We are gonna be making the drive from Houston to Destin next week and looking to leverage the OB's infinite wisdom.

We are going to overnight once along the way. Where would you spend the night? I'd like to get the bulk of the drive behind me so that means something east of New Orleans. Mobile seems like a decent option but it's not much of a draw to me. Any hidden gem recommendations? Also, see question 2.

What are the can't miss food stops along the way? Cajun/fried seafood/bbq?

TIA

We just do New Orleans (come from Austin so we have an additional 2-3 hours). There are no hidden gems LOL. Have a nice dinner, stay downtown, enjoy the sights and sounds.

Only other real option for us is BR and it is awful.

We drove from Smithville to Destin a couple years ago and stayed in New Orleans.

When we go, we always end up leaving at the worst time so I get to fight traffic from Houston pretty much to Baton Rouge. I suggest leaving to avoid traffic if possible.

We typically stay the night in Slidell. The worst part of the drive is from Houston to BR/Slidell, so I like to get it out of the way and have a nice easy drive in the next morning.

For a really scenic drive, cross at Pass Christian and follow the coast to Ocean Springs. I especially like the drive along the shore in Biloxi - those older mansions facing the bay are worth the look to me. Bay St. Louis has (or had, not sure anymore) a really nice drive along the beach as well.

Stop at The Shed in Ocean Springs for some southern style BBQ. The USS Alabama is a fun tourist stop as well. You can go way out of your way and head south and cross the ferry at Dauphin Island to visit Ft. Morgan at the mouth of Mobile bay if you want. Wouldn't be convenient, but you can follow the coast from there to cross at Pensacola Bay. The Jefferson Davis Presidential Library is in Biloxi. We went there once when I was a kid, I remember it being pretty cool but don't remember specifics to be honest anymore.

My favorite parts of the drive are the drives over the Singing River in Mississippi and the Mobile River estuary in Alabama. Beautiful areas, i'd love to have a place on one of them to just sit and enjoy the view.

I make the trip to Destin a few times a year, but starting farther North, I stay on I 20 to Mobile. But if you have time to take the Duaphin Island ferry, it is a very nice drive.

Leave Houston at 10pm and drive through the night. You'll get to Destin about 6-7am. Zero traffic until possibly Mobile. Kids can play the first day while you nap.

We are leaving tomorrow for destin.

We spend the night in Baton Rouge at the Hampton inn off I-10 and college. I hate that long bridge, 17 miles of a mess.


The Baton Rouge traffic isn't so bad compared to that damn tunnel in mobile. I'll never go through mobile on a weekend again.



We use to leave at 2:30am and drive straight through. Once the kids were a little older, nope not a good idea.

Stop at Parrains in Baton Rouge to eat. Get the chargrilled oysters.

Stay in Mobile. Bunch of nice places to stay: Renaissance, Admiral, Battle House, Malaga. Cool places to drink and eat on Dauphin St.

I routinely drove I10 between Hou and Jax and always stayed at Super 8 in Biloxi, MS

You could totally change your route to a degree and go the northerly route and stay in Vicksburg. We did that once, was a cool place to stay and Hattiesburg was cool to see as well.

Mobile is a great place to stop to get most of it out of the way. Eat at Felix's and cruise in easy the next day.

We also like to make a stop at Bozos in Pascagoula. Hole in the wall type place that has awesome food and prices. Always seems like it's full of locals.

If you get to Mobile, then you are only a few hours away. I would stop before that, or just drive strait through. That's what we have always done. Get the kids in the car, still in pj's, and leave out at 4 or 5 am. Stop a few times for food, breaks etc, and be ready to go the next day.

Stop at Best Stop in Scott, La for boudin balls and cracklins. Pro tip: buy twice as many boudin balls as your family says they want.

Spend the night in Mobile. Wake up, get a nice rest and a bkfst in you and then drive the rest of the way in and you'll be chillin in Destin for a late lunch.

Just got back from Orange Beach Saturday. I would (and did) drive straight through. With kids and their requisite bathroom breaks it took us about 9.5 hours.

