Toll road

[Vetl82]

Has anyone taken toll road 130 around Austin Tx to I10 heading west to connect with I37 South out of St. Antonio to state highway 281 to RGV? Trying to save a little time around Austin Tx. We are towing a 35ft 5th wheel.

[artgpo]

If you are in an towed RV or a MH with a toad you will find 130 very expensive. We used it one day due to poor planning and bad weather getting us southbound near Austin during rush hour. Plus it is six miles farther! The tolls from IH-35 on the north end to IH-35 on the south end were in the mid $20 range with toad. It is even more money to use 130 down to 10. The speed limit is 80 or 85 depending on where you are on that road. Driving an RV at 62 feels as though we are standing still.

We live on the west side of San Antonio and make frequent trips up to the Dallas area. We ALWAYS plan our departure times to avoid both Austin and Dallas rush hour traffic.

[ronspradley]

It is certainly the right way to avoid the traffic of Austin. And you do not have to stop to pay the toll. If you do not have a TXTAG, they just mail you a bill. Most of the time you can drive I35 right thru downtown Austin if you are from about 9pm thru 6am. Just trying to go thru on the weekend will often find you stopped in bad traffic. I drove 30 miles thru Austin on I35 from the north this morning, left my house at 7am and got to meeting at 810am. The toll 130 will be busy this weekend because of traffic for the F1 race.

ronspradley

.

[Jocat54]

I will drive way out of my way to avoid Austin at anytime of the day or night!
Not really knowing where you are coming from you might try cutting off at Killeen and going on over to 281 from there. Not a bad road.
Good luck on which ever way you go and enjoy your trip.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by ronspradley

It is certainly the right way to avoid the traffic of Austin. And you do not have to stop to pay the toll. If you do not have a TXTAG, they just mail you a bill. Most of the time you can drive I35 right thru downtown Austin if you are from about 9pm thru 6am. Just trying to go thru on the weekend will often find you stopped in bad traffic. I drove 30 miles thru Austin on I35 from the north this morning, left my house at 7am and got to meeting at 810am. The toll 130 will be busy this weekend because of traffic for the F1 race.
ronspradley

Haven't been in Texas in about 50 years. Never been on a toll road there, but I keep getting emails saying I owe a bill for driving on them. Of course I also get emails saying I haven't paid a parking ticket in NY and I've never been there either!

[Hercules11]

If your time is worth anything, not to mention your patience driving thru Austin on IH35 I would take the toll ALL the time!
Dennis
Austin, TX

[Rcandvicki]

Most tolls will send you a bill thru snail mail.
I wouldn't pay any attention to an e mail or message.

[Thunderfoot]

Originally Posted by Jocat54

I will drive way out of my way to avoid Austin at anytime of the day or night!
Not really knowing where you are coming from you might try cutting off at Killeen and going on over to 281 from there. Not a bad road.
Good luck on which ever way you go and enjoy your trip.

OP, if you're connecting with I-37 south of San Antonio taking 281 is a nice trip UNTIL you hit the Bulverde area north of SA... then it's a toss up, unless you're traveling during extreme off peak hours. I live near Lake LBJ and it's equal distance for me to either Austin or San Antonio. I will do nearly anything to avoid I-35 (north or south bound) while driving the Coach: especially while towing anything. That said, sometimes you just have to pick your poison and hope the traffic gods smile on you Have fun and safe journeys!

[Vetl82]

We will be coming down I35 South around Nov. 15 towing a 5Th wheel heading to Mission Tx , we will take toll road around Austin.
Does 281 go downtown St. Antonio , don't want to run into any low clearances, this is our first time in this area.

[Thunderfoot]

Originally Posted by Vetl82

We will be coming down I35 South around Nov. 15 towing a 5Th wheel heading to Mission Tx , we will take toll road around Austin.
Does 281 go downtown St. Antonio , don't want to run into any low clearances, this is our first time in this area.

Do you plan to take the toll road to I-10 as originally posted? Depending on the time you're traveling you might consider taking Loop 410 around San Antonio to I-37 instead of going downtown on I-10 to I-37. In any event, there are no surprises with either 281/I-37 through SA.

Once south of SA where 281 and I-37 split the last good chance for fuel on 281 is in Alice. At least the last time I was down that way there weren't many options between Alice and Edinburg. Be sure to plan accordingly.

Edit: Might have been a truck stop in Falfurrias, can't remember for sure but you don't want to be low on fuel regardless. Safe travels.

[Vetl82]

Thanks Thunderfoot for the tip on fuel. And your input on road surprises.

[navychop]

I live in Austin and like to take it but not if I'm pulling my toad that triples the price