TedS -- I was recently through just south of there on 49, crossing the river at Helena. There's a very nice Arkansas Welcome Center (good pit stop) just past the bridge where 49 and 49BR split. Enter 34.50372911199288, -90.60652224526547 in google maps.

There's also a cheap ($16!) casino where you can stay. It is literally a parking lot with full hookups, and filled with mostly construction workers, but it was OK for a night's stay. We didn't go in the casino. 34.49989168982312, -90.57773279969899

The point is...if you can avoid Memphis, I suggest doing so. Traffic is apparently horrendous due to the cracked bridge.

Howard

Isle of Capri

Thanks. Maybe I'll stick to my original plan to go from Knoxville north to eventually pick up I70 west at St. Louis.

Would this be a good way to bypass Memphis to get to I22 from I-40? Looks like I need to grab 278 from 49 to get there. I am headed to Statesboro Ga from Durango and I40 seems to be the way to go. Best route is I40 to I22 to I20 to 75 out of Alanta (need a bypass there) to I16.
Thoughts?

Keith,

Caveat: I tend to stay away from interstates as much as possible. I prefer state highways and don't mind the occasional small town with traffic lights and reduced speed limits. Keep in mind the info below is based on those preferences. YMMV

The route below is one I took. Enter the GPS coordinates (copy and paste) into google maps to see the exact point.

East of Little Rock I got off I-40 at 216 (Brinkley) and headed south on 49. N34.90844° W91.20199°

Followed 49 south (south east) through Arkansas and across the river. Arkansas Welcome Center is a very good stop for a potty break/rest. N34.50304° W90.60485°

In Mississippi I took 61 north N34.42343° W90.46267° to 4 east N34.64024° W90.38360° until it joins with I-22. N34.74624° W89.45504° Look closely at a map for this section of travel to see all the details.

I-22 to I-65. N33.57416° W86.81962°

I-65 to I-459. N33.39374° W86.78502° (Worst part of the trip was around Birmingham--traffic was awful.)

I-459 to 280 east. N33.44167° W86.72949° Quite a few traffic lights until you get past the influence of Birmingham.

280 to 80 east (near Manchester) N32.48659° W85.03236°

80 turns into 96 near Geneva, Georgia. N32.57493° W84.56503°

You can follow 96 across Georgia and it will meet up with I-16 at N32.61892° W83.37039° Road is excellent except for going through Fort Valley (look closely at a map before going through Fort Valley) N32.55816° W83.88349° Also, don't miss Lane's Southern Orchards just past Fort Valley N32.55629° W83.82751° . Stop and get some peach ice cream.

Some traffic and congestion between where 96 crosses I-75 until you get through Bonaire. N32.54622° W83.73121° (I used to live in this area so very familiar with it and still visit often.)

Don't go through Macon, Georgia to get on I-16. Major construction and that intersection s-u-c-k-s. Atlanta? Do I need to write it? Avoid it.

Note the last time I gave someone "my" preference they ended up driving in horrendous weather on roads I'm familiar with but apparently wasn't too friendly for them. They probably would have been better on an interstate (I-75 in this case). Personally, I avoid I-75 if at all possible if there's not too much of a time penalty, but we all have our preferences.

Good luck!

Howard

I'm just intent on getting back home to Bayfield. Ready to return after 3 months out.

Sweet - Thanks so much. Might be nice to take a new way of getting somewhere. I am used to back country roads too.

BTW - thanks for teaching me a new trick with Google maps - never put in coordinates before. That's slick.

Safe travels my friend
Keith

We headed through Memphis 2 weeks ago (June 2oth) took 2 hrs just to get through on a Sunday. On the way back, we stayed in Horn Lake, MS so when we left, we went south and crossed as Howard suggested. Road was not too bad, but it did have a nice harmonic bounce to it for a short time.

While staying in Horn Lake, the news was interviewing the construction company working on the bridge. They are in no hurry as they want it to be right. 2" plate is being used for the repair. Most likely it is being match drilled in situ and will take several more weeks.