Driving from Atlanta to Austin - I-10 or I-20?

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by nicnac08

I made the drive several times in the past few years and almost always took I-20 to 79, as the person above me mentioned. Once you're in Texas, 79 is much more scenic than 35.

I've driven it many, many times in the past 5 years also (lots of family in Atlanta). Oddly, if you enter a starting address in south Austin, Google Maps sends you through I-10. Start anywhere downtown or north of dt, it sends you I-20. I think there is about 3 miles difference.

I've never personally been able to decide that one is better than the other, but the habit I settled into was to take I-10 there and I-20 back. Mainly because an early morning departure heading north on IH35 out of Austin is a bad idea whereas by the time I hit Houston it's mid/late morning and no troubles. Coming back, I don't like hitting Houston at 5-7PM on the second day so I come down through Waco as mentioned by others.

It took me 4 hours to drive through metro Houston on I-10 one time, because of the road construction. I don't know how bad it usually is, but it certainly made me think twice about choosing that route again.

It took me over two hours to get from Oak Hill past Georgetown once, so I have a similar reluctance about heading north out of Austin. I can handle Houston once I've put three hours behind me, but it's very, very frustrating to still not be past Georgetown 2 hours after departing Oak Hill. That really sucks.

Steve

[AustinExPat]

I'll be driving to Austin from Georgia and have a question for those with firsthand experience of using I-20 and then taking the shortcuts mentioned in this thread.

How is the cell phone voice coverage on hwy 79 between I-20 and Round Rock?

How is the cell phone voice coverage on the more northerly shortcut that goes from Tyler to Waco?

I've seen the maps on www.cellreception.com and wireless.att.com; what I'm wondering is how it actually goes when you try to operate your phone.

Thanks in advance!

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by AustinExPat

I'll be driving to Austin from Georgia and have a question for those with firsthand experience of using I-20 and then taking the shortcuts mentioned in this thread.

How is the cell phone voice coverage on hwy 79 between I-20 and Round Rock?

How is the cell phone voice coverage on the more northerly shortcut that goes from Tyler to Waco?

I've seen the maps on www.cellreception.com and wireless.att.com; what I'm wondering is how it actually goes when you try to operate your phone.

Thanks in advance!

DW and I(along with SIL based in Madison, MS) have chosen the 79 route the past three times. Not a constant cell phone user, we have had no trouble when we tried calls along that route but can't speak to absolute uninterrupted coverage w/ Verizon. We would probably choose the Tyler to Waco route only if we were headed to points farther north of Austin. We're in Avery Ranch, almost directly west of where 79 brings you into the Austin/Round Rock area. It's a heck of a drive if you are headed into the setting sun either way. A clear windshield and sunglasses are your friends!

[dburatti]

I, too, have taken the Hwy. 79 to I-20 route and really like it. Cell phone coverage on these highways has always been good for me on the Sprint/Nextel network. Just pay attention to the signs for 79. It's not a straight drive; sometimes you loop around towns, and sometimes the route turns onto another road. It's always around or in a town, so just be alert the most then.

D

[mudbug]

We make allot of trips to Shreveport and Tyler from Austin. I35 to Waco. Hwy 31 to Athens loop.
North on 19 to Canton and I20.
Seems to be the best route for us. Hwy 79 has allot of small towns looking to raise money.

[orbius]

Theres some major highways out of Atlanta that hook up with I10. Just take 10 to houston and then hook up with 290 into Austin. Google maps shows the I20 route as being quicker but their I10 route goes almost all the way to San Antonio. I personally think the I10 route is quicker all things considered.

[atlanta hope]

I've done the I-10 route and haven't had any issues.

[AustinExPat]

Thanks everyone!