I try to avoid Houston. Seems like most of the times it will be bumper to bumper and stop and go.
Instead I get off of I10 at Winnie and go down the Bolivar Peninsula to Galveston Island. There is a free ferry that can handle any size rig you got with no problems.
From Galveston Island I head south to Surfside Beach then over to HWY 35 down to Hwy 77 to Harlingen. A fairly low stress route with things to see that seems to be just as fast as any other route. When you leave Galveston Island there is a pay booth that is next to a fairly narrow road with an overhang, be careful there.
I really don't mind I10. All our roads seem to need repair and I10 is not as bad as some I've been on.
