Forum Discussion
padredw
Jan 16, 2014Nomad
So many people have made the drive across Oklahoma to Amarillo on I-40 and think they have seen Texas. What a loss!
In this case the direct route from Little Rock to Carlsbad Caverns is your best route and allows you to see the Texas than many never know about: the pine forest and rolling hills of East Texas.
And there could not be a better time than Springtime. You could take I-30 from Little Rock to Texarkana. Arkansas has some really nice state parks easily accessable from I-30. For example, DeGray State Park and Resort near Arkadelphia, and Crater of Diamonds just a bit further off the freeway. People do find real diamonds there and children love the digging.
I would strongly suggest that you dip a bit lower into East Texas by taking US 59 south out of Texarkana and then Texas 155 toward Tyler and I-20. There are many state parks, COE parks, and private parts for a stop in this area. Daingerfield State Park, Caddo State Park, Atlanta State Park, and Tyler State Park; several really nice COE parks around Lake o' The Pines. An overnight, or a day or two, in this area could be a highlight of the trip.
If you have to "get on with it" you could pick up I-20 near Tyler. I-20 going west is not too bad around south of Dallas and Fort Worth. But I usually drop on down around Athens, TX; Corsicanna, TX; etc. staying well south of the "Metraplex."
The details are not so important as this central recommendation: leave I-40 at Little Rock and take the more direct route through East Texas in the Springtime. I don't think you will regret it, and you will have an entirely different impression of Texas.
In this case the direct route from Little Rock to Carlsbad Caverns is your best route and allows you to see the Texas than many never know about: the pine forest and rolling hills of East Texas.
And there could not be a better time than Springtime. You could take I-30 from Little Rock to Texarkana. Arkansas has some really nice state parks easily accessable from I-30. For example, DeGray State Park and Resort near Arkadelphia, and Crater of Diamonds just a bit further off the freeway. People do find real diamonds there and children love the digging.
I would strongly suggest that you dip a bit lower into East Texas by taking US 59 south out of Texarkana and then Texas 155 toward Tyler and I-20. There are many state parks, COE parks, and private parts for a stop in this area. Daingerfield State Park, Caddo State Park, Atlanta State Park, and Tyler State Park; several really nice COE parks around Lake o' The Pines. An overnight, or a day or two, in this area could be a highlight of the trip.
If you have to "get on with it" you could pick up I-20 near Tyler. I-20 going west is not too bad around south of Dallas and Fort Worth. But I usually drop on down around Athens, TX; Corsicanna, TX; etc. staying well south of the "Metraplex."
The details are not so important as this central recommendation: leave I-40 at Little Rock and take the more direct route through East Texas in the Springtime. I don't think you will regret it, and you will have an entirely different impression of Texas.
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