My friend BB_TX is exactly right. Sorry I was out all morning--funeral in the family.
Texas has an excellent system which includes many two lane highways. We even use the Farm to Market roads often, but we know what to expect: strictly two land, often curvy, follow land contour, but usually very good surface and little traffic.
Often the state highways have passing lanes along the way.
Anyway, BB_TX is right on the answer.
EDIT TO ADD: Yes, 281 is pretty desolate down to the Valley, but so is US 77 through that same area. We've gone both ways, somewhat depends on where you are going in the Valley--and there are places you can switch over: EXAMPLE TX 141 over to Kingsville or vice versa.
