Have You Driven U.S. Route 98 Along the Gulf of Mexico?
Jan 30th, 2010, 08:04 AM
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Have You Driven U.S. Route 98 Along the Gulf of Mexico?
We are planning to drive U.S. Route 98 from Carrabelle, Florida, to Mobile, Alabama, hoping for great views of the Gulf of Mexico. Is this a good idea, or are there too many stop signs and traffic lights?
HTTY
HTTY
Jan 30th, 2010, 10:26 AM
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IMHO it is a wonderful idea! You will see old Florida! Called the "Forgotten Coast". If you follow Route 98 West, you will pass through most of the upper Florida coast. It is a slow drive to Pensacola as you pass through several towns along the coast but the drive is well worth it. As for restaurants, if you are an oyster fan there are some of the best oyster bars along the coast. On St George Island just before Apalachicola is "Eddy Teaches" raw bar. In Apalachicola is "Boss Oyster" with 18 different ways of serving oysters. Outside Apalachicola a few miles just off of route 98, if you take SR 30, a bypass rural road which again merges with 98 further up, you will pass "Indian Pass Raw Bar" a rustic, unique oyster bar with oysters served only 3 ways. In Port St Joe at "Dockside Cafe" in the marina, from 4 to 6 Mon through Fri, oysters and drinks are two for one. In Mexico Beach on 98 is "Tucans", one of my favorites as the oysters and other food is very good and the restaurant is right on the beach, very close to the water line and probably the one I recommend most because of the view. If you do not savor oysters, all of these restaurants also serve good fish dinners and sandwiches, except for "Indian Pass", this is an oyster and shrimp bar. The scenery all the way to Pensacola and Mobile is beautiful and worth the drive. There are also good seafood restaurants in Pensacola.
Jan 30th, 2010, 12:09 PM
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For good views of the Gulf, take a short detour at Navarre, which is east of Pensacola. Take the Navarre Beach Causeway across the Sound to Santa Rosa Island and drive on 399 for about 15 miles. At Pensacola Beach, you'll take the bridge back across the Sound to rejoin highway 98 at Gulf Breeze, shortly before the bridge that crosses the Bay into Pensacola. There's nothing particularly scenic about 98 between Navarre and Gulf Breeze, with the possible exception of the short distance it passes through the Naval Live Oaks Reservation; it's mostly strip malls. 399 is much more scenic. There might be a toll on one of the bridges, I'm not sure - it's been awhile since I drove that route.
Jan 30th, 2010, 06:34 PM
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(WARNING - this is a long post!)
HTTY--
I grew up on the coast in the region through which you want to drive. There are stretches of US 98 that are along the water, stretches from which you can see the water, and stretches that have no views of the water.
I looked at the route on Google Maps just to double-check, as it has been a while since I have traveled parts of 98, and it looks like the following is true:
From Carrabelle to Apalachicola, a significant portion of the drive will be along or near the water (although trees and houses will block views in places). I was thourgh the Eastpoint-Apalachicola stretch a year ago, and it has some nice scenery (but not 100% water views).
West of Apalachicola, US-98/US-319/SR-30 turns inland going to Port St. Joe. If you want to stay along the water, take SR-30A to Indian Pass. SR-30A meets up with 98 again at Port St. Joe (looks like it adds 10 minutes or so to travel time).
From Port St. Joe to Mexico Beach, 98 is on or near water.
At Mexico Beach, 98 turns inland through Panama City to Panama City Beach. In Panama City Beach, just after the bridge from Panama City, you can pick up US-98 Alt (Front Beach Road) to go along the water. Rejoin US-98 around Hollywood Beach-Carillon Beach.
At Inlet Beach, US-98 turns inland yet again. You can pick up CR-30A to go along the water to Topsail Hill.I was through here a year ago as well, and the views are mixed. There are large stretches where you can't see the water due to houses/condos/etc. There are other stretches that are more inland, although the parts that go through state park land are pretty (sometimes passing by lakes or bayous). Traffic definitely does not move fast trough here due to all the development.
From Topsail to Destin you will not have much of a water view. The short stretch from Destin to Fort Walton Beach is along the water, however. Here you actually are on Santa Rosa Island (called Okaloosa Island by the locals). You might be tempted to stay on the island by turning off on Santa Rosa Blvd. before 98 crosses over to the mainland, but don't. The road dead-ends short of Navarre Beach, so you would have to back-track significantly, although the scenery would be beautiful.
From Fort Walton Beach to Navarre you will have intermittent views of the water (Santa Rosa Sound) and the island, especially around Hurlburt Field (Air Force), but mostly it will be trees and strip malls and such.
