We're heading to Washington at the end of July to cheer our daughter (also a MINI owner) on to victory in the Ms. Wheelchair America pageant. She's currently Ms. Wheelchair Texas. Hubby's willing to take the MINI instead of his barge (BMW)! I'd like a reasonably fast route that takes me through as many curvy areas as possible, and preferably through Hot Springs, where we're considering retiring to. Google wants to straight-line us on I-10 until New Orleans, and then up. Not for us!

Suggestions? I'm willing to take some interstates as long as they aren't straight and level, and as long as there are diversions along the way. We're starting from north of Houston.

 

I know you are looking for reasonably fast but those Louisianna roads are rough anyway. They'll beat the mess out of you and your poor MINI. I say take 59.

Googled from Conroe to Washington DC, sure it's an hour longer (oops) but it's a really scenic drive. And once you get out of Texas you start finding hills.

105 or 190 across to 59, I don't know which is better for you. You can take 59 the whole way but there are a few (convoluted) loops to avoid all the small towns. It may be further distance wise but it's supposed to shave about 15 minutes off the drive to Texarkana.

I've driven all three ways below. The last one seems awfully long to me but it is a nice drive.

59N to 30E in Texarkana. Small towns, traffic lights, low speed limits.

<< OR >>

59N to Loop 287 in Lufkin. go right onto loop
287 around Lufkin to 59N
59N to 259N in Nacogdoches
259N to 315 (right turn) in Mt. Enterprise
315 to Loop 149 in Carthage (see alternate rt. below)
LEFT on loop 149 to 59N into Texarkana
59N to 30 in Texarkana, point it east and keep rolling.
Done.

***Alternate longer, more scenic rt.***
RIGHT on loop 149 to 79N
79N to 20 E
20E to loop 220N
220N to 71 N
look for 549 between Kiblah and Doddridge, 549 is a new bypass that is faster but 71 stays a small two lane scenic road.
71 or 549 to loop 245 (N? E?)
245 to 30E

 

Hi--yeah, I've done the Texarkana route a number of times (Hubby thought he was going to be transferred there a couple of years ago). And it's a quick shot up from there to Hot Springs. I'm more worried about the routing from Hot Springs to DC.

Do I have you on the mailing list for the MINI Club of The Woodlands (MCOW)? And are you a member of HMMS?

 

No, I'm not a member anywhere yet. My MINI still hasn't arrived so I haven't done much but lurk around here and post every now and then. Feel free to PM or post details. (if you don't mind a slight thread detour)

If you take 30 to 40 to 81 you will see some beautiful country. Lots of old battlegrounds, mountains, rolling hills, farms, etc. I've driven (work) to IL, NJ and RI a few times and everytime I've been I wish I had a good camera and time to stop.

 

We did Memphis to Houston and back to get my daughter's MINI back in March (Nigel). As above, Highway 59 was our chosen route.

59 up to Texarkana, then Hot Springs, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, (Little Rock to Knoxville all on I-40), then up into Virginia and DC.

East of Little Rock to almost Nashville is pretty flat... you're in the Mississippi River delta... not much way around it. Closer to Nashville the roads liven up a little... but it's still interstate, so no twisties. Nashville to Knoxville and beyond is much more scenic.

FYI, the Houston - Memphis leg was 9 hours plus any stops you make, at 5-10 mph over the speed limit.... that was from Rosenburg, TX.

 

- After I-40, I would then take I-81 North after Knoxville.
- I would stay on I-81 up to I-64 East.
- Soon after you get onto I-64 East, I would look for signs to enter the Shenendoah National Park/Skyline Drive. It will take you on a scenic and twisty two-hour ride through the tops of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I believe it is about 105 miles long. Around the halfway point there is a popular stopping point called Big Meadow where you can stop and grab some food and walk the surrounding meadows.
- If you take it the entire way, you should end up around Front Royal, Virginia, Rt. 340.
- After about a mile, get onto Rt. 55.
- Stay on Rt. 55 for about 5 miles until you reach I-66 East.
- I-66 East will take you through Northern Virginia and is a straight shot into DC.

I would post a highlighted map of what I'm talking about, but I dunno how LOL.

But, here are some links to the Shenendoah National Park & Skyline Drive:

http://www.nps.gov/shen/

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/map1.htm

Hope that helps

 

I've made the trip a few times and suggest the smaller roads north of Atlanta like 441 north of Clayton. The Blue Ridge Parkway is beautiful and curvy, but a little slow if you get stuck behind an RV. Virginia is full of the best country roads around, but watch out for the cops - they're everywhere on the main highways. Good luck to your daughter!

 

Super info, thanks! Still collecting more, so if anyone has any ideas, feel free to post them.

I hear that Virginia is nasty to speeders and radar detectors. I'd only go 5-10 over, but I do vote with my wallet. Do they aim for out of state plates? If so, what's the best way around the state (as much as possible, that is), if you're heading to the Maryland side of DC?

 

Don't miss Virginia. Just drive cautiously and you'll be fine.

 

It's not THAT bad! Plenty of us live and drive (too fast) in Virginia. No reason to avoid an entire state.

 

I'm going to be heading to Vermont next month in my MINI around the same time frame. I've done this trip several times going through Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama/Tennessee/Virginia/Maryland, etc. Mostly interstate, not exceptionally curvy, but much more scenic than our Texas interstates. We may stray off route a bit this year to do some riding (mountainbikes) on the way up, but will probably do a banzai run home. Last year I made it from Mt Snow to Chattanooga the first night in 17 hours of driving in the Porsche , then 13 more hours the next day home. Give my regards and good luck wishes to Michelle!

 

Thanks for the wishes--bet she wins it fair and square! (She only has to beat 49 other ladies, right?)

I think the pageant itself is the 27th, so if you're in the area...