Any advice for our drive to the beach?

[J.bean]

We're coming from St. Louis and plan on stopping in Sikeston, MO for dinner at Lamberts. That should be a good enough break for the kids and then we want to stop for the night somewhere between Memphis, TN & Tupelo, MS. Has anyone stayed in any of the towns between there? I'd like to just drive until we have to stop and pick somewhere, but don't want to end up in a dump for the night. I'd love recommendations if anyone has driven that stretch before. Also, at the end of our drive, Mapquest says to turn Left onto 98 from 331 and stay on it for about 12 miles. With traffic, is that still the best route?

Thanks!

[Wekick]

We usually go from St. Louis 64 to 57 south to 24 to 65 to 331 or go further south to state road 55. There are a number of alternatives. Sometimes we drive it all at once, and other times we stop in Decatur Al. and spend the night. Big Bob Gibson's is there --home of some of the best ribs. We have been driving down that road and and other possible way you can think of to get there for the last 18 years. We have also driven down 55 or alternatives to that like hwy 51. We like to take the side roads sometimes. We have stayed in Tupelo many times but not for the last few years. I think traffic is worse on Saturdays because alot of the condos change out then. You might drive down one way and come back another and see what you like. I kind of think that 64-57-24-65 is the faster route but that can change depending on traffic conditions.
How old are your kids? One year we went to the space center in Huntsville, Al. We used to stay in the Radisson Suites there because the room slept 6 and sometimes we got free breakfast. Sometimes too we would put them in the car at 3 AM and drive 5 hours before they woke up!

[seacliffes]

I have made this drive 5 to 6 times a year since 1982 and the best route is 55 south to HWY 49 in Jackson, Mississipi to Hattiesburg, Miss. where you pick up state 98 to Mobile, Al. then I-10 to Pennsacola then 110 South to Florida 98 into Destin. The entire route is now divided and has been shortened. There is only 19 miles of two lane the entire route!!! Best place to stay is Grenada, Miss. about 90 miles south of Memphis...

[30A Skunkape]

I have made this drive 5 to 6 times a year since 1982 and the best route is 55 south to HWY 49 in Jackson, Mississipi to Hattiesburg, Miss. where you pick up state 98 to Mobile, Al. then I-10 to Pennsacola then 110 South to Florida 98 into Destin. The entire route is now divided and has been shortened. There is only 19 miles of two lane the entire route!!! Best place to stay is Grenada, Miss. about 90 miles south of Memphis...

True dat, but if you were heading all the way to 30A, you might really get snagged on HWY 98 this time of year(in Florida, not MS and AL, the stretch of 98 in MS and rural AL was 4 lanes and seemingly brand new when I last rode it a few years back!)...there can be hellacious traffic in Ft Walton and then in Destin...it might be wise to take I-10 all the way to HWY 331.

[yippie]

I would not take the 110 to 98. Stay on I 10 until you get to the Crestview, Hwy 85 South exit. Follow that road to State Road 20, turn East. Follow State Road 20 through Niceville all the way to Freeport, then pick up 331 South. Depending on where you are staying you would go either east or west on Hwy 98.

[iwishiwasthere]

We're coming from St. Louis and plan on stopping in Sikeston, MO for dinner at Lamberts. That should be a good enough break for the kids and then we want to stop for the night somewhere between Memphis, TN & Tupelo, MS. Has anyone stayed in any of the towns between there? I'd like to just drive until we have to stop and pick somewhere, but don't want to end up in a dump for the night. I'd love recommendations if anyone has driven that stretch before. Also, at the end of our drive, Mapquest says to turn Left onto 98 from 331 and stay on it for about 12 miles. With traffic, is that still the best route?

Thanks!


Dramamine always worked well on our travels with children;-) :lol: Safe travels and enjoy your time in paradise.:D

[thekid]

In answer to your question, Hgw 78 is between Memphis & Tupelo. It is only about 70 minutes between the two. New Albany is about 20 minutes closer. Both towns have plenty of decent places for an overnight stop. Hope this helps

[thekid]

Also, from Tupelo it depends where you are going to be staying in the panhandle as far as which route is best to take from there. Let me know & I will give you the best way to go.

