best route thru/around Houston

[rbs]

Leaving Mustang Island SP in the morning and need help getting thru Houston. MapQuest has us going right thru the middle on 59/I69, we should hit the Houston area around noon. I appreciate any and of all suggestions.
Thanks

[kb0zke]

Where are you heading? I'd suggest that you NOT go through Houston. Go 200 miles out of your way, but don't go there. Many of the major highways have construction projects going. In addition, many of the major highways are now toll roads - and automated ones at that. You need to have one of those automatic toll things if you are going to use the toll roads. Fortunately, most toll roads also have the outer roads, which have lower speed limits and traffic signals, but are free.

[rbs]

I think we have a plan, 77 north to 79. We aren't excited about Interstates, nor pulling thru big city traffic. Thanks

[wbrisett]

It would help to know where you're headed. 77 to 79 is pretty far north of Houston. If you need to be on 59, then you could take 77 to La Grange then head over to 237 which will take you to Brenham (I'd say stop in at the Bluebell ice creamery, but I'm not sure they are doing tours at the moment). Then take 105 to Cleveland. That will put you back on 69/59 without having to go through Houston... and you'll get a nice view of some bluebonnets (although most are starting to die out right about now).

[87MH]

Catch the rally this weekend at Texas Airstream Harbor. Just off of 69 about 30 SW of Lufkin.

Friendliest AS park in the area.

See link at bottom of page.

[rbs]

Sorry, should have told you where we are headed. We are in the slow process of heading home, Decatur IL.

[pappy19]

I like to stay at the West Lakes RV park on the west side of Houston. I take I-10 but wait for a time when there is less traffic. Still faster than going around IMHO.

[kdickinson]

I lived in Houston for 20 years and, for me, it's less about pulling a trailer through any big city like Houston it's about knowing the lanes you need to be in to make transitions from one highway to another. We have pulled our trailer through Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Tucson, Albuquerque, Denver, etc.. The reality is there are trucks on all of the interstates and periods of heavy traffic and the always present detours for construction. Our attitude is that if we miss a turn off then we'll be okay and will just get off and turn around when we can and get going the right direction. We try not to be in a hurry when we are in the big cities towing. I use a camera on the back of my trailer so I can see if and when I can make lane changes safely which helps tremendously. That big silver trailer gets people's attention and they will see you and usually are accommodating in terms of giving you space.

[Zil]

I don't remember now if it was Houston or Dallas, or both, But I went at least twice around the by-pass loop before I was in the right lane for my exit. Before GSP.

[akjam]

This is a difficult one if you don't want to go through Houston. Both 99 and Beltway 8 are good ways to get around Houston, we use them fairly often. Both, however required toll tags and they do not have a pay by mail option. Going through Houston on 69 has some pretty challenging exits through town. My thinking is to go around on loop 610. You should be able to stay in the right lane all the way around and only have one exit onto 69 to deal with on the other side. If possible, it would be easier on a weekend.
Good luck,
Jim

[PKI]

So when traveling through Dallas, it appears that there is a high probability that no toll billing will be forwarded at least when not towing and from out of state. Is the automatic toll road configuration different in Huston? Or is the higher toll that is charged when towing more likely to receive attention? Have not been to Huston is about 40 years, so quite clueless on the toll configuration. Pat

[Jekerrville]

Hello RBS. If you are still on Mustang Island and you are not heart set in going thru HBomb, sorry Houston, follow 361 thru Port Aransas ad cross on the ferry to Aransas Pass and stay on 361 to Gregory. From there pickup up US 181 to Sinton. At Sinton watch for Highway 77 North all the way to Waco. You can brave I-35W on the Fort Worth side of the Metroplex and finally end up in Little Rock with a hop skip and jump to, kind of; to home base.

Access the Texas Parks and Highway website and you can locate all types of places to stay and see as you work your way to North Texas.

Be safe and,

Happy Trails

[JCWDCW]

We traveled though Illinois to Rio Grande Valley for 6 years. Went through Houston the first year after missing a turn, and then learned about the 77/79/59 north to Texarkana. Never needed reason to try something else. Texas Info center in Texarkana advises this route also. Good roads, some three and 4 lanes, some divided highway, and some sections of narrow winding roads but that is the local truck route and lots of Oil Drilling rigs use it for local access, so it is a good route for RVrs also. Lots of RV parks along the way. There is one stretch of lower 77 where you need to have full tanks for a 60 mile run without fuel. It's a 2 1/2 day trip up through Texas
JCW

[slowmover]

East or west on 59 is rarely bad. It's IH45 north and south that is to be avoided.

[rbs]

Thanks to everyone, we decided to take 77/79/59. The roads are generally good pulling, but it is very obvious all of the heavy oil rig traffic is damaging the roadways. Texas really does have some very nice secondary roads.

[slowmover]

Moving a rig is well over a million pounds of equipment. Loaded trailers at over 140,000-lbs each.

Yup, road damage.

[rbs]

will be traveling New Years day, hopefully light traffic, just trying to decide on route through/around Houston. Not real excited about traveling on I10 the majority of the way, route also show using I610 to 290. Any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated

[John Ware]

In October 2023 I took Hwy90 in Beaumont to Toll Road 99 to Hwy290 which cost $50 and was smooth sailing. I usually take Beltway 8 which is cheaper. Loop 610 is one busy highway for free. IH 10 is tricky through Houston and usually under construction along the way.

[DCPAS]

Originally Posted by rbs

will be traveling New Years day, hopefully light traffic, just trying to decide on route through/around Houston. Not real excited about traveling on I10 the majority of the way, route also show using I610 to 290. Any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated

I would avoid I-10 610, even on a light day. I would likely do Beltway 8. 99 is a good choice too, but longer and more expensive as a result.

[FLCoast]

[QUOTE=kdickinson;1773697]I lived in Houston for 20 years and, for me, it's less about pulling a trailer through any big city like Houston it's about knowing the lanes you need to be in to make transitions from one highway to another. We have pulled our trailer through Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Tucson, Albuquerque, Denver, etc.. The reality is there are trucks on all of the interstates and periods of heavy traffic and the always present detours for construction. Our attitude is that if we miss a turn off then we'll be okay and will just get off and turn around when we can and get going the right direction. We try not to be in a hurry when we are in the big cities towing. I use a camera on the back of my trailer so I can see if and when I can make lane changes safely which helps tremendously. That big silver trailer gets people's attention and they will see you and usually are accommodating in terms of giving you space.[/QUote

Great reply and good advice. We have traveled to Austin from Florida a number of times and have never had an issue traveling I10 through Houston but, as kdickinson mentions, you have to pay attention to which lanes you need to be in. They rely more heavily on the lanes being marked on the asphalt rather than overhead. Have a great trip. The campground you mentioned on Austin is nice and also convenient.