Driving with my two boys (ages 6 and 4) to Panama City Beach later this week. Any recommendations for lunch and rest stops to allow the kids to burn some energy?

USS Alabama in Mobile

Lake Charles has i think Miilenial Park with is a splash pad and playground just after or before the bridge

Honestly the best stop to eat sandwiches and spend a lot of energy for that age

Most of La. is a dump until you get past Baton Rouge for stopping for lunch.
MS Welcome Center is spacious but far.
Fortunately my dogs can wait until Buccee's in Alabama before needing a break.
4 hrs out of Houston, McDonalds in Rayne is ok and feels safest.

The Shed BBQ in Mississippi is worth a stop for a meal, it's a cheezy food network type place that our kids liked.

City park in NOLA. A little out of the way but NOLA is always worth a stop IMO. Only place worth stopping along i10 in Louisiana really (with kids that is)

Introduce your kids to the wonderful culture of boudin and cracklins at Billy's in Scott, LA

Thanks all.

Hoping to be out the door around 3:30AM so lunch in New Orleans area or Mississippi will be an option.

Are you planning on taking IH10 through NOLA or IH12 on the north shore of lake Pontchartrain? Assuming the construction isn't bad in Mandeville, taking 12 will save you some time if you aren't completely set on driving through NOLA.
If you're going on Friday, Palmetto's in Slidell is fantastic Cajun food and sits right on the bayou, and is only about 5 minutes off of the highway. Could be fun for the kids to have lunch on the patio deck and watch the water for alligators. I believe they're only open for lunch Fri-Sun.
Or you could stop at one of the waterfront restaurants or lakefront park in Mandeville on the north shore and tell the kids that they're looking at a lake (even though you can't see the other side of it).

There's also the INFINITY science center right across the border into MS that has a Saturn V rocket outside. You wouldn't have time to do the tour, but it's the same exit as the MS welcome center and would be cool to stop for a quick photo op.

Going on Friday and will likely go I12 on the north shore. Boys would definitely enjoy seeing some gators.

Have to be at ECP (Panama City Beaches Airport) around 4PM to pickup wife and infant daughter.

Keep an eye on the traffic at the tunnel in Mobile, and the bridge over the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge. Those are the two worst choke points for traffic on this drive IMO. ECP ideally is about 4 hours from the LA-MS line but I've had that same drive take 6 on a holiday weekend (Labor Day 2020). I just checked and Palmettos opens at 11AM on Fridays. If you get there right when they open you should be good!

Swamp tour would be fun outside of NOLA

are you taking a different route home or same route to get home as fast as possible ?

wessimo said:

---

USS Alabama in Mobile

---

We have driven past the USS Alabama many times. Usually by the time we arrive in Mobile, we are in hurry to get to Florida. How open is the boat and how much time should we spend there?

Taking the same route back to for shortest trip.

Made better than expected time one the way to PCB and was in DeFuniak Springs, FL by noon so made a quick stop for gas and food at Zaxby's at that exit before heading south on 331.

On the way back I did stop at The Shed. Boys enjoyed the sand area and eating at the river. BBQ was halfway decent. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a place to stretch kids' legs.

TC09 said:

---

On the way back I did stop at The Shed. Boys enjoyed the sand area and eating at the river. BBQ was halfway decent. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a place to stretch kids' legs.

---

Motion seconded. The Shed, while a little early in the return route, was perfect for some food and a great way for 1.5 and 3.5 year olds to wander about for a bit. Thanks for the tip in this thread!