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. :-)

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

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.

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 options1, 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 Slidel2, US-49 through Mississippi, another good route, though it has been a few years since I was last on this highway.

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.

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.

First long trip, AZ to FL route help | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Isaac-1
Explorer
Feb 17, 2018
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
Explorer III
Feb 17, 2018
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
Explorer II
Feb 17, 2018
for a nice break stop at a cracker barrel for the evening. and a nice meal. sounds like a great trip.

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First long trip, AZ to FL route help

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