[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by E92inPHX

...
I’ve never done this trip but I’ll try to make to Dallas or as close to it as I can on this first day....

PHX to DAL in one day? That's almost 1100 miles! AMA is just over 700 miles, which the way I drive, is around 11 hours. Don't forget the time change

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

PHX to DAL in one day? That's almost 1100 miles! AMA is just over 700 miles, which the way I drive, is around 11 hours. Don't forget the time change

Longest I've ever done in a day is Newark, NJ to St. Louis about 970 miles. Of course, you get screwed over with PA and their shitty 55 mph limit and State Troopers EVERYWHERE.

[2000cs]

Originally Posted by E92inPHX

I’ve done multiple trips where I’ve driven 12+ hours in 1 and 2 days and came out of it OK. I figure if I start to feel fatigued I can always add an extra day to the drive and make more stops to stretch.

Me, too. Longest was 22 hours with only fuel stops (drive thru eat while driving). Power drive to get and stay ahead of a winter storm. I used to regularly drive Portland (OR) to So Cal (14-17 hrs each way). But I was younger and better padded.

It is the back-to-back long days that are fatiguing. One 12-14 hour day is fine for me (my wife taps out at 8, MAX); but if I have another long day immediately after, I’m getting fatigued and a bit sore. 3+ gets really old, fast. We did that in Jan when we drove FL to CA and back. Of course the car matters a lot: comfy/supportive seats, low noise interior, quiet tires, etc. is better than a Civic with loud exhaust.

I’m in Mississippi now; the drive here was fine (except for some very hard rain and poor visibility) and I arrived, as usual, in good shape. 8 hrs. 2006 750Li (long wheelbase = smooth ride). I didn’t see anything along the way that I would recommend as worthy of planning around, unless you like Buc-ees for a lunch and cheap gas (last one before Jax is in Alabama).

[chassis]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Longest I've ever done in a day is Newark, NJ to St. Louis about 970 miles. Of course, you get screwed over with PA and their shitty 55 mph limit and State Troopers EVERYWHERE.

PA TPK? Or I-80?

[rebekahb]

Originally Posted by E92inPHX

I'm just driving through. Looks like I'll be going through Baton Rouge but I'd take a quick detour to NO if there's a place there I have to try. My favorites are seafood, bbq, Italian, Mexican but I'll pretty much eat anything once. Im looking for local food to try during this trip.

[

New Orleans has some great seafood. The gulf is at our back door. We do have some great restaurants in the other food groups but fresh seafood is a must especially be land locked in AZ.


What day and time do you think you will be coming through? Once I know that, I can better direct you.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by chassis

PA TPK? Or I-80?

I think it was the turnpike. I just remember it being limited access and behind nearly every bridge is small asphalt patch where the troopers would hang out waiting for you to speed by.

This was 2010, so it could be different now.

[aliiin]

Take a small detour to Austin for Franklin's BBQ.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

I think it was the turnpike. I just remember it being limited access and behind nearly every bridge is small asphalt patch where the troopers would hang out waiting for you to speed by.

This was 2010, so it could be different now.

I'm pretty sure that some parts of the PA Turnpike were raised to 70 MPH a few years ago, and I-80 is mostly 65 MPH. I just drove I-81 for Memorial Day, and it is all 65 MPH except stretches near the Turnpike interchange in Carlisle, through Harrisburg, and up in the mountains near Wilkes Barre and Scranton.....

[HTXE93]

Are you dead-set on driving up the East Coast?

You could also cut north through Atlanta (stop by PECATL for example) and hit the Tail of the Dragon/Blue Ridge Parkway/etc. in the Smokies and then cut across through the mountains into NC from the west. Could also hit BMW plant/driving school in Greer, SC going this route.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Longest I've ever done in a day is Newark, NJ to St. Louis about 970 miles. Of course, you get screwed over with PA and their shitty 55 mph limit and State Troopers EVERYWHERE.

Ours was ~950 miles, Ogallala, NE to Winnemucca, NV. My wife wanted to live dangerously and we didn't make reservations on our way to Santa Cruz.

[vreihen16]

As someone who lived in a two-door car for a week driving 6,000+ miles racing in the One Lap of America, I'm laughing at some of these "long" drives that people are mentioning.

My longest was after a day of work, when I drove non-stop and solo from here in eastern NY State to Ely, Nevada. When I got to Ely, I was seriously calculating the remaining distance to Los Angeles (about 8 more hours) and felt good enough to try and make it there to say that I drove across the country in one sitting. Unfortunately, I needed to be in Ely the next morning that was part of that trip, so I checked into the motel and took advantage of the "jet" lag time zone shift the next morning.

