Road Trip ! Lufkin, TX to Dothan, AL - need suggestions please

So I am going to be helping a friend move from North GA to Lufkin, TX the 1st week in August. I am going to Ride up to his place, help him pack the moving truck, load the bike into a trailer, and leave the following day.

My plan is that after he is moved and unpacked, I am going to RIDE back to Dothan.

I want to minimize my superslab time as much as possible, and do some light sight seeing along the way.
New Orleans is definitely on my list of places to see on the way back!

This will be about a 12-15 hour ride on the slab ( including food/fuel stops), and I will probably stop off in the middle somewhere for some rack time.

Does anyone here have any experience in these areas or road suggestions?

thanks.

I don't have anything specific for your trip. However, I have learned in my past travels that national and state parks and forests are a plus (Angelina National Forest). Also if you see a sign that says "scenic overlook" Do yourself a favor and stop to look.

My best advice would be to ask the locals if there is anything to see in the area.

thanks!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Lufkin,+TX&daddr=29.97402,-90.06437+to:Madrid,+AL&hl=en&geocode=FQEv3gEdd4xa-imxs6oZPTc4hjFJvxLB9HlDSQ%3BFQReyQEdDrqh-im98dpRHaYghjFYc9GV33TIqg%3BFVmR2QEdjgDp-inF1o4Iqe-SiDFAZJY-Rp0BBw&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=7&via=1&sll=30.836215,-90.230713&sspn=4.828907,10.821533&ie=UTF8&ll=30.836215,-90.230713&spn=4.828907,10.821533&output=embed


this is the planned route Gmaps gives me ( all slab)

Looks like a good trip. If you have never been to New Orleans, let me tell ya...the roads are crazy. Many are one way with no turnarounds down in the tourist districts for many blocks. The interstates have so many exchanges going through that it totally loses my GPS. It's a little pricy, but we always stay at the Hilton and pay the extra fee to use their parking garage with security and walk from there, as it is very close to all the big tourist stuff to do, like Bourbon street, Harrah's casino, the French quarter and DuMonde's cafe. DuMondes is our number 1 place to stop in as they have THE best beignettes and chicory coffee anyplace. If you're into tours, they have a graveyard tour and at night, a vampire tour (another of our favorites ) those are walking tours, take good shoes. At Jackson square they have carriage ride tours, which are also fun. And where the street painters show and sell their paintings and other wares. The Blues Tavern has excellent bands for the nightlife crowd. And of course, Bourbon Street, which you can't drive through until after around 10pm if I remember right. One of the reasons we park in the hilton, its far easier to get around by walking.


Awesome place to visit. But like most tourist areas, watch yourself, there's a dark side, too. Stay in well lit streets, watch where you flash cash and keep your wallet. Street scammers abound. Park only with other bikes if you ride around and only park overnight in lots with security.

Budget extra cash for this stop, as things can get pricy in NO.

Lake Charles, while we did not get much of a chance to visit there when we lived in Louisiana, many people we knew talked about it. Very tourist friendly and has named itself the festival capital of Louisiana, with over 75 festivals per year. It also has a huge marina and some very deeply rooted historical landmarks.

http://www.visitlakecharles.org/visitors/


If you you turn north at Lafayette La and go a few miles north on I-49, you will see the Bike Barn Saloon on the east side of the road on an access road. Nice little place and usually a fine assortment of bikes to look at.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=opera&hs=eNf&rls=en&channel=suggest&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1680&bih=884&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=bike+barn+louisiana&fb=1&gl=us&hq=bike+barn&hnear=0x8620a454b2118265:0xc955f73281e54703,Louisiana&ei=3PQZTtPvOrCp0AGKndmWBQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&ved=0CAQQtgM&cid=0,0,11929798554924993428

http://www.myneworleans.com/Louisiana-Life/Summer-2005/One-for-the-Road/

Baton Rouge, we know little about, save to get the hell through there as fast as possible. Crazy traffic, especially where it splits from I-10 to I-12. And keeping on I-10 through there like you are doing, be VERY cautious. Right after the split is their big Mall, and often right at, or just past that split, traffic can often come to a complete standstill suddenly. Lots of accidents there, watch your ass.

