Driving from Dallas

[AR81]

Can someone tell me the approximate time it took them to drive from Dallas and which route did you take? We actually live east outside of Dallas and very close to I20 therefore according to mapquest it looks like the best way for us isto get on I20 and go all the way across Louisiana and Mississipi and then there is a highway that goes south and deadends at I10 somewhere close to the Florida stateline. I know the other route shows going south from Dallas into Houston and then taking I10 east all the way but that seems a little further out of the way. Also both routes show approximately 18 hours but I have read on another thread that the drive from Dallas was 22 hours. 22 hours might be a deal breaker for us.. 18 seems hard enough but breaking it into 1 1/2 days seems doable. I realize this isn't counting stops. Can someone give me their experience from driving from Dallas and how long it took them? Did you feel it was worth it?

 

[malibuconlee]

We did the drive one spring when we spent the summer in Tampa working on a project. Left early one morning, spent the night in Mobile then got to Riverside in the Tampa area around 4 the next afternoon in time to check into our furnished apartments. We had 3 cars, a U-haul trailer towed behind one and a dog with us. Can't remember the exact route we took, but we didn't go thru Houston, without looking it up. We left from Addison, right by the Mary Kay building.

Not exact, but hope it helped some? Still a lot of driving IMO.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

We have done it twice and we do it in a day and a half. I'd say it's 17-18 hours of actual driving, but then you have to add in your stops. We keep stops to a minimum but we do stay overnight. On the way there we drive a full day and stop in either Mobile or Pensacola (6am-7pm from DFW). Then we do the rest the next day (8am to 3pm with time change). On the way home we do the same thing in reverse

Don't go down to Houston, that will add time and miles to the trip (I'm not sure who would even reccommend that route, honestly.)


Two ways to go from Dallas:
-Drive 20 East to about Shreveport and head south on 49, which takes you to 10 (this is what we do)
-Drive 20 east to Jackson and then turn south to 10.
Both of those routes are about the same as far as time and mileage, so it's just a preference thing IMO. Be prepared for traffic once you turn off 10 onto 75 in Florida- everyone in American driving to Orlando will be on that road.

We really want to fly this summer, but airfares seem to be almost double what they usually are so we might be hitting the road again.

 

[Tigger1]

We have driven to Dallas then Orlando many times going both routes mentioned above.

The route that stays on I-20 To Jackson, Mississippi then heads south east towards mobile is shorter in miles but takes more time. Many small towns to travel threw.

I prefer going to Shreveport, then heading south on 49 and then about 200 miles later getting on I-10. This is all highway.

We have stopped just past Pensacola in a Red Roof hotel, also camped out at several of the state parks in Destin, greyton and Panama City. last year we camped out a couple nights then stayed in Tallahassee before heading to Disney. Our trip driving time is about 23 hours with stops (not hotel time). We also start 200 miles prior to Dallas.

 

[AR81]

Thank you so much for the replies from Texas. We keep going back and forth. I think we will be saving around 500 driving, so still trying to decide... We have never attempted to drive this far before so this would be a first. The furthest we've driven for beach vacations is about 11 hours. So we have a lot to consider.. Thanks again..

 

[malibuconlee]

Another way to look at it is 4 days of vacation time, two there and two back...how much are those days worth to you?

Depends on your finances, but for a $500 difference we would fly and save ourselves the drive. For us we've never done more than a 12 hour drive for vacations. Anything more than that were cross country moves for work! LOL

OH, that $500 does it include wear and tear on your car, 4 days of meals and two of hotels in addition to gas?

 

[AR81]

Saving around 500 does include the cost of meals, two hotel stays and gas for the trip both ways. The main thing is not only airfare but we wouldn't have to rent a car with taxes and insurance would at least be 250-300.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Another way to look at it is 4 days of vacation time, two there and two back...how much are those days worth to you?

Actually, I only think of it as adding 2 days vs, flying not 4. We drive all day Friday (12 hour drive), stay overnight and are at WDW by 3pm check in time on Saturday (6 hour drive). So the only day I've added extra that I wouldn't have to account for if I was flying is Friday. I'm spending those 6 hours on Saturday in-transit regardless of driving or flying.

For example, if we were to take a 9am flight, we'd have to leave the house by 6:30 to allow for the time to drive, park, get through check in and security. The flight then lands at MCO by 1:30 local time. With using ME, I'm at WDW by 2:30-3:00pm. So that's still 7 or so hours of travel time with flying. Flying is not "instant."

 

[Tigger1]

We are flyng march as we only have a week off (just the two of us). Also we would be very tired after that week since it is over 2700 miles round trip.

In the summer we will have over two weeks. There will be the 4 of us on ths trip So driving it is. We will spend time on the way at the beach.

I also would only consider two extra days for driving as flying you have to compute travel to airport, wait time for plane, luggage, ... We have to travel 100 to 200 miles for the airport. Usually 200 miles away for cheaper flights.