Best Route Houston to Branson

[jgallego]

We plan to travel from Houston, Tx to Branson, Mo the first week of May. What is the best route to stay out of the mountains? Thanks

Jaime

[FordDiesel250]

The route that cairnwalker wrote is the one I take all the time from visiting our kids in Ft. Worth

[crasster]

I would go through Dallas as mentioned above, however I would avoid traveling through rush hour on 75, it's a nightmare. Either go through the middle of the day or go around. You may want to consider some back highways from 45 and connect to 75 after McKinney, TX

[cairnwalker]

I live on Lake Texoma and travel to the Ozarks annually. Texarkana to Little Rock has some of the roughest interstate you'll find and there's nothing particularly scenic along that route.

I recommend you consider going through southeastern Oklahoma on US 69/75 to catch I40 at Checotah and then head west toward Fort Smith. I49 north from Alma, AR to Fayetteville is a beautiful drive on a tremendous new highway that is reminiscent (to me at least) of portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway. From that point on to Branson, you're in the Ozarks and yes it's hilly and curvy on mostly 2-lane roads, but it's actually an enjoyable drive and should pose no problem to your rig.

The Oklahoma route is shorter, faster, much more scenic, and has better roads. And, there are two excellent RV campgrounds along the route. I have to take the Arkansas route in order to cross the Big Muddy in Memphis when headed to the east coast, and I always dread that segment of the drive. By contrast, I look forward to the Ozarks trip through SE OK and NW Ark. No brained as far as I'm concerned. YMMV.

[Bill_Satellite]

I cannot find an easier or more logical route. Have a great trip.
By the way, the biggest grade I could find on that trip was about 4.5 percent and that was 500 miles from Houston so you would almost be there.
If you ever need to look at the hills ahead you can go to Google Earth and get "Directions" from and to your location. Once the trip is setup "Right" click on the road and select Elevation Profile. You can see exactly what you have coming up.

[jgallego]

I am just going by what I had been told that it was better to go up the flat land and then cut across. My direct route would be to Texarkana and Littlerock up to Branson. I just wanted to get recommendations from the group. I like planning my route ahead of time.

Thanks,

Jaime

[Passin_Thru]

What Mountains? I lived and drove in the Rockies, those are mountains. Arkansas has some hills. Go up 59-30-65 to Branson.

[Bill_Satellite]

Why do you want to avoid a mountain? That's one heck of a coach you are driving and it would not have any problem negotiating any Interstate Highway in the US.
Maybe you could tell us a bit more about what generated this question.

[BB_TX]

The Arkansas mountains are not bad. And the route above is pretty good. But the flattest and widest highways (if you don't mind Dallas) would be I-45 / US75 / US69 to I-44, then east to US 65 south to Branson.

[RLS7201]

Johno02 wrote:
If you are going to Branson, you are going to be in the mountains. Best way to get there is a toss-up.

Those "foot hills" in the Ozarks are just a fun drive. The real mountains are a few hundred miles west.
Just mosey up through Texarkana, I30 to Little Rock and 65 to Branson. About 600 miles.
The steep hills are north, between Branson and I40.

Richard

[MrWizard]

Don't drive straight up
Use the interstates and circle around
Then drop down from I40
You still have some hilly driving, just not as much

[Johno02]

If you are going to Branson, you are going to be in the mountains. Best way to get there is a toss-up.