Need Route Help

rkymntsno · 06-04-2022, 01:46 PM

Hello all. Need some guidance from anyone who's traveled this route or close to it. Traveling from San Antonio to Knoxville, TN. RV Trip Wizard shows two routes but almost the same time and mileage. Northern route goes through Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis and Nashville. The southern route goes through Houston, New Orleans, Birmingham and Chattanooga. I've traveled the northern route, not a fan of Dallas, Memphis or Nashville. I've traveled the southern route all the way to Gulfport and return and has some rough roads. I welcome opinions on which route might be a better route to take. TIA.

Radar57 · 06-04-2022, 04:52 PM

It's usually a crap shoot on which would be the best route. They both have their pros and cons. The only suggestion I have is if you take the north route in stead of going through Nashville consider take 840 around the south side. It's a bit longer/out of the way but you miss the bottleneck where 40, 65 and 24 all combine. That can be a nightmare any time of the day. 840 is not a bad drive.

SloPoke · 06-04-2022, 10:16 PM

The only factor to consider... Weather

otherwise both are uhmmmm

rkymntsno · 06-05-2022, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radar57

It's usually a crap shoot on which would be the best route. They both have their pros and cons. The only suggestion I have is if you take the north route in stead of going through Nashville consider take 840 around the south side. It's a bit longer/out of the way but you miss the bottleneck where 40, 65 and 24 all combine. That can be a nightmare any time of the day. 840 is not a bad drive.

Nashville will be early Sunday morning so it shouldn't be an issue. Don't think I took the 840 last time, probably should have. Thanks.

rkymntsno · 06-05-2022, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SloPoke

The only factor to consider... Weather

otherwise both are uhmmmm

That's what I was thinkin. Was trying to get some input that would sway me either way, lol. But pretty much a crapshoot. May go up north and come back south for the hell of it.

Learjet · 06-05-2022, 05:08 PM

I live near Baton Rouge and would strongly consider this route.

rkymntsno · 06-05-2022, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Learjet

I live near Baton Rouge and would strongly consider this route.

Damn! A third option??????

Learjet · 06-05-2022, 07:31 PM

It all depends on the time of day and the day of the week...Houston...you know that story...Baton Rouge rush hour is rough....also I-12 north of New Orleans can be rough too...and add to its summer time...so lots of beach traffic going East on I-10 on Fridays and West on Sunday's

AZMarine · 06-05-2022, 08:08 PM

We just did a run from Phx. to Savannah GA, (via north FL to see family during the run) & back 2 weeks ago. There was LOTS of construction on I-10 in east TX & LA. Mostly between Houston & Baton Rouge. We hit it just about right, but still had a few areas where speed was stopped, to 10 mph, for about 10 miles at a time (3 of those spots going each way). Fuel in FL for Diesel was near $5.85 (highest we saw on run), while around Houston was cheapest we found @ $4.85. Most of the run it was $5.45 give / take 10 cents. Note that these prices were 2 weeks ago. I-10 & I-12 (aside from Houston to Baton Rouge) were fairly good shape. There were frequent storms w/ large hail & tornados along I-20 & I-40 at the time & that is why we took the southern route this time.

rkymntsno · 06-06-2022, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Learjet

It all depends on the time of day and the day of the week...Houston...you know that story...Baton Rouge rush hour is rough....also I-12 north of New Orleans can be rough too...and add to its summer time...so lots of beach traffic going East on I-10 on Fridays and West on Sunday's

Thanks for that.

rkymntsno · 06-06-2022, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZMarine

We just did a run from Phx. to Savannah GA, (via north FL to see family during the run) & back 2 weeks ago. There was LOTS of construction on I-10 in east TX & LA. Mostly between Houston & Baton Rouge. We hit it just about right, but still had a few areas where speed was stopped, to 10 mph, for about 10 miles at a time (3 of those spots going each way). Fuel in FL for Diesel was near $5.85 (highest we saw on run), while around Houston was cheapest we found @ $4.85. Most of the run it was $5.45 give / take 10 cents. Note that these prices were 2 weeks ago. I-10 & I-12 (aside from Houston to Baton Rouge) were fairly good shape. There were frequent storms w/ large hail & tornados along I-20 & I-40 at the time & that is why we took the southern route this time.

Thanks. A couple of years ago on our Biloxi run we hit a lot of construction on I-10 and was not good. Don't think I'm gonna take that route going.

garywilson · 06-25-2022, 12:02 PM

So, these messages are June 4 through June 6th.
Why am I getting them now, no updates, nothing recent, etc?

rkymntsno · 06-25-2022, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garywilson

So, these messages are June 4 through June 6th.
Why am I getting them now, no updates, nothing recent, etc?

LOL, I guess it's like Facebook that shows a post two weeks ago all of a sudden. Well I'm back from the trip. So the route I ended up taking was up to Dallas, I-20 from Dallas over to Jackson/Meridian/Birmingham, then up to Chattanooga over to Knoxville. Not a bad route.

Coming back, Chattanooga, Birmingham, Slidell, Houston, San Antonio. Worst roads were near Baton Rouge to Beaumont. We hit a dip on a bridge expansion joint that we almost lost control. It was a terrible dip, worst I've ever seen. Saw the oil spots and gouges in the pavement too late in time to slow down. Had to slam on the brakes to regain control. Anyway, all in all, a good trip.

garywilson · 06-25-2022, 01:18 PM

Good deal that good trip. I think all of them are good, just some are better than others.

I was going to suggest when you hit I20 in Dallas to continue east to Terrell or Canton, then head north to I-30. I don't do Dallas very well. I usually stay I-20 to Marshall and stay overnight behind the county jail in Jefferson (they have water & electric, sewer available a block or two away). Then through Texakana to Knoxville.

I'll be heading that way again in September.

soonergypsy · 06-25-2022, 01:32 PM

I would not recommend the North route when returning do to I30 just West of Little Rock being down to 1 lane. Massive construction between Benton and Hot springs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkymntsno

That's what I was thinkin. Was trying to get some input that would sway me either way, lol. But pretty much a crapshoot. May go up north and come back south for the hell of it.

garywilson · 06-25-2022, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soonergypsy

I would not recommend the North route when returning do to I30 just West of Little Rock being down to 1 lane. Massive construction between Benton and Hot springs.

Any idea how long construction should last?

Johnynorthland · 06-25-2022, 03:05 PM

Compare all the routs to Waze app and Truck map, against the RV GPS, that’s what we do. I’ve been through that area a few times, some times there’s traffic other times not so much, but it’s not a bad ride on 840. That’s why it’s always good to use a social networking app, like waze, that gets quick real time traffic conditions. But we always check the Atlas map we carry and compare everything with our RV GPS. We are not that large, driving a class C and towing a CRV, but it’s always good to check. I’ve only had to turned around once in seven years! And that was because of a weight restriction on a bridge. (Wife was too scared)

wetland · 06-25-2022, 03:26 PM

Glad you are back home but I was going to ask if anyone has done this trip via the Natchez Trace Parkway. If you aren't in a big hurry, it looks like that would be a way to avoid big trucks.

You may also like: