Route around Houston to East Texas

[Eran X. Jones]

Was thinking of taking US 99 around Houston to IH 45 to get to Davy Crocket National Forest area from South of Houston, Brazoria County area. Really do not want to pull our Travel Trailer through Houston on SH 288 to US 59 with all of the new road construction going on. Has anyone taken this route pulling your Travel Trailers or Motorhomes?
Thanks, Eran

[Reverse_snowbird]

You're talking about 99, the Grand Parkway, I assume.

It's a very good route from I10 to 45 and I've seen a lot of people towing trailers.

HOWEVER, portions of this road are toll tag road and you'll be on the toll part as soon as you head north from I10, there are no toll booths. The route will be a bit longer, but it's worth it to avoid downtown Houston. I think the tolls are based on number of axels.

For more information...https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/p...formation.html

[tomkatb]

There New Years.

59 from Texarkana to Near I 10 was no big deal. We do not go on the toll road.

Pulling our fiver. No big deal.

[EdJunior]

If you have the toll tag and want to pay the toll, 99 is an awesome drive. It is still too new to have a lot of traffic, so it is a very easy trip. It also goes all the way to 59, so it drops you off in New Caney, and 59 up north is easy going from there. They have started converting 59 to I-69 between New Caney and Cleveland, meaning they have re-routed the lanes while they are creating new lanes in the middle. But there is no real traffic up that way, so no troubles, at least when we went up that way a week or two ago.

[wjrdmr]

We have wintered in Tomball for a few years. We head north up the 45, toward Huntsville, overnight at the Mt. Pleasant KOA, then over to Texarcana and East. No tolls that way, and not too much traffic once off of the 45 until the I40 corridor. Safe travels.

[txredfish]

If possible, plan your trip on a Saturday or Sunday. Going through downtown is a breeze if those days.

[AdamKam]

We do this every year, get off I-10 at Sealy 36 t0 Bellville 159 to Hemstead 6 to Navasota 90 to Roans Prairie then 30 to Huntsville then onto 45N. All main or secondary roads, low traffic on any day and no tolls. Our total rig lengh is 56 feet, also fairly smooth rods

[LannyCox]

We just came back from Tomball to the DFW area this past Friday and we were amazed at the number of toll roads in the Houston area - especially, roads that require that you have an EZTag to use them (no cash). We have the TollTag system in Northern Texas and it works on EZTag toll roads around Houston and also the toll roads in Oklahoma. I think there was talk of a national electronic toll road pass a few years ago but don't know if the law was ever enacted. LGC

[Moose61]

How far south, 288 to beltway 8 to 59 may be better choice

[jrmartin67]

We Live south of Houston off SH 288 and pulled our 30' Surveyor through to US 59 & 69 after Christmas. It depends somewhat on the time of day. You certainly don't want to go that way before 9 AM, but after that it's not that bad. You just have to stay alert and stay IN YOUR LANE!! We've done 99/Grand Parkway west to 290 but not east. Beltway 8 & the 610 loop are possibilities, but the construction makes those messy, too.

[IICAPN]

Avoid SH 288 between SH 6 and US 59 (IH 69) at all costs. I have pulled my 5er through that hell of a mess, never again until construction is fully completed. Surprised I still have the leather driver-side seat cover on my TV since pucker factor was definitely pegged-out. Damn, gonna hafta to take a sleeping pill tonight after remembering THAT experience!

[Reverse_snowbird]

I apologize. I misread your post and assumed you were coming from the west.

EdJunior seems to have the best advice. Google maps says that going through Houston as opposed to going 99 north has about the same mileage and the same travel time. So if you don't mind paying the toll, 99 would be my choice.

[swolfer]

I'm going to be coming from San Antonio and headed for New Orleans. RV Wizard has me on I-10 all the way through. Does that sound good for a Wednesday at about 11:00 in the morning?

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by swolfer

I'm going to be coming from San Antonio and headed for New Orleans. RV Wizard has me on I-10 all the way through. Does that sound good for a Wednesday at about 11:00 in the morning?

Yes. That's a good time of day to drive through Houston. (knock on wood) You probably won't hit any traffic.

[EdJunior]

Originally Posted by swolfer

I'm going to be coming from San Antonio and headed for New Orleans. RV Wizard has me on I-10 all the way through. Does that sound good for a Wednesday at about 11:00 in the morning?

For a weekday, that is about the best time to come through. Barring an accident, you should be golden. Good luck and safe travels.

[Eran X. Jones]

We made the US 99, aka The Grand Parkway trek to I-45 last Friday. The ride was smooth, traffic not bad, and the connector ramps to I-45 were a great addition also. This will be our preferred route in the future as the trip home on Sunday was fine too. We took Crab River Road to SH 36 and then home to Sweeny. As a side note, when 290 is complete this will be our exit point to get to the Sam Houston National Forest area where we have relatives.
Happy Trails To You.

[whj469]

Grand Parkway, 99, from IH 10 to IH 45 is Easy Pass only Road, tolls with a fifth wheel are expensive. Great new road with a 75 MPH speed limit! Be safe.