Driving from Tallahassee to New Orleans?
 

We will be driving from Tallahassee to New Orleans and we are thinking that rather than do it as a straight shot on I-10 it would be interesting to drive as close to the Gulf as possible through Eastpoint, Apalachicola, Panama City, Miramar Beach, and Forth Walton Beach to Pensacola.

Is this a beautiful drive, or would we be better off on the Interstate?

We have been to Tallahassee and New Orleans before but never to any of the places between these two cities

Parts of the drive are beautiful, parts of the drive are touristy beach front. I think it's worth taking the scenic route.

Santa Rosa Island has stretches of natural seaside that is just spectacular. Apalachicola is a oyster port with character.

Some locals should pick up with do not miss and head back to the freeway specifics.

Thank you, stumpworks. Any more advice about which stretches along the Gulf are most scenic?

How much time do you want to spend on the road? You will easily double the time it takes if you go the scenic route!

That said--

SR399 on Santa Rosa Island is indeed a beautiful drive (from US98 get on the island at Navarre-Navarre Brach, get off at Pensacola Beach-Gulf Breeze). The western stretch of that route is more scenic, however, as it is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore. The eastern stretch is developed, more so as you get into P'cola Beach.

Area around Apalachicola and Eastpoint is pretty, too.

Don't know what you planned for Mississippi. I have not been along the Mississippi coast (US 90) in years, so don't know what it is like now, especially in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. But I do not remember it as being particularly "scenic", despite being along the water. I would think you ar emore likely to get bogged down in traffic in Mississippi as well

In somewhat of a relevant vein: the last time anyone in my family drove from Tallahassee to NO was when DS2 and SEVERAL of his college buddies borrowed my Toyota Van for the trip to Mardi Gras. Long story short, the van "caught on fire" and was abandoned by the roadside. We paid $$$ for towing, but beyond repair. DS and all buddies were OK, I was saddened by the loss of my dear van. And they had a great time in NO!

Thanks, rncheryl, for the great story.

How long are you planning to take for the drive?

Apalachicola would be a nice place to stop for lunch and a little walk around (shops etc.) after you leave Tallahassee, but if you're leaving at the crack of dawn you'd get there too early (it's about an hour and a half from Tallahassee).

P.S. More like two hours, my husband says. It depends on how you drive (but I got my last speeding ticket heading that way, so maybe you should listen to my husband).

We're doing the same drive a week earlier than you. Plans are to take US98 along the coast for a couple of days and then to stop at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. The next day explore the battleship USS Alabama and the submarine USS Drum, both in Mobile. Then on to NOLA.

Let's compare notes upon our returns.

HTTY

If memory serves me, driving from Tallahassee to New Orleans on I-10 will take 9-11 hours without any detours. A one night stop in Pensacola would give you a chance to see the coast around Gulf Breeze/navarre and also the naval museum.