As Sara said, take 399 (can't remember if it is SR or CR) over to Navarre Beach. There is a toll bridge - I think the toll is $1. When you get to "downtown" Pensacola Beach you will cross another bridge back to Gulf Breeze on the mainland. Much of this route goes through part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, so there is no development, although dunes obscure the view of the water in many places. This is some of the most beautiful scenery along your route, in my opinion.
Once you cross from Gulf Breeze to Pensacola (over a 3-mile-long bridge), US-98 no longer follows the water. From Pensacola to Spanish Fort, AL, and the causeway across Mobile Bay, the route is inland. Unless you just really want to avoid the Interstate, you might consider taking I-110 from downtown Pensacola to I-10 West to Mobile.
Taking 98 all the way, travel time from Carrabelle to Mobile is 7 hours by Google Maps, not counting stops or heavy traffic.
BUT - IF you want to continue along the water, you can do so. It will add significant time to your journey, though. Here is how:
As you exit the Pensacola Bay Bridge, bear left onto Bayfront Parkway. It will become Main Street and dead-end into Barrancas Avenue (SR-292), where you will turn left. You will drive inland for several miles and the road will change names a couple of times. Eventually 292 crosses over to Perdido Key. At the Alabama line FL-292 changes to AL-182.
It looks like the view is blocked by dunes and/or condos/other buildings for significant stretches of this route, so not sure how much of the water you actually get to see.
When you get to Gulf Shores, you will need to take SR-59 (Gulf Shores Pkwy) north. If you stay on SR-182, you will run out of road eventually.
At SR-180 (Fort Morgan Road) you have a choice - you can turn left onto 180 and follow it to Fort Morgan (an actual old fort) and take a ferry across the pass to Dauphin Island. On Dauphin Island, take Bienville Blvd. to SR-193 up to I-10. The ferry cost will be around $20 - for more info visit www.mobilebayferry.com. If you decide to take the ferry, be sure to call and make sure it is operating - it can be canceled in bad weather.
If you decide not to take the ferry, then just follow SR-59 north from Gulf Shores to either US-98 (turn left in Foley) or I-10.
Hope you have a wonderful drive!!
HTTY--
I grew up on the coast in the region through which you want to drive. There are stretches of US 98 that are along the water, stretches from which you can see the water, and stretches that have no views of the water.
I looked at the route on Google Maps just to double-check, as it has been a while since I have traveled parts of 98, and it looks like the following is true:
From Carrabelle to Apalachicola, a significant portion of the drive will be along or near the water (although trees and houses will block views in places). I was thourgh the Eastpoint-Apalachicola stretch a year ago, and it has some nice scenery (but not 100% water views).
West of Apalachicola, US-98/US-319/SR-30 turns inland going to Port St. Joe. If you want to stay along the water, take SR-30A to Indian Pass. SR-30A meets up with 98 again at Port St. Joe (looks like it adds 10 minutes or so to travel time).
From Port St. Joe to Mexico Beach, 98 is on or near water.
At Mexico Beach, 98 turns inland through Panama City to Panama City Beach. In Panama City Beach, just after the bridge from Panama City, you can pick up US-98 Alt (Front Beach Road) to go along the water. Rejoin US-98 around Hollywood Beach-Carillon Beach.
At Inlet Beach, US-98 turns inland yet again. You can pick up CR-30A to go along the water to Topsail Hill.I was through here a year ago as well, and the views are mixed. There are large stretches where you can't see the water due to houses/condos/etc. There are other stretches that are more inland, although the parts that go through state park land are pretty (sometimes passing by lakes or bayous). Traffic definitely does not move fast trough here due to all the development.
From Topsail to Destin you will not have much of a water view. The short stretch from Destin to Fort Walton Beach is along the water, however. Here you actually are on Santa Rosa Island (called Okaloosa Island by the locals). You might be tempted to stay on the island by turning off on Santa Rosa Blvd. before 98 crosses over to the mainland, but don't. The road dead-ends short of Navarre Beach, so you would have to back-track significantly, although the scenery would be beautiful.
From Fort Walton Beach to Navarre you will have intermittent views of the water (Santa Rosa Sound) and the island, especially around Hurlburt Field (Air Force), but mostly it will be trees and strip malls and such.
As Sara said, take 399 (can't remember if it is SR or CR) over to Navarre Beach. There is a toll bridge - I think the toll is $1. When you get to "downtown" Pensacola Beach you will cross another bridge back to Gulf Breeze on the mainland. Much of this route goes through part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, so there is no development, although dunes obscure the view of the water in many places. This is some of the most beautiful scenery along your route, in my opinion.
Once you cross from Gulf Breeze to Pensacola (over a 3-mile-long bridge), US-98 no longer follows the water. From Pensacola to Spanish Fort, AL, and the causeway across Mobile Bay, the route is inland. Unless you just really want to avoid the Interstate, you might consider taking I-110 from downtown Pensacola to I-10 West to Mobile.
