Amarillo, TX to Shreveport, LA

[PandS]

We’ll be traveling from Amarillo, TX to Shreveport, LA in October. We would like to avoid bad roads, bad traffic, and if possible, tolls. We’re not in a hurry, and don’t mind getting off the interstate. We’re a 44’ class A towing a car. Would anyone like to suggest routes? Thanks in advance!

Susan

[MikenDebbie]

I haven’t traveled that route since Aug 2019, and I don’t recall thinking it was a rough ride…but there is no telling what it might be like now after February’s Freeze-pocalypse. I do however remember (from the same trip) thinking IH25 between Cheyenne and Denver had been used for bombing practice.

I grew up in East TX near Shreveport (East TX accent - we called it Shrees-port) and have driven that route hundreds of times since the early 70s going to and coming back from CO…more trips in a passenger car than pulling a 5th wheel. Honestly I don’t remember ever thinking it was a bad rough route. Always enjoyed the drive.

[carybosse]

From Fort Worth to Shreveport is pretty decent on I-20. No toll roads to hit from FW to S'Port. I pulled my travel trailer from Fort Worth to Tyler & back this past weekend. Traffic was fairly heavy, but no real issues. Be aware, all bets are off once you hit Shreveport proper.

I would probably take US-287 from Amarillo to Fort Worth, then I-35W south to I-20. However, I haven't been on that section of 287 in a long time.

There is a toll road along 35W but I don't think it buys you anything to take the toll road. Traffic will be heavy on I-35W but it isn't that bad. You can kick over to 287 in downtown FW and possibly cut a few miles off the trip. It will involve a lot of lane changes either route.

DO NOT TAKE I-820 around the east side of Fort Worth. There is construction on I-820, east loop they call it, that will pucker you up going through the narrow lanes in the construction area. I-820 around west side is less an issue, but probably adds 10-15 miles to the trip and unless you really wanted to visit that Camping World on the west side of Fort Worth, not noteworthy.

Oh, and the family in Shreveport area refers to it as Sleezeport.

[Isaac-1]

If you want to avoid I-20 and the Dallas metroplex, take 287, turn off on 82 outside Wichita Falls, continue on to Texarkana, then I-49 down to Shreveport. All good road as of the last time I drove it a couple of years ago. No major city driving to deal with along the entire route, much of the 287 and 82 are divided 4 lane highway, some of it even limited access.

[DKRITTER]

I agree with Isaac.

Take 287 to Henrietta, take 82 east. If you're going to stop for the night, Winstar Casino will give you a free night if you sign up for a players card. Just turn north on 35 in Gainesville and cross the river.
Take 82 to Texarkana and down to Shreveport.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Amarillo,+TX/''/Shreveport/@34.1489912,-101.2838956,7.25z/data=!4m25!4m24!1m5!1m1!1s0x870148d4b245cf03:0xd0f 3d11c6836d2af!2m2!1d-101.8312969!2d35.2219971!1m10!1m1!1s0x0:0xc2227a50 4a11520e!2m2!1d-97.1262883!2d33.7537748!3m4!1m2!1d-94.715408!2d33.5480901!3s0x86359874e575817d:0x1fe2 250fa1abd7f8!1m5!1m1!1s0x86312a8d1798e91f:0x2ebd2c 1687a49cdd!2m2!1d-93.7501789!2d32.5251516!3e0

[PandS]

Thanks to everyone who replied! You've been very helpful.

Susan

[lass]

I did a 5500 mile trip this past spring and the I49 between Texarkana and Shreveport was the worst wash board road that I have ever driven and will avoid it at all cost in the future.

[Isaac-1]

If that is the case, it must be something new, I last drove that section of I-49 in 2019 and was was smooth, very good road with light traffic, one of the best sections of interstate I have seen in the region, only down side is lack of gas stations. I-20 around Shreveport is awful by contrast.

