We go the way PuraVidaSurf goes but we do not go exit 84, we go to the Georgiana exit, which I think is exit 113 or 114 I believe Hwy 55, then to 331. You do get slowed down in Freeport, that is for sure. But still our trip was cut short an hour going 78 to Birmingham down through Montgomery then on to Hwy 55. Going the mid bay bridge around Mobile would put us way farther west than we need to be. Coming out on 331 puts us about 30 minutes west of where we are staying. Minnie, how many hours does it take you to get there, it takes us around 8 1/2 hours to 9 hours going the route we go. As for going through Birmingham, if you hit it right, the traffic is not bad. We did go the route you go two years back when we spent the night in Mobile that Friday night before going on to the beach Saturday.