Driving across Texas... any recommendations?

General thoughts

Avoid Interstates...boring, too much traffic. Most major non-interstate highways in TX are posted 65 -70 mph, are in excellent condition, and have much less traffic.

Music - Austin and Houston

Specific routes - avoid southern Louisiana, roads and traffic aren't predictable. This limits your entry point into TX a bit.

You can patch together a nice trip with the following and all the other good ideas that people will provide.

Northern route

Enter at Shreveport

155: Atlanta - Tyler (bypass)
31: Tyler - Waco


Waco:
6: NW to Lubbock (Barbecue at County Line on north side of town)
OR
84: west to Abilene, contiguous with I-20, then exit to Lubbock
Sidetrip from Snyder (180 west to 669 N, then back to 84)
84: Lubbock - Clovis NM

Central route

Enter at Shreveport

155: Atlanta - Tyler bypass
155: Tyler - Palestine
79: Palestine - Round Rock (northern suburb of Austin)

183: NW to Austin - Abilene
OR
290: West to Austin - Fredericksburg
87: F'burg - San Angelo - Big Spring - Lamesa
180: west to Hobbs, NM

Southern route

Enter on 190 from DeRidder, LA
190: De ridder - Huntsville
30: H'ville - Bryan
21: Bryan - Austin (see above) (or 21 to Caldwell, then 36 to Waco, see above)

Enter on 190 from DeRidder, LA
190: De ridder - Livingston
59: Livingston - Houston (not the nicest ride, but it gets you to Houston)
I-10: west from Houston to Frydek
36: Frydek to Waco (see above)
OR
I-10: west from Houston to Columbus
71: Columbus to Austin



Remember that most of TX is actually south of NM, so anything south of Abilene requires angling back to the north, but there are nice roads.

If you are willing to come into NM from the far south, then try 285 from Pecos (I-20 from Big Spring above) to Roswell to Santa Fe. The stetch of 285 from Roswell to Vaughan is essentially dead straight, little traffic, great scenery.

 

I'll get you to Austin.

Assuming that you are starting in Texarkana --

* Wind your way down to Nacogdoches.

* Pick up 21 to Crockett and Madisonville. This is the old Spanish Trail.

* Take 90 down to Roan's Praire.

* Take 30 to Carlos. Stop at the only gas station in Carlos and ask how to get to 3090. 3090 is the best driving road in East Texas. Be careful though. The Revenue Enhancers know all about it.

* 3090 will take you to Anderson. From there, pick up 90 again.

* Take 90 to Highway 6, and head towards College Station.

* You'll see Texas World Speedway on the right. If you time it right, Jack will be having an open track day (check their web site). Have almost more fun than the law allows with your Z06.

* From here, get on 21 (again) and wind your way to Dime Box, pick up some Texas BBQ at Elgin, then hit the big city, bright lights of Austin where you'll end up on 6th street.

I'll let someone else take it from here...

Dale

PS Let me know when you're coming through, and I may be able to give you a tour.

 

If you are headed out west, check out the road from Ft. Stockton down to Marathon. It's the same route they have for the Big Bend Road Race every year. Should be able to find the top of that Vet there.

Gage Hotel (Marathon) is a Texas Landmark, if you are there, give it a try.


If you are around Llano and want some good BBQ, try Cooper's. It's the best.

In Marble Falls...Blue Bonnet Cafe for Breakfast.

Also Check out..

Garner State park (Between Concan and Leakey)

Gruene (New Braunfels) be sure to go tubing!

Ft. Davis Observatory

Big Bend State Park (Pics below)

Those are just a few.
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Sounds like a fun trip. If you were going the direct route through the northern part of Texas, I'd have to stress seeing the Cadillac Ranch...because thats pretty much the highlight til you enter NM. (pic)

Since you are going south of that, you will have a much more interesting drive. If you end up coming through Houston, you can take 529 out northwest of town to Bellville and over to RoundTop for lunch www.royersroundtopcafe.com/. Very fun drive, but not too scenic. From there you can take 290 over to Austin (unlimited possibilites here www.austin360.com/ ). Head out west of town and see Lakeway, Marble Falls. Over to Llano, then take the awesome FM-965 (pic) down past Enchanted Rock and into old town Fredericksburg.

From here, I'm not all that familiar with the best places to see. I'd try to get over to the Monahans if wanted to stay closer to NM...if not, go farther south to Big Bend.

Once you enter NM definitely see the White Sands, but be careful on 285! (pic)

Check out this guys' write-up, he just did a similar trek: http://www.epiqautosport.com/porschecayenneturboreview.htm

Be sure to order one of these too: http://www.traveltex.com/tr_guide.asp?SN=10374038&LS=0

Good luck!
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The easy way is US 59, but it probably has more revenue enhancers per mile than any road in Texas.

I don't have a map in front of me, but it is pretty easy to figure an alternative to Nacodoches. Look for Lake of the Pines and plot out some directions. It is a very pretty east Texas lake. If you're coming in October, there is always a big British motorcycle rally there.

http://www.ntnoa.org/lop2002.htm

Also check the website for Texas World Speedway. If you time it right, you can take that bad boy out to the track.

http://www.texasworldspeedway.com/

Keep us informed as to your plans. Maybe we can scerenade you 'cross Texas.

Dale

 

No, you have it right. Stay on 3090 to Navasota. Anderson is a cool little town, but unless you're a civil war buff there's no reason to go there.

BTW, Navasota was where John Welsely Harding hung out.

Why, nuthin cept a Dime Box --

BTW, the one you want to go to is "Dime Box" at the intersection of 141 and 424. Old Dime Box is just a spot on the road.

Again, let us know when you're going through, Dale

 

Great! I'm glad you guys had fun. I'm particularly proud of you for staying off the superslabs.

I tried to update my posts to add 390 to the list, but I couldn't find the thread. Must be going blind.

But it sounds like you had fun anyhow.

Dale

PS Where was the pic taken?

 

Well done! I'll chime in 21 is a great road, I use it from Lake Livingston over to San Marcos...you MISSED Gruene Hall (New Bransfels) and the roads around there, but you can always come back!

Well done, Dr.!

 

That would have been a good one!

C'mon back, we'll rent a tube and float down the river! LOL!