First long trip, AZ to FL route help
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 San...
Forum Discussion
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.
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.
