Best driving route from Pensacola to Vegas?
January 17, 2011 9:09 AM Subscribe
Best driving route from Pensacola to Vegas?
We are driving from Pensacola to Las Vegas next week - and have 6 days to make the trip!
We are loosely planning on taking I-10 most of the way - but with so much time on our hands we're also looking for maximum interest and photo ops.
Where should we stop along the way? Can't-miss eateries? Is there another route that would be more interesting? What about pet-friendly hotels?
Help me MeFites!
We are driving from Pensacola to Las Vegas next week - and have 6 days to make the trip!
We are loosely planning on taking I-10 most of the way - but with so much time on our hands we're also looking for maximum interest and photo ops.
Where should we stop along the way? Can't-miss eateries? Is there another route that would be more interesting? What about pet-friendly hotels?
Help me MeFites!
6 days isn't a lot of time. You're talking about 32 hours of driving if you go direct.
I-40 is more interesting than I-10. Better still are two lane highways, particularly once you're west of Amarillo and things spread out / get more beautiful. If it were me I'd consider planning a full 24 hours just enjoying the area around Santa Fe, or maybe spend that day in the Painted Desert in Arizona.
posted by Nelson at 10:25 AM on January 17, 2011
I-40 is more interesting than I-10. Better still are two lane highways, particularly once you're west of Amarillo and things spread out / get more beautiful. If it were me I'd consider planning a full 24 hours just enjoying the area around Santa Fe, or maybe spend that day in the Painted Desert in Arizona.
posted by Nelson at 10:25 AM on January 17, 2011
You could drop down and spend a night in New Orleans, that shouldn't be a bad detour. Some of the best BBQ in Texas is in Lockhart, just 30 miles or so north of I-10 near San Antonio. I'd recommend Smitty's for the ambiance. I haven't taken 40 but it certainly looks prettier than I-10. I've never seen as many cops and highway patrol cars as I did on I-10 through Arizona last spring. West Texas on I-10 is a get-it-over-with stretch of highway.
The Red Roof Inn on the east edge of El Paso is pet friendly, clean and cheap. We drove with our small dog from Austin to Portland and back last year and it was definitely the best bang for the buck. It's behind a gentleman's club but the parking lots are separated and the motel itself is one of the best we stayed at.
posted by jeffkramer at 12:02 PM on January 17, 2011
The Red Roof Inn on the east edge of El Paso is pet friendly, clean and cheap. We drove with our small dog from Austin to Portland and back last year and it was definitely the best bang for the buck. It's behind a gentleman's club but the parking lots are separated and the motel itself is one of the best we stayed at.
posted by jeffkramer at 12:02 PM on January 17, 2011
Take 290 from Houston to Austin. 10 from Houston to San Antonio is awfully boring.
Eat at Threadgill's in Austin (it might be touristy these days, i dunno, but the Chicken Fried Steak is supposed to be pretty good.). Maybe The Oasis in Austin, overlooking Lake Travis. Hit downtown Austin (6th street) in the evening.
Take 290 from Austin through Fredericksburg and Kerrville to 10. Lots of good German food in Fredericksburg. Pretty drive. Unfortunately the best scenery is in the back back roads in the Hill Country west of Austin, but the route I suggest will give you a decent view of the place. 10 between Kerrville and Junction is actually pretty awesome.
10 to Sonora isn't too bad, but the stretch from there to El Paso..well, it's a grind, but it has a stark beauty. In places. Buy some pecans in Junction. Eat them on the road to El Paso.
posted by Xoebe at 4:03 PM on January 17, 2011
Eat at Threadgill's in Austin (it might be touristy these days, i dunno, but the Chicken Fried Steak is supposed to be pretty good.). Maybe The Oasis in Austin, overlooking Lake Travis. Hit downtown Austin (6th street) in the evening.
Take 290 from Austin through Fredericksburg and Kerrville to 10. Lots of good German food in Fredericksburg. Pretty drive. Unfortunately the best scenery is in the back back roads in the Hill Country west of Austin, but the route I suggest will give you a decent view of the place. 10 between Kerrville and Junction is actually pretty awesome.
10 to Sonora isn't too bad, but the stretch from there to El Paso..well, it's a grind, but it has a stark beauty. In places. Buy some pecans in Junction. Eat them on the road to El Paso.
posted by Xoebe at 4:03 PM on January 17, 2011
Oh, I was remiss - if you do go through San Antonio, go to the Riverwalk. Lots of restaurants, bars. The Alamo is right there. Even though it's chilly this time of year, it's still the place to see in SA.
posted by Xoebe at 4:07 PM on January 17, 2011
posted by Xoebe at 4:07 PM on January 17, 2011
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I made maps: taco, bbq.
And the Southern Foodways Alliance has maps for gumbo, bbq, boudin and tamales. The tamale map is probably irrelevant considering your route.
posted by stuart_s at 9:40 AM on January 17, 2011