I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (long)
 

I originally had a similar post in Psychology... they suggested I post in B&M. A few changes here.

I’m planning a road trip that will concentrate on poker, and wanted to see what additional suggestions everyone had. I’m excited to do some detailed trip reports and reviews on all the cardrooms I visit. Closer to the trip I will put together a site/blog page with updates/photos etc.

Poker Road Trip: I've done lots of traveling, but always for a weekend or week. I've always wanted to go on a road trip across the US by myself camping/staying with friends etc. I think 1-2 months would be ideal. My gut is telling me that the timing right now is rather perfect, so I’m planning it. Turning it into a 'poker road trip' if you will... What I mean is using the time to really hone in with no other distractions. No distractions with work, significant other, school etc. I could have the time to really dedicate to crunching through more critical books, play in cash games across the US with different crowds each night, log in some serious online hours via the laptop, and hopefully meet several other 2+2ers along the way. At the same time being completely relaxed with visiting new areas and really seeing the country... I love that type of travel.

I plan to depart in early January from San Diego, and start off with a 3-4 day crunch in Vegas. I will work my way east across the US along the southern states, and then backtrack through some other areas to end back in Vegas for another session. Depending on timing I may try to make it back for a few events at the LA Poker Classic in February.

I have several friends along the way that I will be staying with, and am working out some comps with some of the casinos. I wanted to see though if any of you would be so kind to offer a floor I could lay my sleeping bag on for a night. I’m clean, drug/smoke free, professional, and a very good guest. PM to talk more if you’re in or around the cities below.

I’m still planning out specific locations, but right now the following cities look like they will be stops. I tried to arrange it to make sure they have card rooms close by (according to pokerpages.com etc) so most do. There may be a few that don’t, and I have them down for other reasons.

Nevada: Las Vegas
Arizona: Parker, San Carlos, Prescott, Tucson, Scottsdale/Phoenix
New Mexico: Mescalero, Clovis
Texas: Eagle Pass, Shreveport (this may actually be in Louisiana…on the border)
Louisiana: Shreveport, Kindler, New Orleans, Marksville, Baton Rouge
Mississippi: Biloxi, Tunica

Below is a little background about myself for anyone interested...

Personal: I'm in my mid 20's and have owned two companies over the last several years. The current project that I'm 100% involved in I am in the process of selling in order to move onto to other career paths and work for a larger operation. I have a B.S. in Marketing, and will be re-locating to San Diego in February. By December, my current lease will be up, business will be sold, new job in San Diego can be postponed, just got out of a relationship, and can store personal belongings with family.

Poker: I've been playing for about 5 years, and seriously for about 1.5 years. I've spent a lot of time reading and studying the game, and logging in hours. I still have a long way to go for where I want to be with poker, but just this last 6 months I've seen a significant improvement and am really starting to feel things click. For example, after reading HOH I & II twice through, MTTs are making much more since and the results show. I have not won a HUGE tourney yet, but making some great cashes and progress. With that said, I still need to log in much more time, and know it will be a while until my game is at the next level.

Feel free to post any suggestions about the trip, locations, or anything relevant. Also, please PM me if you have a place I could crash at near the cities above.

Thanks!

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (long)
 

Good for you, man. Do it while you're young and foolish (and single, to boot!).

I am assuming that you are good when it comes to bankroll management, handling a possible cold streak, etc, right?

You wouldn't want to plan out this huge trip only to go bust and get stuck in some place called Mescalero.

Good luck!

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

[ QUOTE ]
Good for you, man. Do it while you're young and foolish (and single, to boot!).

I am assuming that you are good when it comes to bankroll management, handling a possible cold streak, etc, right?

You wouldn't want to plan out this huge trip only to go bust and get stuck in some place called Mescalero.

Good luck!

