Dallas TX

I think I'll follow BB's advice and use 75 to I45 to I20 to I35.

Thanks for all that contributed. See you on the road.

steelpony5555 wrote:
...snip... then you can freak out...

FWIW, I don't "freak out." Trick is to do the smart thing if at all possible.

If you come down US 75 toward Dallas stay on it as it turns into I-45 at downtown going toward Houston. South of Dallas you would then take I-20 west to I-35E to Waco. Maybe 3 miles farther but much easier, trafficwise. Again a frequent route we take.
That is much better than trying to cross over from US 75 to I-35E downtown. Heaviest traffic will likely be from McKinney thru Richardson.
Headed that way Friday morning, during morning rush hour.
Be aware they are predicting heavy rain/storms tomorrow, especially later in the day. All bets are off if that happens.

You don't want to go downtown????? do as square dancer said. Not sure why everybody freaks out on scooting around Dallas-Ft Worth. I so it several times a year with my 5er and never had any major problems going that same exact route. Yes you may run into some traffic but it's a city. Would rather drive around Dallas then any northeastern city that's for sure.......Now when you get to Hillboro and south then you can freak out.....construction is a mess and lots of concrete walls..Have been a mess of really really bad accidents the past year or so. If you are heading way south then I would stay on I-20 till you get to I35W and when you get to Alverado head west on 67 to 281...you can take 281 all the way into San Antonio. That way you will avoid all that construction and also Austin traffic...oh yeah Austin traffic is way worse then Dallas's...don't matter when you hit Austin there's a good chance it will be a parking lot. 281 is mostly a 4 lane, 75 mph speed limit, smooth road. I also take it a lot towing the 5er

John,
Your route will work fine at midday. Remember that US75 southbound becomes I45 at downtown Dallas. You will need to stay on I45 past downtown. In 6 or 7 miles, exit west on I20 and then in 3 miles exit to south I35E.

OP here, how bad would it be to just shoot the gauntlet by taking 75 from the north into Dallas and emerging out on 35E on the south. This would run right thru downtown. It would be tomorrow prior to 4pm rush hour

Coming from NE means what?

I come in from E Oklahoma on US-69/75, take that downtown to the end, then follow I-45 out to I-20, then south on I-35E. Usually I am doing this late morning to early afternoon, no traffic problems.

I've tried the 635 loop around the east, it has been more problems, backups from exits for suburbs and malls, interchange jam-ups, people getting on at one exit, cutting across lanes to get up to 15-25 mph over, then cutting back in at the next exit. Bypass loops don't work so well where they become local freeway, this is one of those places, at least around the east of Dallas.

Coming from further east, it is not a bad idea to get onto I-20 before approaching Dallas. I-20 is more rural on the east side, doesn't become suburban until you approach Ft Worth, which is spreading south more than Dallas has. E.G. coming in on I-30 and headed toward Waco, I would use TX-34 to drop down to I-20 rather than trying to make a connection on the eastern loops.

Might go south to Tyler and go 31 to Waco.thats how we go.only a small part between Corsicana and Hubbard 2lane.

We live in the area north of Dallas and travel thru Waco going to the hill country several times a year. Do as square dancers said. And arrive Dallas after 10 am and before 4 pm or on a weekend day and you will probably not have a traffic problem. I-35 will have some traffic and some construction but again probably will not be a problem.
Yes, there are those that use I-35 as a raceway. You can get in the left lane and join them or settle back in the right lane and cruise at a reasonable speed with the sane ones.

With all due respect there is no stress free way for you to get to Waco although square dancers route is right on. They drive like you know what on I35. Do it on off hour whatever that may be. Recently drove part of that route on Sunday morning and it wasn't too bad. On peak trips to Waco are bumper to bumper at 75+ mph until their bumpers make contact.