Need route advice ASAP please!

[Anmacc2]

We are in Albuquerque and headed to south east Florida, we went from Florida into Georgia, into Tennessee, into Kentucky, into Illinois, into Missouri, into Kansas, into Colorado, into New Mexico.

Now we have a choice of going into Oklahoma, into Arkansas, into Mississippi, into Alabama, into Florida.

OR into Texas, into Louisiana, into Florida.

There is only a 100 mile difference between the two routes. Which route is nicer? Which route is more user friendly? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

[padredw]

I hope you will enjoy Tyler State Park as much as we do, and am so glad that you got reservations.

If you are heading East on I-20 your exit will be 562 and the park will be just a couple of miles back to your North.

Our dog, Daisy, and I have been over all the miles of the very nice trails in the park. From the Lakeside camping area, you can walk up through the woods just a short way to join the trails. They all connect, but it is a good idea to have a trail map with you. On the other hand you may not want to walk. Daisy and I have made Loops A, B, C, and D--not all at once.

There is a nice little lake, but we have never tried swimming there. I understand it a popular spot in the summer.

We almost always go in the Spring or Fall as Summer here is so hot and humid. Hope you have good air conditioning.

It is just about 45 minutes of travel for us to get to the park.

If you are going down I-49 from Shreveport there are a couple of nice parks off I-12: Fairview-Riverside at Madisonville and Fontainbleau just down the road at Mandeville. In more recent years we have preferred staying at Fairview-Riverside in the camping loop next to the Bayou. Of course, if you want to visit New Orleans you may not want to stay that far away--though we have done just that on occasion.

Back to Tyler: there is a Bodacious Barbecue at the exit from I-20. We sometimes pick up some brisket, sausage, or ribs to take back to the campsite. There will be a Crackerbarrel at the intersection of US 69 and I-20.

[texasAUtiger]

Anmacc2 wrote:
We have reservations tomorrow at Tyler State Park for a lakeside site. We're about 2 1/2 hrs out so an early start will give us the whole day and night there. Thanks for the suggestion. It looks great!

Let us know how that is. I haven't been to Tyler SP but it gets very good reviews. That was the one I had in mind if you went I-20.

[Anmacc2]

We have reservations tomorrow at Tyler State Park for a lakeside site. We're about 2 1/2 hrs out so an early start will give us the whole day and night there. Thanks for the suggestion. It looks great!

[Anmacc2]

Padredw: following your route... Thank you!
Thank you everybody! DW
DW is doing most of the driving today. She said she's "in the zone"
I'm happy playing on my tablet!

[padredw]

Just to add another possibility, I will suggest another route through Texas and Louisiana. It will allow you to see the Piney Woods section of Texas.

From Amarillo, take US 287 to Henrietta, Texas (just past Wichita Falls). 287 is a very good road, 4 lane most of the way. At Henrietta, take the exit to US 82 and follow 82 east to just past Sherman, Texas at Bells where you would take US 69 South to join I-20 at Lindale, near Tyler, Texas.

We take this route to Colorado several times a year. This route avoids the traffic congestion around Dallas/Fort Worth. US 82 is a good highway, much of it 4 lane, and very little traffic.

The Tyler State Park on FM 14 is a beautiful place to stay, even for an overnight. Space is usually available except on week-ends. There are full hook-up sites and even WIFI (slow up glad to have it.)

On I-20 again, pick up I-49 in Shreveport to take you down to I-10 at Layfayette. I-49 is a more recent addition to the interstate system and nothing to slow you down from Shreveport to Layfayette.

We never go to New Orleans, but you will certainly have that option from Baton Rouge. We usually take I-12 across the north side of Lake Pontchartrain.

In case this of any interest to you, I will be glad to suggest some good places to stay all along this route.

This route, of course, completely avoids San Antonio and Houston (and some of the bad parts of I-10), so that is a choice depending on your preference. It probably is a faster, less stressful route, but that is just my experience and opinion.

[Shavano]

Moved to Roads and Routes

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[Anmacc2]

Thank you everyone! You definitey helped us make our choice... We have 4 days to go 2000 miles so I10 it is. That gives us time to stop in New Orleans for dinner.

[patperry2766]

Are you going for the most direct route or the scenery and interesting places to visit along the way? Each choice has a different route.

[darsben]

If your NOT in a hurry I would go to Galveston then take the free ferry to Bolivar peninsula and spend time camping on the beach . I would then take TX 87 to port arthur (check route) and go into Louisiana and travel along the gulf. Stay on the beach at Holly Beach, LA

Lots of nice scenery and good food

[Timtation]

If you are in a hurry and have good shocks take I-10 and buzz. If not try to enjoy the journey.

[Executive45]

Depends on what you want to do. Go like a bat outta heck and get there or enjoy the journey and take your time. Personally I'd take the longest way and see everything there is along the way. Stay off the Interstates..Google maps can be your best friend.....Dennis

[texasAUtiger]

I'd follow the blue route here:

https://goo.gl/maps/AmeR7

Palo Duro Canyon State Park just outside Amarillo is a gorgeous TX state park with lots of camping spots. Then as you work your way across to Dallas and out the state across I-20, there are many other TX state parks that make great, economical stops even if it's just to bed down for the night.

After that, this route gives you a chance to see the Gulf Coast and inject some variety compared to the westbound route you took.