How do I bypass Houston?

[ken]

You should time the trip to Houston for a low traffic time of day. If you are going to west Galveston you can take 288 from downtown Houston to Surfside, then the Bluewater Highway to Galveston.

I go from Houston to west Galveston almost weekly and I never take 45 due to construction and accidents.

[CaptainDave]

Dallas to Houston isn't the problem, Houston to Galveston is where the construction is going on from Beltway 8 south to Dickinson.

Seems a lot of you guys haven't been south on 45 lately, the construction and traffic caused by the construction is enough to drive you crazy. Got locked up in 10-15 mph junk a few weeks back with folks doing 2-3 lane-lane changes with no signal, just cutting you slap off. Just about blew me a gasket.

I have family in Galveston and made the Houston to Galveston drive about 11:00 a.m. last Saturday. Surprisingly, it wasn't that bad. But I live in H-town and know what bad really can be. Sure, there was about 20 minutes of bumper to bumper from Beltway 8 to Bay Area Blvd. All in all, downtown to the causeway was a little over 1 hour. Can't say that was all bad, considering that is close to a 50 mile drive. You must not drive through Houston much if you are close to blowing a gasket with a little bumper to bumper and lane closures. Heck, that's a daily grind for many commuters. I know that stretch well and it's not any worse than a dozen other spots around the city.

It's Houston. Your are going to hit a few slowdowns. And that stretch of 45 between Beltway and Bay Area sucked even before the Beltway existed.

[Ender]

Go around


Sorry saw the title and I had to

[Cajun shooter]

I've lived on the south side of Houston for over 36 years and used to work in Galveston regularly. You are either going to have to go 2 hours out of your way or if you will get to the south side of Houston on I45 before 10AM you will miss this traffic. If I take my family to Galveston I insist we leave by 9AM and return by 3PM. Really this is the best you can do.


Chootum!

[Johnny Dangerr]

It's not worth it, time your travel so as to miss the main traffic and just run up the gut (45 straight down). Expect most traffic around the woodlands (just before) and just after the beltway.

Going around the beltway is a huge amount of added time and candidly you can hit traffic there as well.

This....

I wonder how many of us on your route are 1 mile or less off 45 that would buy you a beer?
We live 3 blocks off 45 one exit past 610 south.....

[quackerback]

I just drove that same route from just south of Dallas. I pulled my travel trailer down there. We left around 930 and got to Houston between 12:30 and 1. Traffic was not bad. Did not stop for more than a minute heading down there.

[Richard S.]

exit new waverly - take 150 east to 1725 and go south to cleveland. Left on 105 into town, left on 573 and then right on 321. Take 321 to dayton, right on 90 and left on 146 south. 146 will take you into i-45 just out of galveston.

The construction going on at 45 south from houston to dickinson is a nightmare.

recalculating.....lol

[Matt_C]

The only good way to avoid Houston is to fly over it.

[Cazador]

The only way to avoid Houston traffic is to time it right. All of the work arounds are longer distances and if going through in peak traffic times will take as long or longer. Taking 146 south through Seabrook and Kemah can take 30 minutes minutes or more just to get through those two small cities. The construction in the clear lake area on 45 is bad, but there are still 3 lanes open each direction, and once you get past League City it's all newly topped roadway, smooth riding. And yes, living in Seabrook with a son going to school in Galveston and a wife spending most of the last 8 months at MD Anderson I know a little bit about Houston to Galveston.

[Tmag]

We have been traveling straight thru on 45 for many years, but I can't stand being on that road pulling my trailer, by the time I get to the island I'm a nervous wreck just dreading the ride home. If I was not pulling the RV I would just stay on 45. I plan on pulling out before 6am, so hopefully traffic is not too bad.

Let us know how the trip went.

[czechgrubworm]

What is the best time, those with the experience and living in Houston area, to hit Houston in the morning on a Friday in the morning?

[Ætheling]

Hit The Woodlands at 900 and I think that would get you out the other end of the metromess with the best timing.

[Chew]

I wish I would have known the answer to this question a long time ago.

[Ironman]

Rent a travel trailer south of Houston.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Leave Dallas about 6:00 PM... That should put you into Houston around 9:30/10:00 PM... Go straight thru town... light traffic, no problems, cooler driving conditions, less stress all the way around so to speak...