re: Birmingham to Baton Rouge road trip advice for Nov. 3 game

Thanks for all of the advice.

I'm leaning towards driving with stops in Tuscaloosa and Hattiesburg. I think we'll skip NOLA and get right to BR. NOLA is fun, but I'd like to arrive in BR at a reasonable time (I may not leave NOLA if I stop, due to consumption).

I will be sure to pack my Kevlar and watch for dem cops.

Takes about 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
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I drive 79 just about all the way from B'ham to B.R.....takes me 5.5 to 6.0 YOU do drive too fast... Been driving it for 30 years..

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You drive too slow.

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Maybe 6.5 hours was from the time I took I-55 on accident.

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Birmingham to Baton Rouge road trip advice for Nov. 3 game


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Tuscaloosa is really your only "fun" stop. ?

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Compared to the rest of that stretch it is. In fairness to Tuscaloosa, it isn't like Baton Rouge is teeming with way more things to do on a non football weekend than Tuscaloosa is. It's a larger metro obviously but the local college campus is the main attraction in both cities and Tuscaloosa has just as many cool lakes and outdoor activities near and just outside of town that Baton Rouge does.

be prepared for the worst roads in the history of highways in Mississippi. Nobody has shown them what road grading equipment or asphalt looks like. Pot hole hell.

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I am looking for some advice: How long a drive is it?

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I'd count on at least 12 hours.

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What route should we take?

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Take I-20 West 4 hours to I 55. Take I 55 North 8 hours.

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What stops along the way do you recommend (we plan to stop in Tuscaloosa for sure)?

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You'll probably want to have lunch in Graceland.

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but should we just grab a cheap flight to NOLA?

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No! You definitely want to show off your "Stars Fell on Alabama" plates.

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Any other general advice?

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Don't forget a cooler of beer for the drive.

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Thanks

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Deploy your piss resistant rain coat as soon as you pass over the Amite River bridge on I-12 right outside Baton Rouge. Should the BR traffic come to a stall, be prepared for angry Tiger Fans to start launching at you right on the interstate.

Ya'll do realize this guy is an LSU fan coming in from Canada, right?

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True, but you forget Baton Rouge also has: Blue Bayou Water Park (one of the biggest in the counry), the beautiful State Capital grounds and Capital Buildings, some of the best municipal parks and golf courses in the nation, the USS Kidd Memorial Destroyer Museum and La. Arts & Sciences Museum - both on the Mississippi River,
the Baton Rouge Zoo - one of the top family attractions in the city, Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casinos, Baton Rouge River Center, the Louisiana State Museum, Old State Capital Museum,
Plantation tours - Nottaway, Oak Alley, etc., Mike the Tiger's Habitat, Indian Mounds, LSU Union, Factulty Club, French House, and of course the many museums, sites, buildings, restaurants, shops, and attractions on LSU's campus, Mall of Louisiana, Rivertown, Ruffino's, Mike Anderson's, La. Culinary Institute, The Chimes, Juban's, Superior Grille restaurants, etc.

www.visitbatonrouge.com

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I agree that Baton Rouge is ahead of Tuscaloosa area in most every one of the categories you listed. I would respectfully disagree in the area of golf courses and most non salt water outdoor activities though. Golf within an hour of Tuscaloosa is significantly better imho than Baton Rouge although BR does have arguably the best golf course in the state nearby. You can go hiking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting/kayaking, bass/bream fishing, along with having awesome deer and turkey hunting (if you are into that), etc. You also have Lake Tuscaloosa and Lake Lurleen for boating and water skiing close by and the Sipsey Wilderness and the Bankhead National Forest for hiking, whitewater rafting, and caving a close drive away. There is also one of the largest ancient Native American archaelogical sites in the country in nearby Moundville.

I agree with the rest of your post though. Baton Rouge has a lot more nightlife, entertainment (especially with the casino) and restaurant options and bigger retail options obviously as it's a metro area of just under 800,000 people as opposed to a population of just over 200,000 people in metro Tuscaloosa. The waterpark sounds awesome too. I was just responsonding to someone laughing at the suggestion that Tuscaloosa was potentially worthy of a short stop on the way. My point being that neither Tuscaloosa nor Baton Rouge are destinations cities from a national perspective outside of people traveling to either city for college related activities on the 2 campuses.