Best Way Around Houston

If you are going through Houston, I-10 straight through is generally the best bet, the bypass loops just take you out of your way, and all tend to have similar levels of traffic as going straight through, at least in certain areas. Traffic on Saturday will be lighter than on Friday, and downtown Houston is almost a ghost town on Sundays.

p.s. If there are downtown traffic issues, I tend to find I-610 south being the better option than I-610 north, though you do have to deal with the ship channel bridge when going south. Many of the toll roads around Houston are Texas EZ Tag only roads with no conventional toll booths.

I,ve gone straight threw easier than the by pass,did a sunday morning one time ,hardly any cars .

Isaac-1 wrote:
...p.s. If there are downtown traffic issues, I tend to find I-610 south being the better option than I-610 north, though you do have to deal with the ship channel bridge when going south.

generally less traffic on south bypass? and what's the issue with the ship channel bridge? does the interstate cross over the channel or is it a draw/swing bridge?

Isaac-1 wrote:
Many of the toll roads around Houston are Texas EZ Tag only roads with no conventional toll booths.

I pulled up a map of the toll roads in/around Houston and see that I-10 west of the city has tolls. automatic lanes only or are there humans collecting the toll?

I-10 passes north of the ship channel, however there are steep bridges on both beltway 8 (toll road) and I-610, fog can also be an issue north of Galveston Bay (Beaumont to Baytown on I-10) in the mornings in early spring, though typically this is more common in March. The bridges are usually not a big deal, but are steep enough to slow down some large trucks. On this topic take the I-210 bypass around Lake Charles LA, it will add 3-5 miles, but will let you avoid the steep, narrow, antiquated I-10 bridge that dates back to the late 1940's, the I-210 bridge by contrast was built in the 1970's.

I-10 west (katy freeway) in Houston is a mixed use roadway with free interstate outer lanes, and limited access HOV / toll road expressway down the middle which I think is EZ pass only. The katy freeway built about 10-15 years ago is the widest stretch of freeway in the US in places up to 22 lanes wide and about 25 miles long.

p.s. here are a couple of photos for you

Katy freeway, and the I-10 bridge in Lake Charles, LA

holy bumper tag, Batman! thanks for the photos and the Lake Charles advice. I've adjusted the GPS route to take I-210 around. is the 210 bridge just as steep?

The I-210 bridge is not nearly as bad as the I-10 bridge in Lake Charles, it has a long sweeping curve that is not nearly as steep, and no shoulders, but at least has wider lanes than the I-10 bridge.

Isaac-1 wrote:
The I-210 bridge is not nearly as bad as the I-10 bridge in Lake Charles, it has a long sweeping curve that is not nearly as steep, and no shoulders, but at least has wider lanes than the I-10 bridge.

thanks, Issac...appreciate the help.

Use this link to check the traffic in Houston.
http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/mobile/imaps.aspx?HR=1

Traffic in Houston on Friday is ALWAYS a problem, especially after mid day.
If you get to Houston on Friday, I would suggest that you get off I-10 going west just after the Channelview/Baytown area, and take Beltway 8 north. It will loop around the city and reconnect with I-10 on the west side of Houston bypassing most of the traffic congestion. It is a toll road though.
If you get to Houston on Saturday or Sunday you shouldn't have any problems at all just taking I-10 straight through.
Best of luck and happy camping!

I am generally heading North from there so I take Hwy 105 at Beaumont and hit 45 in Conroe