[swampdog2]

I agree with Isaac-1 if you think I-49 is bad from Texarkana then go I 20 and let us know what you think? All roads in north Louisiana are bad ! Louisiana should be split in to 2 states north and south because all the money is spent in south Louisiana, that is what is left after the politicians (redirect ) it if you know what i mean .I advise to anyone traveling east to west and have to go through Louisiana! Is button it all down and hold onto your hat it's going to be a rough ride for about 200 miles and then you hit Mississippi and Louisiana will have seemed smooth ! All these roads are built on swamp or Quicksand and they just don't hold up long !

[followingsea]

Originally Posted by PandS

.... We would like to avoid bad roads, bad traffic, and if possible, tolls. ......

Susan

Wow, that is funny! Who writes your material?

Spend lots of time in Shreveport. If there is a good road, I have not found it.


Depending on weather, I often go from Shreveport to Amarillo picking a different route every time. I-49 going north from Shreveport is new and practically deserted. Then I pick two lane roads going across OK coming back into Texas near Wellington where there is nice county park.

No bad roads, no traffic, no tolls. Once you get off I-49, bad roads.

[Isaac-1]

Swampdog2, you are partly right, though Louisiana is not split north/south, it is split east / west where all the money goes to the quarter of the state which is east of the Mississippi river.

[carybosse]

I can tell you that Hurricane Katrina kicked Louisiana's rear end and they have not recovered in my opinion.

You had all of those people evacuate from New Orleans, to Baton Rouge, to Shreveport, and into Texas even.

Baton Rouge more than doubled in size temporarily, and I am not sure where they stand now. (Be interesting to compare the census figures from 2000, 2010, and now 2020.)

Some interesting reads on the impact can be found from Les Miles, the LSU football coach that year.

https://www.nola.com/sports/article_...58db53cd7.html

I can't find the article I read many years ago where he spoke about his players holding the hands of patients as they died while being treated at the LSU athletic facilities.

In any event, when you are building roads on top of swampland, it is hard to build a decent road that can last.

I haven't been on that section of I-49 from Shreveport to Texarkana. I still think I would go on down to I20 in Fort Worth and then eat into Shreveport. Not sure of the route I would take to catch I30 into Texarkana.

In my situation, it is a case of rather take the poor roads I know well than risk the unknown road while towing a 32 foot travel trailer. Now, if you tell me of some great place to see on the alternate route, that might change my mind.

FYI, if you are taking the Texarkana route, might want to consider Caddo Lake State Park as a stopping point, only natural, non-manmade lake in Texas. Sunrise, looking through the fog at the cypress trees was pretty neat.

[RVnAggie]

Another option for getting from 287 to I-20 East at DFW metroplex….

287 south to Rhome, (north of DFW) then
114 east to I-635 east, then
I-20 East to Shreveport

I live 30 miles east of Dallas, south of I-20 and have made the trip through Amarillo several times headed to CO. Always seems faster/more direct to me to come and go around the top side of Dallas rather than connecting I-20 & 287 via Ft Worth.

I-635 around the top side of Dallas has been expanded over the last few years and flows a bit better now; lots of corporate folks in DFW are still working from home due to COVID which seems to help the traffic right now as well.

Haven’t traveled 287 since the freeze, but I-20 is very good; only one bad spot, but there is a big sign there to warn you……it says “Welcome to Louisiana.” [emoji23]

(DW and I have adopted a term called “the Shreveport Effect,” which is the reference to whatever maintenance & repair issues we discover after pulling the trailer through Shreveport.)

Safe Travels,

[PandS]

OP here. We made the trip this week, taking 287, to 82, to 49 as suggested. All of these roads were in very good shape, and the drive was very pleasant. The question had been raised about the condition of 49 between Texarkana and Shreveport, and we wanted to say we found it good.

We then headed east from Shreveport. The 11 miles of 220 between 49 and 20 East were under construction and pretty rough, and we hit a few rough spots and some construction on 20 East.

Thanks again to those who offered suggestions on the route.

Susan