Any news on I-10/I-12 or I-20, driving from TX to WDW?

[HaleyB]

We leave in 20 days and I am trying to figure out a route.

When I looked at maps it looks like we could take the I-20 across to Atlanta and then head down the 75 (I think, or was there something inbetween?) but that seems like an awful round-about route.

Can anyone tell me if the I-10 is passable, what the delays are like, and if there is gas avaliable easily (or if not where to find it). The DOT websites seem to suggest the I-10 is open but has no word on delays and gas.

Or would you just take the I-20? I think I will need to ask again in 10 days, but I am starting to stress out over this.

 

[Millermouseketeers]

We are driving from Texas also and too are wondering which route to take since the hurricane. We are going 12/18-26 so maybe by then the roads will be better.

 

[bcsmom]

I am going to Disney on Wednesday, and I will be taking I-12 until it runs into I-10. Then we turn on I-75, it takes us roughly 10 1/2 hours from Baton Rouge. I will let you know about the gas, time, etc when I return. Callie

 

[HaleyB]

I am going to Disney on Wednesday, and I will be taking I-12 until it runs into I-10. Then we turn on I-75, it takes us roughly 10 1/2 hours from Baton Rouge. I will let you know about the gas, time, etc when I return. Callie

Thanks Callie. That covers the whole stretch we are worried about. Good luck, I hope there is not too much traffic for you. Have a great trip!

 

[Millermouseketeers]

Thanks, Callie. Have a great and safe trip! We look forward to your trip and road reports!

 

[bcsmom]

thank you both. Do you guys take I-4 or do you use US 192? I have been reading post's about how dangerous I-4 is. I have not tryed that route yet, but I heard it was faster.

 

[HaleyB]

We used the 192 last year, I am not sure which is faster. Honestly I just followed the directions someone else (here) gave me, so I didn't realize there was another way to do it.

 

[Nebsky]

We are driving from Texas also and too are wondering which route to take since the hurricane. We are going 12/18-26 so maybe by then the roads will be better.

Going from McKinney, you might just want to take I20 to Jackson then US98 to Hattiesburg and US49 from Hattiesburg to Mobile then jump on I10. This is the way we have driven and it worked great. I know Ivan last year busted up the bridge over Escambia (sp) bay but I think for the most part it is back up.
If it were me, Id try to avoid the Baton Rouge/New Orleans/Gulfport area altogether.

FYI. It might be US49 from Jackson MS to Hattiesburg then US98 from Hattiesburg to Mobile. I cant remember which is first but I do know that those are the road numbers.

As far as I4 and 192, we took Florida Turnpike all the way down to I4 and took that in. I4 is no more dangerous than any other city freeway in my opinion. Just pay attention to traffic conditions and be aware of the lunatics.

 

[ALostBoy]

Hi,
Nebsky has the correct route. It is I-20 to Jackson, Hwy 49
from Jackson to Hattiesburg, Hwy 98 from Hattiesburg to
Mobile, I-65 from Hwy 98 to I-10. All of these roads are open
and the major cities Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Mobile all
have gas with few if any problems. I-10 in Mississippi is open
but the west bound bridge at Pascagoula is closed because
of damage from Katrina( it should be open in about 30 days).
Traffic has been rerouted to the east bound bridge with one
lane going in each direction. Depending on time of day you may
incur a 30 min. to 1 hour wait. Good Luck

 

[Millermouseketeers]

We take I-4 and have not had any trouble. Have a great time!

 

[Millermouseketeers]

Nebsky and LostBoy thank you for the new route! That sounds better than I20 to I12 to I10 since the hurricane hit parts of this route.

 

[HaleyB]

Hi,
Nebsky has the correct route. It is I-20 to Jackson, Hwy 49
from Jackson to Hattiesburg, Hwy 98 from Hattiesburg to
Mobile, I-65 from Hwy 98 to I-10. All of these roads are open
and the major cities Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Mobile all
have gas with few if any problems. I-10 in Mississippi is open
but the west bound bridge at Pascagoula is closed because
of damage from Katrina( it should be open in about 30 days).
Traffic has been rerouted to the east bound bridge with one
lane going in each direction. Depending on time of day you may
incur a 30 min. to 1 hour wait. Good Luck

Any idea on how long that drive takes? I am 2 1/2 to 3 hours south of the I-20 and am wondering if going that route is better than doing the I-10 to the 12 to the I-10 if that way is even possible...

