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Sparksvonrou · 09-08-2018, 04:58 PM

We are planning a trip with a 35' coach and toad from Texarkana to Indianola Texas. We do not want to go through Houston at all. Can someone suggest a good route that takes us east of Houston without a million stops in towns?
Thanks

powerboatr · 09-08-2018, 05:21 PM

hmmm there is not one,

59 is not a bad drive, but unless your on I 45, there are lots of towns to go through with stop lights.

you can blast through houston and stay off the toll roads, but it takes timing, as in NO WHERE near rush hours.

take 59 to cleveland and cut across to conroe on 105 , pick up 45 south to the sam houston toll way then pick up 59 again to ganado and hwy 172

or stay on 59 to the sam houston tool way and pick 59 back up on the south west side of houston.
even on sam houston...traffic is killer

BigLar368 · 09-09-2018, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerboatr

hmmm there is not one,

59 is not a bad drive, but unless your on I 45, there are lots of towns to go through with stop lights.

you can blast through houston and stay off the toll roads, but it takes timing, as in NO WHERE near rush hours.

take 59 to cleveland and cut across to conroe on 105 , pick up 45 south to the sam houston toll way then pick up 59 again to ganado and hwy 172

or stay on 59 to the sam houston tool way and pick 59 back up on the south west side of houston.
even on sam houston...traffic is killer

45 South is a killer any time of the day.

rvbiker45 · 09-09-2018, 07:46 AM

Take IH 30 to Dallas, turn on IH 635 South on the East side of Dallas. It turns into IH 20 going West. It will take you to IH 35E South. Stay on IH 35 to Waco. IH35E will merge with IH 35W at Hillsboro. At Waco, pick up highway 77 South. It will take you to Victoria which will put you in position to go to Port Lavaca and Indianola.
The roads are in good shape, just watch your speed going through the small towns.

Mudfrog · 09-09-2018, 08:47 AM

Highway 59 would be the route I would take,,, as long as I knew I wouldn't be on it in the Houston area at rush hour times. There's always traffic but it's not too bad if you avoid coming into Houston from the north on weekdays between 6 and 9 am. It does slow going through the downtown area throughout the day and you don't want to be on it heading south out of Houston between 4 and 7pm on a weekday.

Found this website below a few minutes ago. It gives historical averages of speed for the major highways around Houston.

https://traffic.houstontranstar.org/...imes_menu.aspx

rewillia · 09-09-2018, 10:45 AM

Take the new Grand Parkway (Hwy 99) which is now completed on the NW/W/SW/S sides of the city of Houston. It is a Toll Road but an 8 land super-slab that can spin you around Houston to the SW toward your destination with no hassle, no stress. Piece of Cake!

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Sparksvonrou · 09-09-2018, 11:54 AM

Thanks everyone for your input!

Sparksvonrou · 09-09-2018, 11:59 AM

Just curious for a ballpark estimate of toll for 6 wheels (2 axles) on coach and two more axles on the toad?

SarahW · 09-09-2018, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparksvonrou

Just curious for a ballpark estimate of toll for 6 wheels (2 axles) on coach and two more axles on the toad?

I don't know what the toll would be, but many of the Houston toll roads do not have manned toll booths so you must have an E Z tag sticker.

osok · 09-09-2018, 09:49 PM

Unless you have an E Z Tag I do not recommend you use any Houston toll roads. Grand Parkway (Hwy 99) is the newest toll road and is outstanding way around Houston, but, without a toll tag you will receive many citations in the mail that will be very expensive. There are no cash toll booths on Grand Parkway. With my toll tag it costs me about $30 (5 axles) to travel from 59 to I-10. Also do not recommend Sam Houston Tollway due to long lines to pay cash at several stops.

Recommend you stay on Hwy 59 through town during the hours of 10:00 a.m. and be departing town by 2:30 p.m. Stay out of left lane but do drive in the 2nd or 3rd. lane from left and drive speed limit of 60 mph. Do not worry about others doing 70+ mph, you will be okay in those two lanes.

Yes there are several towns up in NE Texas on Hwy 59 too slow you down but before you get to Livingston you will have passed through all that have stop lights. Most have no lights but must slow down while passing through. North of Livingston through Houston is non-stop. Be sure to take the loops to quickly get through Carthage, Nacogdoches and Lufkin.

I always enjoy the fishing in Indianoia area.

Rkesselus · 09-10-2018, 12:21 PM

Prefered route for winter Texans. 59 to Marshall then 79 to Rockdale, 77 to Victoria 87 to FM down to Indianola. Least Traffic, Yes small towns but except for Southwest loop around Palestine and same at Victoria. I never have any problem with the lights in the small towns.

Sparksvonrou · 09-11-2018, 09:43 AM

Thanks again everyone. I just ordered the Eztag.

Larrikin · 09-13-2018, 06:54 PM

Take 59 to Tyler, 79 to 77, then 77 south. Good roads all the way.

JWP127 · 09-13-2018, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvbiker45

Take IH 30 to Dallas, turn on IH 635 South on the East side of Dallas. It turns into IH 20 going West. It will take you to IH 35E South. Stay on IH 35 to Waco. IH35E will merge with IH 35W at Hillsboro. At Waco, pick up highway 77 South. It will take you to Victoria which will put you in position to go to Port Lavaca and Indianola.
The roads are in good shape, just watch your speed going through the small towns.

This is how we get to the coast (77 south). But I've always stayed in condos. Next year we're thinking about take our tt. How are the gas stations along this route? Any problems for a 2500 gasser, towing a 33 tt? I guess since I haven't taken my tt down there I haven't paid much attention to the size of gas stations.