padredw wrote:
The route we would follow is I-10W to I-49N in Louisiana. Then take that to I-20W and follow that to Dallas. Get on US-287 to Amarillo. Just south of Amarillo is Palo Duro State Park which is a good place to spend a day or two.
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but I will say it again: unless you are going to stop in Dallas as a destination, there is a much better route to join US-287. Take US 69 from near Tyler to go up to Sherman and join US 82 and then on to US 287 near Wichita Falls. This way avoids all the complications of DFW traffic.
Now to some of your other questions. I have learned that 300 miles is a good limit for me, but you may need to make more than that to reach your destination in the time that you have. I will give you an example of the kind of plans you may need to make.
Assuming that you make your first stop somewhere in the vacinity of Tallahassee (around 400 miles) you could reach a couple of nice state parks off I-12 in Louisiana: Fontainbleau or just up the road Fairview/Riverside. I've stayed at both, lately I prefer Fairview/Riverside. That would be 390+ miles.
Next day could bring you into East Texas (where I live). Many good choices. Miss Ellie's is a commercial park in Waskom, TX just across the state line, but there are many choices. If you need a break there is Caddo Lake State Park or Tyler State Park. Should be nice at that time of year. In my opinion it would be worth a "rest day" to stay at one of them. Tyler state park is very convenient to I-20. Travel to Tyler State Park from Fairview/Riverside would be around 400 miles.
From Tyler State Park a good overnight stop would be Ole Town Cotton Gin in Goodlett, TX. It is just that, an overnight, but a good one. Full hook-up and level sites. We never unhook from our fifth-wheel. Nothing to do but watch TV and sleep.
Another day and 400+ miles would bring you to Santa Fe, NM. OK, I'm prejudiced. I would make that little jaunt up to Santa Fe in preference to Alburquerque. But you could easily split an extra day between the two of them and wind up back on I-40.
That would leave another 400 mile day to the Grand Canyon.
These would be long days for me, but this is one example of the kind of planning that might go into such a trip. I have made almost every mile of it (not on one trip!) Just made the trip back from Santa Fe to East Texas two weeks ago. Will be glad ot answer any questions based on my experience
Thank you so much! This is all great advice. We are trying to see if we can swing the time for this year or maybe do a little shorter trip this year to do a month next year. We are not opposed to driving but half the fun is seeing everything along the way and enjoying the experience. If we didn't live in such a southern point, that would make some things easier for sure. Trying to keep most driving closer to 200-250 miles per day and then spending a few nights in the Canyon area, we are at 24 nights already for the round trip. Plus anything we miss on the way there, we can hit on the way back -or take a completely different route.
