55 through Jackson then southeast through Hattiesburg or 45 south through Meridian into Mobile? I have driven 45 from Memphis to the exit for State but never any further south. Not sure if it is "Main Street" through a lot of towns like it is in West Point or not.......Thanks in advance for the advice.
OT: From Memphis, is the better route to Gulf Shores
- Thread starter Fletch F. Fletch.sixpack
- Start date
Any other way besides 78 to 45 and on down is stupidity.
Going through Jackson, Hattiesburg and Mobile is going to get you stuck in Jackson on 49, all through those towns, and then 98 going through Mobile is a bummer. Even the shortcuts suck.
Using 45 you have West Point and that's it all the way down to the AL line, and at least between there and Mobile there's only Citronelle.
Using AL 17 is retarded.
Going through Jackson, Hattiesburg and Mobile is going to get you stuck in Jackson on 49, all through those towns, and then 98 going through Mobile is a bummer. Even the shortcuts suck.
Using 45 you have West Point and that's it all the way down to the AL line, and at least between there and Mobile there's only Citronelle.
Using AL 17 is retarded.
don't have to go anywhere near Pritchard (other than over it on the elevated bypass). You get off 45 at the new 4 lane (158) that goes to Saraland, and it's only about 2 miles to I-65, take I-65 to the bypass around Mobile (165), get off at the New Bay Bridge / 90 exit, go left and go over the big bridge, and you're on the other side of Mobile, follow the signs and get right back on the four lane (I-10) headed across Mobile bay.
You're probably thinking about Southern Airways: http://iflysouthern.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pubDsp.dspWelcome.
Do this.
If you have any sense you'll do this. I live in Mobile and this is the best way. You do not have to go through Prichard- at least not at ground level. AND you miss the Charlie Foxtrot that is the Wallace tunnel.
If you have any sense you'll do this. I live in Mobile and this is the best way. You do not have to go through Prichard- at least not at ground level. AND you miss the Charlie Foxtrot that is the Wallace tunnel.
Yeah, I know about that shortcut through Saraland. I lived in Mobile for a decade. Just didn't want to confuse the out of town poster with too many turns - you did a good job with it, though.
That 2-lane stretch on 45 from Stateline to Mobile is brutal (to me) and I've never been delayed driving through Jackson or Hattiesburg. I live on the coast so drive up 49 to Jackson going to my inlaws place in Vicksburg. I would almost consider hitting 63 in Stateline and going through Lucedale to I-10 before I stayed on 45. It'd prolly cost 20 additional minutes, but it'd be all 4-lane.
That 2-lane stretch on 45 from Stateline to Mobile is brutal (to me) and I've never been delayed driving through Jackson or Hattiesburg. I live on the coast so drive up 49 to Jackson going to my inlaws place in Vicksburg. I would almost consider hitting 63 in Stateline and going through Lucedale to I-10 before I stayed on 45. It'd prolly cost 20 additional minutes, but it'd be all 4-lane.
Maybe, but get stuck behind a line of trucks on that hilly 51 mile stretch of 2-lane from Stateline to Mobile and let me know how "off" I am...
When you get to the Gulf Shores turn on I-10 keep going east to Florida
to the nice beaches in Pcola, Ft Walt, and Destin.
to the nice beaches in Pcola, Ft Walt, and Destin.
You sure? Speed limit is 55. You stop in Citronelle. That's it. It's not near as brutal as you say. It's simply a typical 2 lane road. I've only made the trip 473 times.
It was brutal back when 45 in MS was 2 lane. But I think most people can handle that 1 hour stretch considering the rest is 4 lane.
It was brutal back when 45 in MS was 2 lane. But I think most people can handle that 1 hour stretch considering the rest is 4 lane.
You serious about food? Other than it being cheaper to stay in Gulf Shores there is nothing better about it.
I've made that trip 1,474 times and grew up in the area. It IS brutal...
On a side note, what the hell is ALDOT's problem? MS has had 98 4-laned for over a decade including the bridge needed at the state line with Bama - ALDOT has been working on the 12-mile stretch between Wilmer and Semmes forever. MS 4-laned 98 from Lucedale to Natchez in a fourth of the time it has taken to do the same for that small stretch in Bama. 45 from Stateline to Mobile doesn't even look to be on their radar to improve... Hell, they have been widening I-10 between Rangeline Road and Exit 13 for about 2 years and don't look close to finishing. In that time, MDOT has widened I-10 from I-110 to a mile east of Exit 50 and is almost finished with the flyover in D'Iberville...
On a side note, what the hell is ALDOT's problem? MS has had 98 4-laned for over a decade including the bridge needed at the state line with Bama - ALDOT has been working on the 12-mile stretch between Wilmer and Semmes forever. MS 4-laned 98 from Lucedale to Natchez in a fourth of the time it has taken to do the same for that small stretch in Bama. 45 from Stateline to Mobile doesn't even look to be on their radar to improve... Hell, they have been widening I-10 between Rangeline Road and Exit 13 for about 2 years and don't look close to finishing. In that time, MDOT has widened I-10 from I-110 to a mile east of Exit 50 and is almost finished with the flyover in D'Iberville...
I prefer orange beach to destin. Destins beaches are better but I like the food better in orange beach. Way less commercial.
I use to prefer destin but with its growth the past 20 years, I despise it. It lost all its charm due to its over-popularity. It feels like like outback steakhouse now instead of restaurant tyler.
Destin is way too overcrowded for my taste. Feels like a strip mall. I do love AJs and the Swamp though.
I use to prefer destin but with its growth the past 20 years, I despise it. It lost all its charm due to its over-popularity. It feels like like outback steakhouse now instead of restaurant tyler.
Destin is way too overcrowded for my taste. Feels like a strip mall. I do love AJs and the Swamp though.
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Good question, one that I've been wondering about as well. Then you have 82 between Columbus and Starkville that's making slow progress. Then the 24 bypass around Red Bay. I used to think MDOT was just ahead of ALDOT, but realistically Alabama just has more roads/corridors to keep up with.
Southerners vacation in Gulf Shores, Yankees go to Destin. Or so they tell me.
It's all a matter of opinion, but trust me I have an up close view of both of them. Food in Destin (after you wade through the crap to get to the good stuff) is pretty over-priced. You're better off to buy stuff yourself and cook it. Plus you avoid the crowds.
It's all a matter of opinion, but trust me I have an up close view of both of them. Food in Destin (after you wade through the crap to get to the good stuff) is pretty over-priced. You're better off to buy stuff yourself and cook it. Plus you avoid the crowds.
Agreed. Just like new orleans, tourist go to bourbon street, locals dont.
Tourist go to downtown nashville, locals dont.
Kind of how i feel about destin vs orange beach area.
I can always count on at least 2 of my friends on facebook checking in at joes crab shack in destin every year. Ummm, yeah.
Tourist go to downtown nashville, locals dont.
Kind of how i feel about destin vs orange beach area.
I can always count on at least 2 of my friends on facebook checking in at joes crab shack in destin every year. Ummm, yeah.
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Another option I have not seen mentioned is taking 45 until you hit highway 56 right before the 4 lane ends in MS. Take 56 west until you reach highway 43 in Alabama. You will not have any traffic and its 4 lane on 43 the whole way. Speed limit is 65 and you can cruise without any stop lights or backups etc that you might have otherwise. Its only 20 miles further than going through Citronelle and you get to miss all of mobile plus drive 70+ instead of maybe 55. When you hit I65, go NORTH until you hit Hwy 59. Take 59 south until you hit your destination. Taking that route will take all stress out of your drive and you get to miss all of mobile traffic and the bay bridge completely.