I realize its a little late in vacation season to post this, but after going to gulf shores this week I was sick of the mobile traffic starting at the tunnel and continuing across the bay on I-10...especially on the return trip where it is stop and go gridlock for several miles. So, I found another way. I am sure it is a few miles longer but seemed quicker. For those coming down 45 here it is: at the town of state line, ms, turn left on highway 56. Take it until you reach highway 43 and take a right. This is a nice 4 lane road that is 65 most of the time. Take 43 until you hit I-65 and take it north. Exit onto highway 225 and take it to highway 31. This will take you to highway 181 in Spanish fort, al, which is on the other side of mobile bay where you can then get on I-10 as normal. Coming home yesterday I went from Spanish fort to meridian in between two and a half and three hours and that is driving no more than 5mph over the speed limit. No stop and go traffic at all. Even saw some bear crossing signs which was a first for me.
OT: alternate route to gulf shores
- Thread starter starkvegasdawg
- Start date
Is 45 that bad from after State Line?
I haven't driven 45 through Alabama in about 12 years so I don't really know. If it's not that bad just go left on 158, take 65 South, then 165 south, and then get off at the New Bay Bridge Rd. exit. Go left, go over the bridge, stay on that road that turns into 90/98, pass the battleship, Oyster House, Felix's, and all that. Stay on it till it turns into 31, take a right on 181, and then hop on I-10 East. If you're going on a particularly bad weekend, blow past the Foley exit and take exit 53, which I think is Wilcox. You exit, take a right, then hang a left onto Wilcox after the gas stations. Take a left onto Patterson when Wilcox ends. Patterson makes a hard right and turns into Cowpen. Follow it and it'll eventually make one of those weird dead ends where you turn right onto the same road. So you're still on Cowpen (also CR 87 for if you come back that way). It'll take you to 98 in Elberta. Take a right, go over the Lillian bridge, right on Bauer, right on Sorrento, stop under the bridge over the intercoastal for some lunch at Fisherman's Corner and to pick up some steamed shrimp and pick up some fish at Perdido Bay Seafood to cook for dinner, then get back on the road and go on to where you need to go. It's the perfect route if you're staying in Perdido Key.
Also... if you're coming into Mobile on 98 (like you would from Jackson or Hburg), take a left onto Schillinger in Semmes. You go through one light, then it hangs a hard right and turns into 158 (four lane to 65). Then follow the above instructions from 65 south on.
I haven't driven 45 through Alabama in about 12 years so I don't really know. If it's not that bad just go left on 158, take 65 South, then 165 south, and then get off at the New Bay Bridge Rd. exit. Go left, go over the bridge, stay on that road that turns into 90/98, pass the battleship, Oyster House, Felix's, and all that. Stay on it till it turns into 31, take a right on 181, and then hop on I-10 East. If you're going on a particularly bad weekend, blow past the Foley exit and take exit 53, which I think is Wilcox. You exit, take a right, then hang a left onto Wilcox after the gas stations. Take a left onto Patterson when Wilcox ends. Patterson makes a hard right and turns into Cowpen. Follow it and it'll eventually make one of those weird dead ends where you turn right onto the same road. So you're still on Cowpen (also CR 87 for if you come back that way). It'll take you to 98 in Elberta. Take a right, go over the Lillian bridge, right on Bauer, right on Sorrento, stop under the bridge over the intercoastal for some lunch at Fisherman's Corner and to pick up some steamed shrimp and pick up some fish at Perdido Bay Seafood to cook for dinner, then get back on the road and go on to where you need to go. It's the perfect route if you're staying in Perdido Key.
Also... if you're coming into Mobile on 98 (like you would from Jackson or Hburg), take a left onto Schillinger in Semmes. You go through one light, then it hangs a hard right and turns into 158 (four lane to 65). Then follow the above instructions from 65 south on.
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I'm there now leaving in the a.m. Came down 98 and turned on McCrary Rd before Mobile to LottRd, 65 N to 165, Exit 2 to Bay Bridge Rd to 98. I stayed on 98 all the way from Spanish Fort to Foley. It was a breeze. Guy in our condo complex said took him 2.5 hours to go 3 miles through tunnel last Saturday. On our way in the traffic was bad going back toward Mobile so I'm doing 98 all the way from Foley again
Yes, especially in higher traffic times.
I drove it recently and it sucked having to maneuver my way into passing a couple cars every 20 minutes in 2-lane traffic with hills and turns. If there's a better way to go from north MS, someone please inform me.
I drove it recently and it sucked having to maneuver my way into passing a couple cars every 20 minutes in 2-lane traffic with hills and turns. If there's a better way to go from north MS, someone please inform me.
Gulf Shores has an airport
Since options are being looked at.
Have flown down at least three times.
Much much easier.
Also, going thru Fairhope can on occasion, can be much easier traffic wise.
Since options are being looked at.
Have flown down at least three times.
Much much easier.
Also, going thru Fairhope can on occasion, can be much easier traffic wise.
Soon as I cross Mobile Bay I take the 2nd exit and go south on 181, turn left on 98, right on county road 49, left on county road 12 and 12 comes out in Gulf Shores just north of inner coastal waterway bridge. Avoid all those red lights from 1-10 to Gulf Shores.
Seeing that traffic back the other way is what made me look for another route and the one I listed above. I just obviously did it in reverse since, like you, I was already down there. All of the roads, except 43 and I-65 are two lane but you are not on them for very long and traffic was light on all of them. As I said, you can drive like an old lady and make Spanish fort to meridian in less than three hours.
If you are going to Perdido Key just stay on I-10 into Florida and take exit 7 (NAS/ Pine Springs Road). Stay on Pine Springs about 2 miles to Blue Angle, take a right and go about 9 miles to Sorrento and hang another right and in about 6 miles you will be at the Intercoastal Bridge by Fisherman's Corner. I do agree with you about FC. Hard to beat, and they have a great Sunday brunch too.
I have thought about making the trip on my jet skis down the Tenn-Tom from my house on the river at Pickensville to my sister's house in Gulf Shores. Don't know if I could talk someone in to going with me. The river channels just north of Mobile look confusing as hell on my Corp. of Engineer maps. Have you made the trip on the Tenn-Tom?