We are making our first SEC road trip this weekend to the A&M/MSU game from Houston and just wondering if it would be better to go the 59 to Shreveport/I-20 route to Jackson instead of I-10 through Baton Rouge. How is traffic across the "10-mile bridge" and through Baton Rouge on a Friday afternoon with the big home game for LSU? Is coming back on Sunday any problem with traffic leaving Baton Rouge?

Thanks!

Traffic always sucks on the Atchafalaya Bridge and as you come over the bridge in Baton Rouge. There is construction right now at the I-10/12 split. It's probably going to suck even more, but I still think I'd go through Baton Rouge if I were you.

If I were you I'd stay away from that I-10 traffic. Hwy 59 to Carthage, then 79 to I-20 is really simple. I drove that a month ago (going to Vicksburg) and that trip across northern LA was quick. Just my 2 cents.

We're going up to Shreveport and then across to Jackson. GoogleMaps shows it being about a 30 minute longer drive this way, but hopefully we'll miss a lot of traffic.

We have to go this way to pick a guy up in Shreveport.

Sometimes the shortest way isn't the best way. You are smart for taking the road less traveled by in this case.

I live in Starkville and drive home to the Houston area for holidays. You'll hit some slowdowns on 59 in some of the smaller towns (Teneha, Timpson, etc.), but you'll be able to make up time on I20.

I just did the I10 route about three weeks ago and noticed it took longer than my previous trips due to construction.

Pre-Katrina I traveled I-10 exclusively, but then started going the other way to avoid repair construction. Over the last couple of years I've been alternating and there's not been much difference between the routes (I'd say 15 minutes or so) when traffic is good.

I went I-10 to 55 (to Jackson) this early morning and had zero problems.