Also, if I take the 49-98-I-65 and so on route, are there any towns that might have hotel rooms along the way or should I just plan to drive through the night?

 

[cajunmommy]

HaleyB, you should be OK with the I-10 / I-12 / I-10 plan next week. I'd still double check the websites beforehand, just to be sure.

The gas situation in Baton Rouge has calmed considerably. I actually saw stations dropping prices in the last few days ($2.45 / 2.55 / 2.65)!

What time are you planning on reaching Baton Rouge? Traffic has been extremely heavy during morning & afternoon drive times, and one accident can really snarl the works. I don't want to discourage you from travelling your familiar route, I just want you to be able to avoid any problems.

 

[HaleyB]

I don't know, but I will definatly avoid rush hour times! I wondered about that because the news has been that traffic is bad in the area, but then they talked about surrface roads

I think the entire drive took us about 17 hours last years so we are hoping to be able to do it in 20. That would still beat the northern route by a few hours and I think the I-20 took some damage too (for those of you doing the northin route).

Thanks for posting. It seems that the people actually in the area think I should be able to make it through without any problem.

Well no problems other than having to drive straight through because I can't find any avaliable rooms anywhere along that route untill we get within a few hours of Orlando. I am not as young as I used to be and it is a rough way to start and end the trip... oh well. It is hard to complain when so many have lost so much and we will survive the drive. I just feel sorry for DH who can't seem to sleep in the car. I sleep like a baby in a car so I will be fine. I am also worried because we arrive around noon and if the room is not ready DH will not be happy. I tried to book the night before so we could have a room but the whole place is booked up. I guess a pool side snooze is not the worst thing...

 

[Nebsky]

We made the drive from Dallas in 17.5 total hours. In 14 hours we were in Lake City FL where I75 and I10 intersect. We stopped there because we were past the time for our hotel cancelation.
We easily could have made it all the way.

You could probably take US79 from North of Austin to US259 near Longview then get on I20 to Jackson MS. Yahoo maps says that is 557 miles to Jackson then another 687 from there to Lake Buena Vista, FL. Total Drive is 1244 miles. This route was using Airport Codes for Austin (AUS) Jackson (JAN).

The route from AUS direct to Lake Buena Vista is 1125 so it is 120 miles further.

Jeff

 

[HaleyB]

Thanks Jeff, I knew there had to be a better 'northern' route.

Have you driven it post-Katrina? I was wondering about reports that there is a lot of damage to the 20.

 

[Nebsky]

Sorry, but I havent been east of Dallas on I20 since that trip in 2004. Tell you what though, Ill fly to Longview and you pick me up and I will help drive so you can make it in one day.

I20 really shouldnt be all that bad. You come off of that at Jackson MS then head southeast to Mobile. Id check with Mississippi Dept of Transportation and to see what they can say. The roads (interstates and US highways) are all major roads and I cant see them being too trashed that far north. I could see some problems down near Mobile on US98 but that would probably be the only place Id worry about.

 

[bcsmom]

I just got back yesterday from my trip, we went down I-12 until it ran into I-10. We did not have trouble getting through at all. I did run into a little traffic going and coming back in Mississippi. It is where I-10 got messed up, you are using just one lane each way. So I think it took us about a hour more just to get through all that. It really was not bad though. We were passing through there also, at about 6pm both ways, so I do not know if it gets better at a later time.

 

[HaleyB]

That is the best news I have heard all week. Thank you so much for posting

I am starting to worry that we will get there at 8 am and not have a room till 4, but the Pop is booked solid. We always stay somewhere in the Gulf area after half a day of driving... but all my regular places are booked up. I hope to get luckey at the last minute... otherwise an all nighter it is.

 

[trampslady]

I checked with MS DOT and it appears that 49 and 98 are passable with no closures or diversions noted. I sure hope that this is the case. As much as I'd love to bypass that long boring stretch across the FL panhandle, I would rather not add hours on my drive by having to stay on 20 through GA.

We leave in 64 days (but who's counting?), and I'm sure hoping to have smooth sailing all the way there!