LA - Orlando via Houston and back via ?? December 2016

[allenthomson]

Kia Ora from New Zealand.

We are a family of 6 - all over 15 and will be landing in LA on the 2nd of December.

We need to be in Orlando on the 18th of December, hence have some time to get from LA to Orlando.

Would love to spend some time in Austin/San Antonio/Houston.

Guess the I-10 would be the best way to Houston/Orlando. Would someone please be kind to recommend a journey going back to LA.

I have no experience driving in wintery/snow/ice conditions hence would like to avoid those areas/roads, please.

Personally speaking would love to go through Alabama/Mississippi/Tennessee etc.

Love to hear from yaw'll


Regards

Allen

[Lifemagician]

Hi Allen and Welcome to the Great American Roadtrip Forum.

The very first thing you better do is get hold of some good detailed maps. If these are not available locally, the best way to go is order a Rand McNally road atlas from the RTA store, via the link at the bottom of this page. There is nothing like good maps when planning a trip, and of course they are essential when on the road. Don't be tempted to rely solely on your electronics.

Not only do these maps have all the routes and roads from which you can choose on each leg, but most - if not all - attractions along those routes.... natural attractions, touristy attractions and historical, etc.

You also need to be aware that all cross country routes can and do see winter weather at some time or another. This year was a good example when I-10 and I-40 were severely impacted by winter storms. The only way to avoid winter driving is to watch the weather forecast leading up to your departure, and choose the route which is going to give you the least chance of seeing winter weather.

Once you have the maps, you can use this paragraph to help you plan the trip.

Start with maps. Not GPS, not software, not Google, but real honest-to-god paper maps that show you your entire route, that you can mark up (and erase), that you can stick pins in, and that show something about the land you'll be driving through. Those are your essential tool in any RoadTrip planning process. Start by marking all the places you know you want to visit. Then connect the dots. Then look for more places of interest and scenic routes along the lines connecting the dots. Repeat until you've got as many sites and roads as you think you want.

With 16 days, you definitely have enough time to wander a little off the straight and narrow.

Enjoy the planning.

Lifey