Travelling E to W thru N AL, MS, AR, OK & TX in April/May

Here is a way I would go: up to I-10 across to I-49 up to Shreveport and I-20. Up US 69 to Sherman, TX and US 82 to US 287 to Amarillo. From Amarillo up to Clayton, NM and on to Raton and I-25 N. to Walsenburg and US 160 W to Durango.

Now, I note that you mention N. Alabama and my route is across S. Alabama. Not sure if this is a destination way point for you. Also you mention Oklahoma, and my route is more direct across north Texas.

One variation is to turn north at Mobile and come up through Mississippi to Jackson and I-20.

None of this may fit your plans, but I can assure you that I have driven and towed every mile from Pensacola to Durango.

Let me know if I can answer any questions about this route.

You have thunderstorms in Florida, don't you? Tornadoes are produced by the same sort of conditions and clouds.

I've traveled all over these United Sts tes, and I don't think the roads or construction is any worse in Arkansas than anywhere else. I've been on terrible interstaes in Oklahoma and Mississippi. ...no worse than Arkansas.

Tornados get lots of media attention. And they can do major damage when they do touch down. But each one actually affects a very very small area, typically less than one mile wide and a few miles long. I have lived in the southern end of tornado alley all my 69 years. Our house was slightly damaged in 1948. And never one within several miles since then. So the odds of getting hit by one is extremely small. Of course if you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time that is little consolation.

Watch the weather reports ahead of your travel day. And if you have a smart phone, get a weather app that shows radar. If it looks like a storm front is approaching, stop at a place where you can go inside. Most large stores in these storm prone areas have designated "safe areas". Some RV parks will also have safe rooms. Typically the storm fronts move thru very quickly. Sunny, then stormy, then sunny, often all within 2-3 hours.

You should avoid the route to stay off terrible road conditions on I-40 in Arkansas.

Weather wise - just keep up with the forecasts and be ready to pull off the road and wait out any storms. They seldom last more than a couple hours. High winds are the most danger. I've never modified my plans to avoid that region during spring, just checked the daily forecast. And I've lived in that region almost all my life.

I don't avoid Florida and the Gulf Coast during hurricane season either.