I have heard there is a slightly longer though less hectic drive to Austin from Tulsa. Can anyone enlighten me?
In my many trips from KS down to Austin I've learned to stay off the main roads for a better (albeit slower) trip. I like to get off of 35 at Alvarado and head west, then come down through Johnson City, but again it's 30-40 minutes added. That road is mostly 70mph (or is it 75?) 2 lane blacktop. Looks like just turning on avoid tolls and avoid highways makes the trip go from 7 hr 7min to 9hr 48min. Personally since LSRU is the same weekend as the Stray Kat in Dewey, OK this year, I'll just save the headaches and hotel bills of Austin and head to the Stray Kat 500.
Click "Avoid Highways" on Google Maps. There are 2 routes that pop up and they are about 2 hours longer (50-75 miles more) than running down I-35. I avoid highways as much as I can. Even tomorrow heading south to the coast, I'll be taking the less travelled back roads to avoid the stress.
Tulsa to Paris, TX to Athens, TX , to Palestine Tx, to Round Rock=Austin. 47 miles longer than Interstate at 505 miles. Ben
That was my first of the day "I learned something new today" things My wife grew up in McGregor Tx and her sisters still live in Woodway (Waco burb) and the other one is about 10 miles south of Henly TX out in the cedar breaks SW of where Ryan is. Agreed that in Texas a lot of the time it is less hectic driving the two lanes than the interstates. Still the worst place on I 35 is in Austin it's self and those people around Austin who drive 35 are maniacs. The one route mapped out when I picked stay off the interstate takes you right into the Travis county expo center from the east side. Then it is about 16 miles zig zagging to South Congress. I won't make it this year but maybe next year.
Go to Wichita Falls and head south on 281 . You’ll wind up on the west side of Austin . Used to go that way when I had Family living at Fredricksburg. Go to Hugo OK , to Tyler TX to Palestine to Austin
I try to keep paper maps in all my cars. Newish maps, old ones can f*ck you up. Google can REALLY f*ck you up.
What Okie Pete said I've traveled both ways when the now wife lived over on the other side of Oklahoma gotta watch some small towns are considered speed traps don't ask how I know.
Thanks for the replies. I have made many I35 trips to Austin since one of our kids live there. But this time going to LSR with a couple of roadster guys who won’t be happy on 35 I know.
That eastern route would be the most "peaceful" and direct route. I've made nearly that same drive a few times to/from Clayton, OK or Mena, AR. I-35 in Austin is almost unavoidable, it's really not that bad if you know when to be on it or how to get around it. Here's a map of all of the popular LSRU spots...
When I go up to the Goodguys show at the Texas Motor Speedway from the Hill Country north of San Antonio, I always go up US-281 and then cut over to I-35 north of Ft.Worth. I avoid I-35 at all costs, even driving from San Antonio to Austin. Between all of the constant construction and the stupid drivers that almost always have a wreck that shuts down the highway, it is worth the little extra time to me to avoid I-35 and the headaches that go with it.
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