SR 290 to SR 71 through Austin?

Fly or take a bus!

vtchris wrote:
Would this be the best way to go "thru" or around Austin? I am headed East to The Woodlands, TX just north of Houston.

I would try avoid the morning traffic rush.
Pat

In my opinion the 130 toll road in Austin is the best way to go through. But are you coming in from the east or west? And if time is not a concern there are other ways to travel around Austin. Please let us know.

Where on the west side of Austin are you starting from? If you are starting in the area of Johnson City, then yes I would just take US 290 across to TX 71 and do it mid day if on a weekday. Austin traffic is almost always busy.
If you are starting farther west such as Fredericksburg I would drop down US 87 to I-10 and head east, again mid day thru San Antonio.

GizmosMom wrote:
In my opinion the 130 toll road in Austin is the best way to go through. But are you coming in from the east or west? And if time is not a concern there are other ways to travel around Austin. Please let us know.

I am going East and want to continue on 290 as my next stop is Tomball, TX...on north side of Houston. Trying to miss as much of Austin and Houston traffic as possible. I can time it mid day on a weekday.

If I understand right...You will be east bound on 71 going into Austin? Just stay on it, get on 290 and stay on 290 to either 99 (toll), or get off 290 at Waller on Waller-Tomball Rd.
Just try to time it off rush hour.
Or stay on 71 south to I-10 and then to 99. That's the long way and you will miss the nice scenery on 290.
You shouldn't have much traffic coming in to Tomball, some around the Woodlands at the entrances on I-45. Assuming you're stopping for awhile in Woodlands. Then what?
Always stop at Bucees. buc-ee's.com

It is not clear to me what your origination point is west of Austin, but if you come into Austin using either TX71 or US290 from the west, I suggest you don't use I35 to jog up to US290 heading east out of Austin. Just stay on the same road, which is just TX71 at this point as it crosses I35 and go on past the airport towards Bastrop. Catch TX29 north at Bastrop to reconnect with US290 at Paige. Take TX99 Grand Parkway (toll) north from US290 to Tomball and you will miss most all of the Houston traffic.

Too much congestion and too many traffic incidents on I35 through downtown Austin for my taste!

^^^ Oh heck yeah, never get on I-35. Either do the above or turn north on 183 to 290.
I missed that you had to get on I-35 to stay on 290.

So I went on 290 as I approached Austin from the west going east, quite a bit of traffic about 10-20 miles out. This was around 11AM. Once I got on 71 it was easy going until I choose 71 toll. That was hard to get on as it was four lanes over with entrance on the left. And NO TOLL BOOTH, which makes it difficult for us full timers without a tag for every state and who only get mail rarely. By the time I get the notification they have fined me for being late. Ugh! I think I should of stayed on the non-toll 290, it looked ok as it met up with 71. All was good then.