Need help planning commute from Tomball to the Galleria (Houston: home search, construction)

[johnnyham89]

My wife and I are going to be temporarily staying in the Tomball area for a few months and need help planning our commute since we really aren't familiar with the northwest side of town. We will be staying at the NW intersection of BW8 and 249. We will be commuting to I10 and 610. We will have to be at work at 6:30-7:00am and won't be leaving until around 4:00-4:30pm. We will be carpooling if that matters. Any recommended routes will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[CJinHOU]

Not really a lot of choices which is a major reason why when my wife suggested 249 in our home search I refused. If you dont mind paying the tolls you could take BW8 to 10 to 610. That would be the route id take unless you are bold enough to take 249 to 45 to 610 0_o

[johnnyham89]

Originally Posted by CJinHOU

Not really a lot of choices which is a major reason why when my wife suggested 249 in our home search I refused. If you dont mind paying the tolls you could take BW8 to 10 to 610. That would be the route id take unless you are bold enough to take 249 to 45 to 610 0_o

Thanks for the response. And I understand, once these few months are over we're moving a lot closer again. Yeah, I was leaning towards the bw8>i10>610 route. Any idea on how long a commute might take around 6-6:30am and 4-4:30pm? Doesn't seem like it would be all that bad.

[fnh]

You can take Fairbanks N Houston south to 290 to 610 to I10. Or, exit 290 at Mangum toward Hempstead, south on N Post Oak to avoid 610 backup.

Or, take beltway to W Little York Park & Ride at 290 and beltway and use HOV into Northwest Transit Center right at I10 & 610.

[houstonfan]

At 6am, it won't be bad at all. I'd probably take btwy8/290/610, but really any way will work. As for the return, Id probably take IH10/Bltwy8, the earlier you leave the better.

[chris_ut]

That's like two commutes for the price of one.

[Bike4Life]

Originally Posted by johnnyham89

Any idea on how long a commute might take around 6-6:30am and 4-4:30pm? Doesn't seem like it would be all that bad.

Ha - sure, it won't be all that bad. You haven't really tried this, yet? I don't know what would be better: the traffic or listening to a woman talk for over an hour.

[DejaBlue]

With the work times it actually won't be horrible. That's slightly out of the main rush hours so it's doable.

290 is just all around stupid and unless it's like 1pm I refuse to go on it. So I wouldn't. I'd take the Beltway to I-10 then 610. That's just 2 tolls. The one at 249 which is $1.25 and then the one just after 290 at $1.75 then exit to I-10 East and Loop around to the Galleria.


249 to the Beltway then 45 to 610 is stupid. The oral surgeon I'm referred too is off 610 and Ella and I've had appointments at 8 and it's free flowing VERY nicely like I'm flying and from 249 I'm at 610 in 20 minutes until I loop around to 610.

610 between to about TC Jester is 30 minutes moving at snails pace on it's own for some odd reason so taking that to the Galleria area would be maddening.


Definitely take 249 to the Beltway, then I-10 and 610. Coming home won't be bad either especially if it's before 5 and trust me as someone who makes that same commute without 610 the Beltway way feeder from I-10 up to 290 can sometimes move much faster than paying to be in park. Then I take Little York after 290 and hop back on to past West Rd then exit to avoid the stupid one laned overpass to 249.

[fnh]

I live off Fairbanks N Houston north of 290 and my kids go to Awty at I10 and 610, so I do a similar commute every day. It would be pointless to drive out of your way to I10, which is backed up inbound too plus you get the added bonus backup on beltway before I10. It takes me 20 minutes to get to Awty at 7:15am via 290.

[chris_ut]

Originally Posted by DejaBlue

610 between to about TC Jester is 30 minutes moving at snails pace on it's own for some odd reason

The reason is that they are expanding the highway there as well as redoing the exchange between 610 and 290. Did you not notice all the construction equipment and half built ramps?