best driving route from ohio to texas (Houston, Dallas: spring break, rent)

[phospho]

Hello, 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

[UNT_Eagle]

hello,

Just wanted to suggest to you a third route that you might want to look into.
Have you considered flying? You can get to Houston in about 2 1/2 hours if you flew out of CMH. However, try looking into I-65 through Nashville, Tn to Birmingham, AL and onto Mobile, then hitting I-10 West to Houston. It will take you longer obviously but you would see beaches and drive through New Orleans if you wanted to.
Good luck

[doss1]

You say you want to drive....and it looks like you ended up in Houston and came into Texas from the North East, correct? If so, that area is OK, but the real beauty of Texas is in the centeral/south central region. See if you can go in through Dallas and head down to San Antonio and then make the turn to Houston. This will set you back a couple of hours, but if you want a scenic drive then that's the way to go.

[Watchful]

This won't work for you because of the time parameters....but someone with a little more time would enjoy traveling from Nashville TN to Natchez MS via the Natchez Trace Parkway. Speed limit is 50 mph but it is wonderfully pleasant travel with no big rigs. Lots of historical stuff along the way.

If you do it, try to get the audio cassettes or CD's that give commentary!

[DFWMike]

Originally Posted by UNT_Eagle

hello,

Just wanted to suggest to you a third route that you might want to look into.
Have you considered flying? You can get to Houston in about 2 1/2 hours if you flew out of CMH. However, try looking into I-65 through Nashville, Tn to Birmingham, AL and onto Mobile, then hitting I-10 West to Houston. It will take you longer obviously but you would see beaches and drive through New Orleans if you wanted to.
Good luck

Ditto in my opinion. This is really the only alternative route remaining for you imho. Is there a reason you're choosing Texas though, just curious, lots of more interesting drives through the Carolinas or New England that you could do in the same period of time. Just a thought, sounds fun, wish I was in line to do something like that, have gotten far to reliant on plane travel the last few years, would love to do a good road trip.

Taking this route would send you through about 70 miles of South Louisana swamps, cajun country and some beautiful Mississippi country.

[jfre81]

The Gulf Coast drive along I-10 is gorgeous. It'll be fun.
If anyone around Beaumont/Port Arthur could tell us if they're done with all that construction along I-10 just inside the Texas border with Louisiana (Sabine River). I got stuck there for awhile coming in from NC in January.

[Mally66]

Hey there,

I'll be doing a very similar trip - Akron to Dallas - in a few weeks. We're also planning on doing OH-KY-TN-AR-TX (entering through Texarkana)and on the way back doing TX-OK-MO-IL-IN-OH. (or vice versa)

Any suggestions on which route is better to take on the way down vs. the return?

Also, we will be making an overnight stop, preferrably about 2/3 of the way on both legs of the trip. Suggestions for good overnight places to stop and sites to see are appreciated as well.

We want to drive pretty much straight through, but don't mind making a few worthwhile stops for must-see things - like the St. Louis arch, scenic overlooks, & great places to eat.

Also traveling with children, so suggestions on child-friendly sites are appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[phospho]

making the same drive in spring break (3/18)!

Columbus to Houston.

Taking a plane is out of the question of course (even if it means saving a lot of money).

If anyone has any ideas for scenic routes, crazy routes, middle of nowhere routes, I'm all ears, and would love to hear your thoughts.

Up until now, I haven't been through Florida when I go to Texas, so I'm hoping I can go south until I hit Florida (I guess somewhere around Pensacola, FL)and then take 10 all the way, trying to stay as close to the coast as I can. Still trying to figure out the details though.

Random notes:

- Will have about 40 hours for this trip. Won't have to sleep if I don't need to.

- Will not be using the same route back (because let's face it, that would be too boring)

- Oklahoma is out of the question. Way too boring. Unless I can find something really cool along the way to make up for it. Also, it seems that they don't believe in bathrooms.

- There seems to be this awesome road that travels above Lake Pontchartrain in LA that I would like to (somehow) incorporate in this trip (it connects highways 12 and 10)

- I'd like to get as close to the water as I can for as much part of the drive as I can, even if it means I have to stray off the highway for a bit

- I love long bridges, so I've been trying to find as many in my way as possible. All the ones I can find that will be on my way though are in Louisiana

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by phospho

making the same drive in spring break (3/18)!

Columbus to Houston.

Taking a plane is out of the question of course (even if it means saving a lot of money).

If anyone has any ideas for scenic routes, crazy routes, middle of nowhere routes, I'm all ears, and would love to hear your thoughts.

Up until now, I haven't been through Florida when I go to Texas, so I'm hoping I can go south until I hit Florida (I guess somewhere around Pensacola, FL)and then take 10 all the way, trying to stay as close to the coast as I can. Still trying to figure out the details though.

Random notes:

- Will have about 40 hours for this trip. Won't have to sleep if I don't need to.

- Will not be using the same route back (because let's face it, that would be too boring)

- Oklahoma is out of the question. Way too boring. Unless I can find something really cool along the way to make up for it. Also, it seems that they don't believe in bathrooms.

- There seems to be this awesome road that travels above Lake Pontchartrain in LA that I would like to (somehow) incorporate in this trip (it connects highways 12 and 10)

- I'd like to get as close to the water as I can for as much part of the drive as I can, even if it means I have to stray off the highway for a bit

- I love long bridges, so I've been trying to find as many in my way as possible. All the ones I can find that will be on my way though are in Louisiana

American airlines has tickets for $209 (taxes included) from columbus to IAH on 3/18 returning 3/22. Why is flying out of the question?

$/gallon 2.5
total miles 1221
round trip miles 2442
miles/gallon 25
round trip cost 244.2

If you drive it yourself, the gas alone will cost around $250, not to mention wear and tear on your car which can be estimated at around 15 cents/mile or around $366.

The cost + time saved to fly and rent a car is worth it if there is just one person.

[phospho]

Originally Posted by Austin97

American airlines has tickets for $209 (taxes included) from columbus to IAH on 3/18 returning 3/22. Why is flying out of the question?

$/gallon2.5
total miles1221
round trip miles2442
miles/gallon25
round trip cost244.2

If you drive it yourself, the gas alone will cost around $250, not to mention wear and tear on your car which can be estimated at around 15 cents/mile or around $366.

The cost + time saved to fly and rent a car is worth it if there is just one person.

thanks for your thoughts! I appreciate the calculations. I was always curious about the wear and tear factor.

The thing though is that I have a toyota yaris (awesome mileage), and there's 3 of us. I went to Trip Gas Price and it seems that it will cost about $200 in gas. I'm thinking it's still worth it, but I admit I never thought about the wear and tear on the car. I have a 10 year warranty though, does that matter you think?

again, thanks for your help!