Dallas to Destin

[eggroll]

My kid has a freaking tournament that is hijacking some of our spring break. We have to go to Dallas and afterwards are catching up with the rest fo the family in Destin.

Anyone make that drive? I'm wondering if I should take the highway down to Lafayette from 20 or take 20 farther and cut down through Hattiesburg? Can't tell much about the roads on a map or mapquest.

Any advice would be appreciated - I know nothing about those roads.

 

[UnBiased Horn]

My wife is from Ft Walton Beach which is right next door to Destin. I am not positive on how she gets there and I have always flown with her but I do know she gets to I-10 somewhere in Louisiana. I think she gets to I-10 asap.

 

[po elvis]

i did the dallas to destin drive 11 years ago. we took 20 and went thru hattiesburg. but this was before 49 was open south out of shreveport, so not sure if that is the better way to go now.

in other words, i really can't help you.

 

[TheYoungHorn]

We always take 49 when going to Florida. Do it.

Then when you get to Florida wait as long as you can before getting on a beach side highway.

 

[aintez]

we went last year for Memorial weekend to Destin and took 20 to Shreve then went south and took 10 it took us 13.5 hours with three kids one of which was a one and half yeare old

 

[MrPhlegm]

I've done Orlando to Dallas and back several times and the problem with going through Hattiesburg and/or Jackson is that you have to get off of the interstate. I-20 to I-49 to Ii-10 keeps you on the interstate the whole way until you get to the turnoff to Destin.

I wonder if the I-10 bridge over the bay outside of Mobile/Pensacola is fixed yet.

 

[Baboso]

The I-10 bridge over Pensacola Bay is 1 lane going one way (eastbound, I think) and 2 lanes the other way now.

Best bet getting off of I-10 to Destin is probably taking 85 and then taking the Mid-Bay Bridge (toll bridge). You can take 87 to Navarre and pick up 98 there, but you have to time it right. If you get caught on 98 around Eglin AF base around quitting time, you're screwed.

 

[HornHuskerDad]

I have driven this many times going to Panama City. Far and away the easiest route - I-20 East to Jackson, US 49 to Hattiesburg, US 98 to Mobile, I-65 to I-10, I-10 east into Florida. US 98 in Mississippi used to be a logging road; now it's a nice four-lane divided road that bypasses the small towns.
Check with the Hospitality station at the border to get the current road status in NW Florida. The hurricane took a big bite out of I-10 over Escambia Bay, and I don't know the current status.
Don't even THINK about taking I-49 from Shreveport to I-10. That will take you thorugh Baton Rouge, where everyone in town got his license from a box of Rice Krispies. It's the freeway version of Demolition Derby.
Hope this helps!