[J.bean]

We're staying in Seacrest. We've come through Destin before and it really killed the great time we had made the rest of the trip. Avoiding that traffic would be best.

[thekid]

Its pretty easy--just take 78 into Birmingham---hit int. 65 there--go south thru Montgomery take Georgiana exit ( I think it is 113) go thru Georgiana hit 55 thru Andalusia to Florala where u hit 331 to 98---that is the best way that I have found.

[seaside2]

We live in a Memphis suburb and go to Seagrove all the time (Never enough!!!).

Anyway, I would plan on stayng either in Memphis or Tupelo, although there are some places in New Albany, mainly because there are more more food choices there. Our route is 78 to Birmingham, then 331 to 98, then to 30A and we're "home". From Memphis, we plan on 9 hours. there is a good restaurant in Florala, "Country Kitchen" or something like that where we usually stop and get our fix on fried chicken.:wub:

I would stay away from the I 10, 98 thing, but do watch out for the state police in FL. they are strick about speeding. I have more than one "Certificate of Participation" in their speed control program.:yikes:

[Dune-AHH]

We live in a Memphis suburb and go to Seagrove all the time (Never enough!!!).

Anyway, I would plan on stayng either in Memphis or Tupelo, although there are some places in New Albany, mainly because there are more more food choices there. Our route is 78 to Birmingham, then 331 to 98, then to 30A and we're "home". From Memphis, we plan on 9 hours. there is a good restaurant in Florala, "Country Kitchen" or something like that where we usually stop and get our fix on fried chicken.:wub:

I would stay away from the I 10, 98 thing, but do watch out for the state police in FL. they are strick about speeding. I have more than one "Certificate of Participation" in their speed control program.:yikes:

"CoP":floor::floor:

[luvthebeach]

but do watch out for the state police in FL. they are strick about speeding. I have more than one "Certificate of Participation" in their speed control program.:yikes:


We have one of those "certificates" compliments of Georgianna, Alabama, as do a couple of our friends. ;-) Speed limit is strictly enforced there....

[fonesy]

We always do the 64 to 57 to 24 to 65 to 331 route. Takes about 11 to 12 hours of easy driving. We went thru MS one year to avoid weather from a hurricane that was coming north. Longest trip we ever made to the beach. Mobile was a nightmare.

[STL Don]

We always do the 64 to 57 to 24 to 65 to 331 route. Takes about 11 to 12 hours of easy driving. We went thru MS one year to avoid weather from a hurricane that was coming north. Longest trip we ever made to the beach. Mobile was a nightmare.

Totally agree that is a no-brainer way to go.;-)

[seagrovelover]

I have made this drive 5 to 6 times a year since 1982 and the best route is 55 south to HWY 49 in Jackson, Mississipi to Hattiesburg, Miss. where you pick up state 98 to Mobile, Al. then I-10 to Pennsacola then 110 South to Florida 98 into Destin. The entire route is now divided and has been shortened. There is only 19 miles of two lane the entire route!!! Best place to stay is Grenada, Miss. about 90 miles south of Memphis...



You are 100% correct..............best and fastest way to go:D

When someone we know needs to rest (we always drive straight through) we send them to Hattiesburg Miss, that way they only have four hours or so to go the next day.......but Grenada is great too.:wave:

[KansasBorn/30ABound]

You are 100% correct..............best and fastest way to go:D

When someone we know needs to rest (we always drive straight through) we send them to Hattiesburg Miss, that way they only have four hours or so to go the next day.......but Grenada is great too.:wave:

This is exactly our route....and we always stay in Hattiesburg...kind of a long day the first day but the second day is great.

[J.bean]

Thanks for all the advice, especially about where the cops are. Good to know.

One more week!

[Lady D]

Its pretty easy--just take 78 into Birmingham---hit int. 65 there--go south thru Montgomery take Georgiana exit ( I think it is 113) go thru Georgiana hit 55 thru Andalusia to Florala where u hit 331 to 98---that is the best way that I have found.

