Road trip Dallas Texas to Breaux bridge louisiana
 

Need help with planning a road trip from Dallas to Breaux Bridge Louisiana .
We will be flying into Dallas from Sydney Australia and picking up a car in March. We have 2 nights before we have to be in Breaux Bridge Louisiana. We don't want to drive too far the first day after a long flight. Can anyone suggest a stop for the first night and interesting route with a stop for the secon night. Have been playing with a couple of ideas
1. Waco first night them roads less travelled to Natchitoches 2nd night then , Cane river and onto Breaux Bridge. What would be the most interesting route to take particularly from Waco to Natchitoches?
2. Dallas to Vicksburg for 2nd night but not sure we're to stop first night? Then day 3 follow the Mississippi to Breaux Bridge.
3. Or A route taking in more of Texas?
We don't particularly like big cities prefer small local towns, scenery and culture.
We have the southern river road and New Orleans planned for after we leave Breaux Bridge.

Can you tell me the reason for Waco? IS there something specific because it actually goes slightly in the other direction ?

Dallas to Vicksburg is about six hours. If you want to head that way, stop somewhere on Interstate 20 East on your first night after that long flight. Tyler might be a good option. It is a smaller Texas city about 100 miles from Dallas. Great barbeque at Stanley's!

Dfw to Shreveport is a long 4 hours. Tyler is about 30 minutes off the interstate and I don't think very convenient.

I'd look at stopping in Kilgore. Very small town but because of the oil boom in the last few years there have been some basic hotels built. I'm sure you could find something for the night. There's a great steakhouse to eat at. There are a couple cute shops including a coffee shop/ bookstore. You can go to the East Texas Oil Museum and the Kilgore Rangerette Museum.

Then hop back in your car and drive to Natchitoches. Spend a day and night there and then on to Breaux Bridge.

And if you need/want to, you can stop in Shreveport for lunch. If on a weekday, I'd go to Jacquelyn's or Monjunis, both right off the interstate in an old run down part of town but both great places to eat. Jacquelyn's being louisiana food and Monjunis italian.

Thanks everybody for all your help. Waco just appealed as it was only 1 hour away and had the Texas ranger museum we thought that heading east from there might be more interesting than travelling on the interstate???

Sure, if Waco is what seems interesting, why not? It is more than one hour away--closer to two, depending on traffic. But you will still be on the Interstate (35E) unless you have a different route in mind. A traditional stop on they way from Dallas is Czech Stop (exit 353), where you will find some great Czech snacks and desserts at a bustling convenience store and gas station.

Not sure what route to suggest from Waco-- you would be kind of backtracking if you are headed to Vicksburg but there are lots of interesting roads to travel in Texas on the way to Louisiana.

I wouldn't stay in Tyler, it's a dump.

You can stay in DFW area and hang out for the day (it'll take you until 3 pm, minimum, to get your car after arriving and clearing customs) or evening. Then go to Natchitoches the next day (sub-5 hour drive) and then an easy ride to Breaux Bridge the day after that.

<< we thought that heading east from [Waco] might be more interesting than travelling on the interstate???>>

Uh . . . unlikely. You're going to be travelogged (not a word without my copyright) and the best option is to get where you're trying to get. Taking the southern route from Waco to Natchitoches could be interesting because there are a couple of national parks (Rt 64 to i-45 to Rt 7 and Rt 103), but it'll be a slog and one on which you can easily get lost in some podunk area (seriously, tourism in Lufkin and Milam is not a big industry). Don't disdain the interstates too much - they're your friend if you're planning to do a lot of driving.

And when in the New Orleans area, visit Jacob's Andouille (no, I don't get a % but the number of recommendations I've given means I should) for good eats. It's on Rt 61 in La Place, which is the River Road (but called Airport Hwy at that point).

This place:
http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com...lsmanale/menu/
Friend took us there when we were in NOLA, terrific BBQ shrimp in lots of butter.

On your way south from Vicksburg (on the way to Natchez) - carve out a couple of hours to explore Port Gibson. It's my favorite little towns in that area.

http://www.portgibsononthemississippi.com/tourism.html
---------------

<<Rt 61 in La Place, which is the River Road (but called Airport Hwy at that point).>>

Just clarifying to avoid confusion - it's Airline Hwy.