Taking 98 all the way, travel time from Carrabelle to Mobile is 7 hours by Google Maps, not counting stops or heavy traffic.
BUT - IF you want to continue along the water, you can do so. It will add significant time to your journey, though. Here is how:
As you exit the Pensacola Bay Bridge, bear left onto Bayfront Parkway. It will become Main Street and dead-end into Barrancas Avenue (SR-292), where you will turn left. You will drive inland for several miles and the road will change names a couple of times. Eventually 292 crosses over to Perdido Key. At the Alabama line FL-292 changes to AL-182.
It looks like the view is blocked by dunes and/or condos/other buildings for significant stretches of this route, so not sure how much of the water you actually get to see.
When you get to Gulf Shores, you will need to take SR-59 (Gulf Shores Pkwy) north. If you stay on SR-182, you will run out of road eventually.
At SR-180 (Fort Morgan Road) you have a choice - you can turn left onto 180 and follow it to Fort Morgan (an actual old fort) and take a ferry across the pass to Dauphin Island. On Dauphin Island, take Bienville Blvd. to SR-193 up to I-10. The ferry cost will be around $20 - for more info visit www.mobilebayferry.com. If you decide to take the ferry, be sure to call and make sure it is operating - it can be canceled in bad weather.
If you decide not to take the ferry, then just follow SR-59 north from Gulf Shores to either US-98 (turn left in Foley) or I-10.
Hope you have a wonderful drive!!
Jan 31st, 2010, 04:27 AM
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Good post Cran, a lot of detail! I remember driving from Navarre to Pensacola via a road that followed the water thru the National Seashore and then I heard that a hurricane destoyed that road. Do you know if it were ever repaired?
Jan 31st, 2010, 07:08 AM
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Thanks to those who posted, I had a similar question we are going to Santa Rosa Beach in March and can save a fair bit of airfare going via Pensacola vs. the VPS airport---but only wanted to do it if we could get a nice scenic drive out of it, and it seems like this would fit the bill...Right?
Also, if you wanted to spend an hour or two in Pensacola what would be your top pics--seems like there are a few areas with nice architecture and sights so we were planning on doing lunch and then continuing on.
Also, if you wanted to spend an hour or two in Pensacola what would be your top pics--seems like there are a few areas with nice architecture and sights so we were planning on doing lunch and then continuing on.
Jan 31st, 2010, 07:26 AM
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Well, If I had longer than an hour or two it would be:http://florida-travel.suite101.com/a...m_pensacola_fl
However, with just an hour or two, I would probably walk around the beach area a bit and then ride out to Fort Pickens: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/W..._Beach_Florida
However, with just an hour or two, I would probably walk around the beach area a bit and then ride out to Fort Pickens: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/W..._Beach_Florida
Jan 31st, 2010, 07:47 AM
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Thank you for this excellent information.
Cranachin, the details you provided will be put to good use on the day we have set aside to drive from Apalachicola to Pensacola.
Question: Would Pensacola Beach be a good place for us to stay the day before we complete our drive to New Orleans? While in the area we want spend a night in a room with a balcony and Gulf view.
HTTY
Cranachin, the details you provided will be put to good use on the day we have set aside to drive from Apalachicola to Pensacola.
Question: Would Pensacola Beach be a good place for us to stay the day before we complete our drive to New Orleans? While in the area we want spend a night in a room with a balcony and Gulf view.
HTTY
Jan 31st, 2010, 08:31 AM
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HTTY I would do it. The Hampton Inn is right on the beach with balconies and boardwalks to restaurants and little shops.
http://www.hamptonbeachresort.com/
http://www.hamptonbeachresort.com/
Jan 31st, 2010, 08:47 AM
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happytrails, cd, cran, etal,
The road from Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach is open, as is the road to Fort Pickens from Pensacola Beach.
Crossing to Santa Rosa Island at Navarre Beach there is no toll. It used to be $.35 but they removed that years ago. There is a toll of $.50/axle ($1.00 for a regular car) to enter the Island at Pensacola Beach. It costs nothing to exit at either bridge.
As others have said, there are some scenic portions and some not so scenic ones. Cran has given you some excellent routing advice. Alas, since the last few hurricanes, there are few dunes left to block your view of the Gulf as you drive from Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach. But, since we're lucky enough that's it's a National Seashore, there also aren't any condos or houses for that nice long stretch. There are several parking areas where you could stop for a quick walk, if the mood strikes you.
Since I live at Pensacola Beach I'm biased when I say "yes" it's a good place to stay for a water view. But so is Perdido Key, if you wanted to go by the Naval Aviation Museum before spending the night somewhere.
Have a lovely drive.
The road from Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach is open, as is the road to Fort Pickens from Pensacola Beach.
