Route from Houston to Austin - Cedar Park area (horse, kids)

[CarnivalGal]

Take I-10. Use the route atxcio gave you. I-10 to 71 to 183 North. Exit onto 620 from 183. Parmer is only a mile or two from 183. 290 puts you farther south than you want to be. Also, you'll hit a lot of lights.

[TexasHorseLady]

71 is considerably further south than 290.

You can also take 290 to 183 and 183 to 620 and 620 to Pamer, cutting out the entire southeastern part of Austin that you'll have to go through if you take 71.

[RandyAH]

Anyone with a jet/rocket pack I can borrow???? LOL...

I hate that I have not driven that part of TX yet...I will be making several trips to LA, and AL though out next year, so I will probably have the privilege of trying out all the routes...

I should be coming in on a Tue around 3 or 4 pm...so I am sure I will hit the afternoon traffic, not sure if that makes a difference on which route I should take...

[robino2001]

Originally Posted by RandyAH

I should be coming in on a Tue around 3 or 4 pm...so I am sure I will hit the afternoon traffic, not sure if that makes a difference on which route I should take...

That's the exact time of day that the toll roads are totally worth it in my opinion. You wouldn't hit any traffic on the toll roads until you exit at Parmer. Sure, it'll add miles on but you'll be going 70+ the whole way, not stop and go.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by robino2001

That's the exact time of day that the toll roads are totally worth it in my opinion. You wouldn't hit any traffic on the toll roads until you exit at Parmer. Sure, it'll add miles on but you'll be going 70+ the whole way, not stop and go.

Absolutely agree here! At that time of day, on either 290 or 71, make sure to take SH 130 (toll road) up to 183, 183 to 45, 45 to 620, 620 to Parmer.

If you don't, you'll end up going through stop and go rush hour traffic either route. If you do, you'll be on highway the entire way.

[Moonlady]

Originally Posted by mm57553

Take I-10. Use the route atxcio gave you. I-10 to 71 to 183 North. Exit onto 620 from 183. Parmer is only a mile or two from 183. 290 puts you farther south than you want to be. Also, you'll hit a lot of lights.

I agree. We drive to Lafayette, LA area a few times a year. Occasionally we take 290, but I much prefer the I-10 (straight through Houston) to 71 to 183. It just seems more direct with less stops.

Edited to add- we haven't used 130 because we live south, but all these suggestions sound like the way to go. The toll roads are definitely worth it for convenience and speed.

[TexasHorseLady]

We used 71 to 10 when we lived south, and if the end location is south, that's definitely the way to go. It's when the end location is north that it's not so obvious.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

71 is considerably further south than 290.

You can also take 290 to 183 and 183 to 620 and 620 to Pamer, cutting out the entire southeastern part of Austin that you'll have to go through if you take 71.

It continues further south if you stay on 71, but that's why he should get off at 183. the 290 / 183 intersection is not that far from the 71 / 183 intersection. And he will already be on I-10 in Houston, so that means he would have to go over to 290 from I-10, which is no fast or easy feat in Houston.

Also wanted to add the 45 and 620 are pretty much the same road at the Parmer area. If you go from 183, stay on the access road of 45 (which is basically 620). Parmer is the first or second street, so if you get on 45, you may pass Parmer before you can get off.

[TexasHorseLady]

I never had any problem getting from 10 to 290 and vice versa in Houston (used to drive down there to IKEA before they opened up here).

It's not that far from 183/71 to 183/290, but at rush hour, it can take a LONG time (been there, done that).

Parmer is also called 734, so look for both on signage.

[atxcio]

One year ago, it would have been a toss up for me (I-10/71 vs. 290) based on traffic coming out of Houston. In fact, as I would leave downtown Houston headed west on I10 I would make the decision as I approached 610 based on the traffic signs... and this great resource: Houston TranStar Real-Time Traffic Map

But now, I-10 is just so much faster with the construction complete. That and the terrible undivided hwy part of 290 does it for me. Unless I have a craving for ice cream.