Dallas to Port Aransas

[kshayer]

Heading down to Port Aransas in March. We'll be taking I-35 to Dallas, and wondering what the best route will be from there. We have a Class A with no car to tow. Also, once we get close, is there a ferry to get to Port Aransas? What's that like?

[texasjayco]

traindriver1 wrote:
US 77 from Waco to Victoria, take by pass , around Victoria stay on 77 for 21 miles to rt 239, take 239 to Tivoli and rt 35. Take rt 35 to Aransas Pass , then cut over to Port Aransas. Best way to go, some 2 lane, some 4 lane, all good road, no traffic and 70 - 75 mph limits.

By FAR the best way to go to avoid traffic.

Just stay on I-35 to Waco and follow the above route.

You will keep your sanity that way.

Mark

[timandsusan]

Lots of great advice on DFW area. We usually use US281 from San Antonio to Denton to visit Gkids. Getting thru San Antonio is largely dependent on timing. Driving thru town after 9:30AM and before 3:30PM will avoid heaviest traffic. Routing to Port A routing--good advice. I like the SPID route that skips the ferry-that allows you to skip the ferry waiting lines. Have a great trip!

[mkc]

sayoung wrote:
You could also at Ft.Worth go Loop 820 West to I20W to 281 all the way to San Antonio.

Having spent 12 years in the Denton, TX area I would second this route. I35W through Ft. Worth can be quite congested; I35 through Austin even worse.

In fact, from I35 in Denton, 380 W to 156 S to 820 can be a good option if traveling during peak I35W hours. You'll hit some traffic lights, but 156 is generally a good 2 lane road.

[traindriver1]

US 77 from Waco to Victoria, take by pass , around Victoria stay on 77 for 21 miles to rt 239, take 239 to Tivoli and rt 35. Take rt 35 to Aransas Pass , then cut over to Port Aransas. Best way to go, some 2 lane, some 4 lane, all good road, no traffic and 70 - 75 mph limits.

[padredw]

I would recommend the US77 option as well to avoid the interstate through Austin & San Antonio. I have started routing around the big Texas cities if possible on, as BB_TX says, "2 lane highways with lower speed limits and small towns." It may take a little longer, in most cases, but it is much less stressful.

Add my voice to that of the wise friends with posts above. We often take this route from the RGV up to Waco, before heading to our East Texas home.

[sayoung]

You could also at Ft.Worth go Loop 820 West to I20W to 281 all the way to San Antonio. I have pulled our 5er most of this route several times. I come to DFW from the east so I go around the south side picking up 67 over to 281

[one_strange_tex]

I would recommend the US77 option as well to avoid the interstate through Austin & San Antonio. I have started routing around the big Texas cities if possible on, as BB_TX says, "2 lane highways with lower speed limits and small towns." It may take a little longer, in most cases, but it is much less stressful. All too frequently, there is construction or traffic incidents on the big city freeways which cause you to lose the advantage you supposedly gained by higher speed limits and freeways. Add to that my frequent observation of downright reckless driving by folks zipping around between lanes in autos, tailgating, or using cell phones. I don't route around big cities as much outside of Texas since I am less familiar with the lay of the land and secondary roads are not generally as good.

The road to Rockport that doxiemom11 mentions is US181 at Sinton, then TX35 at Gregory, I believe.

[doxiemom11]

We took 77( from Waco) to south of Victoria ( you'll have to look at a map) and then took the road that angled down toward Rockport, then south along the coast to Port Aransas. Miss the traffic of Corpus.

[BB_TX]

I would not consider 77 an option until the south side of Waco. Mostly 2 lane highway with lower speed limits and small towns. None of which are particularly bad things unless you are trying to get there fast. I believe it is a good highway. Been a long time ago since on it.

[kshayer]

Mapquest is showing Highway 77 as an option from Dallas, and no one has mentioned that. Not a good option?

[BB_TX]

Avoid approaching San Antonio from the north at rush hour. The stretch of I-35/I-410 down to I-10 can be really bad. And once on I-410 continue on it until it meets I-37 on the south side. Staying on I-35 to I-37 will take you thru downtown area.

Unless you have a reason to go thru Dallas on I-35E, I recommend taking I-35W thru Ft Worth. The split is at Denton. And they merge back together at Hillsboro.

[1995brave]

Continuing taking I-35 down to San Antonio then get on I-37 to Corpus Christi. In Corpus you can take the 358 (SPID) across the JFK causeway to the 361 North East to Port A. Or take I-37 to the 181 to Portland then either 35 or 361 at Gregory to Aransas Pass and cross the ferry to Port A. We take these routes from San Antonio when we go to Port A for fishing.

[chris3403]

The ferry is free and will hold your Class A.