driving from ohio to texas (Columbus, Dayton: school, to live, move)

[RememberMee]

SE Arkansas is kinda buttugly (especially in summertime when all the heat and humidity kicks in). The only "attraction" is Hope, AR (I-30, exit 30 I believe)- birthplace of Bill Clinton and farm migrant welcome center. If you want maximum "viewing pleasure" I would suggest taking I-71 to Cincinnati, then I-75S to Knoxville, then I-75S to Chattanooga, TN then I-59 to Birmingham, AL then I-59 all way to the intersection with I-12/I-10 in Slidell, Louisiana, then I-12 to Baton Rouge, LA, then I-10W all way to Houston (about 20 miles stretch of I-10 in Louisiana is a bridge over swamp). Total is about 1280 miles, it's just 50 miles longer then shortest interstate route from Columbus to Houston.

[RememberMee]

In you attempt to dodge Oklahoma, visiting Fayetteville, home of the Wal-Mart HQ, might be fun to do, unless your attitude toward the company is the same as mine

Wal-Mart in Bentonville, AR is just another box store you can find elsewhere, nothing different. Actually, in some "upscale" city malls Wal-Mart tries to introduce some kind of McLuxury to its box store architecture. Not so in Bentonville. Of course there is original WM distribution center in Bentonville. Again, it's just another old distribution center. What makes NW Arkansas "special" is its chicken industry. Every chicken meat lover should acquaint himself with arduous path of a McNugget.

[phospho]

Originally Posted by Daytonnatian

Sure. Here's a general route taht may actually be too "boring" for you

First, take 23 down to Portsmouth. Nto terribly exciting, but efficient and easy.

Then, take 52 along the river to Indiana. You may want to cross the river into KY at times, and see the Ripley House, Coney Island, etc. on the Ohio side of the river from the car window. Also, this is probably one of the best and most exciting routes through Cincinnati.

Then, hit I-275, and take I-74 out to Greensburg, not too far off. Hop on 46 and drive to Columbus, Indiana. Hopefully you'll pass through in Daylight hours, because the city's architecture is amazing, and the town itself is beautiful and comsopolitan.

Continuing on 46, you'll drive through Brown County, Indiana's famed land of antiques. Truly a neat and quirky place. After passing through, you'll hit Bloomington, home of Indiana University (which has by far the most beautiful campus in the Big 10, if not the USA. Apologies to OSU ). If you can, grab a bite to eat here at one of the town's many restraunts.

Then, take IN 37 south to Paoli, and go west on US 150 to French Lick. If you like gambling, this is the place to do it: otherwise, take a little while and stroll the grounds and lobby of the beautiful West Baden Springs hotel, and maybe even do tours of the French Lick resort and surrounding town. It's really an interesting place.

After going here, take 150 back on out to Vicennes, and then continue on US 50 straight into St. Louis. Illinois people may want to enlighten you about interesting diversions for this part of the trip.

Obviously, St. Louis has a lot of "diversions", sites to see, and scenery in general. If you like grit, a trip down I-55 to I-57 to Cairo may be worthwile.

If you end up all the way down there, backtracking back to the I-55/57 junction and taking US 60 to Springfield, MO may be scenic and worthwile. Otherwise, taking I-44 out of St. Louis takes you near many interesting diversions, like lots of caves, forests, and small towns. This will also take you straight back to Springfield.

Once you reach Springfield, drive down to Branson, and of course, see a show or two. If you like theme parks, Silver Dollar City is right in town. After that, continue south on US 65 into Arkansas, the land of the Ozarks and Hot Springs.

In you attempt to dodge Oklahoma, visiting Fayetteville, home of the Wal-Mart HQ, might be fun to do, unless your attitude toward the company is the same as mine . If you go here, I-540 and I-40 will take you to Little Rock efficiently instead of driving US 65 all the way down to there.

Anyways, the next stop will be Little Rock, home of Bill Clinton, and other stuff, I'm sure . Continuing southwest on I-30 will put you near Hot Springs, which is probably worth a stop. After that, head on out to Texarkana, and the World's largest collective ego.....

In Texas, US 259 to US 59 is the most efficient way to reach Houston. DFW is nearby if you wish to sightsee or visit, and going there will put you onto the interstate. I kinda doubt Shreveport, LA is too exciting, but may be a worthwile side trip from Texarkana if you wish.



Good Luckk with your trip!!!!!

thank you SO much for your post! I've been mapping it on google.

For the way there, I was planning on going from Columbus to Pensacola, and from there just following 90/82 on the coast until port bolivar, taking the ferry to galveston, and working my way up to houston from there. I feel stupid after reading your post. I love it. I'm probably not going to be able to do everything, but you definitely gave me something to start reading on and looking into.

