Virginia to Galveston, TX...questions about I12 and I10

A lot of work has been done on I10 and I12 through Louisiana in the last few years and they are in great shape. A lot of it is now a 6-lane system and the older 4-lane parts have been resurfaced. Currently there is construction from the rest area entering from MS for about 3 mi. then clear sailing to the Texas border. Texas is widening I10 from the LA border for a few miles and this is the last section that needs it. Slow down on this section as they are using the old lanes and they are in bad shape but its only about 6-mi. A good route to Galveston is to take HWY 73 (MM 873) through Port Arthur to Winnie. Its a good 4-lane. This will bypass Beaumont. South out of Winnie on HWY 124 and take the free ferry at Galveston. It a very good ferry and handles 18 wheelers and RV's with no problem.

Jim

Retired Phone Man wrote:
A lot of work has been done on I10 and I12 through Louisiana in the last few years and they are in great shape. A lot of it is now a 6-lane system and the older 4-lane parts have been resurfaced. Currently there is construction from the rest area entering from MS for about 3 mi. then clear sailing to the Texas border. Texas is widening I10 from the LA border for a few miles and this is the last section that needs it. Slow down on this section as they are using the old lanes and they are in bad shape but its only about 6-mi. A good route to Galveston is to take HWY 73 (MM 873) through Port Arthur to Winnie. Its a good 4-lane. This will bypass Beaumont. South out of Winnie on HWY 124 and take the free ferry at Galveston. It a very good ferry and handles 18 wheelers and RV's with no problem.

Jim

Thanks so much for the great info!!

We second the route via Winnie on 124! Great road to the crystal beach, Galveston Island area!!!

By the way, Bolivar-Galveston ferry is free.

About 12 months ago, we traveled across I-10.
About 50 east of the Tx/La stateline there was a section of I-10 that was rough for several miles. Going 65 mph threw us around. We slowed down to about 50 and the ride was much better!! We turned on the flashers and everyone got around us till the road smoothed out.
It was an elevated/bridge area over a bayou.
Pat

Don't know where in Va you are but if I were headed that way I'd hit I40 to Nashville then go down Natchez Trace, You won't regret it.

Jay Pat wrote:
About 12 months ago, we traveled across I-10.
About 50 east of the Tx/La stateline there was a section of I-10 that was rough for several miles. Going 65 mph threw us around. We slowed down to about 50 and the ride was much better!! We turned on the flashers and everyone got around us till the road smoothed out.
It was an elevated/bridge area over a bayou.
Pat

Thanks for the info..much appreciated!

blknomad wrote:
Don't know where in Va you are but if I were headed that way I'd hit I40 to Nashville then go down Natchez Trace, You won't regret it.

Richmond area...I thought about taking 40 heading west, but when we head back from the midwest I am taking 40 east towards home just to visit some different places. Thanks though!

We just did I-10 and I-12 from the Florida panhandle to Breaux Bridge LA. There was a rough patch of I-12 around Baton Rogue, but the rest was pretty nice until Breaux Bridge. We're headed for the Bolivar next week, I'll repost the conditions from here to there after that.

Make sure you have plenty of fuel before leaving Baton Rouge. I-10 west of that is basically an 18 mile long bridge with a narrow break-down lane.

Update. We just did the rest of this trip to the Bolivar Peninsula via I-10, Texas 124 and Texas 87. This would be the most likely route to Galveston on the ferry.

I-10 was good and bad. The 5 miles either side of Breaux Bridge LA (exit 109) was thump-thump concrete. There were rough sections through Lake Charles and Beaumont TX. The first 2 miles in Texas were construction squeezed lanes. Other than those spots and the afore-mentioned bad patch of I-12 in Baton Rogue, it was pretty smooth.

Texas 124 and 87 are fine 2 lane road flat and well paved. Motor safely.