafood.

[Swampman597]

Agree with taking the ferry. It saves alot of time and driving plus its free.

[DougE]

Generally take I10 all the way other than taking I12 across the top of Lake Pontchartrain to avoid New Orleans. West of Beaumont I would take 124 down to the coast (High Island) and use the ferry to get to Galveston.