Home of back-to-back
3A State Football Champions.

A National
Main Street City

A Certified Retirement Community





 
 

Public Transportation

Panola County is located at the intersection of US Highways 59 and 79 and lies in close proximity to Interstate Highways 20 and 49.  The county has approximately 614 center-line miles of rural paved roads.  The citizens of Panola County voted to sell bonds in the 1960’s to purchase right-of-way and to improve these rural roads.  Bond funds were used to purchase right-of-way to entice the Texas Department of Transportation to build the loop around Carthage which is the county seat.  Also, Panola County contains 320 center-line miles of highways that the Department of Transportation owns and maintains.  Commuting is quick and easy in Panola County.

Air Transportation

Locally, air transportation in Panola County is served by Sharpe Field, a small landing strip with a 4,000 foot runway which accommodates private aircraft.  Within 60 miles or less, air travel can be obtained through these airports:

Shreveport Regional Airport 

Service to nearly 250 domestic and international destinations.  Largest aircraft is an M80 with 150 seats.  Connects with 8 cities nonstop.  Smallest commercial aircraft is an SF3 with 34 seats. 

Airlines serving Shreveport Regional Include:

American Eagle Airlines - service to Dallas/Ft. Worth,Texas (DFW)
Allegiant Air - service to Las Vegas, Nevada and Orlando, Florida (starting 11/15/2006)
Atlantic Southeast Airlines - service to DFW and Atlanta, Georgia
ASA/COMAIR - service to Cincinnati, Ohio
Continental Express Airlines - service to Houston, Texas
Northwest Airlink - service to Memphis, Tennessee and Detroit, Michigan 

East Texas Regional Airport (Longview)

Offers 21 flights departing per week for short haul destinations.  Over 714 passengers travel out of Longview every week.  Smallest commercial aircraft is a SF3 with 34 seats.  Connects with 1 city nonstop.

Airlines Serving East Texas Regional Airport in Gregg County Include: American Airlines

Pounds Field- Tyler

Airlines Serving Pounds Field Include:

Continental Airlines
American Airlines
Four major airports are within a three-hour drive from Panola County:

Dallas/Ft. Worth International 

Over 5,619 domestic flights per week.  Largest aircraft is a 777 with 328 seats.  Over 474 international flights per week.  Over 681,154 passengers can travel out of DFW every week. 

Airlines Serving DFW Include:

Dallas Love Field 

Has 520 medium-sized aircraft departing each week.  Has 885 domestic flights per week. Connects with 16 cities nonstop.  Longest flight is 585 miles.

Airlines serving Dallas Love Field Include:

Southwest Airlines
American
Continental Airlines

Houston Intercontinental 

Has 2,220 flights departing each week for short haul destinations.  Over 895 international flights per week.  Over 596,756 passengers travel every week.  175 nonstop flights per week.

Airlines serving Houston Intercontinental Include:

William P. Hobby-Houston

Over 500 medium-sized aircraft departing each week.  Connects with 33 cities nonstop.  Over 80 flights per week flying on small aircraft.  Shortest flight is 148 miles.

Airlines Serving William P. Hobby-Houston Include:

Southwest Airlines
Delta Airlines
Jet Blue Airways
AirTran Airways
American

Passenger Rail Service

Amtrak’s Texas Eagle provides rail service from Chicago to San Antonio on a daily basis. Only 30 minutes from Panola County, Longview is the fourth busiest station along the Texas Eagle route.  The station is located on the east side of downtown, ½ block north of the intersection of Cotton Street and Mobberly Avenue. Three times per week, service is provided from San Antonio to Los Angeles, California.  Station and service hours are Monday thru Sunday from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm.

The Marshall station, located just 20 minutes from Panola County, is located downtown on the north end of Washington Street, 6 blocks from the courthouse. This ornate two-story brick station was constructed in 1912 and was a major interchange point and division office for the Texas and Pacific Railway. It was once scheduled for demolition, but the city of Marshall rallied to keep it for future generations to enjoy.  Across from the station is the Ginocchio Hotel, an 1896 vintage railroad eating house from the era when trains stopped every few hours for meals. Free short and long-term parking are available at both stations for passengers.  A connecting bus/shuttle service connects the Texas Eagle to 14 cities. Locally, the services connect:

Bossier City and Shreveport, LA (at Longview, TX)
Nacogdoches, Houston, and Galveston, TX (at Longview)

Nearly a quarter million passengers ride the Texas Eagle in an average year. Of these, 13% ride in sleeping cars. The average ticket price for a coach passenger is $40, with the average for a sleeper passenger is $187.

Passenger Bus Service

Local bus service is provided from 8am to 5pm on weekdays and from 9am until noon on Saturdays. Stations in the Longview and Marshall area have extended hours of operation for bus travel. Blue lines in the map represent Greyhound lines, while the green lines represent connecting carriers.  A variety of advance purchase and unrestricted fares, including student, senior, children's and military fares are available for purchase. Tickets can be sent by mail or purchased for pickup at the terminal using the Will Call service.  Tickets may also be purchased for the next bus available.

East Texas Rural Transit

The East Texas Council of Governments provides transportation for purposes such as doctor appointments, work, shopping or visiting with family and friends. There is no charge for riders over the age of 60 in the county of residence, but a donation is greatly appreciated. For riders un the age of 60, a nominal fee is charged to ride within the county of resident and a set fee for trips of longer distances.  The East Texas Rural Transit provides this service to citizens within a 14-county area .  They operate Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM.