Driving from Austin to Gulf Shores

[hornbri 1398]

Driving from Austin to Gulf Shores next week. I will have a 3 and 6 year old with me (wish me luck) so thinking of splitting it into two days, suggestions in where to stop (Lafayette seams like the obvious halfway)? I suppose we could go all the way to NOLA but it is not quite the same place with kids...

Also any must eats along the way (not in NOLA I know those, been many times)?

 

[DallasSooner 279]

Old Time Grocery in Lafayette has the best po boys I have ever had.  

[SimonBolivar 10958]

Lafayette is an underrated city for food and fun. A bit of blight, but there are some nice areas.

[Reagan1k 3024]

Whatever you do, take the Foley Beach Express (east of Mobile) off I-10 to get down there and avoid those little town on Hwy 59.

You have to go past 59 to get to it but it will save you considerable time and frustration.

[jimmyjazz 45958]

I try to make the 2nd day a shorter drive than the first, so I'd push through to Baton Rouge.  Traffic there sucks anyway.  I definitely wouldn't drop down to NOLA with two young kids, there's no point.

[Tex Pete 20354]

Yeah, Baton Rouge or even on to Biloxi (or Hammond or Slidell). Don’t drive down 10 to NO. And don’t hit BR at rush hour. That’s a huge mistake. 

[Redneck Mutha 7956]

Northshore (Covington/Mandeville) would be an option if you wanted to get further down the road and past Baton Rouge.  It's been a while since we've stayed there, but I understand they have some pretty good hotel/restaurant options.  

[South Austin 52510]

We stayed in Covington once on the way to Florida, but it was later in the evening and we were just looking for a place to sleep, so we didn’t grab dinner in town. But, it looks like one of the nicer Louisiana towns off I-10.

[Bert Orange 1120]

Bear’s poboys in Covington. Sublime. 

[jimmyjazz 45958]

7 hours ago, Tex Pete said:

Yeah, Baton Rouge or even on to Biloxi (or Hammond or Slidell). Don’t drive down 10 to NO. And don’t hit BR at rush hour. That’s a huge mistake. 

We did Austin-Biloxi last summer, and then on to Destin the next morning.  It's only a couple of hours from Biloxi to Gulf Shores, which may or may not be "ideal" as far as the drive split goes, especially with young ones.

[tigol 2398]

The French Press in Lafayette.  Get the Cajun Benedict and praline bacon.

 

http://www.thefrenchpresslafayette.com/menu/

Edited July 3, 2018 by tigol
Bacon

[hornbri 1398]

Thanks, I think I am going to do Lafayette, thanks for the recommendations. 

[Spaulding Smails 1552]

Old Time Grocery is legit.  Perfect lunch spot though not sure what time you'll be hitting Lafayette.

We just had some friends come back from the Tabasco tour at Avery Island.  Said that was a lot of fun too if you have time.

[Eddyline 116]

The I-10 tunnel in Mobile could be detrimental to your mental health. Summertime backups are often horrendous. Start checking traffic soon after you cross the state line, and be prepared to take an alternate route through Mobile.  

[TonyTexas 10515]

The I-10 tunnel in Mobile could be detrimental to your mental health. Summertime backups are often horrendous. Start checking traffic soon after you cross the state line, and be prepared to take an alternate route through Mobile.  

Stay as far right as you can and merge left only when necessary. Will cut a few miles off the backup.

[RDCanecutter 26446]

Downtown Breaux Bridge just east of Lafayette would give them something interesting to see that's different from Austin. My restaurant intel is 30 years old, but I enjoyed it.

[Lat22 4014]

Get across the bridge in BR on day one. 

[Reagan1k 3024]

3 hours ago, Eddyline said:

The I-10 tunnel in Mobile could be detrimental to your mental health. Summertime backups are often horrendous. Start checking traffic soon after you cross the state line, and be prepared to take an alternate route through Mobile.  

Always a crap shoot.  I went through today headed west @ 1:00pm and there was no wait on the eastbound side.  Cars flying into the tunnel at 50mph headed to FL. 

An hour later and it could be a 45min delay easy.   Waze or similar apps will get you the right route but start looking ahead of time. If you realize there’s a backup yourself it’s too late. - Eddy is spot on. 

[Redneck Mutha 7956]

Favorite dishes in Lafayette area:  Olde Tyme Grocery shrimp po boy.  French Press Cajun Benedict (badfuckingass gumbo) and loaded Blue Cheese breakfast potatoes.  Snapper at Bon Temps Grill.   Cupids Daiquiris for a Rajun Cajun TNT for a nightcap. 

Recently renovated Comfort Suites in Scott is relatively inexpensive and convenient off of I-10.  

If you can somehow swing the Sunday brunch at Little Big Cup in Arnaudville, (20 min drive from Breaux Bridge), hit that sumbitch up and thank me later.  Popped a little chub just thinking about it...

[Clintonaldo 2574]

Stop in Covington and eat at Acme Oyster House. 

[billfromlaketravis 11483]

Daiquiri Shop near the border with Mississippi. Your last shot to get your passengers lubricated. 

I believe it's Coconutz's Daiquiris in Bogalusa. 

http://www.coconutzdaiquiri.com/

A tall boy with a floater would kill Aunt Edna pretty quickly.

[DallasSooner 279]

If you stop in Lafayette there is a Swamp Tour going East towards Beaux Bridge we did it a few years ago and it was great.  You get a boat tour and a see lots of gators and wildlife  I'm sure your six year old would love it.