Riding to Texas In April, Suggestions?
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Northern WV
Riding to Texas In April, Suggestions?
For the last few years I've been wanting to ride some in Texas and thinking mid to late April might be a good time of the year. My current plan is ride down to Nashville to the Natchez Parkway and take it into Mississippi, cross Louisiana to Texas and over to Austin hill country such as http://motorides.com/ride/115-hill-country-ride.html then maybe San Antonio depending on the schedule. Return via Hot Springs Arkansas and up Rt 7 to Branson MO.
I will have some but not a lot of time for side trips. Considering this I would appreciate any suggestions from those that know the area (MS, LA, NE Texas, AR, southern MO) as far as fun/interesting roads to incorporate and perhaps towns to overnight in as Ill be moteling it. Once off the parkway in Mississippi my preference is to travel on smaller un-congested roads. I have ridden some in Arkansas, stopped at Bentonville Walmart museum :-) and kicked around Eureka Springs, been to New Orleans and loved the food but I dont think Ill detour down that far this trip. As far as Texas it doesnt really have to be Austin and San Antonio I just happened to pick them. What part of Texas has the best riding? (I've been following the Twisted Sisters thread.)
I will have some but not a lot of time for side trips. Considering this I would appreciate any suggestions from those that know the area (MS, LA, NE Texas, AR, southern MO) as far as fun/interesting roads to incorporate and perhaps towns to overnight in as Ill be moteling it. Once off the parkway in Mississippi my preference is to travel on smaller un-congested roads. I have ridden some in Arkansas, stopped at Bentonville Walmart museum :-) and kicked around Eureka Springs, been to New Orleans and loved the food but I dont think Ill detour down that far this trip. As far as Texas it doesnt really have to be Austin and San Antonio I just happened to pick them. What part of Texas has the best riding? (I've been following the Twisted Sisters thread.)
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 422
Likes: 16
From: Pernitas Point, TX
The Three Twisted Sisters is definitely the best ride as well as several other roads in the area. A good place to start is via Canyon Lake, up thru Blanco and FM 1323 to 16. Then down thru Fredericksberg and loop around the back way into Bandera. I have several hill country routes I designed if you would care to PM I will send links to the maps.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 562
Likes: 21
From: Arlington, TX
The best riding in Texas is the Hill Country, where the Twisted Sisters are, or the Big Bend Area, which is a long way from your plan.
So, I suggest riding through the Hill Country before heading north to Arkansas. Check out a trip on my website, http://txharleyrider.com/hill-country-0513/ for some routes and pics of the area.
Mid to late April should be good temperature-wise, but that is the rainy part of the year, if it ever rains again in Texas.
So, I suggest riding through the Hill Country before heading north to Arkansas. Check out a trip on my website, http://txharleyrider.com/hill-country-0513/ for some routes and pics of the area.
Mid to late April should be good temperature-wise, but that is the rainy part of the year, if it ever rains again in Texas.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,644
Likes: 224
From: Coeur d'Alene
>>As far as Texas it doesnt really have to be Austin and San Antonio I just happened to pick them. What part of Texas has the best riding? (I've been following the Twisted Sisters thread.)
Ridewva...lived in Texas 20 years and, yes, the Hill Country around SA and Austin is the best riding there, along with Big Bend way to the west. I suspect that captain1962 has some good rides to consider. The Hill Country bluebonnets should be looking fine in mid-April. If you find the Natchez Trace a bit monotonous and slow you could always cut over toward Mena, AR and ride that Talimena Drive to the west and work your way into Texas from there, maybe plotting a route to the west of the DFW metroplex so you don't have to ride through it. Also would recommend good rain gear as those spring t-storms can turn into "clear up showers"...where the water gets clear up to your azz. Sure miss those TX expressions
Ridewva...lived in Texas 20 years and, yes, the Hill Country around SA and Austin is the best riding there, along with Big Bend way to the west. I suspect that captain1962 has some good rides to consider. The Hill Country bluebonnets should be looking fine in mid-April. If you find the Natchez Trace a bit monotonous and slow you could always cut over toward Mena, AR and ride that Talimena Drive to the west and work your way into Texas from there, maybe plotting a route to the west of the DFW metroplex so you don't have to ride through it. Also would recommend good rain gear as those spring t-storms can turn into "clear up showers"...where the water gets clear up to your azz. Sure miss those TX expressions
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 131
From: Central Texas area
http://www.hillcountrycruising.com/willowcity.html
Three sisters, Fredricksburg, Luckenbach, Willow City, Bandera...all in above link..enjoy!
You said coming from Louisanna into Texas..would you be coming from Shreveport on I20? If so, get off highway in CANTON and take 19 south to Athens, then 31 west thru Corsicana and keep going west to Axtell and Bellmead. Then 84 thru Waco and head to Gatesville and onto EVANT. Then head south on hwy 281 thru Lampasas and south...This way you avoid DALLAS and WACO highway areas. There's a lot of construction and it's a PIA! Traffic in San Antonio is terrible!
If you come west across the Talimena Skway from Mena, you will hit Talihina, OK. Take Hwy 271 south to HUGO and Sulpher Springs onto PARIS and then 19 south to CANTON and Athens...My wife and I just did this route in Oct and it was great, hardly any traffic..
good luck
Three sisters, Fredricksburg, Luckenbach, Willow City, Bandera...all in above link..enjoy!
You said coming from Louisanna into Texas..would you be coming from Shreveport on I20? If so, get off highway in CANTON and take 19 south to Athens, then 31 west thru Corsicana and keep going west to Axtell and Bellmead. Then 84 thru Waco and head to Gatesville and onto EVANT. Then head south on hwy 281 thru Lampasas and south...This way you avoid DALLAS and WACO highway areas. There's a lot of construction and it's a PIA! Traffic in San Antonio is terrible!
If you come west across the Talimena Skway from Mena, you will hit Talihina, OK. Take Hwy 271 south to HUGO and Sulpher Springs onto PARIS and then 19 south to CANTON and Athens...My wife and I just did this route in Oct and it was great, hardly any traffic..
good luck
Last edited by rossn2; Dec 31, 2013 at 01:56 PM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 376
From: Mississippi
If you ride all the way to Natchez, US Hwy 84 goes all the way across the country. I don't know what kind of ride it is. You wanted smaller un-congested roads.
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Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Northern WV
Thanks for pointing out 84, it does run the right direction and it's certainly easier staying on a continuous US route. Just studying it on my maps it appears to be a fairly major highway?
