Austin to Galveston? (Houston, Katy, Hempstead: rental, live, best)

[Delayedreaction1986]

Just wondering if anyone out there knows the best/ fastest driving route to Galveston from Austin, and approx. how long it would take? I've heard it takes 5 hours but I was hoping there was a better way.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Delayedreaction1986

Just wondering if anyone out there knows the best/ fastest driving route to Galveston from Austin, and approx. how long it would take? I've heard it takes 5 hours but I was hoping there was a better way.

galveston is about 3.5 hours.

We drive from north austin and take 290, then we get on beltway 8 (your austin toll tag works in houston as well) and bypass almost everything and then get on 45 south to galveston

[Trainwreck20]

I drove that trip every week for a loooong time. I found it easiest during non-peak hours to drive 71 to I-10 to either 610 or SH 8 around to 45. 610 was very quick late on Sunday night and it feels like you are driving on a runway there are so many lanes at places . 290 can be better, I hear, during higher traffic hours so as to avoid I-10, but it always took me longer on the weekend than the 71 route. Of course, I am starting out south in Austin. It was a 3.25 hour drive to downtown Galveston if I did not stop at all, but usually took a 15 minute break in Ellinger(sp?), the little town SE of La Grange where the speed limit goes down to 55.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

I drove that trip every week for a loooong time. I found it easiest during non-peak hours to drive 71 to I-10 to either 610 or SH 8 around to 45. 610 was very quick late on Sunday night and it feels like you are driving on a runway there are so many lanes at places . 290 can be better, I hear, during higher traffic hours so as to avoid I-10, but it always took me longer on the weekend than the 71 route. Of course, I am starting out south in Austin. It was a 3.25 hour drive to downtown Galveston if I did not stop at all, but usually took a 15 minute break in Ellinger(sp?), the little town SE of La Grange where the speed limit goes down to 55.

We have tried the 71/i-10 route numerous times from up north and it just doesnt work as you get killed trying to get to 71. We have also found I-10 to be pretty bad. We mostly have done the drive on friday evenings after work going to our rental property and then coming back sunday evening. If I lived south it would be a no brainer to go 71/10/8/45

[Tarrytown]

The best way to go is down 71, connect to i10, exit for the toll road in Katy and take it all the way to i45. I guarantee there is not a faster way. Get a TxTag it works down in Houston and will save you 8 miles verses going from i10 to i45.

[case44]

Originally Posted by Austin97

galveston is about 3.5 hours.

We drive from north austin and take 290, then we get on beltway 8 (your austin toll tag works in houston as well) and bypass almost everything and then get on 45 south to galveston

This idea pretty much works the best way. But it does depend, too, on where you're coming from in the Austin area. The U.S. 290 way seems like the most logical way. The bad thing is that it's not all freeway between Austin's outskirts and Hempstead. At least, not yet.