As another poster said, stay the hell away from the tunnel in Mobile! If you haven't already downloaded Waze, I recommend that as it routed us around the tunnel and saved probably 30 minutes drive time.

Also, obviously take I-12 to avoid New Orleans.

I have never had much of an issue with the tunnel in Mobile.

The bridge in BR is a different story though, seems like there is always something going on that charlie foxtrots traffic there. I go the north route now and use the Airline bridge. A smidge more miles, but not as many headaches.

Have stayed in Biloxi before & liked it.

We go every year from Austin with our three kiddos. Was there last week.

We leave Friday and stay in Spanish Fort just past Mobile. Generally pull in around 7-9 and avoid the Mobile traffic. Then its an easy drive into Destin where we generally hit the beach or amble around until the house is ready. This avoids Mobile Tunnel traffic, avoids (for us) Houston rush hour, and if we time it right beat the 5pm craziness in BR (though it generally sucks regardless)

Couple of marriotts by bass pro and other hotels nearby.

Also gets you in front of the Saturday rush into Destin.

As others have said the coastal roads are fun diversions but much slower if on a schedule. Also Waze as stated above is a life saver.

Did the USS Alabama this year and it was fun with the kiddos.

We used to do the drive straight through on Saturday thing but between the traffic and cranky little kids it wasn't worth it imo.

Didn't really hit any gnarly traffic this year but it wasn't a holiday weekend. Dont discount the time it takes to get through Baton Rouge and Slidell and plan bathroom breaks for any little ones accordingly.

Parrains in BR is great, there is a great sandwich place in a market over by USL that has killer po boys (name escapes me) in Lafayette

Wintzells Oyster House in Mobile is outstanding.

We made the trip last week and stayed in Spanish Fort.

Wintzell's and Felix's in Mobile are both good places to eat.

I recommend French Market Inn in New Orleans for a hotel.

In Mobile, if the tunnel is backed up you can exit the interstate, drive through downtown and through a smaller less busy tunnel (you'll see it on the map) and hop back on the interstate on the other side.

Be sure to get grilled oysters at Acme Oyster in destin, and drink some 30A Beach Blonde beer.

I know this isn't a where to eat thread but this place is worth considering. Sits on the beach, food is good and the drinks are as well. The parking can be a pain but it's generally not insanely crowded like some of the other places on the main road.

Made the trip from Round Rock to Destin and back a couple of weeks ago. Going there we left early and drove all the way. Coming back we spent the night in Lafayette. If you have time, the Oak Alley Plantation is pretty cool to see. There's also a battleship, a submarine, a B-52 and maybe some other stuff in Mobile right after you go through the tunnel (we didn't stop there because we didn't have time).

If you've never driven across the Ponchartrain causeway that's kinda cool. Once.

Aside from that, traffic in Destin is terrible. Have fun making left turns and U-turns.

If you're there on a Sunday and looking for a place to worship, we found the Destin Church of Christ to be very warm and welcoming. No need to get all dressed up. They're very casual.

I drove from Houston to Rosemary on Saturday. All of I-10 is ***** What should have been a 10.5 hour drive ended up being over 12 hours. There were 4 areas where traffic came to a dead stop for miles (Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge-no surprise: I-12 near Covington-no wreck, just increasingly populated; I-12 to I-10 transfer near Slidell- complete cluster*** and Slidell is a armpit for whoever recommended staying there; and finally 3 miles before the Mobile tunnel until 10 miles after the Mobile tunnel- averaged 5 MPH). I will be going north to I-20 or country roads on the way back.

f burg ag said:

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I drove from Houston to Rosemary on Saturday. All of I-10 is ***** What should have been a 10.5 hour drive ended up being over 12 hours. There were 4 areas where traffic came to a dead stop for miles (Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge-no surprise: I-12 near Covington-no wreck, just increasingly populated; I-12 to I-10 transfer near Slidell- complete cluster*** and Slidell is a armpit for whoever recommended staying there; and finally 3 miles before the Mobile tunnel until 10 miles after the Mobile tunnel- averaged 5 MPH). I will be going north to I-20 or country roads on the way back.