You know, you have all these "driving directions" websites. They give you options like "avoid highways", "avoid tolls", "shortest distance", etc... not one of them gives you the option to check out scenery on your way. I really appreciate your post! (and no offense taken for that IU remark - as much as I love the buckeyes, this weather is really starting mess with me! though i'm probably going to change my mind in a few weeks when it gets a little warmer).

You seem like you know quite a bit about everything. Did you travel a lot? Or did your job take you all over the place? Will keep you updated with my final itinerary

thanks again!

[phospho]

Originally Posted by RememberMee

SE Arkansas is kinda buttugly (especially in summertime when all the heat and humidity kicks in). The only "attraction" is Hope, AR (I-30, exit 30 I believe)- birthplace of Bill Clinton and farm migrant welcome center. If you want maximum "viewing pleasure" I would suggest taking I-71 to Cincinnati, then I-75S to Knoxville, then I-75S to Chattanooga, TN then I-59 to Birmingham, AL then I-59 all way to the intersection with I-12/I-10 in Slidell, Louisiana, then I-12 to Baton Rouge, LA, then I-10W all way to Houston (about 20 miles stretch of I-10 in Louisiana is a bridge over swamp). Total is about 1280 miles, it's just 50 miles longer then shortest interstate route from Columbus to Houston.

I mapped this one too after I read your post! I think I'm going to use it on the way back! have you ever tried it before? Did you sleep anywhere along the way?

thank you!

[Crew Chief]

For anyone traveling on I-71 & I-65 and going through Louisville, there are three routes:

- The most simple is I-71 South to I-65 South (or I-65 North to I-71 North if you're headed North) in downtown Louisville. This is probably easiest if you don't like merging onto bypasses and want the "easiest to remember" route. It's also the longest, takes you through downtown and I-65 has the infamous "Hospital Curve" which means you MUST slow down. (IMHO, Louisville's skyline is breathtakingly beautiful at night...)

- The first of the two bypasses you come to on I-65 North or I-71 South is the I-265 (Gene Snyder Expressway). (Exit 125A on I-65 North and Exit 9A on I-71 Southbound) On the plus side, speed limit is 65 mph. For me, the minus is that it's only two lanes and merging at the exits is a pain, especially during rush hour. It's 35 miles from I-71 down to I-65 South.

- The second bypass is the I-264, known locally as the Watterson Expressway. Although the speed limit is only 55 mph, I like the idea of having 3 or more lanes in case there's a wreck you have to get by.
-- On Southbound I-71, I-264 is Exit 5. CAUTION: It's a left-hand exit and is a sharp, blind curve; take it slow! You'll find I-65 South down at Exit 12.
-- Northbound on I-65, you'll find the I-264 at Exit 131A. Watch merging traffic from the right as you move over to the right lane to get on I-264 East.

[Daytonnatian]

Originally Posted by phospho

thank you SO much for your post! I've been mapping it on google.

For the way there, I was planning on going from Columbus to Pensacola, and from there just following 90/82 on the coast until port bolivar, taking the ferry to galveston, and working my way up to houston from there. I feel stupid after reading your post. I love it. I'm probably not going to be able to do everything, but you definitely gave me something to start reading on and looking into.

You know, you have all these "driving directions" websites. They give you options like "avoid highways", "avoid tolls", "shortest distance", etc... not one of them gives you the option to check out scenery on your way. I really appreciate your post! (and no offense taken for that IU remark - as much as I love the buckeyes, this weather is really starting mess with me! though i'm probably going to change my mind in a few weeks when it gets a little warmer).

You seem like you know quite a bit about everything. Did you travel a lot? Or did your job take you all over the place? Will keep you updated with my final itinerary

thanks again!

Actually, I'm just a stupid High Schooler...

Anyways, I'm also a geography freak. I've spent many of my best times reading maps and understanding how the world works and fits together .

I do have personal experience with the locations in Indiana and Ohio I listed, but not so much with IL/MO/AK/TX. The only basis for that info came from travel books, brochures, AAA, etc. I missed the part where you mentioned that you wanted to stay close the the ocean, so really my route is not that great considering that desire. In that case, I would suggest taking 65 down, see Nashville/Birmingham/Mobile, etc. Still, Bloominton and French Lick are worthwile diversions if you have the time

[RememberMee]

Originally Posted by phospho

I mapped this one too after I read your post! I think I'm going to use it on the way back! have you ever tried it before? Did you sleep anywhere along the way?

thank you!

