Albuquerque to Tallahassee

[riltri]

MapQuest show the quickest route going I-40 to Hwy 287 into Dallas then to Jackson MS on I-20. Then down Hwy 49 and Hwy 98 to Mobile (I-10). Anyone have an opinion on the overall route and especially Hwys 49 & 98 in MS/AL? Thanks

[lane_hog]

US-287 direct to I-20 isn't so bad.

Traffic in Fort Worth on a bad day is still better than traffic in Dallas on a good day. Once you hit I-20, just pick one of the center lanes and head east...

[doxiemom11]

We used 190 to I-12. Was easy driving most of the way. Last 5 miles or so dropping down to I-12 was very busy.

[padredw]

Would Hwy 190 E over to I-12 a good road to miss the construction?

Yes, that is what I meant in an earlier post as an alternate: Turn at Opelousas onto 190 rather than going on to Lafayette. I often choose to go that way.

[riltri]

prichardson wrote:
I would avoid the I-10 stretch between I-49 and Baton Rouge. Major construction on the Lafayette end and east bound is a problem at Baton Rouge except on weekend early mornings.

Would Hwy 190 E over to I-12 a good road to miss the construction?

[prichardson]

I would avoid the I-10 stretch between I-49 and Baton Rouge. Major construction on the Lafayette end and east bound is a problem at Baton Rouge except on weekend early mornings.

[riltri]

Great info guys. We really appreciate it!!!

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

padredw wrote:
Take 82 after Wichita Falls (actually at Henrietta) and avoid the DFW area.

x2

Taking US-69 south at Bells all the way to I-20

or US-82 to Texarkana then I-49 to I-220 on the north side of Shreveport

are both equally good routes.

Re- Going through Jackson MS on I-20/US-49 or I-10/I-12 through Baton Rouge

I-20 across north LA is a rougher road than I-49 to Lafayette and I-10/I-12 through Baton Rouge across the north side of Lake Pontchartrain.

It is a trade off because Baton Rouge can be a choke point if there is traffic. A city where you must avoid weekday rush hour.

US-49/98 is the preferred route of my first cousin. I haven't personally driven it in more years than I can remember. (EDIT - I figured it out - Southbound Feb 1979, Northbound - Oct 1982 - USN tour in the Caribbean between those two dates)

She drives it maybe a dozen times a year. Says the road from Jackson through Hattisburg to Mobile is a good easy drive. (Our mothers were sisters and the family home/ our high school was near the AR/LA border north of Shreveport, and she has lived in the Mobile area since 1968.)

[BB_TX]

If you take I-20 across Louisiana, take I-220 around the north side of Shreveport/Bossier City. Unless they have rebuilt/repaired that stretch of I-20 thru Shreveport/Bossier City, it is one of the roughest 15 miles of interstate I have ever been on. The rest of I-20 is not bad.

[padredw]

49 is OK never been on 98 in AL

US 98 is fine until the very outskirts of Mobile. I have found several ways to get around some of the congestion (which is not that bad compared with many other metro areas). One key is to get on I-65 South and take it around to intersect with I-10 E.

49 to 98 in Mississippi is a route we often take to Florida.

[padredw]

In Texas if after Wichita Falls you pick up US82 to Sherman then US69 down to I-20 you can avoid the Fort Worth Dallas metro area. These are both good roads.

This has been my recommended route for some time, but I have lately found a good alternative:

stay on US 82 to Texarkana then take I-49. You can either stay on I-49 to Lafayette (or Opelousas) OR take I-20 East from Shreveport.

The point is I agree with prichardson to take 82 after Wichita Falls (actually at Henrietta) and avoid the DFW area.

[agesilaus]

49 is OK never been on 98 in AL

[prichardson]

In Texas if after Wichita Falls you pick up US82 to Sherman then US69 down to I-20 you can avoid the Fort Worth Dallas metro area. These are both good roads.