Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0East Texas & Louisiana — 9 Days
Piney woods → Louisiana longleaf pine savanna
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 420 mi of stops + 420 mi return to Austin.
Trip Highlights
- ▶ East Texas Piney Woods: loblolly pine and Spanish moss in a dense, quiet forest
- ▶ Longleaf pine savanna at Kisatchie — one of the rarest ecosystems in North America, being actively restored
- ▶ All USFS free to low-cost dispersed camping — the most budget-friendly eastern loop
- ▶ Return day of 420 miles departs 10 AM; arrives Austin by 5:22 PM
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 — load Gaia GPS and offline maps before leaving home. Sexton Pond and Boykin Springs areas. Neches Bluff Overlook (~30 min south) is a day-trip highlight. Boykin Springs CG 1 mi away has showers.
Day 5: depart 10 AM — 185 miles via US-69 N → I-49 → Natchitoches → FR 380; arrive ~1:30 PM. FR 380 is the recommended access point — multiple large pull-ins and a natural spring. Download Kisatchie MVUM before leaving home. Kisatchie Hills sandstone bluffs day hike. Day 9: depart 10 AM — 420 miles via Shreveport → I-20 W → Marshall TX → US-79 W → Corsicana → Austin; arrive ~5:22 PM (last-day stretch, within 6 PM window).