What is the better route to take through Alamaba, 331 or 231????
Mapquest says to take one way and Yahoo Maps says another. We are heading down tomorrow and would like any input you may have to make the drive easier!! Thanks!

Where in Alabama are you?

We are actually going to be coming down I-65. We are driving from Chicago, but spending a night in Nashville. It looks like once you hit Montgomery you could go either way.

Once you are on 231 get off at Troy,AL(state road AL-167) go to Enterprise, AL and then go to Panama City Beach(state road AL-167 to state road FL-79). You'll save almost an hour of travel time. If you stay on 231 all the way you have to go through panama city which is slower. It is an easy shortcut, if you stay on AL-167 which turns into FL-79 at the state lines it will bring you to the west end of panama city beach. I've taken this way 10-15 times when I go back to visit Illinois.

Also there are usually fewer cops on 167-79, 231 has a cop every 10 or 15 miles(or so it seems) on the drive down and back up.

From Montgomery, you should stick to 231, unless you want to 'experiment' with local 'shortcuts'...

From Troy, you could cut over to Enterprise, then follow the signs to PC Beach... you come in on Hwy 79 that way. But, it doesn't save you THAT much more time, and you'd probably be just as well off sticking to 231.

Hope that helps.

Thank you! I appreciate your help.

BeachBum1978,

I agree with Toni, I would stick with 231 as well. It's four lanes which makes for much easier passing than the two lanes of 79 and 167. I had heard that the 79/167 way was shorter so I experimented this time coming home and it was only 15 miles closer for me. Yes, there are other factors to consider like which end of the beach you are staying, and the time of day you are traveling.

Have a great trip and enjoy your stay.

I used to come down 231 to get to PCB, but going through Enterprise and on to Highway 79 is MUCH easier, I've found, because you bypass Dothan and don't have to fight all the traffic in Panama City before you get to Panama City Beach. I believe you can save at least 45 minutes or more of drive time. There is a ton of roadwork near the bridge close to Panama City and it is definitely worth avoiding the huge headache of making your way through it. Plus, on Highway 79, you'll come out on the West side of the beaches. Even if you're staying on the east side on Thomas Drive, it'll still be worth your time to take this route. I've been driving to PCB for more than 20 years and it's never been easier than taking Highway 79 right now.

The first two times I visited PCB I came down 231. On the third trip down I decided to take 331, it was a lot quicker with less cops. It will take you from Montgomery to Highway 98, and then take a left. Its about 16 miles to PCB after you take the left onto 98. From Louisville, it used to me 10 1/2 hours to make the trip now it takes only about 8 to 8/12 hours. I have been down 331 7 times and not had any problems at all. You do have to pay close attention to the highway signs, 331 has a lot of turns through small towns. It could be pretty easy to miss a turn.

We travel 331 as well and have no problems.