Suggested driving from Shreveport to WDW

[trampslady]

Okay, another last minute question. We are leaving Dallas on Thursday and we can't decide which direction to go from Shreveport. Some say 49 down to Baton Rouge and over and others say stay on I-20 to Jackson and then cut down towards I-10. Can anyone offer advise on which is better (faster or more scenic) and why?

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

 

[trampslady]

bumping

 

[Nebsky]

Hi there!!!

I was doing this exact thing last year. I didnt know what to do.

We took I-20 to Jackson MS then US49 to Hattiesburg then US98 from Hattiesburg to Mobile, linked up with I10 all the way to I75. We stayed overnight in Lake City (took us 14 hours to get there) because we were passed the cut off time to cxl the room reservation. We could have driven straight through. The good things are there are lots of places to see on that route. Gas is cheaper as well.

I20 to Shreveport then I49 to Baton Rouge and I10 at New Orleans is also very very boring to drive.

It was a fun trip, but I have to tell you that the Panhandle of Florida is the absolute pits. Not much to see.

Coming home we spent all day at the park and left @ 7pm. We made it to Mariana FL (Panhandle between Pensacola and Talahasse).

Have a good trip. Where are you staying? We arrive Saturday at 10am and are staying at Port Orleans Frech Quarter.



Jeff

Edited to Add, the road numbers might be reversed when traveling from Jackson MS - Mobile. It might be US98 from Jackson to Hattiesburg and then US49 from Hattiesburg to Mobile.

 

[trampslady]

Thanks so much, Jeff! I really appreciate the information. I'm hoping to make it to Lake City also. I really wanted to go ahead and drive in all the way, but since we haven't done this before, I thought we should be a bit more conservative. We will definitely take the Jackson route as it sounds much more appealing to the eye. We are overnighting in Shreveport on Wednesday night and plan to leave there at 7am Thursday morning.

We are staying at the Boardwalk Villas, and I can hardly wait to get there!

Thanks again for the great information! I hope you guys have a great trip also. Oh, where are you staying?

 

[trampslady]

Duh, you just said you were staying at the French Quarter. We are staying at Riverside for three nights at Thanksgiving before a stay at Beach Club the next week. Have you stayed at Port Orleans before? We haven't, but it looks great!

 

[Nebsky]

Heck, if your overnighting in Shreveport on Wed, you can drive all the way to Orlando. Its 14 hours from there. If you alternate drivers, thats very doable. but then again, not everyone drives like we do. We averaged about 65-70 mph the whole way.

Do you have kids in the car? Got a DVD or VHS player? Those things are a godsend!!.

Last year it was just me, wife and 6yr old son. We left DFW at 4am and alternated every 3 hours or so. We rotated to the back seat and watched DVD's with our son. It was pretty fun. We were in Hattiesburg by 12 noon and then Lake City at 7pm local.

I was right the first time....US 49 from Jackson to Hattiesburg. US98 from Hattiesburg to Mobile.

This is our first time staying at Port Orleans. It does look nice.

Have a great trip.

 

[trampslady]

I think we will just wing it on a reservation for Thursday night as I would LUV to arrive in Orlando instead of Lake City. Thanks again for all the helpful info. It's just four adults (me, hubby, mom, and grandma) so we should be able to drive pretty hard without many stops.

 

[Nebsky]

Watch out for the cops in Louisanna. They like to give tickets for 5 over the limit. If you see a place along the road offering Boild Crawfish, please stop and have some for me. Thats one thing that Ill miss in the flight down.

Drive safe and have a great trip!