Driving to Rochester from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) : Any tips?

Concierge was VERY nice and helpful locating a motel close by and at a reasonable rate to accommodate my scan schedule (after the normal shuttle hours). *Not as frugal as ones further out but best available for being reasonably close.

I'm tagging @sueinmn, who travels regularly between Minnesota and Texas. She may have some road trip tips for you. @nana75165 may also have some thoughts.

@zmarkv, you mention that this isn't your first trip to Mayo Clinic and you've already gotten good accommodation recommendations from Mayo's Concierge Services. I'm not sure when you last visited Mayo in Rochester. Be aware that there is a lot of construction and re-routing going on as Mayo Clinic expands. @roch started this discussion to help keep people updated on road closures and other considerations:

- Mayo Rochester construction update - new shuttle drop off location https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-rochester-construction-update-new-shuttle-drop-off-location/

Do you have any other questions as you prepare for your visit June 7?

@zmarkv We make this trip at least four times a year (actually through DFW from the Rio Grande Valley, stopping in the area to visit family. I strongly recommend the Turnpike in OK/KS for ease of travel, and going around Kansas City.

If you like Thai food, there is a nice restaurant south of Des Moines in Clive, Iowa called Spicy Basil.

@sueinmn thanks for the response! Glad you get a breather in DFW. We are actually a bit west of there in Granbury. Do you guys drive nonstop from DFW to Rochester? Agree with turnpike. I plan to take the backroads from Granbury to Lawton Ok to avoid I35 construction and traffic. Safe Travels!

@colleenyoung thanks Colleen. I think I’m good as long as the weather cooperates. Found a nice app that shows weather along the route and lets you adjust timing and route if needed. Called OnTheWay

@zmarkv We are in DFW also and have flown a few times, but took our RV the last time we went up. We found a wonderful place to stay in our RV and I’m more comfortable recovering in a bed I’m used to after tests/procedures. I definitely agree with taking the turnpike in OK/KS. Because we were in our RV, we took extra days up and back to sightsee a bit. As long as it’s not the winter in Rochester, it’s the way to go!
Autumn Woods RV Park
1067 Autumn Woods Circle SW
Rochester, MN 55902
507-990-2983

@zmarkv We usually drive from Minneapolis to DFW (925 mi to my cousin's house) in two days, staying in Kansas or Missouri along the way. Sometimes we travel with our small camper, and find a nice park. Then we usually detour to southern Nebraska to visit for 2 days and we make the long drive direct to DFW in a day. Other times we find a motel along the way, usually south of KC.

When we were younger, we drove non-stop, but it's not for us any more. We still travel about 20,000 miles per year by car, but are substituting flights more often these days. An option my southern friend who goes to Mayo 3 times per year uses is to fly to Minneapolis, rent a car, and return to the Twin Cities for a few days of visiting and sightseeing before flying home. This turns a medical trip into a vacation!