I have a Florida trip coming up- rather than running I-10 from the TX/ LA line to Florida panhandle, can anyone suggest "local" routes which will allow reasonable time , and some mental stimulation that I-10 can't offer?

I really like interstates when I got somewhere that i gotta be, but I'd like some local flavor in my day.


Thanks, Mike

 

where are you coming from in texas?

 

US 90 through La. Runs parallel with I10 but probably a lot better scenery. Small towns and such. You can pick it up only a few miles into La off of I10. It runs all the way through to Florida. Once you get into Ms, you can stay on 90 or drop down onto 98 and that will run you along the Gulf Coast into Florida.

Hwy 90 doesn't run along the coast in but you can catch Tx 73 from I10 around Winnie, Tx and run that to Tx 82. That will go into La along the coast La 82 a good ways til it runs into Hwy 14 which will run into US 90 a little south of Lafayette at the town of New Iberia.

You can get La 14 at Lake Charles and take it to US 90.

I can't say much about La 82 road conditions. US90 and La 14 I've ridden, but not very far to the west. US90 from Lafayette all the way into Florida is good road. Lots of small towns, though.

 

Thanks, that's JUST what i was looking for---I'll get out the paper maps and do some scheming.

I try to budget time so that if all is good I can bide my time and see stuff. and if I loose a day due to weather or break down I can make up on the interstate.

thanks, Mike

 

Definitely ride 98 when you get into Florida. Nice ride along the beach in some places, traffic not too bad except in beach towns like Panama City.

In Louisiana, I've ridden LA 18 along the Mississippi River, and that's kind of nice. Cross the river around Donaldsonville, maybe, and ride 18 until you need to get on 90 to cross the river again and get back to I-10. That will take you through just enough of New Orleans to feel like you saw the city. Past the Superdome, and past some of the areas not cleaned up after Katrina. Of course, I would recommend jumping off for some beignets at Cafe DuMonde in the French Quarter, and maybe a poboy at Cafe Madpero - but that's just me. Have fun.

 

You can also look at Hwy 190, nice ride through old small country towns. You can take 190 through La. or just before Baton Rouge take Hwy.1 south through Donaldsonville and catch 90 there. Agree, ride along the coast when you get into Mississippi (Gulfport, etc.).

 

Second the Cafe DuMond suggestion in Nawleans. From there US-90 to just east of Biloxi (try not to loose too much at the casinos). From there to Mobile either US-90, or I-10 depending on how fast you want to travel. There's not anything great in that area. At Mobile pickup US-90 (Battleship Pkwy) again & cross the bay on that instead of I-10. Then it's US-98 all the way to Apalachee Bay in Florida unless you have time to drop down near Orange Beach in Alabama. Nice touristy ride from Orange Beach to Pensacola.

Try to catch the sculptures made from hurricane killed trees in the middle of US-90 in Biloxi. The whole route is never much more than an hours ride from I-10 if you need speed, but it's a much better ride.

 

I've driven I 10 lots of times the last few years from Jacksonville to California. It's actually pretty smooth (recently repaved in La.) and fast once you get west of San Antonio. What I like are the 80mph speed limits in west Tx.

 

I don't know how far you're planning on going, but when you get to Pensacola, catch 98 and go out to santa rosa island. i think the toll bridge is opened back up, that'll take you east and back to 98 thru fort walton and pc beach. there is some great riding with the gulf 20 feet from the road once you pass pc and get to mexico beach and carabelle beach. some very nice little towns, minimal traffic and great places to eat.. "killer seafood" restuarant to mexico beach is great.

 

I agree with US 98 instead of I-10. There are some beautiful white sand beaches from Pensacola, through Navarre, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and on to Panama City.