[JoInTV]

I would like to tap into the collective knowledge of TOTV concerning driving from Arizona to The Villages. We haven’t been able to sell our house, but us wannabees are determined to come on down and give the place a real try. We loved our Lifestyle visit last November, but it was a whirlwind trying to do so much in just 6 days. We’re not retired yet, but my husband can work remotely, so we’ve decided to rent for a couple of months (July and August) and see how things go. I figure that we’re the only people who will be coming to TV in the summer and will find it COOLER than where we came from! (We’re expecting 110 degrees this weekend! – Yeah, I know, it’s a dry heat. But it’s still a HOT!!!)

Can anyone recommend the best route and pet friendly motels along the way? We’ll be bringing along our Yorkie, Max. I just couldn’t imagine leaving him behind for 2 months, even though our usual vacation pet sitter said that she’d love to have him! He’s too much of a character to not have around!

We’ve never driven that far (with or without a dog) so we don’t have a clue. (That’s probably a good thing….you know… ignorance is bliss!) Should we go I-10 all the way from Phoenix, through El Paso and San Antonio, Houston, up through Louisiana through Baton Rouge, along the FL panhandle and over to 75 south? Would it be better to go to Rte 40 over to Amarillo or Oklahoma City then south until we catch I-10 in Houston? Are there any speed traps along the way we should be aware of? Any other concerns that anyone knows about? What about pet-friendly motels along the way? Has anyone done this drive (or close to it) and can recommend where we can stay that will accept pets?

We are both sooooo excited to be coming to TV, and while my husband is working, hopefully, I’ll be able to meet up with some of my fellow TOTV’ers, and get to put a face and voice to the names and posts I have been having such a good time reading and following on this forum for over a year.

Any info anyone can contribute would be very appreciated! See you in July!!

[whamrick]

http://www.petswelcome.com/ for Pet Friendly motels. Most Best Western will accept small pets, most Hampton Inns will not.

The I-10 to I-75 is your most direct route at about 2,100 miles. The I-40 route adds about 300 miles to your trip. Can't address the speed trap issue.

[chuckinca]

I drove I-10 from Cal to Fla this past early February (wanted to take I-40 but it was too cold and snowy). No problems. Had three cats with me driving a PU with a camper shell and a pass thru window. The cats overnighted in the camper shell. Most name brand motels allow animals for a $10 additional charge.

Take I-12 at Baton Rouge to bypass New Orleans and get back on I-10 at Slidell. Also, try Hwy 16 bypass around San Antonio.

Recommend you stop every two hours or so for a half hour to chill - traffic around Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, Baton Rouge and Mobile is pretty hectic. Highway rest stops in Fla are the best.

Enjoy the ride.

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[JoInTV]

Thanks for the responses! I knew that TOTV was the place to find help and information!

Whamrick, thanks for the pet-friendly hotel website. I’ll take some time to go through it to map our route.

Chuck, how long did it take you go drive that distance? We are thinking about 3.5 to 4 days from Phoenix to The Villages. Is that time frame unrealistic? (Barring really bad weather and/or massive traffic jams. I remember when we would travel the CT turnpike. We were always lucky that the accident was on the other side of the highway. Backups were miles and miles long!!)

I love this site! Thanks again!

[getdul981]

Some GPS's will find you an alternate route should you encounter an accident. We used that feature on ours once when we were going to D.C. If you don't have a GPS, then you just have to follow the flow. Also, if you have access to a CB radio, that might come in handy. Those truckers always know ways around problem areas. I would imagine that if you can switch drivers every 2-3 hours, you could probably make it in about 3 days.

[swrinfla]

Without checking the pet friendly motel site, just know that Red Roof Inns accept your four-footed pals.

I think it's downright unfair to your fellow Arizonans that you should stay just as far south yet come where it's one h*** of a lot cooler! And, without even going up to Flagstaff!

