Driving through Houston on I-10 (Austin, Elgin: moving, car, land)

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by tstone

on weekday evenings there are a good # of roughneck speed demons drinking beer, weaving through traffic at 90 mph on the way home.

Your wife really needs to talk to you about that.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Your wife really needs to talk to you about that.

Hey- out there it's either eat or be eaten. However I leave the beer at home for Fridays, and I'm more of a nerd than a roughneck.

[Susan2599]

I-75 in FL ... especially in the winter ... not a good place to be!

Originally Posted by tstone

Stay off US-90. Very slow route to be used only if the freeway is completely shut down.

Hankamer to Cove construction has gotten a lot better recently. There is usually a pullover lane but in places, there is no room for error. Baytown to Channelview is still very tight with narrow lanes and no margin for error. I'd still just grin & bear this route as there really isn't any other good way to go out there.

The main issue here is I-10 is a major artery for 18 wheelers, especially that part with all of them coming in & out of the port. It can get pretty hairy sometimes. I drive it every day. Sundays might be easier to deal with, but on weekday evenings there are a good # of roughneck speed demons drinking beer, weaving through traffic at 90 mph on the way home.

[Susan2599]

would rather be moving, even slowly, than not moving. Not moving causes much stress and gnashing of teeth!!

Originally Posted by asonnier

I just took I10 from Lafayette to Houston for Easter weekend and the construction was still in place. It took us 5 1/2 hours to go 222 miles; it normally takes 3 1/2. Wwe have taken 90 before to get around. It all depends if you like to be moving or not. I cannot stand being stuck and not moving at all so I would rather be going 50 on 90 than moving 1 mile in an hour. You will have to decide that! Hope that helps!

[Terrina]

I am travelling to Houston in June for a week, wondering if anyone would recommend to a tourist to rent a car and driving there or am I better off using taxis.. some of what I am reading is quite scarey about Houson driving!

[City Love]

Originally Posted by Terrina

I am travelling to Houston in June for a week, wondering if anyone would recommend to a tourist to rent a car and driving there or am I better off using taxis.. some of what I am reading is quite scarey about Houson driving!

Definitely rent a car. Unless you don't plan on doing much traveling around town.

[danmedic]

Originally Posted by jfre81

The Beltway is a great alternative if you want to pay to add time to your trip. Traffic on Sunday is not that bad.



This. I don't mind going the 290 way if I'm not in any sort of hurry, but you're probably looking for the quickest way from A to B.

If we're not in a big hurry, we go on down I10 to Luling, have some kick-a$$ bar-b-q, then go straight north through Lockhart and into Austin. Just another option....

[potato head8]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

290 sucks 24/7.

There is close to no traffic on 290 on a weekend.


There is traffic, however, on 610 West Loop between I-10 & Ella on Saturdays.


This chart may help you plan your drive.

[TexasVines]

here is what you need to know to drive on Houston freeways

if it is stop and go don't let ANYONE change lanes in front of you because they won't know how to drive, will leave a huge gap for more people that don't know how to drive to get over in front of you, and will be the reason it is impossible for you to change lanes if you need to

if the freeways are running smooth it is 70mph in the right lane, 75-80 in the middle lanes and the right lane is for 80+ please be courteous to those looking to pass you as well if in the right lane and get over to the middle when you see their headlights flash.....please, thank you

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by Susan2599

each of you for your posts. Sounds as if going straight through downtown on I-10 is the most direct way, not to mention being the quickest, especially on Sunday.

I hadn't even noticed TX-71 to Columbus. It does look like a good way to go. Thanks for that suggestion!

Re construction on I-10 from Lafayette to Beaumont and Hankamer to Cove and Baytown to Channelview: Would it be better to get off I-10 at Beaumont and take US 90 using 146 to get back to I-10 or is it better to just tough it out on I-10 through the rough spots?

Thanks again for the advice and suggestions.

The best route would be straight up I-10 to 71 towards Austin. Sorry I can't comment on the construction parts of I-10 that you will have to travel through but I would certainly suggest taking 71 to Austin from I-10. It is an easy drive once on 71 to Austin.