I'm old but alert living in West Texas (San Angelo) and compelled to drive to Galveston at the end of the month. I don't do urban travel..its west to Big Bend or New Mexico or infrequent air from SA. I cannot stand the thought of going through Austin and Houston though I lived in both many years ago----and leaving as soon as I could. So is it as bad as I hear going through these cities and/or anyone familiar with alternative routes or avoidance of these places altogether?...(other than not going)

You could take 71 towards Austin, head south on 281 to Blanco, 32 through Fischer to San Marcos and then 80 down to I10 through Luling. And then in sealy outside of Houston turn right on 36 down through Rosenberg and then Hwy 6 down to Galveston.

Do the above but take SH 36 all the way to Freeport and then get on Bluewater Highway in Surfside into Galveston via San Luis Pass

Could also go to Kerrville then down to Hondo, Pleasanton, Goliad, Victoria, Edna, Bay City, West Columbia, Freeport, Surfside Galveston

Lot's of 2 lane roads

take 87 to Brady, 190 to Temple, 36 to Freeport, then cut over to Surfside and then Galveston, the most "urban" part of that trip would be the Killeen to Temple portion

For the first part of your route, I'd take 87 to Brady, 71 to Llano, 29 to Georgetown and then make your way down to 79 through Taylor over to Milano where I'd pickup 36.

Near the end of the 36 portion of that route, I'd go from Angleton to Hitchcock on FM2004 and then take Hwy 6 through Bayou Vista, across the Causeway onto the Island.

I'd drop down to I-10 at Junction, take 46 at Boerne through New Braunfels to Seguin to dodge SA, back on I-10 to Sealy, 36 to West Columbia, 35 to Angleton, 288 down through Lake Jackson to Surfside Beach and Bluewater Highway.


If you're doing Bluewater Highway, I would definitely get off 36 at West Columbia and cut over on 35 to 288 at Angleton. Better road and fewer stops than taking 36 all the way down to Freeport. There isn't a 36 to Bluewater Highway crossing.

This thread reads like a redneck version of "The Californians."

EclipseAg said:

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This thread reads like a redneck version of "The Californians."

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Reads more like a well-informed Texas Monthly travel article--minus the bbq and "things to do" comments--for which I am very grateful for the replies.

David Happymountain said:

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EclipseAg said:

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This thread reads like a redneck version of "The Californians."

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Perfect.

David Happymountain said:

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EclipseAg said:

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This thread reads like a redneck version of "The Californians."

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Ogre09 said:

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I'd drop down to I-10 at Junction, take 46 at Boerne through New Braunfels to Seguin to dodge SA, back on I-10 to Sealy, 36 to West Columbia, 35 to Angleton, 288 down through Lake Jackson to Surfside Beach and Bluewater Highway.


If you're doing Bluewater Highway, I would definitely get off 36 at West Columbia and cut over on 35 to 288 at Angleton. Better road and fewer stops than taking 36 all the way down to Freeport. There isn't a 36 to Bluewater Highway crossing.

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This gets my vote.

David Happymountain said:

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EclipseAg said:

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This thread reads like a redneck version of "The Californians."

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If I-10 east starts backing up, you can always jump off early around Columbus.

The actual answer to you question is yes, it's bad going though the cities. You are wise.

EclipseAg said:

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This thread reads like a redneck version of "The Californians."

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That was harder to watch than I thought it would be.

10 days ago, I filled up my 1999 Ford Expedition at my Shell station at Verdugo and Hollywood Way for the last time at $5.39/gallon.

I cruised past my old neighborhood one final time and then took Alameda past Olive, past "The (Disney) Lot", past Pavilions and past "The 5" to Home Depot.

Then, it was South on "The 5" to "The 134", eastbound to "The 210" past Rancho Cucamonga to San Bernardino where I picked up "The 10" and didn't stop until I had gone past Palm Springs, Coachella and reached Ehrenberg, Arizona. After that, it was "The 10" all the way to Houston.

When I got to Houston, I just couldn't say "The 8", it was "Beltway 8" to "I-45".
"I-45" until I crossed "The Causeway" and it became Broadway and eventually hit Seawall.

I was a subject matter expert on SoCal directions but now, it's all about 61st & Seawall to Broadway. I'm going to miss that stuff that was important local knowledge and now, doesn't matter at all. The construction had finally finished on La Brea so I didn't have to detour to La Cienega anymore to get to LAX.

It's been several years, but I used to drive to/from Houston and Midland every other week. Now I live in Houston and am used to it, but it was really never that bad.

If you're just taking your time and would rather not go through the cities, the above options will be great. But I'd bet just going through Junction to get to 10 and taking 10 the whole way would be faster.

Wandering around avoiding the big cities will not be faster, but it might be less stressful and more enjoyable and worth the extra 30-60 minutes. Or you may be able to time the drive so you're getting through when it's not busy (when everyone else is sleeping).

There are a few alternative routes that you can take to avoid Austin and Houston. One option is to take US-287 north to I-35E, then east to Galveston. This route will take you through smaller towns and less traffic. Another option is to take US-87 south to I-10 east, then south to Galveston. This route will also take you through smaller towns and less traffic.

HollywoodBQ said:

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EclipseAg said:

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This thread reads like a redneck version of "The Californians."

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That was harder to watch than I thought it would be.

10 days ago, I filled up my 1999 Ford Expedition at my Shell station at Verdugo and Hollywood Way for the last time at $5.39/gallon.

I cruised past my old neighborhood one final time and then took Alameda past Olive, past "The (Disney) Lot", past Pavilions and past "The 5" to Home Depot.

Then, it was South on "The 5" to "The 134", eastbound to "The 210" past Rancho Cucamonga to San Bernardino where I picked up "The 10" and didn't stop until I had gone past Palm Springs, Coachella and reached Ehrenberg, Arizona. After that, it was "The 10" all the way to Houston.

When I got to Houston, I just couldn't say "The 8", it was "Beltway 8" to "I-45".
"I-45" until I crossed "The Causeway" and it became Broadway and eventually hit Seawall.

I was a subject matter expert on SoCal directions but now, it's all about 61st & Seawall to Broadway. I'm going to miss that stuff that was important local knowledge and now, doesn't matter at all. The construction had finally finished on La Brea so I didn't have to detour to La Cienega anymore to get to LAX.

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