Back in the 1990's, I used to drive from NY State to our family's winter place every year for spring break. I could leave home at midnight, and be pulling into the driveway down there in time for dinner.

With my age and failing health, I am lucky to make it the 700 miles from here to Charlotte with DW sharing the driving duties.

Note to the OP - I-26 in SC from Columbia west up to Asheville was still a goat screw of multi-year ongoing road construction projects back in May. Your initial route map showed that you were turning off of I-26 in Columbia SC and heading north to Charlotte on I-77, which will miss this malfunction junction clusterfsck. Don't let anyone talk you into going up to Asheville via I-26 to go see the dragon and stuff, unless you want to apply for SC residency after being stuck in that traffic nightmare.....

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

As someone who lived in a two-door car for a week driving 6,000+ miles racing in the One Lap of America, I'm laughing at some of these "long" drives that people are mentioning....

Do you remember a Lincoln LS running that race? They put a Mustang GT V8 under the hood and could never get the cooling worked-out! IIRC, they finished 23rd...

[E92inNC]

Originally Posted by rebekahb

New Orleans has some great seafood. The gulf is at our back door. We do have some great restaurants in the other food groups but fresh seafood is a must especially be land locked in AZ.


What day and time do you think you will be coming through? Once I know that, I can better direct you.

I think I’ll be in LA Sunday late afternoon or night, I’d like to make it to Pensacola but if it’s late or if I’m feeling a bit fatigued by the time I get there I’ll probably just stop and spend the night in Baton Rouge or NO and try and walk around a bit and eat.

Originally Posted by aliiin

Take a small detour to Austin for Franklin's BBQ.

Can’t, meeting a friend in Dallas for some bbq.

Originally Posted by HTXE93

Are you dead-set on driving up the East Coast?

You could also cut north through Atlanta (stop by PECATL for example) and hit the Tail of the Dragon/Blue Ridge Parkway/etc. in the Smokies and then cut across through the mountains into NC from the west. Could also hit BMW plant/driving school in Greer, SC going this route.

Pretty much, it’s a chance for me to see a bit of Charleston and Charlotte on my way to Raleigh. During this first year I’d like to see as much of NC, VA and some of SC as I can to decide where I want to buy a house.

Originally Posted by vreihen16

As someone who lived in a two-door car for a week driving 6,000+ miles racing in the One Lap of America, I'm laughing at some of these "long" drives that people are mentioning.

My longest was after a day of work, when I drove non-stop and solo from here in eastern NY State to Ely, Nevada. When I got to Ely, I was seriously calculating the remaining distance to Los Angeles (about 8 more hours) and felt good enough to try and make it there to say that I drove across the country in one sitting. Unfortunately, I needed to be in Ely the next morning that was part of that trip, so I checked into the motel and took advantage of the "jet" lag time zone shift the next morning.

Back in the 1990's, I used to drive from NY State to our family's winter place every year for spring break. I could leave home at midnight, and be pulling into the driveway down there in time for dinner.

With my age and failing health, I am lucky to make it the 700 miles from here to Charlotte with DW sharing the driving duties.

Note to the OP - I-26 in SC from Columbia west up to Asheville was still a goat screw of multi-year ongoing road construction projects back in May. Your initial route map showed that you were turning off of I-26 in Columbia SC and heading north to Charlotte on I-77, which will miss this malfunction junction clusterfsck. Don't let anyone talk you into going up to Asheville via I-26 to go see the dragon and stuff, unless you want to apply for SC residency after being stuck in that traffic nightmare.....

Yeah I don’t think Asheville is on this route. From Charlotte I’m heading North to Winston-Salem or Greensboro before heading East through Durham to Raleigh.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by E92inPHX

I think I’ll be in LA Sunday late afternoon or night, I’d like to make it to Pensacola but if it’s late or if I’m feeling a bit fatigued by the time I get there I’ll probably just stop and spend the night in Baton Rouge or NO and try and walk around a bit and eat....

We've been advised by the AAA to not venture out at night in NO.

[rebekahb]

Originally Posted by E92inPHX

I think I'll be in LA Sunday late afternoon or night, I'd like to make it to Pensacola but if it's late or if I'm feeling a bit fatigued by the time I get there I'll probably just stop and spend the night in Baton Rouge or NO and try and walk around a bit and eat.

If you decide to come down this way and want a nice meal check out GW Fins. They create their menu each day when they know which fresh seafood comes off the boat. They have a nice bar area & open at 5pm on Sundays. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Or for something more casual check out Evangeline on Decatur. There are so many places to eat. A lot of tourist type traps though.

