lphilpot

In a couple of weeks, I'll be leaving Pineville, LA for Fort Davis, TX and I'd like some route feedback. I've made this trip virtually every spring since 1989 and have always (with one entirely forgettable exception ) gone via I-10 from Houston through San Antonio westward. I spend the night typically in Sonora (this year, Ozona) so it splits the trip about 600 miles the first day and 250 the second. However, on a map it's clear that this route is farther south than necessary, and I'm looking at an alternate.

Here's what I usually do :

TX 63 / US 190 from the Sabine River to Livingston
US 59 south to Houston
I-10 west to Balmorhea
TX 17 south to Fort Davis

Here's what I'm considering :

To Livingston as usual
US 190 on west to Huntsville
TX 30 west to College Station
TX 6 / US 190 northwest up to Hearne*
US 190 / 79 southwest to Austin (route through Austin metro TBA)*
US 290 on west to I-10 jct about 20 miles east of Junction, TX
West to Fort Davis as before

* Unfortunately, there's apparently no major route between College Station and Austin without heading significantly north or south.

Any tips/feedback on the road conditions, estimated congestion, driving speeds, etc. headed west between Livingston and I-10?

This route would save me about 30 to 40 miles on the first day, not to mention avoiding Houston/SAT entirely. Although that's not a huge difference, given a 600+ mile drive it's enough to get my attention. Plus, after 17 or so trips out to Fort Davis, a change of scenery would be nice.

BUT --- I don't want to find myself getting a long time behind with such a relatively long way to drive. Adding an hour to a two hour drive is one thing, adding it unnecessarily to a 10 hour drive is something else...

I'll be driving on a Saturday, entering Texas about 9:30 am or so. This is in a pickup truck, BTW, not an RV - I can easily match freeway traffic (if desired! :-), etc.

Thanks for any feedback.

P.S. - I'm getting my route data not from an "official" Texas roadmap, but from MS Streets & Trips 2006 software. It's usually pretty good, but any corrections are welcome.

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Len Philpot
l e n @ p h i l p o t . o r g (no spaces)
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CyberCelt

Take a look at this map. Unless you want to go through Austin or San Antonio, you do not have to. These are all back roads and we have pulled our RV all over them. You will see some of the most historical and beautiful parts of Texas.

If you want to ask me about any road, just PM me or reply here. BTW, I replied to your PM about the article.

Have a great trip. I am jealous.

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CyberCelt

USAer.com ~ RVing Texas
USAer Blog ~ Scenic Byways and Backroads

lphilpot

It must be a long day... I didn't see the map to which you were referring... Although, I did find a lot of interesting reading!

At any rate, while I love backcountry drives, I have to balance that against my need to get to my (already reserved ) hotel room in Ozona by day's end. That's why I'm picking mostly-direct routes. It's just me in my heavily packed Dodge Dakota for an 850 mile 2-day drive each way, with no relief driver. And given the route(s), it's not really feasible to change halfway through.

However, the end destination of the Davis Mountains is well worth the effort!

Actually, the trip via San Antonio isn't bad, and I avoid most of the heavy traffic by taking the Anderson loop around town (US 59 / I-610 / I-10 in Houston is generally worse). This year, I was going to take TX 46 from Seguin to Boerne as an alternative. I've yet to fully decide.

In regard to the central Texas route, I'm mostly wondering about :

TX 30, Huntsville -> College Station - Two lane, mostly?
US 190 / US 79, College Station -> Austin area - Lots of stops?
US 290 west from Austin -> I-10 - Multilane, but lots of stops?

At least, that's how it looks to me after "flying" over them in Google Earth...

Thanks.

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Len Philpot
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CyberCelt

I am so sorry, I do not know what happened to that map. I went to ask.com and mapped the whole route and I thought I copied the URL in that post.

However, if you are in a hurry, you probably have the best route. Are you staying in that cool hotel with the car collection and the indoor pool? That place is such a find in the middle of nowhere.

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Keep Your Wheels on the Road!

CyberCelt

USAer.com ~ RVing Texas
USAer Blog ~ Scenic Byways and Backroads

lphilpot

Not a problem at all.


Do you mean the route I've described via Austin is best, or my usual I-10 route?


I'm afraid I'm not aware of that hotel.. ? I'm just at the ordinary old' Best Western...


Thanks!

P.S. - All this route planning has me itching to get behind the wheel again... Two weeks isn't too far away, but it's not nearly soon enough!!

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Len Philpot
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BigBendHiker

If you want to see some pretty country, instead of taking I-10, take Hwy 90. You will go through the towns west of San Antonio and then can take 90 all the way up to Alpine. From there, take hwy 118 to Fort Davis. Lots of pretty country on that route (we always take 90 to go to Big Bend each summer).


BBH

lphilpot

I've been on part of that, and it would be a nice drive - Trouble is, my schedule won't allow me to drive US90 all the way. It just takes too long. As to TX118, I'm sure I'll be back and forth between Fort Davis and Alpine a few times during the week I'm out there (I typically go several times). Plus, the Prude Ranch is located on 118, but on the other side of Fort Davis. There's also the Davis Mountains Scenic Loop, once I'm out there.

I've been talking (via email) to someone I know that lives in the north Austin area and am most likely going to take a route they've recommended. I'll stick to US190 from Jasper westward all the way (via a short trek up I-45 then US79) to Round Rock, then take TX29 and US377 on to I-10 at Junction. This appears to be a good compromise between scenery and drivetime.

Thanks for all the input.

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Len Philpot
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CyberCelt

Do you mean the route I've described via Austin is best, or my usual I-10 route?

I-10. Do not go through Austin.


I'm afraid I'm not aware of that hotel.. ? I'm just at the ordinary old' Best Western...

This is the Super 8. From the outside it looks like regular motel. It has indoor pool in the center, so all rooms open onto this tropic paradise with indoor pool and jacuzzi. The guy that owns it has a auto collection that is incredible.

Thanks!

P.S. - All this route planning has me itching to get behind the wheel again... Two weeks isn't too far away, but it's not nearly soon enough!! [/quote]

__________________
Keep Your Wheels on the Road!

CyberCelt

USAer.com ~ RVing Texas
USAer Blog ~ Scenic Byways and Backroads