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Headed to Rosemary in a few weeks. Increasingly considering pulling an all nighter for the drive, just not sure I can handle that since I'm usually out at 10.

Irish_Man said:

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I know this isn't a where to eat thread but this place is worth considering. Sits on the beach, food is good and the drinks are as well. The parking can be a pain but it's generally not insanely crowded like some of the other places on the main road.

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We have a house walking distance to surf hut. For a tourist trap it isnt bad and we hit it up frequently. TheWonderer nailed the drive, do it at night and F baton rouge. If we stop, we hit a casino in Biloxi and draw straws on who is stuck in the room with kiddos

Other places to eat while there:
Boshamp's
Dewey Destin (Crab Island)

We are headed to destin this Friday as well. We are planning to leave the BCS Friday afternoon and get to Baton Rouge for the night.

Can't wait to sit my butt on the beach for the week. Still deciding on golf or not

Ditto Boshamps. That place was great.

We are partial to Pompano Joes and Crab Trap with Donut Hole for breakfast

Aggietaco said:

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f burg ag said:

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I drove from Houston to Rosemary on Saturday. All of I-10 is ***** What should have been a 10.5 hour drive ended up being over 12 hours. There were 4 areas where traffic came to a dead stop for miles (Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge-no surprise: I-12 near Covington-no wreck, just increasingly populated; I-12 to I-10 transfer near Slidell- complete cluster*** and Slidell is a armpit for whoever recommended staying there; and finally 3 miles before the Mobile tunnel until 10 miles after the Mobile tunnel- averaged 5 MPH). I will be going north to I-20 or country roads on the way back.

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Headed to Rosemary in a few weeks. Increasingly considering pulling an all nighter for the drive, just not sure I can handle that since I'm usually out at 10.

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Honest suggestion....if you want to make it a two day trip and avoid the abortion that is I-10, go to Natchez, Mississippi for a night. The town is very quaint and cool places to stay (Dunleith Plantation is awesome). And at the end of the day, your total travel time will be the same as if you hacked it out on I-10 the whole way there.

Eat at Fillin Station or Half Shell Oyster House in Biloxi
As mentioned, Battleship Alabama
Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola
Eat the mullet at Marina Oyster Barn in Pensacola
Visit Fairhope, AL and eat at Lambert's in Foley

A couple other Rosemary observations:

DO NOT go to Bayou Bill's Crab House. It is the most bland seafood I have ever had. My assumption is that they have to cater to folks above the Mason Dixon line that can't handle spices.

The larger/public beaches have chairs and umbrellas that go 5 deep on the beach and seem more populated than the beach in Jaws. There are places like High Point were this is not the case. But if you are not at High Point, you need to reserve your chairs/umbrellas NOW.

The speed limit on 30A is 25 MPH, but go slower and keep your eyes peeled. People randomly cross the road without any attention to the oncoming traffic.

HumbleAg04 said:

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Irish_Man said:

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I know this isn't a where to eat thread but this place is worth considering. Sits on the beach, food is good and the drinks are as well. The parking can be a pain but it's generally not insanely crowded like some of the other places on the main road.

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We have a house walking distance to surf hut. For a tourist trap it isnt bad and we hit it up frequently. TheWonderer nailed the drive, do it at night and F baton rouge. If we stop, we hit a casino in Biloxi and draw straws on who is stuck in the room with kiddos

Other places to eat while there:
Boshamp's
Dewey Destin (Crab Island)

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My parents place is just down the road at the beach house.

Ditto on crab trap and the doughnut hole.

When my son was still playing baseball we always ended up driving to the Florida tournaments because invariably we had to take all the ****. We always made it from Texas to Florida without stopping, maybe not all the way to Tampa or Orlando, but at least the panhandle or Jacksonville area. So unless there's a true need to stop I'd suggest driving all the way through and enjoying more time in Destin, rather than some roadside hotel along the way. Just my two cents.

Can't remember the name of it but it sits just on the other side of the bridge leading to destin facing the bay. Decent place to eat. Can get crowded with tourists.