Piney Woods and Caddo Lake: Tyler to Shreveport
Roses and pine forest around Tyler, riverboat-era Jefferson and the cypress swamp of Caddo Lake on the Texas–Louisiana line.
- Distance
- 386 km (240 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 17 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- States
- TX, LA
- Updated
- July 4, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 386 km (240 mi) with 7 stops, from Dallas to Shreveport. About 4 h 17 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Texas, Louisiana
Route description
Leave Dallas east on I-20 and turn south on US-69 for Tyler, about 160 km in all. The land changes from prairie to the pine forests of East Texas. Tyler’s municipal rose garden is at its best in May and October, and the brick-paved Azalea District around it blooms in late March and early April with its own signed driving trail.
Tyler State Park lies north of town, just off I-20. It is a comfortable base with shaded campsites, electric hookups and a lake for swimming and paddling. From there take two-lane highways north-east through Gilmer, or I-20 and US-59, to Jefferson, about 1 hour 30 minutes away. Both routes are two-lane highways through pine forest and small towns, easy for RVs but slow behind logging trucks.
Jefferson was once the busiest river port in Texas, until the Red River’s log jam was cleared in the 1870s and steamboats could no longer reach it. Today it has brick streets, historic houses and museums. Continue east on TX-134 and FM 2198 to Caddo Lake State Park, about 25 km away, where the bayou is lined with bald cypress and Spanish moss.
Paddle marked canoe trails or book a boat tour from Uncertain, a small village on the lake. Water hyacinth and giant salvinia can clog parts of the lake, so ask the park staff which routes are open. Summer is hot and buggy; spring and autumn are better. From Caddo Lake it is about 45 minutes east on TX-43 and I-20 to Shreveport in Louisiana.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Dallas
TX - 2178 km
Tyler
TX - 32 km
Tyler Municipal Rose Garden
NatureTyler, TXTens of thousands of rose bushes of hundreds of varieties on about 5.7 hectares in the town that calls itself the rose capital of America. Free entry; peak bloom is May and again in October, when the Rose Festival is held.
- 419 km
Tyler State Park
NatureTyler, TXA spring-fed lake ringed by tall pines and hardwoods, with a CCC-built beach, paddle rentals and mountain-bike trails. It lies just off I-20 north of Tyler, handy for an overnight with a big rig.
- 5113 km
Jefferson
TX - 621 km
Caddo Lake State Park
NatureKarnack, TXA maze of bayous and sloughs under bald cypress hung with Spanish moss on Big Cypress Bayou. Rent a canoe to follow the marked paddling trails, or take a guided boat tour from nearby Uncertain.
- 752 km
Shreveport
LA
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Dallas → Tyler · 110 mi · 1 h 58 minOvernight nearby, for example: Lake Hawkins RV Park (18 mi); Trails End RV Camp (14 mi).
- Day 2: Tyler → Jefferson · 83 mi · 1 h 29 minOn the way: Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, Tyler State Park.Overnight nearby, for example: Buffalo Bayou RV Park (7 mi); Pine Island RV Park (11 mi).
- Day 3: Jefferson → Shreveport · 46 mi · 0 h 49 minOn the way: Caddo Lake State Park.Overnight nearby, for example: Southern Living RV Park (14 mi); Diamond Jacks RV Park (2 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, May, September and December. Hot in June–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Piney Woods and Caddo Lake: Tyler to Shreveport?
3-day road trip of about 386 km (240 mi) with 7 stops, from Dallas to Shreveport. About 4 h 17 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Piney Woods and Caddo Lake: Tyler to Shreveport?
We suggest 3 days: about 4 h 17 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Piney Woods and Caddo Lake: Tyler to Shreveport start and end?
It starts in Dallas and ends in Shreveport.
Which states does Piney Woods and Caddo Lake: Tyler to Shreveport pass through?
Texas and Louisiana.
Where can you camp along Piney Woods and Caddo Lake: Tyler to Shreveport?
OpenStreetMap lists 92 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Sandy Lake RV Resort, Mineola RV Park and Mineola Civic Center and RV Park.
When is the best time for Piney Woods and Caddo Lake: Tyler to Shreveport?
The most pleasant months are usually April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, May, September and December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