I drive a truck for more than I should. I've driven that route many times. It offers good balance of speed and landscape beauty. It would look much prettier in 2-4 weeks when dogwood and some other wood (I don't know the name) starts blooming in TN and AL. Corporate hospitality and food industry pretty much took over entire USA (especially along interstates), what you see in Columbus is what you get in KY, TN, AL, MS, LA and TX. Some areas are less developed than others in the sense of lesser number of exits with generic offering of staple food and shelter joints, but there is plenty of motels&inns along the route. I-59 in N. AL and MS is little bit less served than your average interstate other than that every 10-30 miles there is an exit with some kind of a national chain inn/motel.

[MissingIndiana]

Originally Posted by phospho

Hi, I posted this in the Texas forums, but got no responses at all in the last two days. I'm beginning to think that I might have had to post it here for some comments...


I just registered, and I'm hoping someone here might have done this drive before. I have searched so much on these forums for people's experiences, and either there's nothing out there, or I'm doing something wrong

I've made the drive from Columbus to Houston before. I went there doing OH-KY-TN-AR-TX (entering through Texarkana)and on the way back doing TX-OK-MO-IL-IN-OH. I was wondering if someone had any other suggestions. I love driving, and wouldn't mind doing another route with better scenery, or simply to go through different/more states, even if it means an extra couple hundred miles (not more than a couple though!). I know it might be a stupid question, but I'm a third year medical student at OSU, and my life revolves around studying - I really need this trip - however, I do have to do it in one stretch like last time, i.e. just bathroom breaks. There's a wedding on Sunday afternoon, and I can't leave OH before Saturday morning, and I have to be back in OH for my Tuesday morning classes. My last drive was also in one stretch - so I've definitely done the 25 hour drive in one day (one long day). I've been doing clinicals these days at school, so I am used to staying up for 2 days (or 3 if need be).

Again, I would appreciate any feedback (or even advice on road conditions).

Many thanks in advance

I'm from southern Indiana (Paoli area) and actually have lived in Columbus, OH for the past 5 years so I thought I might be able to help you out a little bit with the first leg of your trip. Driving I-71 to Louisville and then up US150 to Paoli would take 4 hours and 15 minutes average and then it's 12 miles on to French Lick. The long drive to Houston may not give you many chances to really stop and look around at a lot of places, but if you do stop somewhere I would highly recommend getting out and seeing the hotels. Here is the website where you can see at least a couple photos: Premier Indiana Resort, Spa, Casino, Golf, Fine Dining & More | French Lick & West Baden Resorts

If you want to take the scenic route through Nashville, IN and then through Bloomington and Paoli/French Lick, it's beautiful but it's going to be mostly non interstate. I would stay on I-71 all the way to Cincy and then head west around the north side and take I-74 into Indiana. Follow that up to Greensburg and then cut off onto state hwy 46 west. This will take you through Columbus, IN and then on to Nashville and Bloomington. It will take you about 1 hour to drive the 35 miles from Columbus to Bloomington if you don't stop at all. It's a one lane road and curvy. Columbus, IN has some interesting architecture if you're into that. Nashville is like a much smaller version of Gatlinburg/Smokey Mountains. Bloomington is pretty cool and has a lot of unique places to eat, and IU is pretty but I wouldn't bother roaming campus on a trip like this. From Bloomington you would head south on state hwy 37 to Paoli and then when you go around the town square take the first road on the right to head down to French Lick/West Baden. When you finish up there, I would recommend backtracking the 12 miles to Paoli and then heading south on state hwy 37 to get to I-64. It's very rural and scenic.

I-64 west would take you to I-55 south which you could follow along the Mississippi River through Memphis and then all the way down to where it hits I-12 on the NW side of Lake Pontchartrain. If you really wanted to, you could continue south and make a counterclockwise loop through New Orleans and around the Lake. I know there is a fairly long bridge that connects from the New Orleans area over the lake to Slidell. This would put you back at I-12 which turns into I-10 when you head west and takes you on to Houston.

Really, there are so many things between Columbus and Houston that you couldn't see 1% of them even if you had 2-3 weeks and didn't sleep the whole time. Without exageration though, the hotels in French Lick will be two of the nicest places you could hope to see over the entire trip. If you have any other questions about the southern Indiana portion of the drive or anything at all really, feel free to send me a PM. And be safe driving. Don't fall asleep at the wheel!

[MissingIndiana]

I mapped it out and will try to post the link here, although I don't know if it will work. This is it, minus the side trip from Paoli to French Lick and the Loop around New Orleans:

Your web browser and the Maps site are incompatible==

Here is the route heading down to Pensacola, FL instead of through Memphis. This would take you back through Louisville which I also think has a very lovely skyline as seen from the Indiana side. They also have a nice park right on the riverfront downtown and some larger bridges crossing the Ohio River:

Your web browser and the Maps site are incompatible==

[MissingIndiana]

Okay, the link says it's incompatible, but it takes me back to the maps with the routes when I click them. Sorry for being so long winded. Good luck.