Alternate routes into San Antonio? (Dallas, Austin: construction, dangerous, stats)

[motherhen220]

Coming from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, what would be the best alternate highway to I-35? Even though it would be longer, looking for less congested, good road (also in case of backups) for our UTSA student.

What is highway 281 like? Thanks for any & all help.

[deek102]

I haven't taken it, personally, but lots of people I know take 281 and swear by it. You'll have to go through some small towns and slow down fairly frequently but it's not the white-knuckle driving you get on i-35 :-)

[WilGar]

Went in opposite direction with son at TCU. 281 adds approximately 30 minutes with much less stress and certainly more scenic.

If taking 35, look into bypassing Austin with the new toll roads.

[ShaneSA]

281 is a much less nerve racking way to go. I use it all the time to austin and once in a while to Dallas. Sometimes it's faster than 35, at least to Austin and return. Nice scenery and you can talk and not worry that you are not paying close enough attention to the road and traffic.

[svg210]

Originally Posted by motherhen220

Coming from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, what would be the best alternate highway to I-35? Even though it would be longer, looking for less congested, good road (also in case of backups) for our UTSA student.

What is highway 281 like? Thanks for any & all help.

why dont you take it at night? Dallas to SA is about a 7hr drive(on my truck, average speed of 65), If I may make a suggestion, I'd advice you leave around 12-1am and you'll be here just in time for breakfast.

[TexasNick]

281 is good, but please folks, slow down. I'm starting to think that 281 may be a little more dangerous than I-35 because you have opposing traffic coming head on with only about 10feet separation between cars. If an accident were to happen, these are deadly. At least on I35 everyone's going the same way. Just my opinion. I have no stats to back it up.

If you want a shortcut to Wimberley I can give you one that will knock your socks off. It's not even on the map, and it's legal.

[firstclassflyer]

Just made this drive this morning..6 hours with a 2 year old.
Left Dallas (Market Center area) at 10AM..arrived here on the Far West side (near Sea World) right around 4 PM. Stopped twice (diaper change and eat )

Can be done in 5 hours (maybe even a lil less) if these conditions are met:

1. Going to North or Northeast SA
2. No rush hour driving
3. Little or no construction/accident delays
4. Driving at a good clip...75 all the way.
5. No stopping.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by motherhen220

Coming from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, what would be the best alternate highway to I-35? Even though it would be longer, looking for less congested, good road (also in case of backups) for our UTSA student.

What is highway 281 like? Thanks for any & all help.

My father-in-law came from to visit us from Mid-Missouri and hated I-35
he took 281 North and he said that he loved it.

In few words, it's a very nice country road or state highway.

[Sweetie Pie]

It's a little longer, but a heck of a more laid back & scenic route!

[EJ4512]

I swear youll are the slowest drivers in the world on here. It has never in my life taken me more than four hours to get to Dallas from San Antonio on I-35....NEVER!