How's the drive from Houston?

[SDBreaux]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Anyway, just wondering if driving up to Dallas would be too much "out of the way" for this long of a trip? He's somewhat ok with long roadtrips (at least he was when he was younger). I, on the other hand, do not really care for long car trips. Am I crazy to think I could handle the whole trip?

Ah. Depending on the area of Houston you're in you'll either have a six hour drive or a three hour drive. I'm assuming you'll pick your boyfriend up at Bush Intercontinental, so you're looking at a three hour drive. Don't know how to get there? Go W on 1960 til you reach I-45 N exit; take it. Or, you can avoid the small roads and take Beltway 8 W from 59 S, and that the 45 N exit. Either one works. At that point you're looking at about 250 miles.

If you're like me you won't think three hours is a long drive. Six is generally MY idea of a long drive.

[schmave]

Originally Posted by ryetronics

I just wanted to pipe in here and say that I disagree with love2read's assessment. The key to driving 45 is simply leaving at the right time. If you leave Houston in rush hour, it's going to slow you down the entire drive up here. Sundays seem to be bad for traffic too, but if you go mid-week the road should be pretty wide open (in between Hunstville and Ennis). There is some construction, but you can easily make up that time if you're willing to go with left-lane traffic and do 85 for awhile.

Also, I enjoy the drive. It's has no major landmarks to look at besides the Sam Houston statue, but the route has tons of forest, rolling hills and undeveloped area. It's serene in a way. And at night, with a clear sky, the stars look amazing.

You do have to pick your spots as far as leaving either city to get to the other. I know this well; ryetronics is my cousin and I've driven between here and Dallas a few times for visits. My g/f and I used to live a few miles off 45 and Little York and we made it back from Richardson on a Sunday last year in 3 1/2 hours. Now that we live in the League City/Friendswood area, it takes about 4 1/2.
Here to Fort Worth is a bit closer to five hours. I made it there in just less than five the day before Ike struck by going 290 to 6 to 35.

[Grainraiser]

I went to school in Houston and have made that drive many times. Do what ever you have to due to avoid rush hour. If I made the trip on the weekends I never left Houston before 7pm. That traffic can keep you in the city itself for a hour and half. Avoid rush hour at all cost.