I’m in southern California right now, probably staying in Orange County tonight. I’m leaving tomorrow morning (Thursday) and I have 4 days to drive back to Huntsville, Alabama. (Plus 1 day for contingency, in case of car trouble.)
The big decision seems to be whether to take I-40, which takes me through Flagstaff - Albuquerque - Oklahoma City - Little Rock - Memphis, or take I-8/10 and 20, which takes me through Tucson - El Paso - Dallas. From Dallas I can take I-20 and go through Jackson, or take I-30 through Memphis. Any opinions on which may be the best in terms of scenery and travel time? Any other routes I should consider?
In case you’re wondering, the car is a 1983 Mercedes 240D (diesel). My uncle offered to sell it to me for practically nothing. It’s just gone through 250,000 mile checkup so it should run fine for now - right??? (And yes, I have AAA membership.)
I think that I-40 will be a MUCH nicer driver. I drove from Southern California to Dallas when I moved out here, and the drive sucked. El Paso and the (large) area before and after it is pretty ugly, and the terrain around Dallas is pretty boring. The drive out to Memphis on I-30 isn’t bad, but it’s not that good, either. I remember seeing a lot of flat farm fields the last time I drove out to Memphis; supposedly Arkansas is a pretty state but it sure didn’t seem that way from I-30.
I’d take I-40; I think it’ll be a marginally more interesting drive.
Assuming you do go I-40 (I can’t recommend it from experience) cutting south from Memphis may look shorter, but I’d go on to Nashville on I-40 and take I-65 south from there. I can’t think of any decent roads connecting Memphis and Huntsville directly, unless you go as far out of your way south (Birmingham) as you would north (Nashville).
US 72 isn’t bad (across northern Mississippi it’s almost a controlled access highway), and it’s decent across most of northern Alabama - although IIRC there are a few 2 lane sections. It’ll run you from Memphisto Huntsville, so you don’t have to head up to Nashville or down to Birmingham. The speed limit is lower, but if you want to stop at flea markets, there are lots of them.
And I’d stay off of I-20 across Northern Louisiana and Mississippi - from Monroe to Vicksburg and Jackson to Meridian were some of the most boring drives…except for I-59 from the AL line to Birmingham.
I have done this exact drive probably 30 times in the last decade. Tale 1-20. Boring, but less crowded, NO construction right now, and no major cities.
If you do take 40 through Memphis, take 72, but make sure you take Nonconnah Parkway to 72. This allows you to skip Germantown. If you do drive through Germantown, don’t speed!
The I-65 North exit in Birmingham is on the left, so watch for it: however, the left lane of 20/59 oddly ends about half a mile before this exit, which is good to know.
If you are going to South HSV, there is a short cut (highway 36 (Hartsle exit) to hwy 231/431, head North) but it’s a windy country road with a 4 way stop and I wouldn’t take it if if was the end of a long unfamiliar drive. And it only saves you time if you are headed to the South end of town.
Have lived in either HSV or Dallas for 15 years now, with frequent trips in betwen, so let me know if you have any other questions.
As of 2002 or so, the only 2 lane sections of 72 was one 11 miles long piece beginning where Nonconnah (sp?) parkway ends. The rest is 4-lane but there are a few lights and there is some weird stuff in Florence. The highway turns, I think–I can’t remember–just follow the signs, it’s easy.