[/ QUOTE ]

Ha... yeah I'm good with BR management... I'll also be playing some lower stakes too and probably won't actually play as much as it sounds like. I'm not looking for 60 days of 12 hours per day. Want to enjoy the trip too and read, see the cities etc. But yeah, don't want to get stranded in Clovis Texas.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

clovis is in new mexico...but i digress. i would skip prescott (only time i played there it was pretty lame) and all of new mexico. i don't know anything about texas, but new orleans and tunica are probably must stops on this tour. st. louis and kc may be additional options. what time of year are you going?

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

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clovis is in new mexico...but i digress... what time of year are you going?

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My typo.. yes NM. I'll be going in January, so while it will be cold everywhere, I can at least dodge some extreme with Texas etc.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

Bring the trip all the way out to AC, coast to coast.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

If you want to swing north. Below is a list of cities you could go to right in a row, all with casinos w. poker rooms.

Tulsa, Okla
St. Louis
Iowa City
Des Moines
Omaha
Kansas City
(back to Okla/Texas)

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

You should definitely hit Oklahoma, Iit wouldn't be much out of your way at all...

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

Good luck,

Sounds like a blast. Just to let you know, the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino has closed cardroom. That was the only public cardroom in town. Regardless, if you need a place to crash in BR though let me know.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

I would also recommend hitting Houston, there are lots of safe backroom games that would add to the story.

This summer another 2+2er and I drove from Chicago to Seattle and hit poker rooms on the trip, if you can some how put it in Deadwood, SD was a seriously great stop, Seattle wasn't too shabby either.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

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Bring the trip all the way out to AC, coast to coast.

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Big problem there is the gap from MS to AC where you can't play in legal card rooms.

Why not head up north from MS, instead, hitting St Louis, Iowa, then Canterbury Park in Minnesota.

Swing back west through Deadwood then down to Colorado and back to Vegas.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

On the way back, make sure you go thru Denver and play up in Blackhawk/Central City. The poker sucks there (2/5 or 5/5 limit) but its worth it just for the sceneary. You can either take I 70 back thru Denver or go up to I-80 and hit Reno/Tahoe and San Francisco on the way back.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

but Poker wise. AC and Foxwoods would be too major not to miss
Then Way back swing the midwest to vegas

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

[ QUOTE ]
Good luck,

Sounds like a blast. Just to let you know, the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino has closed cardroom. That was the only public cardroom in town. Regardless, if you need a place to crash in BR though let me know.

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Good to know about Belle. I actually just wanted to visit Baton Rouge and had not looked into poker rooms. I will definately get in touch with you soon!! Thanks!

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Bring the trip all the way out to AC, coast to coast.

[/ QUOTE ] Big problem there is the gap from MS to AC where you can't play in legal card rooms. Why not head up north from MS, instead, hitting St Louis, Iowa, then Canterbury Park in Minnesota. Swing back west through Deadwood then down to Colorado and back to Vegas.

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting idea heading north from MS... I need to ponder a bit to see how that works in time wise... also do some research on weather conditions through those areas.

If so, it would be more convenient to stop in Deadwood, SD, as RUFFNECK suggested.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (long)
 

"Texas: Eagle Pass, Shreveport (this may actually be in Louisiana…on the border)
Louisiana: Shreveport, Kindler, New Orleans, Marksville, Baton Rouge"

May I suggest a more southern route through Texas and Louisiana. Come through Houston on a Thursday and stop just south of there and play in my game (2/5 NL) and go through Louisiana on I10 and stop in Lake Charles at the Isle, go to Kinder (only 30 miles off I10), and on to New Orleans and then over to Biloxi-Gulfport (Beau Rivage, Grand, etc.) and then up to Tunica. My reason for suggesting this route is Shreveport is very weak in poker, not nearly as good as Lake Charles and it is pretty far north.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

Unless you're planning to play in private and/or illegal games, the only thing you'll do in Texas on a poker trip is drive, and drive, and drive.

If you're leaving in January, and planning on taking two different routes, then I'd suggest a northern route outbound and come back on a southern route, to reduce the risk of being stranded in the middle of nowhere by a major winter storm.

