Getting to Grayton from Dallas

**OSR** · 08-25-2006, 01:47 PM

My family and I are heading down to Grayton in October, yeah! However, we have not made the drive since Katrina and Rita. Any advice on how the back roads are doing? Stick to the interstates? Any shortcuts, good stops for toddlers or overall advice would be greatly appreciated.

TIA, OSR

**cpete** · 08-25-2006, 01:53 PM

Doing the Drive in one day or splittting it up?

**OSR** · 08-25-2006, 02:14 PM

One day. Not worth the hassle of dragging 2 little ones into a hotel. They don't sleep anyway.

**Beach Runner** · 08-25-2006, 02:23 PM

I'll ask my sister. Normally she drives by herself with the dogs, and her husband and the kids fly to/from Ft. Walton. The kids are just too impatient for such a long drive. She says it's easier to drive by herself than have them in the car for hours and hours. There's only so many DVD's they can watch before they get bored with that.

**Rita** · 08-25-2006, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by OSR

My family and I are heading down to Grayton in October, yeah! However, we have not made the drive since Katrina and Rita. Any advice on how the back roads are doing? Stick to the interstates? Any shortcuts, good stops for toddlers or overall advice would be greatly appreciated.

TIA, OSR

OSR

Glad you asked this as I had also been wondering how traffic congestion was in Baton Rouge... After Katrina the population exploded there and as I was reading, their infrastructure was having trouble handling it.... sooo, since then we've been going I20 through Vicksburg (about 5.5 hrs from Dallas) to Jackson, MS then down through Mobile. I think the "southern" route through Lafayette and Baton Rouge may be shorter. Would like to hear from someone on traffic situation going through Baton Rouge.

.

**30A Skunkape** · 08-25-2006, 06:39 PM

Here is the official fastest route. I-20 to Shreveport. I-49 from Shreveport to Opelousas. Take Hwy 190 from Opelousas to Port Allen, Louisiana and catch I-10 in Port Allen(taking Hwy 190 instead of going all the way to Lafayette to catch I-10 saves you about 30 minutes, but do NOT speed on 190 through the little towns, especially Krotz Springs). Once you get to Baton Rouge on I-10, take the I-12 east and bypass New Orleans. You will meet up with I-10 again in Slidell. Take I-10 to the Defuniak Springs exit, Hwy 331 in Walton County and head south. You will be in SOWAL! However, some folks are saying there is roadwork on 331 south;you can exit I-10 at Niceville (Exit 86 I think) and take the Mid Bay bridge to Destin and then go east to SOWAL. I used to live in Shreveport, so I promise you this is quicker than the Jackson, Miss. route (I have tried them both). Depending on where in the Metroplex you are coming from, get ready for a solid 9.5 to 10 hours in the car.

**Miss Kitty** · 08-25-2006, 06:50 PM

Well thanks skunkape! We have never taken that route before...even after driving down since 1986!!! We had decided we liked the Jackson to Mobile route better than going down through LA. It takes us a good 12 hours. I would be in heaven if this route was only 10!

**30A Skunkape** · 08-25-2006, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by Sueshore

Well thanks skunkape! We have never taken that route before...even after driving down since 1986!!! We had decided we liked the Jackson to Mobile route better than going down through LA. It takes us a good 12 hours. I would be in heaven if this route was only 10!

I am assuming you won't linger at one of those video poker casinos in Cajun Country where they bring you boudin and beer Miss Kitty

**Miss Kitty** · 08-26-2006, 06:09 AM

Originally Posted by 30A Skunkape

I am assuming you won't linger at one of those video poker casinos in Cajun Country where they bring you boudin and beer Miss Kitty

Only if they have that Le Tumbler coin game. We could be very late to SoWal.

Can you really make it to SoWal in 10 hours this way? Why are you saving time on back roads?

**30A Skunkape** · 08-26-2006, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by Sueshore

Only if they have that Le Tumbler coin game. We could be very late to SoWal.

Can you really make it to SoWal in 10 hours this way? Why are you saving time on back roads?

Here is the math, and please note that when I drive I don't stop much. Dallas to Shreveport 3 hours (obviously longer from the western side of town) Shreveport to Covington, La 5 hours. Covington to SOWAL 4 to 4.5 hours. Oops, did I say 10 hours?

OK, I drive a little faster, these are average times. I still think the coastal route is quicker than the Jackson way. Done both. OK, serious caveat-if you hit Baton Rouge anywhere between 4-6 PM, you tack an extra 45 minutes to the trip due to the traffic (on a weekday). You could always fly Miss Kitty!

**Miss Kitty** · 08-26-2006, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by 30A Skunkape

Here is the math, and please note that when I drive I don't stop much. Dallas to Shreveport 3 hours (obviously longer from the western side of town) Shreveport to Covington, La 5 hours. Covington to SOWAL 4 to 4.5 hours. Oops, did I say 10 hours?

OK, I drive a little faster, these are average times. I still think the coastal route is quicker than the Jackson way. Done both. OK, serious caveat-if you hit Baton Rouge anywhere between 4-6 PM, you tack an extra 45 minutes to the trip due to the traffic (on a weekday). You could always fly Miss Kitty!

