DJPoLo Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 I did a search of the forums and didn't come up with anything so here goes: What's the best (fastest) route to the Nationals from Central Texas (Austin)? Mapquest has me taking this route for a total of 957 miles to our hotel in Hannibal. Yahoo suggests this route at 916 miles. Also, what about the projected times? Both web sites travel times suggests a 65mph average speed. Is this realistic? Thanks in advance, -Chet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDave Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 The key to driving long distances and maintaining a high avg speed is limiting your stops. Pack a cooler with drinks and snacks that is within reach. Also, avoid big cities at rush hour times and if you can't do that, plan a route around it. When I drove from Ft. Myers (FL) to Indy in one day it was 1163 miles in 17 hours = 68.4 mph and that included going through Tampa/St. Pete and Atlanta, around Nashville (b/c I hit it at rush hour) and through Louisville. It can be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reneet Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 I can tell you that from Shreveport, the best way is I-30 to Little Rock, I-40 to Memphis, I-55 to St Louis. ALL INTERSTATE! The only traffic to avoid is rush hour in ST Louis. One year, Kay, Jerry and I dropped off her kids with their father in Soper, OK. The drive from there was tedious, toll roads, speed zones through small towns, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Habicht Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Chet, IMHO --- and it's based on East Coast congestion --- Interstates are the way to go. Try to plan your trip so you can avoid cities at rush hour. If this is unavoidable, plan to stop for a leisurly dinner at a decent place to eat. In some ways it'll come down to your temperament too ---- while I can drive like a madman without stopping, that's usually limited to about 4 hours or 250 miles. On longer drives, I'll stop when I feel I need to, for as long as I need to. Sometimes, it's just a trip to the head and a coffee refill, other times it's doing that and reading a book for twenty minutes or playing some video games, still others it's a dinner stop. Since Carol's going to vacation in the Holiday Inn in Quincy, we'll split the driving into two 500 mile days ---- she's not happy about more than 8 hours in a car...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Habicht Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 I forgot to add: I usually drive at 80-85 in a 65 mph zone on long trips, as long as traffic allows that safely. That usually has me averaging 70mph at the end of the driving...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRe Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 I can tell you that from Shreveport, the best way is I-30 to Little Rock, I-40 to Memphis, I-55 to St Louis. ALL INTERSTATE! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> From Austin, all you need to add is "IH-35 to Dallas, I-30 to Little Rock". I've gone through Memphis this way to get to Cincinnati, before. Except for the IH-35 stint, everything until Nashville was nice and calm, too. Nothing major on I-55 between Memphis and St. Louis - it looks like it ought to be a rather calm drive, that way.... unless there's construction somewhere... Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn jones Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 I can tell you that from Shreveport, the best way is I-30 to Little Rock, I-40 to Memphis, I-55 to St Louis. ALL INTERSTATE! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> From Austin, all you need to add is "IH-35 to Dallas, I-30 to Little Rock". I've gone through Memphis this way to get to Cincinnati, before. Except for the IH-35 stint, everything until Nashville was nice and calm, too. Nothing major on I-55 between Memphis and St. Louis - it looks like it ought to be a rather calm drive, that way.... unless there's construction somewhere... Good luck! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I55 from memphis to st. louis is an easy 4.5 hour ride. lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 If you take US61 N into Hannibal don't plan on making 65mph. Last year it was very slow, lots and lots of construction and one very nice 4 inch high step in the pavement that I hit at 85+ trying to make up for lost time (I think I'm about an inch shorter now after compressing my spine when I hit it!) Nolan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 I would look seriously at I35 all the way to US 36 and turn right into Hannibal. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dminor Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 Guy is also correct in that US 36 is mainy 4 lane all the way to Hannibal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRe Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 How much does it cost to travel that whole stretch of the Kansas Turnpike?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Habicht Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 Looks like it's $ 8.75 to travel the length of the Kansas Turnpike with two axles. Got more than two? There's a handy Toll Calculator on the Kansas Turnpike Webpage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJPoLo Posted July 20, 2005 Author Share Posted July 20, 2005 We decided on I-35N out of Austin to 44E at Oklahoma City ($7.00 in tolls), 19N at Cuba to 61N into Hannibal. 931 miles and 14.5 hours (including gas and food stops). ~64mph average. We're pleased. -Chet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now