Driving from LA to Florida

hi there,

We are driving from LA to Florida next year as part of a round the world honeymoon. We plan to hire a car in LA and spend about 7-10 days driving and taking in cities like Vegas, New Orleans and any where else that is worthwhile. Does anyone have advice for what route to take, must stops, decent (and cheap) accomodation and any advice on car hire.

Thanks alot,

Ryan (and Kellie)

Driving from LA to Florida

Riman8, if you come through Texas, I would suggest that you check out the city of San Antonio. There is a section of town built along a river called the River Walk. There are many nice hotels, sidewalk cafes and boutiques lining the banks of the river, all within walking distance of each other. There are scenic half-hour riverboat cruises along the river. Also within walking distance is the Alamo, where you can learn a little about Texas history and view one of the most famous Spanish missions in America.

I don%26#39;t know that your plans to go to New Orleans is wise. I%26#39;m sure they would welcome your patronage, but the city is in a shambles after being devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. I wish you many years of happiness together.

Driving from LA to Florida

San Antonio is nice if you survive the extremely boring trip across West Texas. It%26#39;s about 550 miles from El Paso to San Antonio, and there%26#39;s not much in between but flat land with no trees and scrub bushes. The landscape changes to more rolling hills and trees by Junction, TX (sort of the beginning of the ';Texas Hill Country';, which is worth seeing (http://www.hill-country-visitor.com/) When will you be travelling? If it%26#39;s NOT in the summer, then one diversion from this trek could be a stop at Big Bend National Park for a day of hiking if you%26#39;re into that: http://www.nps.gov/bibe/

galveston gal, thanks for the info - we are travelling in August of this year, which is obviously a bit away yet. I will keep up to speed as to how things are going in NO before we decide whether to go.

One other question I did have - when we leave Las Vegas, we need to decide whether to go south to Phoenix or west to Albuquerque - the result of which will bring us into Western Texas to the North at Amarillo to head for Dallas or further South and head for Austin. What do u think the best option would be both for seeing the cities and the countryside/sights.

thanks,

Ryan

Hi Ryan,

I live in Georgetown,outside of Austin.

I dont know much about Dallas area but Austin is really a neat area. There is the hill country, which is between San Antonio and Austin. I would definitely see Johnson City, Marble Falls, Austin. Barton Springs in Austin is a pool that is always 65 degrees even in August! And clean.

I lived over 55 years in Illinois and then moved here. I had no idea about LBJ except for Vietnam. Then I visited his birthplace, his library etc. Also go to Bush Library in College Station. No matter what your politics both of these men lived during very historic times. You need to go to Sixth Street in Austin at nite.

Town Lake in Austin downtown area is great to hike. State capitol of Texas. UT campus. Lots of restaurants to eat outside. Esthers Follies is wonderful entertainment. Pete%26#39;s Piano Bar is also great. www.austin360.com should help alot.

Wish I could think better but this should get you started.

My husband and I are driving to LA in a few weeks and we too are trying to decide which way to drive there. Good luck to you!

Ryan, may I suggest that you see the Grand Canyon since you will be so close when leaving Las Vegas. You could then continue northward into Colorado, which is a beautiful state with many sights (Royal Gorge, river rafting, Pike%26#39;s Peak, the Colorado Rocky mountains) instead of coming to Texas.

I am a Texas native and truly love my home, but as stated above by another poster, traveling across West Texas in August will be a trial. It is a vast land of flat, treeless prairie with nothing to relieve the monotony of hours of driving.

I would suggest you take a more northern route to a state where it will not be 105 degrees. We are in the middle of a drought and all the surrounding lands are brown and dead. I would much rather have you see a state with some beautiful, green scenery.

Hope this helps!

Don%26#39;t forget about Houston! I-10 goes right through the heart of Houston. If you have time, book a hotel near I-10, you really can get to see a lot of Houston, like; The Galleria, The Heights, Montrose District, Richmond/Westhimer District, and Downtown. All of these areas are very close to I-10, and these areas include various shops, malls, historical areas, etc.

We are about 3 hours from SA, and 5 hours from NO, So, we really hope you enjoy your time in Texas!

If you want to visit somewhere interesting between El Paso and San Antonio, what about Carlsbad Caverns? It is many years since I was there but I thought they were definitely worth visiting.They would involve you coming off the I10, but if we were to go from LA to Florida (a journey which appeals to me) we would visit the caverns.

I am actually driving part of that trip right now- I have done it a few times- LA to New orleans. long drve- just want to make it through texas- the western part goes on forever. I have been to the Grand Canyon and also carlsbad caverns and would definately recomend both, at least the grand canyon. San Antonio riverwalk is wonderful very romantic place- you could see the Alamo! by the way just a reminder- August is Hurricane season and it is nasty hot and humid down in New Orleans- but if you wont get the chance again- why not- if you are driving you could always change your route if there is a storm. If you stay on the 10- it should be interesting through Gulfport and Biloxi MS ( about 1 1/2hour past New Orleans

try to time the drive through Houston - I 10 is a terribly busy freeway - avoid anything near a rush hour, if poss.

ditto on austin - san antone is about an hr south - and on I-10!

From san antonio, you can drive on I-10 straight thru to Florida! lol

there may be a problem driving from Houston past Lake Charles, La since the I 10 bridge into NOLA was wiped out

Be cautious about NO - relatives there say it%26#39;s still kinda crazy

Thanks all for the info. Given the advise that western texas is pretty boring I am considering whether to go a bit further north instead. Anyway, I will keep you posted if I need more advise as it is all very useful!

aimLA - what is the driving time from LA to NO? I%26#39;m trying to work out the whole drive (LA - Vegas (3 nights) - TX - NO - FL) and reckon whilst taking in interesting sites I could do it in 8-10 days inc 3/4 nights in Vegas. Do you think this is do-able whilst making sure I see all there is to see?

Also - does anyone have any good tips on car hire. I heard that I may get charged a big fee for dropping off in Miami v pick up in LA and also the amount of mileage I do may increase the fee? Thoughts appreciated.....

Ryan