Sunday limits some of the local seafood places down here because they are closed. The other option is Harbor Seafood in Kenner or Deanie's Seafood in Metairie to get boiled shrimp, oysters, etc. Deanie's does have a location in the Quarter as well.

Pensacola is about 3-3.5 hours from NOLA depending on how fast you're rolling and bathroom breaks.

[E92inNC]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

We've been advised by the AAA to not venture out at night in NO.

Why?

Originally Posted by rebekahb

If you decide to come down this way and want a nice meal check out GW Fins. They create their menu each day when they know which fresh seafood comes off the boat. They have a nice bar area & open at 5pm on Sundays. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Or for something more casual check out Evangeline on Decatur. There are so many places to eat. A lot of tourist type traps though.

Sunday limits some of the local seafood places down here because they are closed. The other option is Harbor Seafood in Kenner or Deanie's Seafood in Metairie to get boiled shrimp, oysters, etc. Deanie's does have a location in the Quarter as well.

Pensacola is about 3-3.5 hours from NOLA depending on how fast you're rolling and bathroom breaks.

Thanks! Seafood is #1 on my list and I especially love Cajun seafood. Evangeline’s fried gator and crawfish etoufee looks really good.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by E92inPHX

Why?
...

Crime. We were staying at the edge of the French Quarter on Canal St and they advised staying in at night. We did venture out to an Italian joint (don't remember the name. Mona Lisa maybe?) that was very good and seemed to be a local favorite. The place was about 3/4 mile from the hotel and my wife was nervous the whole walk. Seems the closer we got to the restaurant, the darker it got; as in fewer streetlights.

[rebekahb]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Crime. We were staying at the edge of the French Quarter on Canal St and they advised staying in at night. We did venture out to an Italian joint (don't remember the name. Mona Lisa maybe?) that was very good and seemed to be a local favorite. The place was about 3/4 mile from the hotel and my wife was nervous the whole walk. Seems the closer we got to the restaurant, the darker it got; as in fewer streetlights.

I would have used Uber/Lyft. I would not walk around the quarter at night right now. Lots is shootings and robberies. They hide in the alleys and side streets knowing who to rob. If we eat in the quarter, we Uber straight there and bam. It's really sad but our current mayor and DA are letting the criminals run the city. It's not just in the quarter, the car jackings in broad day light, the breaking in and stealing of cars in the night, random people getting shot while driving on the interstate, and that's just to name a few. Between that, Hurricane Ida and Covid, the city has really taken a beating.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by rebekahb

I would have used Uber/Lyft. I would not walk around the quarter at night right now. Lots is shootings and robberies. They hide in the alleys and side streets knowing who to rob. If we eat in the quarter, we Uber straight there and bam. It's really sad but our current mayor and DA are letting the criminals run the city. It's not just in the quarter, the car jackings in broad day light, the breaking in and stealing of cars in the night, random people getting shot while driving on the interstate, and that's just to name a few. Between that, Hurricane Ida and Covid, the city has really taken a beating.

That's too bad. It's always a city I've wanted to visit, but if it's not even safe to walk around at night in the touristy places, that kind of blows.

[E92inNC]

Originally Posted by rebekahb

I would have used Uber/Lyft. I would not walk around the quarter at night right now. Lots is shootings and robberies. They hide in the alleys and side streets knowing who to rob. If we eat in the quarter, we Uber straight there and bam. It's really sad but our current mayor and DA are letting the criminals run the city. It's not just in the quarter, the car jackings in broad day light, the breaking in and stealing of cars in the night, random people getting shot while driving on the interstate, and that's just to name a few. Between that, Hurricane Ida and Covid, the city has really taken a beating.

If it’s that bad there at night I’m better off either rolling straight through to FL or stopping in Baton Rouge. Are you familiar with the place? Any places you recommend there?

[chassis]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

I think it was the turnpike. I just remember it being limited access and behind nearly every bridge is small asphalt patch where the troopers would hang out waiting for you to speed by.

This was 2010, so it could be different now.

It's different now. No 55mph limits in general, cities/dense traffic areas excepted. Posted speed and actual speed on I-80 are two different topics...

[rebekahb]

Originally Posted by E92inPHX

If it's that bad there at night I'm better off either rolling straight through to FL or stopping in Baton Rouge. Are you familiar with the place? Any places you recommend there?

I'm sure it would be fine but with everything going on it's just not worth taking a chance. The quarter is great during the day but the minute it gets dusk we're out of there.

I grew up there but it's changed a lot. Let me talk to my friends and see what they say. Off hand, Baton Rouge just doesn't have the restaurants like NOLA does.