I-40 and I-30 Memphis to Dallas

I-30 has much less heavy truck traffic than I-40 Little Rock-Memphis, and the pavement is good.

The section of I-40 Little Rock-Memphis has so many trucks because it combines I-55 (to St. Louis & Chicago) plus I-40 traffic at the Memphis end and combines I-30 (to Dallas & southwest) plus I-40 traffic at the Little Rock end.

Oops, I made a mistake, I didn't know I-40 went east that far. Anyway, take I-30 toward Dallas, got on I-20 to get to I-35.

We traveled the section from Little Rock back to Texas last August. Mostly good road with a few miles of rough pavement. Just slow down thru those sections. Not worth trying to find routes around it. There is a lot of truck traffic, but just go with the flow and not bad.

As you approach Dallas, take I-635 south, to I-20 west, to I-35E south. That bypasses most of Dallas around the southeast side. I-35E merges with I-35W near Hillsboro to become I-35. Good road, most newly rebuilt, until you get south of Waco approaching Temple. Then there will be about 30 miles or so of construction where the highway is being completely rebuilt. But they do a good job of keeping the traffic flowing, and it generally flows at greater than the posted limit. There is a short section around Salado with lane shifts and narrow lanes. But once thru that you will find good highway the rest of the way.

North of Georgetown you can choose to stay on I-35 and endure the traffic thru Austin and points south. Or you can take the toll road bypassing all that to the east. But that can cost $30 or more depending on what you are driving/towing. I just stay on I-35. Once you get thru the downtown Austin area it is not too bad.

RoyF wrote:
I-30 has much less heavy truck traffic than I-40 Little Rock-Memphis, and the pavement is good.

The section of I-40 Little Rock-Memphis has so many trucks because it combines I-55 (to St. Louis & Chicago) plus I-40 traffic at the Memphis end and combines I-30 (to Dallas & southwest) plus I-40 traffic at the Little Rock end.

The combined I-40/I-55 section is in West Memphis, AR before crossing the Mississippi River into Memphis - only about 4 miles. The interstates have separate bridges crossing the river.

Sounds like it will be a pretty good trip except a few rough sections so can live with that. Read somewhere the toll road around Austin was pretty rough and not worth it. Tolls shouldn't be too bad though since we will be in a 30 ft. MH with no tow. Sounds a lot better traffic wise than our Florida route through Nashville, Chattogana and Atlanta. Thanks much, Jim.

Memphis to my house(i live on the fort worth side of DFW) is about 8 hours of cruise control. I can knock it out in 10 very tiring hours if im pulling my trailer

Overall its pretty easy until you get to greenville, tx. Around rockwall the traffic will really thicken up depending on the time of day.

I use the toll road (130) around Austin often going to San Antonio to visit my grandkids. I have not found it to be rough at all. It is straight, mostly flat, and the speed limit is 80 for those that are inclined that way. On the far end the speed limit increases to 85. Usually cost me about $18.00 roundtrip.

Yea 130 is a pretty good road, but on the southern end I remember there were some pretty good dips and grooves in the lane