I’ve been geeking out with Google’s toys to organize and plan for my upcoming sabbatical road trip.
During preliminary planning stages I just implicitly trusted what Google Maps and Google Earth spit back at me. But now that I’m getting down to the fine tuning and the nitty gritty, some of the routes just don’t make any sense.
Case in point:
On our first leg, we’re trying to get from Fairburn, GA to a state park just outside of Morrilton, AR.
Google suggests this route, via Nashville and Memphis, at a distance of 656 miles (12 hours 12 mins)
But going via Birmingham and Memphis , the distance appears to be only 565 miles (10 hours and 45 minutes).
One of these options appears far supperior than the other, and it isn’t what Google is suggesting.
I’ve driven to Memphis a time or two, and I’ve driven to Birmingham a time or two, but I’ve never set foot in Arkansas.
Anyone more familiar with the area have the straight dope on the best route?
I’m really not looking forward to double-checking the entire 8000+ miles and 10 weeks of the trip. It kinda takes the fun out of being lazy and using Google.
Hmm, my 2002 AAA road atlas shows the freeway between Birmingham and Memphis as uncompleted. Looks like Highway 78 is being upgraded to Interstate 22 and parts are still being opened.
I’ve driven both those (general) routes in the past month and neither’s really superior to the other. The problem is that Google directs you to use interstates in lieu of highways unless the route will be drastically rearranged and so it directs you to take I-40 instead of Route 78 which is actually a nascent interstate itself. Driving along it in Mississippi (and maybe Alabama but I don’t remember), there are signs every few miles stating it is the future I-22.
Taking Highway 78 from Birmingham to Memphis is the quicker option, and you don’t have to do any climbing up into the mountains to boot. (I’ve driven from Columbia, SC to Memphis: the ‘northern’ route via Nashville is prettier, but as you’ve figured out, longer.) Try to time it so you don’t hit rush hour traffic in Birmingham, as you’ll be on a four-lane (eventually narrowing down to two) road with all the usual traffic lights and whatnot for awhile.
It almost looks like Google Maps is trying to give you an ‘Interstate Only’ route instead of ‘Shortest Route’.
Almost any routing service will default you on the most direct Interstate routing, even when the back roads seem to offer a more direct route.
The Birmingham-Memphis leg uses the infamous U.S. 78. While a large chunk of that route is 4-lane, even divided, several stretches in Alabama and Mississippi are still 2-lane highway.
The route is called “Future Interstate 22” but I can’t find anything newer than early 2005 for a construction update. I have a friend who drives the Memphis-Birmingham route a couple of times a year, and he despises it.
Take hwy 78
Even if you end up with a couple of traffic lights you’ll also get to see something other than the interstate median. Make a couple of stops in local establishments and have a good time. I’ve been from Tupelo to Birmingham, but not Tupelo to Memphis. Enjoy your road trip
I’ll keep both routes on file and ask around a bit more for the opinions of frequent travelers. I’m leaning toward B’ham for reasons that have all been mentioned. No climing, seems shorter and (fingers crossed) faster. It is going to be a looong first day in the car regardless. The mountains in North Georgia and Tennesee are beautiful, but we’ve seen them already and we’ll see them many times again.
Yea, except for the shorter time/distance, there really isn’t much else to reccomend this route.
Oh, word of warning if you do take this route honeydewgrrl: as you get closer to Memphis, be aware this is a major trucking route. (And depending on the time of day as you roll into Memphis, keep your eyes out for the… ahh… ‘mobile adult entertainment’. )
Going to Petit Jean State Park? Not a bad place. May I also suggest another nearby mountain state park? Mt. Nebo State Park is near my hometown of Dardanelle and is a lovely place to visit. And if you’re ambitious, Mt. Magazine (the highest point in Arkansas) is just a few miles up the road.
However, if you’re used to the Smokies and Blue Ridge mountains, they ain’t that. Most of the “mountains” in Arkansas are actually eroded plateaus…they can be pretty craggy, but there’s not a lot of elevation.
Yes, Petit Jean. Unfortunately, there is some sort of car show going on while we’re there, and we managed to reserve the last available campsite. From what I’ve seen it is quite beautiful. We’re staying for two nights. Even though it sounds like it is going to be very crowded around camp, I’m hoping the trails will be somewhat less populated. I’m also pretty sure that the excitement of finally being underway on this trip we’ve been planning for months, will be more than enough to make up for some (hopefully not too loud) neighbors.
Didn’t see your post this morning. Must be going blind from all of the… :o ahem… squinting at maps that I’ve been doing.
I try really hard not to hold the entire state and populace of Alabama responsible for some…extremely unpleasant…time in my past involving a particular ex of mine, but sometimes a wee bit 'o resentment sneaks through.
)
