Places to see - Driving from Houston to Minneapolis (Dallas: college, casinos) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

nalayak · 02-17-2009, 09:55 AM

I will be driving from Houston to Minneapolis in the forthcoming weekend. I am planning to make it a 4 day trip, stopping at places in between and indulging in some sightseeing. I will be taking I-45 from Houston to Dallas and 1-35 from Dallas to Minneapolis.

What are some of the nice places to see/visit on this route? Appreciate any suggestions.

crbcrbrgv · 02-17-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nalayak

I will be driving from Houston to Minneapolis in the forthcoming weekend. I am planning to make it a 4 day trip, stopping at places in between and indulging in some sightseeing. I will be taking I-45 from Houston to Dallas and 1-35 from Dallas to Minneapolis.

What are some of the nice places to see/visit on this route? Appreciate any suggestions.

I've done the McAllen, TX to St. Paul drive before, which is essentially the same thing add a few miles. First off, my wife and I got pulled over maybe 40 miles west of Witchita. I'm white, she's Mexican and her Aunt is Mexican also. It was a clear case of racial profiling. I refused to stop anywhere in Kansas after that.
A four day trip is probably pretty long. There is not really much to see in between Minneapolis and Dallas, and that includes Oklahoma City. Oklahoma is one of the ugliest, most barren states in the country. My suggestion is spend most of your days in Dallas. There is plenty to and see in the Dallas mteroplex.

tstone · 02-17-2009, 11:58 AM

You can slightly out of the way up 59 through East TX, and then up north through the Ouachita Mountains.

buffy888 · 02-17-2009, 09:25 PM

4 days to make the drive from Houston to MSP or 4 days round trip?

I've made a somewhat similar trip a plethora of times, but that's from San Antonio (or Galveston) to Omaha, so we're on 35 for the Texas/OK part but then split from that in Kansas. (Have also done the drive from Omaha to Minneapolis quite a few times, but that's been a while.)

Umm... You will be going by/through Kansas City, which can be a nice place to stop for a bit. Some people love the barbecue there and some hate it, but if you are a barbecue fan, then you should probably stop to get some on your way through. (Is there a KC forum? I'm sure there is. You could post there to ask for recommendations - I'm sure you'll get many, including some conflicting ones. My husband LOVES Arthur Bryant's and it is often featured on shows about barbecue - I think it's good, but not wonderful - some people think it's the end all, be all of BBQ.)

You will drive through the Arbuckle Mountain area in Oklahoma. We always drive by signs for the Arbuckle Wilderness, which I believe is a drive-through animal safari or something like that - have never stopped there, but have always been curious if it's any good or not. I think there's a waterfall in that area as well. (Sorry I can't be more specific - Oklahoma is usually a blur as it seems we get through it pretty quickly - I tend to do most of the driving, so don't look around as much as I would like sometimes.) Oklahoma City does have the Oklahoma City National Memorial - again, something I have not visited but have been curious about. You will also pass some casinos in Oklahoma if that interests you at all.

Also, you can take 35E or 35W in the Dallas area (just as 35 splits in the MSP area). Depending on when you will be driving through, 35W (Fort Worth side) might be a better idea traffic-wise. It seems like it's taking you far out of the way, but can end up saving time if you happen to hit there around rush hour or busy times.

There is a Crate & Barrel outlet in Dallas. Not something to go out of the way for, but if you like Crate & Barrel and don't have an outlet near you, it might be good for a quick stop. (It's on 35E - Inwood exit, I think - closes early, like around 5 PM each day.)

All I can think of right now. Enjoy the drive. I love road trips!

bfizzy · 02-18-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

I've done the McAllen, TX to St. Paul drive before, which is essentially the same thing add a few miles. First off, my wife and I got pulled over maybe 40 miles west of Witchita. I'm white, she's Mexican and her Aunt is Mexican also. It was a clear case of racial profiling. I refused to stop anywhere in Kansas after that.
A four day trip is probably pretty long. There is not really much to see in between Minneapolis and Dallas, and that includes Oklahoma City. Oklahoma is one of the ugliest, most barren states in the country. My suggestion is spend most of your days in Dallas. There is plenty to and see in the Dallas mteroplex.

Please explain how the topography and landscapes along I-45 or I-35 in TX are any different than I-35 in OK. Oklahoma has 4 mountain ranges, 11 different ecosystems, and more shorline than the east and west coasts combined (http://www.okcommerce.gov/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=331&Itemid=4 12 (broken link)).

I'm willing to bet you didn't venture off the highway.

bfizzy · 02-18-2009, 09:17 AM

You should definitely check out Turner Falls, OU's campus/Campus Corner in Norman, The OKC Memorial, and Bricktown. Unfortunately, the topography along I-35 is similar to that of I-35 in TX. You have to go to the corners of the state to see more dramatic beauty.

Oildog · 02-19-2009, 01:06 PM

I have made that drive a number of times and I'm usually in a hurry. Unfortunately there is not much scenery along the interstate and you are driving through the heart of the plains.

Along the way in OK the Arbuckle Mts may be worth a stop or Bricktown in OKC. Stillwater is a nice college town about 8 hours into the drive. Outside of Wichita there isnt much along the KS turnpike until KC. There are any number of things to do there. Arthur Bryants BBQ is quite good but there are others as well. Missouri and Iowa are mind numbing, maybe check out ISU in Ames. Trip should take about 19 hours driving time.