Hello RVers! I’m going to be driving from Albuquerque to Orlando at the end of October. It’s 1,800 miles by the shortest route. I’ll have nine or so days to make the trip, and we like to drive about 300 miles per day. We’re not afraid of multiple driving days. We’re well equipped to boondock. Google Maps tells me that the shortest route is I-40 to Amarillo, US-287 to Dallas, I-20 to Jackson, US-49 to US-98 to Mobile, I-10 to I-75 to the Florida turnpike to destination. I’m familiar only with the Florida part of this route. All else will be new.One possible alternate route is I-40 to Memphis, I-22 to Birmingham, I-65 to Montgomery, US-231 to I-10 and onwards.I could also possibly take I-45 out of Dallas down to Houston and take I-10 all the way.What would you do? What do I not know about these routes? Any pitfalls or major pros? Thanks for any help you can provide!

Depends on timing, I would drop down to I-10 and then head east, avoid New Orleans using the I-12 bypass, and then south on I-75 to the Florida Turnpike to Orlando. But considering the current weather in Louisiana that route is out until they get the mess cleaned up.

agesilaus wrote:Depends on timing, I would drop down to I-10 and then head east, avoid New Orleans using the I-12 bypass, and then south on I-75 to the Florida Turnpike to Orlando. But considering the current weather in Louisiana that route is out until they get the mess cleaned up.Cool, thanks. I’m going at the end of October, so lots of time to make sure the route is okay.

One downside of the I-10 route is that the road is very rough in Louisiana on the west side of Lake Charles and construction on the long Atchafalaya Basin bridge makes the lanes very narrow. I-20 is also somewhat rough in Louisiana, but not as bad.Depending on which route you take, if you are not in any hurry, I would consider looping around Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston to avoid lots of heavy traffic. Keep in mind that non-interstate major roads, state highways and secondary roads usually are pretty good in Texas, though you will experience stop lights in towns.I, myself, would take the route Google suggests if in doubt. I do avoid the stress of big city traffic with my RV if I can help it and have the time.

We came across US 82 from AL to US 287 in TX west of Dallas last month. 82 is good until you get east of Paris TX where it degrades. So that is a bypass around DFW keeping that in mind

Another DFW bypass is get off 287 at 380 to Greenville then 69 to I20. There is a lot of traffic early /late but divideded most of the way to Greenville & good road all the way to I20.

Driving from Albuquerque to Orlando in October | Good Sam Community

agesilaus
Explorer III
Jul 15, 2019
We came across US 82 from AL to US 287 in TX west of Dallas last month. 82 is good until you get east of Paris TX where it degrades. So that is a bypass around DFW keeping that in mind
one_strange_tex
Explorer
Jul 14, 2019
One downside of the I-10 route is that the road is very rough in Louisiana on the west side of Lake Charles and construction on the long Atchafalaya Basin bridge makes the lanes very narrow. I-20 is also somewhat rough in Louisiana, but not as bad.
Depending on which route you take, if you are not in any hurry, I would consider looping around Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston to avoid lots of heavy traffic. Keep in mind that non-interstate major roads, state highways and secondary roads usually are pretty good in Texas, though you will experience stop lights in towns.
I, myself, would take the route Google suggests if in doubt. I do avoid the stress of big city traffic with my RV if I can help it and have the time.
runeatcamp
Explorer II
Jul 14, 2019
agesilaus wrote:
Depends on timing, I would drop down to I-10 and then head east, avoid New Orleans using the I-12 bypass, and then south on I-75 to the Florida Turnpike to Orlando. But considering the current weather in Louisiana that route is out until they get the mess cleaned up.

Cool, thanks. I’m going at the end of October, so lots of time to make sure the route is okay.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jul 14, 2019
Depends on timing, I would drop down to I-10 and then head east, avoid New Orleans using the I-12 bypass, and then south on I-75 to the Florida Turnpike to Orlando. But considering the current weather in Louisiana that route is out until they get the mess cleaned up.

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