The Georgiana exit is Exit 106. :biggrin:

[Lady D]

We have one of those "certificates" compliments of Georgianna, Alabama, as do a couple of our friends. ;-) Speed limit is strictly enforced there....

We went through Georgiana and I do not recall seeing any speed traps or cops either. But then again, we may have been going the speed limit through there and we do have radar. And it picks things up a good ways before we come upon the cops.

[Smiling JOe]

With a name like j beam, I have only this advice for your drive, "drink lots of liquor, and let someone else drive." Oops! I thought that "n" was a "m," but you can still drink lots of liquor or eat lots of jelly beans -- your choice.

[rocket136]

Hey J.bean Have a good time. We're here right now and leaving for STL in the am :cry: We plan on going through Memphis and Missisippi

We've been the Memphis way and the Nashville way and prefer the Memphis way because of the abundance of 4 lane roads -- 331 from Montgomery can be a nightmare.

If you are planning a two day stopping in Nashville can be a real treat. We stay at the doubletree downtown within walking distance of the honky tonks on Broadway. The kids stay in the room with a pizza and some movies while you can catch some of the best live music ever, with little or no cover charge. I'm not a big fan of country music but great live music can't be beat..

On the way down my wife and daughter stayed in Hattiesberg - Comfort Inn - there wasn't a lot of choice low vacancy- she was not impressed.

Have a good one :D

[jdarg]

Stop at Annie's in Luverne, Alabama. GREAT country cooking. And get this- the BEST fried clams I have had since Howard Johnson's tendersweets. I am not kidding- who would have figured the best clams would be in Luverne? Toots turned me on to this place.:clap:

Then again, you may not want to go to Luverne. It is on the 331 route you know.:roll: :lol:

[TN2FLA]

78 to 65 to 55 to 331
THE ONLY WAY TO GO FROM MEMPHIS

[seacliffes]

Is 78 a divided Highway? Any stoplights on it, ie. State HWY?

How much of 331 is just two lane?

quote=TN2FLA;262007]78 to 65 to 55 to 331
THE ONLY WAY TO GO FROM MEMPHIS[/quote]

[seacrestkristi]

Get your motor runnin' ;-)

Take it easy. Don't forget your fav-o-rite tunes. :cool:

[J.bean]

With a name like j beam, I have only this advice for your drive, "drink lots of liquor, and let someone else drive." Oops! I thought that "n" was a "m," but you can still drink lots of liquor or eat lots of jelly beans -- your choice.

Jelly beans before liquor, never carsicker...

what a great way to get out of driving, "sorry dear, i've got a little captain in me, you'll have to drive this stretch"

[rocket136]

Jelly beans before liquor, never carsicker...

what a great way to get out of driving, "sorry dear, i've got a little captain in me, you'll have to drive this stretch"


J.Bean
See my post under "traffic" in this forum, This last week being the 4th, I think it was heavier than usual but it's no unusual to 331 to back up when your leaving.

Just for your info It's hotter today in St Louis than it was all last week in SoWal, and the water was pristine.
Have a great Time!

[luvthebeach]

We went through Georgiana and I do not recall seeing any speed traps or cops either. But then again, we may have been going the speed limit through there and we do have radar. And it picks things up a good ways before we come upon the cops.

We tossed our radar detector after the Georgiana incident...the darned thing didn't give a warning until the we'd already been "shot":bang: I've known others who've been ticketed in the same area. We just always make sure to go the speed limit when we drive down that route.

[luvthebeach]

Is 78 a divided Highway? Any stoplights on it, ie. State HWY?

How much of 331 is just two lane?

quote=TN2FLA;262007]78 to 65 to 55 to 331
THE ONLY WAY TO GO FROM MEMPHIS[/QUOTE]

Yes....78 is a great little divided 4 lane highway. Coming out of Memphis it's a little misleading because the first 5 miles or so take you through a run-down little area, but suddenly it turns into this great little highway.