If anybody lives there or has driven it ..
What's Hwy59 like from Texarakana to Houston? Family is driving in from out of town today, and I sure don't understand why they're going the way they are, but they're taking 59 from Texarkana all the way to me in Victoria. I know it's the only way from Houston, but don't know why they're not going to stay on interstate as long as possible.
Texarkana to Houston
Angel, I am not ancient but travelling to/from houston to our land in NE texas, we use the back roads. I find them less stressful than having to keep up with the 80mph traffic that is constant along I-45.
That is, until you get behind a big tractor, or a somebody carrying cows or those huge hay bales. Then, we wish we were on the interstate, lol
I know quite a few people that use 59 to go anywhere in E texas
I use 59 to and from Lufkin. I much prefer it using it to the back roads for the very reason vossner stated, always someone pulling a trailer with a boat, horses, cows, etc. and not many places to pass.
I have been going to the Indy 500 for over 25 yrs now & believe me we have tried every way there is to go. We even went thur New Orleans one yr. I got stopped in Baton Rouge & the cop asked where we were headed. I told him Indy & he promptly told me I was going the wrong way. Not when you are picking someone up in NO!!! No ticket, this time I was not speeding. I think he was just bored that day.
The quickest way is west on 20 fr Texarkana to Dallas & south on 45 but it is a few miles further. I know 59 looks simplest on a map but those little towns are speed traps but like vossner said, more restful. 59 is not interstate all the way YET, plus they have construction in many places.
Is age a deciding fact in this trip?
This message was edited Aug 24, 2006 9:37 AM
This message was edited Aug 24, 2006 9:38 AM
No, Mom's fear of flying was the deciding factor. =) *giggle snicker snicker*
I'm not so much concerned with the speeding as I am time-consuming stuck behind those cow-trailers. *sigh* it's too late to convince them otherwise...
What worries me most is the Houston traffic. They did not heed my warning, and should hit the city late afternoon (i.e. rush hour), and I already anticipate the growling phone calls about the traffic.
I used to travel quite a bit on 59. Loved the views and sights. It has been quite a few years so it is probably a bit different but I would think it would be a nice drive.
If they're hitting Houston at rush hour, you might want to suggest that they jump off 59 onto Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8) on the north side close to the airport, circle west around town and pick 59 back up on the southwest side of town near Sugarland. It's usually a lot faster, but since they won't have an E-Z tag, that will slow them down at toll booths.
They might think about taking hwy 96 once they get to Lufkin (or thereabouts) and taking it down to I-10. Then when they hit Houston, they can take beltway 8 around to 59 South. 96 does have some small towns to go through, but it's a pretty good road. It's how I go to Missouri to visit my Ma.
I've told them to call me if north of the city looks like traffic, and we'll connect to some radio stations for the "best route". I'd hate to say "get on 8", have there be a HUGE wreck on it, and nobody knew because they didn't listen to the radio. I'm pretty familiar with Houston highways, but wanted to get them to the city as swiftly (& safely) as possible.
When it's me and Houston, I try to get around the city rather than through it. I hate driving in Houston. I can do it, but by the end of the day my jaw is clenched so tight my toes are above my bellybutton. I will admit they have good signs regarding what lane you'll need to be in, but if I can go around, I do.
Brigid, I think maybe you meant 69, not 96??? Hwy 96 doesn't go through Lufkin.
You can get off 59 onto 96 around Teneha and a good portion of 96 is also 4 lane. It will head straight south. There are some stretches that are under construction and some miles that are two lane with passing lanes on hills. They are now trying to make it all 4 lane for evacuation (shudder) purposes. It is definitely scenic. It is a US hwy and considered a 'truck' route. Of course, it will take you thru Pineland, Crowelli. I have spent too many hours on 59 and agree with the small towns. The speed limit averages less there than on 96.
I and my family have always taken 59 from the Corpus area all the way up to Texarkana...the last time was in 97....on my happy way to Boston....and I just remember it as being alot easier to drive....instead of say.....IH35.....
Melanie
good grief batman! would ya'll believe.... at belt 8, instead of calling to ask, they went to the east side of the city instead of west. so, of course, the traffic was horrendous on belt 8 ...
oops!
they're here safely, but what a busy way to drive.
Great, glad they made it safely. Did they do 59, 96, any comments? Besides Houston traffic (ugh)... : 0
59 all the way in from Texarkana to Victoria. (well, north of VCT, actually, but close enough.. don't needta be givin' directions to the house or nuffin')
Thanks all for talking me through it. They are departing tomorrow morning, headed due north on 77 to Fort Worth / Dallas (to visit a friend there), then making it a 3-day total driving trip back to PA. Hurried over 2 days to get here through Memphis & Texarkana, and a different trip home.
Dang! My butt hurts jus' thinkin' 'bout all that ridin'.
It's a beautiful drive; much nicer than 45 in my opinion. Esp. if you like to look at the plants along the way.
The scenery along I45 has to be the ugliest in the 49 contiguous states.
Mom won't fly, so driving it is. I don't anticipate many driving trips to visit me, and that's okay. I do wish they had stayed longer. It's a ton of driving to stay such a short time.