Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0East Texas & Louisiana — 10 Days
Piney woods → deep East Texas cypress bayou → Louisiana longleaf pine
Route Map
● Austin (start/end) · numbered stops in order · dashed line shows approximate route
Estimated Trip Cost
Gas estimate assumes 2WD pickup + travel trailer at 10 mpg, 65 mph max, $3.25/gal regular unleaded (approx. national avg). Includes 502 mi of stops + 420 mi return to Austin.
Trip Highlights
- ▶ Three distinct eastern forest ecosystems: loblolly pine, big cypress bayou, Louisiana longleaf pine
- ▶ Jefferson TX Historic District day trip from Lake O' the Pines — most scenic small town in East Texas
- ▶ All drives under 3 hours between stops — most comfortable daily schedule on the eastern loop
- ▶ $14/night COE site at Lake O' the Pines; free USFS at Angelina and Kisatchie
Stop-by-Stop
Day 1: depart Austin 10 AM — 235 miles via US-290 E → TX-21 → Zavalla; arrive ~2 PM. ⚠️ Zero AT&T signal. Sexton Pond area; showers at Boykin Springs 1 mi away. Neches Bluff Overlook day trip.
Day 4: depart 10 AM — 127 miles via US-69 N → US-59 N → Carthage → US-59 N → Marshall TX → US-59 N → Jefferson TX area; arrive ~12:13 PM. Alley Creek or Johnson Creek non-electric COE sites on Lake O' the Pines. Day trip to Jefferson TX Historic District (20 min) — oldest county courthouse in Texas, Caddo Lake paddle access.
Day 7: depart 10 AM — 140 miles via Jefferson → US-59 E → Shreveport LA → I-49 S → Natchitoches → FR 380; arrive ~12:27 PM. FR 380 multiple large pull-ins. Kisatchie Hills sandstone bluffs day hike. Day 10: depart 10 AM — 420 miles via Shreveport → I-20 W → Marshall TX → Corsicana → Austin; arrive ~5:22 PM.