Austin to New Orleans leg of road trip- where to stop?

Hi!

Any ideas of where to stop for a night when traveling from Austin to New Orleans?

Thank you!

Austin to New Orleans leg of road trip- where to stop?

Beaumont, TX is roughly the half-way point. Are you looking for a place to stop and do things, or just a place to stop and sleep? The drive from Austin to New Orleans is doable in a day (8 - 9 hours of driving), if you%26#39;re just trying to get to New Orleans. If you want to stop and see some sights along the way, you could stop in Houston (about 2 1/2 hours from Austin, 6 from New Orleans). If you want to gamble a bit, Lake Charles, LA has casinos (about 2 1/2 hours from Houston, roughly 3 from New Orleans).

Austin to New Orleans leg of road trip- where to stop?

We make the trip a couple of times a year from San Antonio to NO. We leave after work around 5 or 4pm if we sneak out early and make it to Lafayette by 11pm. We then can spend the next morning eat lunch and then make the quick trip in the afternoon.

If by chance you are leaving Austin via Hwy 71 to get to I-10, stop in LaGrange for some wonderful pastires...kolache, struedel, bread etc.

http://www.weikels.com/hours_location.htm

We are looking for a place to stay that would break up the drive (we are driving from Los Angeles to Florida and back so we have to pace ourselves!)and would like to stay somewhere amazing or interesting.

I like cute little towns, amazing scenery, great local food, nice people. Or just a great place to stay. Or a unique place to stay (like the 50%26#39;s tee-pee motels..).

We are not gamblers (rather go vintage shopping) but thank you for the bakery tip! I am obligated to try all terrific baked goods!

Oh, P.S. I just watched the bakery video and I can%26#39;t wait to go!!

What are your favorites in the Lafayette area? I think that it would be the perfect place to stop. It all sounds so charming! I am not sure what town to stay in (and where) and what to do and visit while there.

Thank you!!

I like Vermilionville:

http://www.vermilionville.org/

Thank you! It does look great! We will be sure to go there.

Do you have a favorite little town or place to stay?

Well, I love Lafayette, but that%26#39;s because I have a lot of family there. :) I think it%26#39;s a good place to stop. Try eating at Landry%26#39;s, where Landry%26#39;s started.

http://www.landrysseafoodhouse.com/index.html

St. John%26#39;s Cathedral is impressive. It%26#39;d be one of the places I%26#39;d head, but probably for sentimental reasons as it has a lot of family history. (Attended the related school for a while and made my First Communion there myself. :)) Still, there%26#39;s something special about the St. John%26#39;s Oak and the graveyard with many local historical figures buried there.

http://www.saintjohncathedral.org/Museum.html

Then there%26#39;s always University of Louisiana - Lafayette. They have a really nice campus to walk around. :)

Uh oh... am I wandering too far down memory lane? The Louisiana forum probably will be more helpful... I haven%26#39;t been to Lafayette in probably 6 years.

Dear Owl84,

Thank you for the great tip! I enjoy wandering down the Memory Lane with you! It make travel more interesting and personal.

Thank you again!