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

[ckmommy]

Just got back last night. I-10 is open from Houston to where we got off in Pensacola. The traffic was much heavier than we have ever seen it through Baton Rouge and continuing through the LA-MS border. MS was VERY easy to get through. Much less traffic, but MUCh more damage from the storm. The roads were clear of derbis, but the trees, homes and businesses along the road were in bad shape. The bridge at Moss Point was down to one lane. We merged over to the west bound lane. We did not encounter any delays due to this. We hit the bridge at about 11:30 am. I would buy gas before Baton Rouge and after Moblie, AL. The lines for gas were pretty long in MS and on I-12. As a side note, we did not have any problems finding gas due to the shortages.

 

[Mr. Toad]

Anyone have any new news on driving since Rita is bearing down right on I-10. We don't leave for another week and a half, but I'm starting to worry somewhat.

 

[pixiepower1971]

Was wondering as well if there are any updates on roads from TX to FL since Rita came through? We are thinking of postponing our trip due to what we have heard the roads are like? Anyone driven through the area recently/
Thanks!

 

[Millermouseketeers]

We are also wondering about the drive from Texas to Florida since Rita. We are going 12/16 and hoping the roads and gas are okay. Does anyone know?

 

[bengalbelle]

I'm sorry I can't tell ya'll much about the drive from Texas, but if you have to go through the Baton Rouge area to get to Fl, I can help with that. We just drove it 2 weeks ago and had no problems. We did not attempt to get gas in Mississippi. We filled up before we left, then filled up in Florida on the way home.
On our way to WDW the bridge at Pascagoula, MS was still out but was fixed on our way back. We didn't have any slowdowns there or at Pensacola (both on I-10).

This will help with Louisiana. http://www.lsp.org/roadandincident.nsf/roadclosures
It doesn't show any road closures from Rita. They all look like they're from Katrina and shouldn't impact a drive from Texas. I don't know about the gas situation in Texas or southwest La, but you should have no problems getting gas in Baton Rouge or the surrounding areas, Alabama or Florida. I don't know about Mississippi because we didn't try there. Gas is about $2.80 for regular unleaded in Baton Rouge now.
HTH

 

[JodyTG]

We're also going to WDW at Christmas and we WERE going to drive, but my husband, worried about road construction he'd been told about, had me book air instead. Just what I wanted...a layover in Miami both ways. But, at least I'm going to Disney!

 

[pixiepower1971]

Thanks for the update! We are leaving in 11 days. Any info on the Lake Charles area?

 

[HaleyB]

Just back. It was a long drive, but no problems at all with road closures and the I-10 bridge that was down to 1 lane is now fixed. We were able to buy gas in LA, MI, and FL with no problems. Gas was 2.77 to 2.88 everywhere we needed it.

I have a great deal of new respect for DOT workers. They had a ton of trees to clear from the roads and have them all over to the sides or already removed completely already.

We drove from Austin TX, took the 71 to the 10, which hits it between San Antonio and Houston. Port Charles area roads were fine, but buy gas before you leave Houston. Many exits and rest stops are closed south of Houston and into LA (not too far though, just where Rita hit). So don't drink too much coffee either.

We saw lots on Rita Damage and it is heartbreaking. We saw some of the Katrina damage, but I don't think we saw the worst of it. We drove out at night and it was very dark with few cars on the road. You could tell that huge areas near Port Charles are without any power. We saw tons of utility crews and there must have been a hospital evacuation going on because we saw about 40 ambulances heading towards Houston.

We drove straight through but I did notice open hotels along the I-12 with only half full parking lots.

 

[Millermouseketeers]

Has anyone driven I-20 to I-12 to I-10 latley, since the hurricanes?

 

[HaleyB]

Yes. My post right above yours was about driving that route the first week of October. We were right on the heels of Rita but we had no problems getting through. Lots of rest stops took heavy damage so there are fewer open, and some exits were closed (but they may be open by now).

Traffic is heavy in Batton Rouge, so try to avoid rush hour and lunch time in that area.