Biloxi can be fun, lots of beaches and casinos. And if you are not on their mailing list sign up online, they often send coupons for free nights (during the week) especially being a new signup, so it's possible you could be able to stop overnight there for free.

Well, that's most of the places we know well. We often go through there but are usually in a hurry, not a tourist trip.

Very cool ! thanks for the tips too !

I wish I had more time than just one evening to dedicate to this little adventure, but prior commitments and constraints will have put me back at home ASAP.

I would love to be able to do an actual BIKE TOUR.....maybe one day I can...

for now I am just sticking with whatever roads will be able to take me home without too much boredom.

thanks again for the suggestions.

Good deal, I see you will be going through Maurepas Swamp. I have not been through there in about 5 years, but it was beautiful the last trip through. (be sure to take a camera)

While in Lake Charles take the 210 loop before you get to the high bridge and go to Leonards, it has very good Crawfish Etoufee. Google it, it is awesome and the best. It is a little place and very easy to get to. You will love it, I promise.

I second all that Dragon said about New Orleans. Neat place but you will spend a few extra bucks there. And whatever you do, If someone wants to bet you they know "where you got your shoes," tell them to go away!!!!

May I suggest traveling Highway 90. Work your way down from Lufkin to Hwy 90 and head east. It will take you through Lafayette, LA about 4 or 5 miles south of the Biker Barn in Lafayette. From there Hwy 90 drops down closer to the coast and runs through cities like New Iberia, Morgan City, New Orleans, and Slidell in Louisiana. Continue on east on Highway 90 and Mississippi has Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. Some of the road in Mississippi is right along the beach.

Taking Highway 90 will take you through many chances for stopping and sightseeing.

There is also Highway 190 in Louisiana that will sort of bypass the major cities except it will briefly pass through the edge of Baton Rouge. Highway 190 as far as I know ends up right at the Causeway Bridge that crosses Lake Ponchartrain and into the New Orleans area in a city named Metairie. Which is nothing more than a suburb of New Orleans.

Let me know if there is anything I can answer for you.

Mrbadlands wrote: If someone wants to bet you they know "where you got your shoes," tell them to go away!!!!

They got me when I was 15 with that one. Two years ago they got my son with it, he was 14 at the time. I let him fall for it.

thanks everyone ! I think I will have add the BIKER BARN to one of my stopping points for this...

my while reason for passing through New Orleans, is that I have never been. but it sounds more and more like I need to save that for a family trip- in a CAR!

01YZF6 wrote:thanks everyone ! I think I will have add the BIKER BARN to one of my stopping points for this...

my while reason for passing through New Orleans, is that I have never been. but it sounds more and more like I need to save that for a family trip- in a CAR!

I-10 out of, and in to New Orleans SUCKS!!!

New Orleans is a great town for family's or just the big folks. Bourbon St is better without kids. With kids there is the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, followed by a Creole Queen paddle boat cruise to the Audubon Zoo, then a trolly car ride back to the French Quarter.

Yes, I-10 in and out of New Orleans sucks. There is road construction, Poorly maintained roadways, and if you get there at the wrong time, it is better suited as a parking lot at certain points. It plain sucks.

I have been traveling into, out, as well as through New Orleans for the better part of 27 years. The roads have gotten better, but only slightly

stop at the House of Seafood to eat....just outside of new orleans in bush, la......

despite all of the suggestions and great ideas, I had an emergency pop up, and had to jet back home. left a t 930 pm wedensday night, and was home by 1:00 pm thursday afternoon. 15.5 hours of seat time, over 745 miles, and with only 4 stops for fuel and food ( totalling 1 hour 15 minutes)

I did take some quick pictures as I could arrange. but stopping in the middle of the night, on all but deserted roadways, is not the brightest idea I presume...lol

I ended up on I-12 instead of I-10 ( avoiding New Orleans I beleive)