Crossing to Santa Rosa Island at Navarre Beach there is no toll. It used to be $.35 but they removed that years ago. There is a toll of $.50/axle ($1.00 for a regular car) to enter the Island at Pensacola Beach. It costs nothing to exit at either bridge.
As others have said, there are some scenic portions and some not so scenic ones. Cran has given you some excellent routing advice. Alas, since the last few hurricanes, there are few dunes left to block your view of the Gulf as you drive from Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach. But, since we're lucky enough that's it's a National Seashore, there also aren't any condos or houses for that nice long stretch. There are several parking areas where you could stop for a quick walk, if the mood strikes you.
Since I live at Pensacola Beach I'm biased when I say "yes" it's a good place to stay for a water view. But so is Perdido Key, if you wanted to go by the Naval Aviation Museum before spending the night somewhere.
Have a lovely drive.
Jan 31st, 2010, 11:02 AM
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HTTY--
Agree with cd and Floridafran that Pensacola Beach would be a good place to spend the night during your journey, especially if you elect not to go through Perdido Key, etc.
Fran--thanks for the update on the Navarre Beach toll and road. It's been a long time since I have been out there.
nynctraveler--Naval Aviation Museum is interesting, as are nearby Fort Barrancas and Advanced Redoubt, but they are out of your way (west of Pensacola on the Naval Air Station, and you will be heading east). It will take more than 2 hours to visit.
If you don't go to Fort Pickens (which is quite historic), there are a number of small museums in the downtown Pensacola area (which is pretty much on your way east) that you can visit, along with shops and restaurants. www.visitpensacola.com
Agree with cd and Floridafran that Pensacola Beach would be a good place to spend the night during your journey, especially if you elect not to go through Perdido Key, etc.
Fran--thanks for the update on the Navarre Beach toll and road. It's been a long time since I have been out there.
nynctraveler--Naval Aviation Museum is interesting, as are nearby Fort Barrancas and Advanced Redoubt, but they are out of your way (west of Pensacola on the Naval Air Station, and you will be heading east). It will take more than 2 hours to visit.
If you don't go to Fort Pickens (which is quite historic), there are a number of small museums in the downtown Pensacola area (which is pretty much on your way east) that you can visit, along with shops and restaurants. www.visitpensacola.com
Dec 19th, 2011, 10:10 AM
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Hi,
I just went thought this nice topic and I thank everybody for their useful informations.
Me and a friend are going to fly in orlando (from Montreal) and we are going to travel on the route 98 from Orlando to New Orleans. Since we arrived at noon, we were planning to take 2 and a half day for the ride, stopping at places of interested, before arriving in NO. We were wandering what are the places not to be missed along our way in terms of national or state parks (St joseph, St Georges, Bald Point, Tate's hell, etc. etc. etc.) and town worth stopping along our trip. We'll have camping gear to camp or we'll take cheap motels. We're both really excited about heading to New Orleans and this part of the coast, so any information, advices, tips or else we'll be be really appreciated
I just went thought this nice topic and I thank everybody for their useful informations.
Me and a friend are going to fly in orlando (from Montreal) and we are going to travel on the route 98 from Orlando to New Orleans. Since we arrived at noon, we were planning to take 2 and a half day for the ride, stopping at places of interested, before arriving in NO. We were wandering what are the places not to be missed along our way in terms of national or state parks (St joseph, St Georges, Bald Point, Tate's hell, etc. etc. etc.) and town worth stopping along our trip. We'll have camping gear to camp or we'll take cheap motels. We're both really excited about heading to New Orleans and this part of the coast, so any information, advices, tips or else we'll be be really appreciated
Dec 19th, 2011, 12:09 PM
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Not sure what time of the year you will be traveling but I highly suggest reservations at the campgrounds. A great place to camp is Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach, but it's popular so be sure and get a reservation. It's only three hours from there to NO so that could be your last stop before NO.
There will be state parks along the way, but no national parks.
From Orlando I would probably go to Anna Maria Island, especially if this is during beach weather time. Appalachicola area is great too...definitely more old Florida than the rest of the state.
A great state park can be found at Grayton Beach, close to Destin. Again, depending on the season, I would make reservations for the campground.
There will be state parks along the way, but no national parks.
From Orlando I would probably go to Anna Maria Island, especially if this is during beach weather time. Appalachicola area is great too...definitely more old Florida than the rest of the state.
A great state park can be found at Grayton Beach, close to Destin. Again, depending on the season, I would make reservations for the campground.
Dec 19th, 2011, 05:18 PM
#18
welcome to Fodors 2112. You have tacked your questions on to a 2 year old thread. It would be better if you start a new thread of your own. Lots of folks won't notice the dates and think they are answering the original questions and not even see yours.
