I am leaving on Tuesday to drive from Mexico to Peru, Indiana and am looking for suggestions for the best route. By best I mean the fastest. Going up I will be empty, but coming back I will be towing a 31 foot trailer of about 5000 pounds. I have to stop in Dallas on the way up and in Houston & McAllen, Tx on the way back.
Here is my proposed route:
Mexico - Laredo - Dallas - Atoka (to avoid Arkansas) - Springfield - St Louis - Indianapolis - Peru.
Coming back, leaving April 17; Peru - Indianapolis - Cairo - Memphis - Little Village - Alexandria - Lake Charles- Houston - McAllen.
I have of course not listed all the cities, only the main ones I will go thru or around. Any suggestions for what to avoid or other routes will be much appreciated. Figure this will be close to a 4,000 mile trip.

 

good luck, buddy! hope your trip is a good and uneventful one!
when comin back through houston to mcallen,if in the early morning or afternoon, i suggest taking beltway 8. you'll have to stop at about 3 or 4 toll booths and they charge by axle, but you'll avoid the tie-ups on loop 610 and the 45/59/288 interchange south east of downtown.

 

Oooh going through Cairo, make sure you stop at the Ft Defiance state park where the two rivers meet, its beautiful! and lots of fun to watch the barges maneuver around

 

Thanks. Unfortunately this is not a pleasure trip as I have to get back as fast as possible, which is the main reason i made this post - hoping to shave a few hours/miles off the trip.

 

Ah well thats no fun, what route are you going to take going through Oklahoma?

 

Not sure yet. Will be leaving from just north of Dallas so will probably start off on 75 and from there the shortest way to Springfield.

 

dont know if u saw but i edited my first post

 

Thanks, this is the type of info I am looking for. The trailer I will be towing has two axles.

 

your toll should be in the 3-4 dollar range

 

You might want to take I-35 to I-44 and go through Tulsa then to Joplin MO from there....if I recall correctly hwy 75 was pretty narrow, slow and rough in some spots but its been a few years since I have traveled down south on that route. the only problem with I-44 is that its a toll road and ive never been on it before. but thats just my two cents! PM me and ill give you my cell number if you think you might need some help through here.

 

Agree with Rat on this one.... if your trying to make time, you'd be better off on the interstate from OKC to Joplin than on 75..

 

Going thru Oklahoma, 35 from Dallas north to OKC and then 44 from OKC to St. Louis should be fastest but you will have tolls from OKC to Joplin. Hwy 69 from Durant thru Atoka to Big Cabin is 4 lane and free but you go thru numerous small towns where the speed drops to 40 MPH or so and a number of them are notorious speed traps. If you take the free route, mind your speed. I'd suggest 35 and 44 if you can afford the outrageous tolls . You'll probably pay more to drive thru Oklahoma than all the other tolls combined.

 

Thanks guys, really appreciate this. Good info so far, keep it coming.

 

i suggest the 35 to 44 route also, i did a weekend run to st.louise and back and it was the best route for speed.

 

Stan, what Derek said is true.. kinda... If you take beltway 8 south off of I-10 (east side of Houston), you will go over the toll bridge @ the ship channel (approx $6.00) then 3 additional toll booths (approx $4.00 each) till you get to 59 south. Just make sure ya got plenty of $$$ cause they don't take American Express . What Derek said about staying out of Houston proper is worth the cost, especially since EVERY freeway near downtown has some kind of construction going on. Good luck on your trip and be safe. If ya need any help while you are in the area (Beaumont thru Rosenberg area) give me a call on my cell @ 281 831 5811. I'll come running to help ya out.....

Gary