SWR

[JoInTV]

You’re right, swrinfla. Flagstaff is a lot cooler and it's a very nice place, as is Payson, Prescott, Sedona and a lot of other communities within an hour or two drive from Phoenix. But it all boils down to one fact….. they ain’t The Villages!!

See you soon!!

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by JoInAZ

Thanks for the responses! I knew that TOTV was the place to find help and information!

Whamrick, thanks for the pet-friendly hotel website. I’ll take some time to go through it to map our route.

Chuck, how long did it take you go drive that distance? We are thinking about 3.5 to 4 days from Phoenix to The Villages. Is that time frame unrealistic? (Barring really bad weather and/or massive traffic jams. I remember when we would travel the CT turnpike. We were always lucky that the accident was on the other side of the highway. Backups were miles and miles long!!)

I love this site! Thanks again!

I drove it in 3.5 days from 3 hrs North of San Francisco (too much - won't do it that fast again)(was trying to make it to TV to watch the Super Bowl with my brother, got in about 4 hours early).

4 days from Phoenix seems about right - about 500 miles a day.

Next time I drive it I'll try to do I-40 (if the weather is not too cold) to Memphis, then head south to Birmingham and into Fla.

I-10 is a bear thru the large cities (Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans).

.


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[carolynpage]

We went from TV to Sedona, went 40 going to and 10 back. Either way I am sorry to say is boring. 10 seems much longer and boring ride.
Pet friendly motels I know one is Red Roof Inn.Stop at the rest stops and pickup the books of each state and Checkout the hotels where you think you would be stopping next. They usually list what they have, like pool etc and if they allow pets.

[logdog]

We took I-10 from New Mexico last year. Not a bad trip. We stayed at La Quintas since we traveled with our cat. Pet friendly, no extra pet charge (some pet friendly motels charge nonrefundable deposit) and pretty good free breakfast bar. Stay away from the La Quinta in Pensacola - very run down.

[GMONEY]

The better Route would be Take 10 to 20 east, Take I-20 over to Jackson Miss and Take Hwy 49 south from Jackson to Hattiesburg,, Then get on I-59 South for a few miles only, Then Take Hwy 98 Down to Mobile, Alabama... That will bring you to I-65 right there in Mobile. Take 65 south about 6 miles and it dead ends into I-10. Head east on 10,, Pick up 75 south.....

That is the best and fastest route. That is how we did it over the road truckin style. I always tell people to go that way. Look at it on the map. Very easy route. Most of the road from Jackson Miss to Mobile is 4 lane highways....

[TrudyM]

Originally Posted by GMONEY

The better Route would be Take 10 to 20 east, Take I-20 over to Jackson Miss and Take Hwy 49 south from Jackson to Hattiesburg,, Then get on I-59 South for a few miles only, Then Take Hwy 98 Down to Mobile, Alabama... That will bring you to I-65 right there in Mobile. Take 65 south about 6 miles and it dead ends into I-10. Head east on 10,, Pick up 75 south.....

That is the best and fastest route. That is how we did it over the road truckin style. I always tell people to go that way. Look at it on the map. Very easy route. Most of the road from Jackson Miss to Mobile is 4 lane highways....

I just looked at this route on a map, be advised that there is also a I49 from Shreveport to Lafayette.(It would shoot you down to the I10 earlier so you could still go that way) The 49 he is refering to is a route 49 that is farther east along the route. I was advised by someone that if you like gambling that taking a break in Biloxi makes a good stop about 8 hours and 510 miles from the villages.

[GMONEY]

Originally Posted by TrudyM

I just looked at this route on a map, be advised that there is also a I49 from Shreveport to Lafayette.(It would shoot you down to the I10 earlier so you could still go that way) The 49 he is refering to is a route 49 that is farther east along the route. I was advised by someone that if you like gambling that taking a break in Biloxi makes a good stop about 8 hours and 510 miles from the villages.

well aware of I49. that is the longer route. Take Hwy 49 out of Jackson MS south. That is the way to go..