I'm just a couple of hours from Clovis and last I heard there was no poker there, just slot machines.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

[ QUOTE ]
Unless you're planning to play in private and/or illegal games, the only thing you'll do in Texas on a poker trip is drive, and drive, and drive.

If you're leaving in January, and planning on taking two different routes, then I'd suggest a northern route outbound and come back on a southern route, to reduce the risk of being stranded in the middle of nowhere by a major winter storm.

I'm just a couple of hours from Clovis and last I heard there was no poker there, just slot machines.

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Yeah, I was interested in stopping in Clovis just because there is this town in central california named Clovis which is close to where I grew up. Yes, random.

This link shows two poker places in particular. I have not varified yet that they are still in business. Maybe going through Dallas would be better, then that's probably around 4 hours from Shreveport in Louisiana... I'll look at the map later this week and make some adjustments per everyone's comments.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

I have several friends who live and work at Cherokee casino, that would be a great stop. And like one previous reply, there are several Cherokee properties along with a couple others that would make OK, a good state to hit. I hear the action is amazing. I haven't made it back there but I may be able to get you a room/extreme player rated room at least.
I went to Harrahs NO, that was a nice property right on the river and of course the night life!! I wouldn't miss the big easy.
Obviously the Grand while your down there. I really don't know much about FL, but hear that there regs. on poker are getting better daily.
Don't know much about Midwest, but could give Brook Lyter an email and see if he has any info. You might know him from the WPT, he did well once and runs poker leagues back in Minnesotta/SD area. That might be lame but should you travel that way after leaving Foxxy or something it could happen.
On your return trip, if you do come through Reno/Tahoe area, I can hook you up with a room/or player rate depending on the day in Sacramento area.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (long)
 

1. Texas is indeed a bit of poker wasteland as far as public poker goes, but I do have 2 suggestions:

a) Down near Corpus Christi is a casino ship (the Texas Treasure) which sails every day (twice a day) out of a beach town called Port Aransas. They have a very juicy 5-5-10-15 Limit Hold 'Em game. The player base is so isolated that they only play each other, and my perception is that they never improve. Great game. Downside is that the boat goes in and out on a set schedule and you can only gamble in international waters...so your session is limited to about 4 hours max; maybe 5 on Fri/Sat night when the boat stays out a little later. Not worth the trip in itself, but juicy enough that if you're rolling through TX on I-10 anyway, it's worth the 2 hour detour down to the coast. Pretty good (and cheap) seafood down in the area, too.

b) About 2 hours north of Houston is the Alabama-Coushatta reservation. I've never played there, but my understanding is that they have a small casino with a cardroom. Probably closer to your planned itinerary; don't know if it's even worth the detour though.

2. I recently played in Shreveport. Don't know how it stacks up against Lake Charles & New Orleans, but I can tell you that the 4/8 LHE at the Shreveport Horseshoe is uber-soft.

3. Sounds like it would be way off your planned route, but if you wanted to extend it, WA state has quite a bit of poker. I'd definitely recommend it if you're a limit player; gaming commission doesn't allow NLHE cash games up here (there's a couple of Indian casinos that have big spread-limit games though).

Btw, I recently read Hunting Fish by Jay Greenspan. Not the greatest poker book ever, but an entertaining read. Basic premise; Greenspan makes a cross-country poker trip from NYC to LA. Sounds very similar to what you're thinking; heck, even sounds like you read it and it's the inspiration for your idea. If not, though, might want to pick it up. It's a quick read and might give you some ideas, although Greenspan focused a tad more on finding private games along the way through internet contacts.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

Hoss1193,

Thanks for the suggestions. I looked into the Alabama-Coushatta reservation and couldn't find a casino, only some out-dated articles on some legal stuff. Their main site also has no mention of a related casino.

At any rate, I plan to check out Shreveport... heard some mixed reviews, but mostly good. It will definitely be a stop, and some soft 4/8 sounds nice.

