Road to Ennis-How does this sound?

[MI2QWK4U]

After doing some homework, us in Michigan were wondering how this route to Ennis sounds to you. Just curious to know if any of the roads listed below suck, or bad for any way.

Heading west from Detroit via I-94 to I-69 south through Fort Wayne continuing on I-69 to Indy, loop around I-465 to I-70. Keep on I-70 through Terre Haute to I-57. I-57 south to I-55, continuing south on 55 to I-40 which should bring us to West Memphis, and the Layover stop for the first day.

I noticed that some were going to Shreveport, is that out of the way from west Memphis? From West Memphis we would go south on I-55 to I-20 and go west to Shreveport? Then take I-20 to I-45 to Ennis.

We were going to head west on I-40 to I-440, around Little Rock, to I-30. I-30 west through Texarkanna on to Dallas.

Is either way shorter from West Memphis to Ennis? Or are we making the trip to Shreveport to link up with another group?

If you guys could comment on our plan cause you know the route or roads, or live nearby them, please let us know.

How many people will be in West Memphis Thursday night, and how many will be in Shreveport on friday morning?

Just trying to cover all the bases, not a lot of time left to get stuff squared away.

Thanks in advance,
Motor City Marauders

[cruzer]

West Memphis is out of your way and a traffic headache--and it is West of I-55--will have to backtrack--I DON't recommend anything going through Little Rock--lost 2 hours with over 10 construction areas in a 50 mile radius in June--then getting thru Dallas to I-45S can be a real pain any day--recommend going right thru Menphis to Jackson, MS and the due west to Shreveport-Dallas-Ennis-- drove the last 50 mi last Sat--NO construction on I-20W-Check Photo Gallery about Monday, Maury

[TAF]

Dave,

You guys need to avoid the Dallas Metroplex like the plague. Plus, remember Ennis is East of DFW. Drop down on 71 to I-20 and join us or lunch on Thursday the 18th...
Cracker Barrel
6251 Westport Avenue
Shreveport LA 71129-2503
I-20 & Pines Blvd.

[cruzer]

Dave, you would still have to go through Little Rock AND Dallas------DON"T---check w/ Mississippi State DOT on net and get road conditions from Mem to Jackson to Vicksburg (I-55S/I-20W) --I truly believe you will be hours ahead, Maury

[Bigdogjim]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MI2QWK4U
[
I noticed that some were going to Shreveport, is that out of the way from west Memphis?
______________________________ ____________________
M12-We are meeting there on thursday around 12-1PM for lunch and travel into Ennis as a team.
______________________________ ______________________

Is either way shorter from West Memphis to Ennis? Or are we making the trip to Shreveport to link up with another group?

______________________________ ________________
Yes we are linking up......................
______________________________ ________________


How many people will be in West Memphis Thursday night, and how many will be in Shreveport on friday morning?

______________________________ _____________________
I will be in West Memphis on Wednesday with about 9 plus Marauders
______________________________ _____________________

bigdogjim@att.net

[Fast4Door]

Dave,

I've changed my plans. I also plan to be in West Memphis Thursday night. My plan is also to go through Indy. How early are you leaving the Detroit area on Thursday? I'm shooting for 10-11 AM.

I've been trying to find a good way around Little Rock. From my estimates (Mapquest), with good conditions you might have the following:

W. Memphis - Litle Rock - Ennis: About 475 Miles and a little under 8 hours

W. Memphis - Jackson - Shreveport - Ennis: About 640 Miles and 10.5 hrs.

If things go well, we are gauranteed an extra 2.5 hours to go through Jackson. Do we know for sure that we'd lose that much the other way? I don't know. I've checked the Arkansas DOT sites. The have some good web cams of the construction in Little Rock. My original plan was to leave early in the AM on Friday, hoping to beat rush hour in Little Rock. If things were bad, I'd break out the maps for an alternate?

I'm still thinkin' about a way around it, but I'm almost ready to try risking a trip through Arkansas. The extra 2.5 Hours isn't a huge deal, I'm just lookin' to get into town as early as possible.

Any thoughts? We can always discuss over AM coffee in W. Memphis on Friday morn...

[DetGeno]

I am glad Dave and Fast4door is figuring out the rout because I am just going to drive and follow you two! Also leaving Thursday morning anytime!

[DetGeno]

Fast4door meet us on gratiot this Sunday for trip meeting!

[MI2QWK4U]

Ok, I should have good detailed maps on monday. It sounds like the route outlined in my post above is ok. I tried Mapquest and they had so much bs thrown in it was giving me a headache going over it! I went online to AAA's website and used my Dad's membership number to log in. The maping program was light years better than mapquest, and the best thing is you can have the stuff sent to your house. Jerry Barnes said he would copy and put together the info I get from AAA, I will see if he can make up a few folders with the maps and info in them for us. From the sounds of it, so far we have:
-mi2qwk4u
-DetGeno
-Fast4door
-Lidio with one of the Trilogy cars
-Jerry with the other Trilogy car

If you get a chance, pick up one of those FRS walkie talkies, they have about a 2 mile range, but are ideal for convoys of people traveling. A decent one will cost 30 bucks. I have a pair of Motorola Talkabouts. This way we dont have to use a cellphone to announce we are stopping for a pit stop.

http://commerce.motorola.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/CategoryDisplay?cgrfnbr=8&cgmenbr=126

Get them at Kmart, Target, Best Buy, etc. Will come in VERY handy all weekend. I will try to be at Woodies tomorrow so we can run over some of this stuff.
Any more ideas guys?

[Fast4Door]

I've got a Motorola T5400 - on sale for $15 at Radio Shack.

I can't promise I can make Gratiot tomorrow. I'll see what I can work out.

Five Motor City Marauders on this trip? Cool!