austin to houston drive (Conroe, Katy: live in, dangerous, safe)

[jxn3000]

did a mapquest search for austin to houston drive, as i may possibly relocate to austin and be making this trip on a weekly basis. seems the trip is about 2.5 hours, but was wondering if anyone can provide info on the trip. good/bad interstates/highways? tons of traffic? anything is helpful. thanks.

[robino2001]

The two choices are essentially 290 or 71... but it really depends on what part of Austin you live in and what part of Houston you'll be going to. There are some out of the way options but the two direct routes are essentially the best options (depending on locations). Neither one is very traffic-y between the two cities - both can hit traffic as you approach the cities. Both routes also have the small city "speed traps" in between.

The main thing is just where exactly you're going to/coming from... that'll determine your route because everything else is pretty equal.

[Jennibc]

When we drove to Houston a few weeks back, we took 71 because we heard that 290 had long stretches of highways without barriers between the median - increasing the chances of a head on collision. We drove from SW Austin to Seabrook (Southeast of Houston) right next to Nasa and it took us exactly three hours without hitting any traffic.

[love roses]

It's the same (3 hrs.) via 290 to Webster (a few miles from NASA) where my mom lives. Like the other posters say, it depends on what part of Austin to what part of Houston. When we visit my husbands mom in Katy, it can take us anywhere from 2-2.5 hrs.

[thesonofgray]

I take the drive to west Houston via Hwy 71/I-10 about once a month. I've taken the 290 route multiple times and just don't like it. It requires more effort on the driver's part due to the multiple towns you go through and the lack of a median for much of the way. Hwy 290 is also one of the more dangerous highways in the State.

For Hwy 71, I've been able to cruise control it nearly the whole stretch between Bastrop and I-10 without interruption. For me, that makes for a relaxed and fuel efficient trip.

[Trainwreck20]

For Hwy 71, I've been able to cruise control it

And that is a good idea, because there is a State trooper regional office in La Grange

[hoffdano]

I bet I have driven to Houston from Austin 150+ times in the last ten years. Corporate HQ for my employer was based in Houston.

If I drove from Spicewood to Houston I always took SH71 to IH10.

If I drove from my office near the Arboretum I drove 290 to Beltway 8.

All things considered I prefer the 71 route. The 71 portion is prettier and it is nice that LaGrange and Ellinger are about halfway. Weikels bakery in LaGrange and Hruska's in Ellinger are good places to stop for a Kolache or pig in the blanket. Depending on time of day the SH71 stretch from Austin approaching Bastrop can be tedious.

I don't think of 290 as unsafe at all although it is not a divided road for much of the route. More stops or slowdowns on this route - Elgin, Giddings, Hempstead.

[Trainwreck20]

Hruska's in Ellinger

I can't tell you how many times I have stopped to eat/get gas/take a bathroom break there. Used to do that commute weekly and it is a good stopping point. The bypass around La Grange has probably hurt their local business some, though....

[calel]

290 will be slower than 71 guaranteed, until you hit Houston at least. Then all bets are off in regards to Houston traffic. It takes me about 3 to 3 1/2 hours to make the drive on 290 (then 6 to 105) from NW Austin to Conroe.

290 is a four line highway that cuts through multiple towns that all insist on dropping you down to 55 regardless of whether or not they have a traffic light. Giddings will get you down to 35 for a few miles. And of course there's always a cop waiting nearby. Giddings and Burton are where I always see active traffic stops. The drive is tedious & boring and I have to break it up with at least two stops.

[love roses]

It all boils down to what part you need to go to. 290 or I 10 put you in slightly different parts of the city. I like the frequent slowdowns (It still never takes us over 2.5 hrs to get to houston, even with the little towns in between) because it breaks up the monotony of the drive. I don't find either one to be more dangerous than the other. For me, going 290 gets me to the side of Houston I need to be and it also gets me by the tollroad if I'm going to Clear Lake. If you are going to downtown Houston, then I 10 is your best bet.