I actually have not read 'Hunting Fish' but have it on order and will read it in December. I have skimmed through a few chapters and it looks like a very fun read. I got some of the ideas for this trip from that general concept. You're right though, he seems to be focusing on underground clubs with a finite goal of increasing his bankroll to X. I'm doing this trip for some personal reasons besides poker, in addition to making it a good time to hone in on my game and log in some hours.

Several of you have PMed me offering places to stay, and I really appreciate it. I look forward to meeting you and having some good stories by the time the trip is over.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (long)
 

For when you are near Montgomery, Alabama: www.shpoker.org

Southern Heritage Poker Club

Tournaments every other Tuesday night (see calendar)

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Bring the trip all the way out to AC, coast to coast.

[/ QUOTE ] Big problem there is the gap from MS to AC where you can't play in legal card rooms. Why not head up north from MS, instead, hitting St Louis, Iowa, then Canterbury Park in Minnesota. Swing back west through Deadwood then down to Colorado and back to Vegas.

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting idea heading north from MS... I need to ponder a bit to see how that works in time wise... also do some research on weather conditions through those areas.

If so, it would be more convenient to stop in Deadwood, SD, as RUFFNECK suggested.

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I'd avoid Colorado in February, especially if it would end up being your first time driving through the state. The Rockies are a major pain in the rear.

If you end up taking the northern route back, as you mentioned, beware of weather conditions. Rather than Colorado, I'd recommend going from Deadwood to Reno, which you would do by going from Deadwood down to Cheyenne and then straight across through Salt Lake City, then heading south for a return trip to Vegas then to LA.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

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You should definitely hit Oklahoma, Iit wouldn't be much out of your way at all...

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Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

How does one "camp" in LV?

-J

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

[ QUOTE ]
How does one "camp" in LV?

-J

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Yeah, I meant 'camping' more rhetorically... especially after thinking about the time of year etc. camping = winging it.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

[ QUOTE ]
How does one "camp" in LV?

-J

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Well, if he is in a trailer/motorhome there's always: http://static.flickr.com/48/136227393_27f40c6923_t.jpg [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

Eagle Pass would be a waste of time. 1 or 2 tables and way out of the way. I live in San Antonio if you need a place to crash if you come thru on I-10. Good Luck.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

In New Mexico,

Albuquerque is worth the trip - I recommend Sandia casino....

There is no poker room in Clovis...

Inn of the Mountain Gods near Ruidoso is best on Thursday thru Saturday....

I recommend reading Hunting Fish to get a sense of a similar experience....

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (long)
 

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Texas: Eagle Pass, Shreveport (this may actually be in Louisiana…on the border)


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I've played in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area quite a bit for the past couple of years. Evidently, all violent and malignant crime has been erradicated in the area as local law enforcement now has ample time to crack down on the vile scum who populate what once was DFWs thriving poker community.

All that to say is that many places in the area now have a moratorium on new members. I'm not sure about the rest of the state. H-town may still be just fine. But if you're worried about it, swing north through OK. Winstar on the TX/OK border always has a large stable of donkeys at the trough.

Good luck on the trip.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (l
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you want to swing north. Below is a list of cities you could go to right in a row, all with casinos w. poker rooms.

Tulsa, Okla
St. Louis
Iowa City
Des Moines
Omaha
Kansas City
(back to Okla/Texas)

[/ QUOTE ]


Going all the way to Iowa City/Des Moines and then NOT continuing on to Canterbury is pretty silly.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (long)
 

Just keep reraising as fast as you can while he thinks his hand is unbeatable. Suggesting to go all-in changes the mood and may allow him to realize he could lose.

Re: I\'m planning a \'Poker Road Trip\' across the US -- any thoughts? (long)
 

I suggest timing out your trip so you're around New Orleans for some of the Mardi Gras season. Lodging might be steep, but if you can sneak your car into the Harrah's parking lot in between parades you can sleep there. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]