I-35 E or W?

[dbdreamers]

Hi all -

We're headed south shortly for our first warm winter.
I'm looking for any hints and good habits for rest areas,
Walmarts, etc. for the three night trip headed south from
Branson (over to OK City then South.) Also, which is better,
I-35E or I-35W through the DFW area?
Thanks in advance!!

Dave C

[RED2010]

Originally Posted by dbdreamers

Hi all -

We're headed south shortly for our first warm winter.
I'm looking for any hints and good habits for rest areas,
Walmarts, etc. for the three night trip headed south from
Branson (over to OK City then South.) Also, which is better,
I-35E or I-35W through the DFW area?
Thanks in advance!!

Dave C

I store my RV just north of Fort Worth near I-35 W and both are horrible to drive through - esp. with a large vehicle. Both are under MAJOR construction with I-35 E going from 6 lanes to 3 through Dallas and I-35 W narrowing to 2 lanes through Fort Worth. With either route, try to arrive in the area before 6 AM to avoid some of the traffic. If not before 6 AM then between 1 and 3 PM. Not sure of any good rest areas nearby, however if you are a gambler, WINSTAR Casino in Thackerville, OK has a good RV park and is just over the Texas border (approximately 1 hour north of DFW). Also there are multiple RV parks around Denton, TX (slightly closer to DFW). I would try to stop at one of these places, spend the night, and get an early AM start. The morning commute back-up on I-35 W usually starts around Texas Motor Speedway/Alliance Airport and continues through Fort Worth to Alvarado/Burleson area. Not sure where the I-35 E back-up starts and ends. I-35 W thru FW is slightly straighter and maybe a little shorter than E. Count on at least and hour either way if you hit traffic times (even without the frequent accidents). If there is a race weekend @ TMS, don't even try the I-35 W route between Thursday and Monday!!!!

Have a safe journey.

Morrell.

PS: If you take the I-35 W route, you can stop at Motorhome Specialist in Alvarado and pick out a new American Coach Dream.

[DGBPokes]

RED2010
What do you think about off HWY 75 at Mc Kinney to HWY 5, to I635 around to I 20 then back to I 35 south of the Dallas mix master?

We're headed south from SE Oklahoma to the RGV a couple days after Christmas. Last year was tied up in that Dallas mess for over two hours.

[montyhp]

When we go from Branson to the san antonio area we go texarkana to Tyler tx and down 78 to the tx130 toll road. I would do anything to avoid DFW, waco, and austin. If you are heading to the valley you can pick up loop 1604 around the South side of san antonio.

[Isaac-1]

I would avoid DFW if at all possible, maybe I-44 over to Witchita Falls and 281 down from there

[vtwinwilly]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

I would avoid DFW if at all possible, maybe I-44 over to Witchita Falls and 281 down from there

This is probably the best option unless you're going to travel at 3:00am.

With that said, if you're bond and determined to take I-35 I would say going through Fort Worth is always better than going through Dallas. The population base both in and around the Dallas route is dense and can result in many more opportunities for traffic snarls.

[RED2010]

Originally Posted by DGBPokes

RED2010
What do you think about off HWY 75 at Mc Kinney to HWY 5, to I635 around to I 20 then back to I 35 south of the Dallas mix master?

We're headed south from SE Oklahoma to the RGV a couple days after Christmas. Last year was tied up in that Dallas mess for over two hours.

i am not familiar with Hwy 5 but listening to traffic reports in the AM, it seems like 75 and 635 are always backed up though there is much less construction and the roads are wider.

Morrell

[RED2010]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

I would avoid DFW if at all possible, maybe I-44 over to Witchita Falls and 281 down from there

Beautiful, picturesque, scenic drive through the Texas Hill Country but some 2 lane roads. Can get some good barbeque and multiple wineries though!!
Morrell

[RED2010]

Originally Posted by vtwinwilly

This is probably the best option unless you're going to travel at 3:00am.

With that said, if you're bond and determined to take I-35 I would say going through Fort Worth is always better than going through Dallas. The population base both in and around the Dallas route is dense and can result in many more opportunities for traffic snarls.

Agree and I just checked Google Maps and Mapquest and both recommend the I-35 W route through Fort Worth as better.
Morrell

[halftimer]

Of the two I would do 35 e cut off on loop 12 to 408to i20 the I would go east catch 67 toward Alvarado to 35 w or keep going if you want the back road of 281 veer left on 221 to Chico pickup 281 there.

[DD788Snipe]

I was just there in Oct. If your just passing thru the DFW area stick with 35W. 35E is really torn up thru Denton and Lewisville. The whole Dallas-Fort Worth area is under construction. Buckey's on 35W has really cheap gas and diesel prices with easy access. It just south of Texas Motor Speedway.

[JerryP]

Originally Posted by DGBPokes

RED2010
What do you think about off HWY 75 at Mc Kinney to HWY 5, to I635 around to I 20 then back to I 35 south of the Dallas mix master?

We're headed south from SE Oklahoma to the RGV a couple days after Christmas. Last year was tied up in that Dallas mess for over two hours.

I live near US75 and HWY 5. 75 has construction in Allen and north of McKinney. HWY 5 is an urban road with a million stop lights.
I35E between Lewisville and Denton is under construction with narrow lanes.
I prefer 75 over I35E.

Don't know about I35W.

I live near McKinney. When I want to go south to Austin, I go 75 south to 635. Then I go 635 east and down to I20 going west. When I get back to I35E, I turn south. Even though its a longer distance, the time difference is only 5 or 10 minutes. There's less stop and go traffic this way.

If you can, travel through DFW after 11am and before 3pm. I would avoid rush hours if possible. It's also worse on Friday afternoons.

Another help is an iphone app such as "Beat the Traffic". I use it all the time to avoid major backups in DFW.

Regards, Jerry

[DD788Snipe]

If you have an android down load the Ways App. Beware, things change so fast in that area that the apps can't keep up. Another route is take 380/Virginia Street West to Denton. There's no construction until west of 35W. There is no construction from Denton to I20 on 35W.

[RED2010]

Originally Posted by DD788Snipe

If you have an android down load the Ways App. Beware, things change so fast in that area that the apps can't keep up. Another route is take 380/Virginia Street West to Denton. There's no construction until west of 35W. There is no construction from Denton to I20 on 35W.

This is INCORRECT because there is MAJOR CONSTRUCTION on I-35W from north of Fort Worth, near Alliance Airport/Texas Motor Speedway, through the downtown section and really dosen't improve until south of I-30. Frequently travel this route - unfortunately.
Morrell