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Best Route- New Mexico to Florida

Miramar_2018
Explorer
Explorer
Best Route- New Mexico to Florida

I have a Class A motorhome-38 feet long. I will be traveling to Florida from New Mexico next month. I have heard I-40 is too busy with trucks. Should I take I-40 or I-10? I need to get there quickly and won't have time to stop and sight see. Thank you
10 REPLIES 10

tatest
Explorer II
Explorer II
All of the Interstate Highway system is busy with trucks. They will be moving at about the same pace you can maintain in a motorhome. So best route depends on where in New Mexico to where in Florida. Las Cruces to Jacksonville it would be I-10 all the way. Farmington to Sarasota or Miami, many interesting options, where you go east, where you start going south. From Albuquerque to almost anywhere in Florida I would choose the first route suggested by 2gypsies, because I have a lot of experience with the Mississippi section, although coming from NE Oklahoma I have a preference for staying on I-40 to Little Rock, then using I-530/US-65 to get down into western Mississippi to connect with US-49.

If you are coming from northern New Mexico and drive on only Interstate highways, you are in a real fix, as there are no connections on a NW to SE diagonal.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B

Edd505
Explorer
Explorer
2gypsies wrote:
You didn't give cities so I selected Albuquerque to Tallahassee:

1481 miles via I-40 to Amarillo, TX then 287 to I-20 Dallas, then at Jackson, MS pick up 49/98 to Mobile, AL to I-10 east

1504 miles via I-40 to Santa Rosa, NM then 84 to Sweetwater, TX & I-20, etc.

1543 miles via I-40 to Memphis (the route w/longest drive on I-40), then I-22 to Birmingham, AL, then I-654 to Montgomery, AL and 231 to I-10 east

That's 62 miles difference between the 3 routes. Take your pick. All will have semi trucks on their highways.


1579 miles

Follow I-40 E to US-285 S/US Hwy 285 S in Clines Corners. Take exit 218 from I-40 E
52 min (59.9 mi)
Get on US-277 N/US-67 N in San Angelo from US-380 E, TX-137 S and US-87 S
6 h 45 min (445 mi)
Continue on US-277 N/US-67 N to TX-306 Loop S. Take the TX-306 Loop exit from US-277 N/US-67 N
3 min (3.6 mi)
Follow US-87 S to TX-71 E/US-290 E in Austin
3 h 11 min (194 mi)
Continue to TX-71 E/Bastrop Fwy
13 min (13.4 mi)
Continue to Colorado County
1 h 11 min (79.8 mi)
Follow I-10 E, I-12 E and I-10 E to US-27 S/N Monroe St in Tallahassee. Take exit 199 from I-10 E
11 h 10 min (778 mi)
Use the right 2 lanes to turn right onto US-27 S/N Monroe St (signs for Tallahassee)
Pass by Denny's (on the right in 0.6 mi)

If your further south starting just hit I10 straight shot across, LA has some big holes so watch the road.
2015 F350 FX4 SRW 6.7 Crew, longbed - 2017 Durango Gold 353RKT
2006 F350 SRW 6.0 crew longbed sold
2000 F250 SRW 7.3 extended longbed airbags sold
2001 Western Star 4900EX sold
Jayco Eagle 30.5BHLT sold, Layton 24.5LT sold

Edd505
Explorer
Explorer
I10 it's a straight shot to FL. LA has some big holes to watch for. Time travel through big city's so you don't hit rush hours. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
2015 F350 FX4 SRW 6.7 Crew, longbed - 2017 Durango Gold 353RKT
2006 F350 SRW 6.0 crew longbed sold
2000 F250 SRW 7.3 extended longbed airbags sold
2001 Western Star 4900EX sold
Jayco Eagle 30.5BHLT sold, Layton 24.5LT sold

prichardson
Explorer
Explorer
Dotto on padredw. Then drop down to I-10 in Mississippi or Alabama. I-10 in Louisiana has construction between Lafayette and Baton Rouge and a section of 1 lane eastbound in Baton Rouge.

dahkota
Explorer
Explorer
I would not take I-10 through Louisiana unless they have fixed it. Horrible, horrible, drive.
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2014 Fleetwood Bounder 33C
States camped: all but Hawaii
more than 1700 days on the road

padredw
Nomad
Nomad
I think I've put this alternative route in a dozen times, but I think it is worth considering

gypsies wrote:
481 miles via I-40 to Amarillo, TX then 287 to I-20 Dallas, then at Jackson, MS pick up 49/98 to Mobile, AL to I-10 east


from 287 I would take US 82 just east of Wichita Falls and go at least to Sherman, TX or beyond. There are several good state and US highways that will connect from US 82 down to I-20--any one of them far better than going through Dallas/Fort Worth.

ndrorder
Explorer
Explorer
After driving both over the past few years, either are equivalent traffic and condition wise. Take the one closest to your starting point.
__________________________________________________
Cliff
2011 Four Winds Chateau 23U

ependydad
Explorer
Explorer
If speed is the most important factor, I'd just do whatever Google Maps tells me.
2017 Spartan 1245 by Prime Time
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2gypsies1
Explorer II
Explorer II
You didn't give cities so I selected Albuquerque to Tallahassee:

1481 miles via I-40 to Amarillo, TX then 287 to I-20 Dallas, then at Jackson, MS pick up 49/98 to Mobile, AL to I-10 east

1504 miles via I-40 to Santa Rosa, NM then 84 to Sweetwater, TX & I-20, etc.

1543 miles via I-40 to Memphis (the route w/longest drive on I-40), then I-22 to Birmingham, AL, then I-654 to Montgomery, AL and 231 to I-10 east

That's 62 miles difference between the 3 routes. Take your pick. All will have semi trucks on their highways.
Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

stickdog
Explorer
Explorer
Miramar 2018 wrote:
Best Route- New Mexico to Florida

I have a Class A motorhome-38 feet long. I will be traveling to Florida from New Mexico next month. I have heard I-40 is too busy with trucks. Should I take I-40 or I-10? I need to get there quickly and won't have time to stop and sight see. Thank you


What does Google say?
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