Anyone driven to Texas

[FarminCy]

Forgot I had to be in Texas and didn't book a flight early enough. All that is left now is 900-1400 round trip that has 2 stops heading down with overnight layovers. I can get a car rented for about 150 (plus gas) to drive down and catch a one way flight back for about 280 bucks.

I know it will be a haul and the distance doesn't bother me but is getting through DFW and Austin going to be a pain. I'm assuming just avoid the prime drive times and should be OK.

Anyone else done this and is it doable to hit San Antonio in under 14 hours.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

Done it several times (to Iowa from College Station) by myself. 14 hours to San Antonio is tight but do able if you don't mind the chance of a ticket. Go to the Ft. Worth side of DFW.

 

[FarminCy]

Done it several times (to Iowa from College Station) by myself. 14 hours to San Antonio is tight but do able if you don't mind the chance of a ticket. Go to the Ft. Worth side of DFW.

I should have just sent you an email about this.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

I should have just sent you an email about this.

Yep.

 

[Farnsworth]

We drive to San Antonio every year. Starting about a half hour outside of Dallas all the way to San Antonio is pure hell.

Are you leaving from Ames/DSM? 14 hours is possible if you hit Dallas and Austin at the right times.

 

[Farnsworth]

Great places to speed: On the Kansas Turnpike. Bad Places to speed: In Kansas not on the turnpike.

Speeding Oklahoma is ok as well. I've been pulled over twice in OK, but got off with a warning both times.

I normally go about 15 over on that trip.

 

[cycloner29]

I went from near the DFW airport to Ames in just under 12 hours. Wife, 3 kids and my mother. Drove from 8 at night to 8 in the morning. The drive from KC to DSM was awful slow and boring!!

 

[FarminCy]

Leaving DSM. I travel to Oklahoma a couple times a year so I've got that part figured out. Just have never gone past OKC driving so that is my big question mark.

I have heard that Dallas and south is horrible and that's why I was wondering if it's even doable. I should be hitting DFW about 8-10 PM so I'm hoping things should be cleared up by then.

 

[sunnysideup]

I did Houston straight through to Ames back in 2002. Started out at 8:30am and got into Ames at midnight.

 

[MNCYWX]

The I35 stretch from IA to DFW wasn't bad at all.

I took I45 to Galveston, that was a quagmire. Clogged with traffic the entire length. That was also about 9 years ago though.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

The I35 stretch from IA to DFW wasn't bad at all.

I took I45 to Galveston, that was a quagmire. Clogged with traffic the entire length. That was also about 9 years ago though.

I45 blows. Some places in the middle of nowhere that are 65mph where they should be 80mph. Dumb. Only drove that road once when I lived in TX.

 

[Cpech56]

Driven this trip numerous times. You hit Dallas and you feel like you should be almost there , nope only about halfway. I used to drive DM to SAN in 15.45 thats if you get really lucky in austin. Highly suggest paying the tole and bypass around austin. I think its like $12

 

[jbhtexas]

There is major construction on I35W between Denton and Ft Worth. Lanes are being added. Right now, I think they are working at the US 287/81 split, but they might even be further north by now. I don't know what I35E is like because I don't drive that side, but I can almost guarantee you that I35W will be a nightmare unless you happen to hit a very non peak time.

As I recall, there is also widening going on on I35E, but maybe somebody from that side can update what is going on there and with US75. There may not really be a good route through DFW right now...

 

[Farnsworth]

Leaving DSM. I travel to Oklahoma a couple times a year so I've got that part figured out. Just have never gone past OKC driving so that is my big question mark.

I have heard that Dallas and south is horrible and that's why I was wondering if it's even doable. I should be hitting DFW about 8-10 PM so I'm hoping things should be cleared up by then.

14 should be doable then as Austin won't suck as much, unless your doing it on a Friday night.

 

[aute19]

I did Ames to Houston last year. Made it in ~14 hours. Cut the corner a bit, heading down US 69 in Eastern OK. This way, we avoided Tulsa, OKC, etc.

Wasn't too bad, we left Ames around 6 AM, hit Dallas probably around rush hour and it wasn't so bad. Perhaps we got lucky.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Somebody already mentioned it...but the I35 split through DFW is a crapshoot most of the time. Whichever one has the least construction on it is the best option.

 

[IceCyIce]

Yes - Its south of des moines on I35 if you hit water you went too far.

 

[Cyclonin]

There is major construction on I35W between Denton and Ft Worth. Lanes are being added. Right now, I think they are working at the US 287/81 split, but they might even be further north by now. I don't know what I35E is like because I don't drive that side, but I can almost guarantee you that I35W will be a nightmare unless you happen to hit a very non peak time.

As I recall, there is also widening going on on I35E, but maybe somebody from that side can update what is going on there and with US75. There may not really be a good route through DFW right now...

Im on 75 daily and north of downtown, no construction, but I'd stay off 75 anytime between 7-9 and 4-7 or so.

DFW just sucks for traffic.

 

[CtownCyclone]

The I35 stretch from IA to DFW wasn't bad at all.

I took I45 to Galveston, that was a quagmire. Clogged with traffic the entire length. That was also about 9 years ago though.

This is standard for I45.

 

[Die4Cy]

I did Houston straight through to Ames back in 2002. Started out at 8:30am and got into Ames at midnight.

You were flying! We drove to Houston one year for spring break (a long time ago), straight through. I think we had 9 hours drive outside of Texas and 9 hours in. Left at five and arrived about 11 pm.