We are leaving in mid July and headed to Washington D.C. and have no plans for site seeing on the way there. There are two different routes we can take and would like honest feedback from those who have traveled this route before. We are towing a 27' TT with an 07 Dodge 2500 CTD.
Route 1:
I-10 to Slidell, LO (Only concern is crossing Lake Charles, Steep Bridge)
I-59 to Chattanooga, TN
I-75 to Knoxville, TN
I-81/I-66 to Washington D.C.
Route 2:
I-10 to Mobile
I-65 to Atlanta
I-85 to Richmond
I-95 to Washington D.C.
I go pretty much the first way, Atlanta sucks as does I-95 north of richmond.
I go around Lake charles on 210 and have no problems.
IIRC I-59 south of chattanooga was quite bumpy
bumpy
Whenever we come back from the Foretravel factory in Nacogdoches we take (more or less) your 1st route -- we get on 20 to take us to 59. It's a nice, scenic ride up 81 in the Shenandoah Valley. Much prettier than the most boring highway on the east coast: I-95.
I've driven 10 from Jacksonville to Houston...no problems at all on the road.
Be care you don't approach (or leave) DC during rush hours: 6-9 am and 3-6 pm M-F. This is especially true if you come up from the south on 95.
2008 42' Foretravel Nimbus CE
2007 Chevy Tahoe toad
I drive I-10 between Baton Rouge and Texas al he time. The bridge at Lake Charles is not a problem.
Because of the terrible condition and construction on I-10 east of Lake Charles, I now take the 210 loop. Headed east, take the 210 loop to hwy 90, north on hwy 165 to I-10.
Road is rough on I-10 just west of the 210 loop. Pay close attention to the signs on 210 loop to hwy 90. Easy to miss. If you miss it, you end back on I-10 and have to go through construction.
Assuming that you're getting on I-10 somewhere in close proximity to San Antonio, the mileage thru Baton Rouge and I-10 to I-59 and on to Knoxville is about 1555 miles.
Taking I-35 up to Dallas and getting on I-30 to Little Rock then I-40 across to I-81 is almost the same.
For me, Atlanta and I-95 would not be an option. We drove the I-30/I-40/I-81 to the DCA area for over ten years while I was based in the DCA area. We tried about every way possible during those ten years and always reverted back to the I-66/I-81/I-40/I-30 route.
Given the current road conditions on I-35 between SAT and DAL then again for the MEM area, my choice would be I-10/I-59/I-75/I-81/I66.
Only issue at present is the closure of I-40 in the downtown area of Knoxville. But that's no big deal, you can use the bypass on I-640.
'04 F-250 PSD TV
'04 CF28CK Cruiser
Now enjoying mother earth at ground level and one mile per minute.
Living The Dream. At ALL costs avoid Atlanta and Richmond, in fact, avoid ! 95! Do not understand Lake Charles problem, no major grades in Louisiana! I 12 will take you north of Lake Pontchartrain. There will be a detour in Knoxville as malfunction junction, downtown, is closed and I 40 traffic is routed around ! 640, about 3-4 miles further.
Living The Dream Having explored your two choices, how about an alternative? The Natchez Trace is a lovely drive from Natchez MS to Nashville, TN. If you are in a hurry, forget it, if not, it is a well surfaced 2 lane asphalt highway with good shoulders, no trucks, no stop signs, no speed traps, and a 50mph limit (I think). AND a lot of lovely scenery and wildlife. There are lay-bys, campgrounds and historical sights.
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