Dallas to Tallahassee

[mrschwarz]

On December 24, we are headed to Tallahassee. I have a couple of questions.

Mapquest wants us to go through Shreveport and on to Vicksburg and Jackson MS, then down to Mobile, AL to pick up I-10. The last time I came from Florida to Texas, we went to Shreveport, south to Lafayette, then east on I-10.

Does anyone have a suggestion which is the better way to go? If the Vicksburg route is the one, does anyone have a suggestion where to stay for the night?

If you think going through Lafayette is the way to go, can you suggest a place to stay around Alexandria, LA?

[historyljc]

Google maps routes through Lafayette (Interstate all the way). Best place to stay around Alexandria (not half way) according to Woodall's is:

Paragon Casino RV Resort
Marksville, LA

Check availability, they get filled up this time of year.

Cajun Palms RV Resort in Henderson, LA on I-10 is a nice park with good restaurants (including the original Landry's) nearby.
Dallas - Henderson = 401 miles
Henderson - Tallahassee = 484 (all on I-10/I-12, all good except 12 miles east of Lafayette, about three miles at the eastern junction of I-12/I-10 to the LA/MS line)
If you want to stretch the first day to about 460 miles, stop at Lakeside RV Resort at exit 22 on I-12, Livingston, LA. Good Sam and Passport America (back in sites only for PA).

In Tallahassee, if you don't already have a spot, I prefer Tallahassee RV on US 90 east over Big Oak on US 27 north.

The route through Jackson is not bad, though I can not speak for the I-20 section except for Jackson - it's rough.
US 49 from Jackson to Hattiesburg is good road and a nice drive, though not as fast as Interstate. US 98 from Hattiesburg to Mobile is 4 lane divided rural good road in the Mississippi part. The Alabama portion over to I-65 is more built up and quite a bit 2 lane, but a doable drive. I have done it in my rig. Take I-65 down to I-10. Don't let them route you through downtown Mobile. I-10 from Mobile to Tallahassee is all good road.

Have a good, safe, trip.

[mrschwarz]

Thanks for the information. I am not leaving Dallas until around 3:00 PM on Thursday so I was looking for about 350 miles to stop. I tried to write the post a little too quickly. We are booked into Paragon Casino RV Resort for Thursday night.

Here's another question. What's the likelihood I am going to be able to find fuel on Christmas Day? While I don't celebrate Christmas, I don't recall looking for an open gas station either.

[historyljc]

Fuel shouldn't be a problem. Trucks run on Christmas. Check out Diesel fuel prices and surcharge in highway truck stops (Diesel Boss) for truck stops on the way. I personally like the Flying Js and you've got one in Gulfport, MS, about 575 miles into your trip and another just west of Tallahassee. Check the Diesel Boss site for what's available on I-20 and I-49. Plenty of fuel on the western side of the Mississippi River on I-10 before you get to Baton Rouge.

[Bill Adams]

We have always taken the Dallas, Shreveport, Lafayette, Tallahassee route as it is the shortest. Unless you have specific destinations that are off that route then this is what I would suggest. It's a 900+ miles trip so I suspect you will need at least a couple of overnights. If you make your first stop at the casino the next would likely be somewhere around Mobile and there are plenty of parks nearby. Fuel will not be a problem at any truck stop and most regular stations will be open as well at least most of the day.

[powerboatr]

I run the I20 to to 55 in Jackson head south to I-12 near Hammond, La then scoot across to join up to I-10 miss, al and fl, we take that route about twice a year from tyler

about half way down 55 in miss there is a HUGE exit with a wally world (no diesel) and a chevron with wide truck lanes and very good coffee near brookhaven, 55 is a good four lane highway with good speeds, its a bit bumpy at times but no worse than I20
also I20 in Jackson SLOW DOWN its full of whoopty doos and you will bottom out, the road looks like a rolling sheet.

the rest areas on 55 some are closed and some are open, no ryme or reason
once hit get to I-10 headed east, lots of fuel stops loves, t/a, CONE( best price), gulfport has loves, as does mobile,
we ususally fill up in LA at the first exit into la. there is a loves and T/A i beleive its exit #2

then again at the mid way point in miss

the trip is sort of weird
TX-LA-MISS-LA-MISS-BAMA-FL

[mrschwarz]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll look at the map and go whichever way my wife tells me to.