Dashcam Drive: Florida to Louisiana | Road Trip Day 17

Florida to Louisiana Road Trip | Day 17 of Our Canada to Mexico Adventure 🇺🇸 📅 Date: May 12, 2025 After two nights in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, it was time to continue west toward Texas. This was a major transition day on our journey as we left Florida behind, crossed Alabama and Mississippi, and entered Louisiana before reaching Lafayette for the night. What looked simple on the map turned into another long day of highway driving, covering nearly 600 kilometers across the Gulf Coast region of the United States. 🚙 Travel & Vehicle Telemetry 📅 Date: May 12, 2025 📍 Starting Point: Fort Walton Beach, Florida 🛣️ Route: Fort Walton Beach → Robertsdale (AL) → Gulfport (MS) → Walker (LA) → Lafayette (LA) 🏁 Destination: Lafayette, Louisiana 🚙 Distance Driven: 583.7 km (362.7 mi) ⛽ Fuel Consumed: 42.488 L 💵 Fuel Cost: $43.67 USD 🌴 Leaving Florida's Gulf Coast The day began in Fort Walton Beach after a welcome rest day on Florida's Emerald Coast. With Texas still several days away, today's objective was straightforward: ✅ Cover distance ✅ Cross multiple states ✅ Position ourselves closer to San Antonio By the end of the day we had officially left Florida, crossed Alabama, driven through Mississippi, and entered Louisiana. Days like these may not be packed with attractions, but they are the backbone of every long-distance road trip. 🛣️ Lafayette: A Tactical Overnight Stop Lafayette wasn't originally planned as a sightseeing destination. Instead, it served an important logistical purpose. 📍 Break up the long drive between Florida and Texas 📍 Get a good night's sleep 📍 Avoid an exhausting marathon drive to San Antonio Sometimes the best road-trip decisions are the practical ones. 🏨 When a Hotel Brand Disappoints After an excellent experience at the Holiday Inn Express in Fort Walton Beach, we assumed another property under the same brand would provide a similar experience. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. This became one of the most disappointing hotel stays of the entire trip. Among the issues we encountered: ⚠️ Broken elevator ⚠️ Limited secure parking for a fully loaded Jeep ⚠️ Very limited breakfast options ⚠️ Strong humidity and musty odors throughout the building The contrast with our previous stay was surprising. While the hotel served its purpose as a one-night stopover, it reminded us of an important travel lesson: 🏨 A familiar hotel brand does not always guarantee a consistent experience. At least it was only for one night. 🏨 Overnight Stay Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lafayette 📍 3903 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Lafayette, Louisiana 🛏️ One-night stay 💲 Cost Recorded: $119.08 USD including taxes 🌅 Day 17 was all about progress. Four states, hundreds of kilometers, and another step closer to Texas and eventually Mexico. 👍 If you enjoy road trips, dashcam drives, travel logistics, and real-world overlanding experiences, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Follow along for the next chapter of the adventure. 🤠 Next Stop: Texas! We leave Louisiana behind and continue toward San Antonio. 🚐 TRAVELNAUTAS RESOURCES 🗺️ Road-trip guides, border-crossing logistics, vehicle preparation tips, travel tools, and practical resources for overland travelers. 🌐 Website: https://travelnautas.co 📍 Follow our complete Canada to Mexico journey on Polarsteps: https://www.polarsteps.com/Migueloria... 📚 GET THE BOOK 🇺🇸 ENGLISH Drive to Mexico in Your Own Vehicle A Practical Guide to Crossing the U.S. and Exploring Mexico by Road Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GX3BC6YJ Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/d... 🇪🇸 ESPAÑOL Rumbo a México en tu propio auto Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GX2YK2R2 Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/d... 🇫🇷 FRANÇAIS En route vers le Mexique avec votre propre véhicule Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0H1Z2C3DS Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/d... 🌎 Travel smarter. Cross borders confidently. Explore further. #️⃣ Hashtags #RoadTripUSA #CanadaToMexico #Travelnautas #Dashcam #DriveToMexico #CrossCountryRoadTrip