...I thought you were PUIing that 9.5 to 10 hours!!!

**OSR** · 08-26-2006, 10:17 AM

Thanks to all! We are coming from the Flower Mound area, so 10 hours is out of the question. How I wish! We can make it 12 hours door to door with minimal stops. This time we have a 5-month-old in tow though, so it will be longer with the every-three-hour feeding schedule. And also makes casino stops out of the question

. Oh well, I would drive 24 hours straight to be able to stick my feet in that white sand.

35 days and counting!

OSR

DD · 08-26-2006, 10:23 AM

OSR: Just did the drive last Sat and doing it in reverse tomorrow. Skunkape is right. We encountered no real traffic at all. Took a little detour on the way down through NOLA and Miss, but on the way home, it will be few stops and flying when we can!

**30A Skunkape** · 08-26-2006, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by destindreamin

OSR: Just did the drive last Sat and doing it in reverse tomorrow. Skunkape is right. We encountered no real traffic at all. Took a little detour on the way down through NOLA and Miss, but on the way home, it will be few stops and flying when we can!

OK, if you want to drive a little quicker than is posted, here are the speed traps between Shreveport and SOWAL on my route. Just south of Shreveport on I-49. Just North of the Natchitoches exit on I-49 (they sit in the woods in the neutral ground). Anywhere in St Landry Parish...the Parish sheriff nails people all day and night here. Once you are on Hwy 190 you should really watch your speed. Again, if you speed through Krotz Springs (it goes from 65 to 45 abruptly) you will get nailed! By the way, there is a gas station called Billy's there that has good Boudin and cracklins. Between Baton Rouge and Florida there are not any real speed traps I am familiar with. Drive safely;I am not encouraging you to speed, just letting you know that if you don't use cruise control you need to be alert.

**Rita** · 08-26-2006, 09:44 PM

We've done SoWal to Arlington in 12.5 hrs (that would be 12 hrs to Dallas) once with minimal stopping. This was taking what we call the south route - 49 south out of Shreveport - Lafayette - Baton Rouge - Mobile - SoWal. Skunkape is so right about Baton Rouge. Certain times of day add time there.

Let us know how you come out. We always like to knock off half an hour or so when we can.

**drsvelte** · 08-27-2006, 03:44 PM

You need to consider your timing thru Baton Rouge. Eastbound on I-12 between 3:00-6:00pm can be a nightmare. There is a 3into2 lanes convergence on the eastern edge of the city that creates miles long jams during the workweek. If you pass thru the city before 3:00pm, you should be OK. Also, I have found that exiting I-10 at I-110 in Pensacola and then taking 98 thru Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Ft. Walton, and Destin is actually quicker time-wise than taking the Mid-Bay Bridge.

DD · 08-27-2006, 06:32 PM

Made it in 12 hours 3 min. Stopped only for gas, and drive through food

. No tickets. No traffic lots of rain on 49. Same place it ALWAYS rains on 49. Didn't see too many of Louisiana's finest. Did see one getting loaded on a tow truck.

**30A Skunkape** · 08-28-2006, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by drsvelte

You need to consider your timing thru Baton Rouge. Eastbound on I-12 between 3:00-6:00pm can be a nightmare. There is a 3into2 lanes convergence on the eastern edge of the city that creates miles long jams during the workweek. If you pass thru the city before 3:00pm, you should be OK. Also, I have found that exiting I-10 at I-110 in Pensacola and then taking 98 thru Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Ft. Walton, and Destin is actually quicker time-wise than taking the Mid-Bay Bridge.

Taking HWY 98 off of I-110 in Pensacola is certainly quicker if it is late in the afternoon...the I-10 bridge over Pensacola Bay is a nightmare between maybe 3-4 PM until 7PM on the weekdays.

**inside635** · 06-09-2009, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by 30A Skunkape

Here is the official fastest route. I-20 to Shreveport. I-49 from Shreveport to Opelousas. Take Hwy 190 from Opelousas to Port Allen, Louisiana and catch I-10 in Port Allen(taking Hwy 190 instead of going all the way to Lafayette to catch I-10 saves you about 30 minutes, but do NOT speed on 190 through the little towns, especially Krotz Springs). Once you get to Baton Rouge on I-10, take the I-12 east and bypass New Orleans. You will meet up with I-10 again in Slidell. Take I-10 to the Defuniak Springs exit, Hwy 331 in Walton County and head south. You will be in SOWAL! However, some folks are saying there is roadwork on 331 south;you can exit I-10 at Niceville (Exit 86 I think) and take the Mid Bay bridge to Destin and then go east to SOWAL. I used to live in Shreveport, so I promise you this is quicker than the Jackson, Miss. route (I have tried them both). Depending on where in the Metroplex you are coming from, get ready for a solid 9.5 to 10 hours in the car.

Good morning, Skunkape. Decided to search the forum on traveling to Sowal from Big D and found this from about 3 years ago. Do you still agree with your route? How about going on Hwy. 190 instead of staying on I49? Not sure I could stand to go 55 mph when I could stay on interstate and go 70ish.