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I'm a single male currently living in San Diego, CA and was just offered a great new job starting late next month in Orlando, FL. I'm probably going to take it. The company is going to pay to have most of my belongings shipped out, but I still need to get there with my car, so I'll be driving. It'll just be me in my Subaru Outback with a yakima skybox up top, so no towing or anything. This seems to be the recommended route:
Anything I should consider before the drive? Anything worth stopping for an hour, two, or more to check out?
I've never taken the I-10E past Arizona so I appreciate any thoughts or advice.
If I remember correctly, not a lot of gas stations in the desert, make sure you top up when you have a chance. And bring plenty of water, just in case you or your car need it
I-8 goes east from San Diego and joins I-10 in Arizona. The eastern end of I-10 is in Jacksonville, but you want to turn south on I-75 at Lake City FL. Switch over to the Florida Turnpike and it will take you down to Orlando.
San Antonio has some interesting sights to see, the Alamo, the Riverwalk, and a string of old Spanish missions.
A couple of blocks from the Alamo is the Mercado which is a large market. One floor is all neat things from Mexico some of which are cheaper than they are in Mexico.
New Orleans is New Orleans, I-12 bypasses it, or stay on I-10 and it will take you there.
On one trip we stopped in Mobile AL and toured the WW2 battleship Alabama. Interesting, but I was a sailor for a couple of years. I also found the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola interesting.
I think the longest stretches between towns was in west Texas.
One useful tip I think I've shared here in the past: stay on side of the city which is in the direction you're heading. In your case, try to stay on the East side of any town or city. It helps you avoid a lot of morning traffic through larger cities.
Cell service can disappear in some spots. Not a bad idea to bring a portable phone charger just in case something happens with the car and your cell phone also dies.
I also agree with the suggestion above to stop for gas when you can, especially in Texas. Stations can be 100s of miles apart. Even though you see a sign for a gas station 50 miles ahead, it might be closed.
I-10 is one boring drive, especially across TX. But take a side trip to Big Bend National Park and stay overnight. It is beautiful. Late SEP should be great weather.
If time is not of the essence, consider I-40. It is much more scenic. You could start angling back south when you get to Memphis, TN.
Only spots to see that I know are the Alamo in San Antonio (right downtown !) , and the French Quarter in New Orleans.
Very cool website, I'll dig around to look at potential stops/places to stay. Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by StcLurker
If I remember correctly, not a lot of gas stations in the desert, make sure you top up when you have a chance. And bring plenty of water, just in case you or your car need it
For sure. I'll be bringing several cases of water because it's basically all as much as I drink here where it's perpetually 75 and sunny, I can't imagine how thirsty I'll be in AZ and TX.
Quote:
Originally Posted by engineman
I-8 goes east from San Diego and joins I-10 in Arizona. The eastern end of I-10 is in Jacksonville, but you want to turn south on I-75 at Lake City FL. Switch over to the Florida Turnpike and it will take you down to Orlando.
San Antonio has some interesting sights to see, the Alamo, the Riverwalk, and a string of old Spanish missions.
A couple of blocks from the Alamo is the Mercado which is a large market. One floor is all neat things from Mexico some of which are cheaper than they are in Mexico.
New Orleans is New Orleans, I-12 bypasses it, or stay on I-10 and it will take you there.
On one trip we stopped in Mobile AL and toured the WW2 battleship Alabama. Interesting, but I was a sailor for a couple of years. I also found the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola interesting.
I think the longest stretches between towns was in west Texas.
I've been around the Midland/Odessa area and it is bleak. Eastern New Mexico was pretty depressing as well. I'm not looking forward to this stretch of the drive tbh. The Alabama sounds pretty neat though!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SVTLightning
I did the reverse drive many many years ago. Texas had a lot of cops is what I remember from that trip! Good luck!!
Thanks for the heads up. I tend to be vigilant about speed and haven't gotten a ticket in at least a decade (knock on wood) but I'll keep an extra eye on my speed in the Lone Star State.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rrah
One useful tip I think I've shared here in the past: stay on side of the city which is in the direction you're heading. In your case, try to stay on the East side of any town or city. It helps you avoid a lot of morning traffic through larger cities.
Cell service can disappear in some spots. Not a bad idea to bring a portable phone charger just in case something happens with the car and your cell phone also dies.
I also agree with the suggestion above to stop for gas when you can, especially in Texas. Stations can be 100s of miles apart. Even though you see a sign for a gas station 50 miles ahead, it might be closed.
Great suggestions, thank you! I'd never heard that one about staying on the side of the city in the direction of where I'm heading- cool tip, and I can see where it would save time and simplify things.
I-10 is one boring drive, especially across TX. But take a side trip to Big Bend National Park and stay overnight. It is beautiful. Late SEP should be great weather.
If time is not of the essence, consider I-40. It is much more scenic. You could start angling back south when you get to Memphis, TN.
Yeah, I dug up this video of the 1-10 across Texas and it looks pretty dull:
There's a lot of "scenery" between El Paso and San Antonio. The drive becomes much better once you're east of Houston.
Last edited by Creature of the Wheel; 08-28-2019 at 06:13 AM..
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The drive becomes much better once you're east of Houston.
