Check out this web page showing all roads going in and out of Florida that are now closed due to Hurricane Dennis before you try to head out for your vacation in Destin. It is alot worse than some people are telling you.

http://www.eoconline.org/EM_Live/roadstat.nsf

Thanks for that link... very useful.

Notice about half of those roads have reopened though.
More will be reopening throughout the day and this week.

I'd say the major inconveniences are Okaloosa Island between Destin and Ft Walton (that road gets washed out every time a hurricane hits... usually takes a few weeks to fix it.) and Choctaw Bay Bridge (Hwy 331).

The rest that are still closed look like they're in the Apalachicola / Pt. St. Joe / Carabelle area and further East.

If I come in on Thursday (from New Orleans area), I'll take I-10 to Hwy-331 South. Hwy-331 to Hwy-98. Then turn right on Hwy-98 to get to Sandestin. Are all those roads passable?

According to the website link above, Choctaw Bay Bridge on HWY 331 is closed right now. I'd find an alt route unless you hear that it is open again.

Thanks. I'm not sure I have an alternate route. I'll check the list again tomorrow and make a decision. I may just push our trip back a few weeks.

Is the Escambia Bay Bridge opened as of this afternoon?
I called the Florida Highway Patrol and they said yes, I-10 was open all the way to Tallahassee.

The HWY 331 Bridge is open again.
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Last I heard, the I-10 Bridge over Escambia Bay was still closed, but I would take the FHP's word if they said it's open. I'll try and confirm today.

I-10 Bridge over Escambia Bay Reopened! That's great news for everyone!
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/...507120324/1006

Assuming they get electricity back on within the next week or so, would I be able to get there taking I-10 from New Orleans to the Mid-Bay Bridge to Hwy 98?? I know they are saying Hwy 98 is washed out between Ft Walton and Destin, but I am hoping that maybe parts of it are ok IN Destin?? Just trying to figure out if we will even be able to get to our hotel or not.

Yes.. ,looks like that route will be okay. The only damage on HWY 98 I heard of was on Okaloosa Island between Ft Walton and Destin.

HWY 98 on Okaloosa Island is now open but is limited to two lanes for a stretch. It will take 90 days to completely repair.

And traffic will bottleneck pretty bad there... allow extra time for travel if you're taking HWY 98 on Okaloosa Island.