San Antonio to Pardeeville, WI and return

[drjjj]

We are leaving San Antonio, TX on April 28. Going to "gut it out" and go Texarkana, Tx. A couple of days there then on to West Memphis, AR. Two nights there then on to Springfield, IL for close to a week. Then on to Pardeeville, WI for about a week to pick up a pup that has been in training there for several months.
Return trip: Pardeeville to Eagleville, MO; then on to Choctaw, OK; then on to Belton, TX, then home. A couple nights at each stop. If there are any roads I need to avoid I would appreciate advice. Trying to stay on good roads (preferably IH) when I can to avoid problems. TIA.

[Mikendebbie]

“Gut it out” SA to Texarkana. Just curious for how you are timing the trip to get thru Austin without hitting traffic...maybe SH130?

[twindman]

Take I 35 to Des Moines, then I 80 to Davenport and 61 to Dubuque, IA. Not sure where Pardeeville is, but Dubuque to Madison is mostly 4 lane now I think.

[BB_TX]

For Dallas area, I would normally recommend I-35E to I-20 east to I-635 north to I-30 east toward Texarkana. But I-35E thru the Waxahachie area has a lot of construction with narrow lanes with concrete barriers. I would probably still do that as it is only maybe 10 miles or so to have to worry about. And traffic does flow smoothly thru there. The only other IH option would be I-35W to I-20 east to I-635 north to I-30. A little longer. And I don’t know about construction on I-35W as I haven’t been thru there lately. Either way do it mid day or weekends.
Many people prefer to use smaller highways to bypass Dallas to the east. And there will likely be some people well aquatinted with those who will comment and can give you advice on those. But smaller highways thru a lot of small towns is not what I normally choose.

Returning, if you will be coming back down I-35 from OK then take I-35W thru Ft. Worth. Don’t go thru Dallas.

[Wisconsin Retiree]

Here is a link to a current interactive map for current Wisconsin road construction projects

https://projects.511wi.gov

[AZ Traveler]

Johnny,

What breed of pup?

[jeffba]

To bypass Austin and Dallas look at going through Bastrop, and around tyler.

It will take about 15 minutes more. But bad traffic in Austin and Dallas will eat that up.

Haven't pulled our Monty through that yet, but I do not remember anything low on that route

[jeririgged223]

Originally Posted by Mikendebbie

“Gut it out” SA to Texarkana. Just curious for how you are timing the trip to get thru Austin without hitting traffic...maybe SH130?

As an Austin metro resident I'd say ........NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not SH 130.

That is a privately owned TOLL ROAD. From San Antonio to Georgetown in a car runs nearly $70. If you are taking a vehicle and a trailer would cost you an arm, leg and any children you have or had.

I-35 north from San Antonio to Austin is under construction about 80 percent of the way as they are adding lanes, I -35 north around Waco is the same. I'd avoid 35 if at all possible.

You are better off leaving SA, heading east on 10 to the Houston bypass loop out of Katy headed towards Spring and then either continue north thru Nacogdoches OR take 45 to Buffalo and then start heading NE on 79 from there. Both are good drives, good roads. I recommend either route but my preference would be 79 out of Buffalo thru Palestine. More interstate fewer small town slow downs.

Just remember that if you are pulling your trailer gas up at the interstates as you leave and reach them as large stations on the back roads are not readily available..

[Mikelff]

Originally Posted by BB_TX

For Dallas area, I would normally recommend I-35E to I-20 east to I-635 north to I-30 east toward Texarkana. But I-35E thru the Waxahachie area has a lot of construction with narrow lanes with concrete barriers. I would probably still do that as it is only maybe 10 miles or so to have to worry about. And traffic does flow smoothly thru there. The only other IH option would be I-35W to I-20 east to I-635 north to I-30. A little longer. And I don’t know about construction on I-35W as I haven’t been thru there lately. Either way do it mid day or weekends.
Many people prefer to use smaller highways to bypass Dallas to the east. And there will likely be some people well aquatinted with those who will comment and can give you advice on those. But smaller highways thru a lot of small towns is not what I normally choose.

Returning, if you will be coming back down I-35 from OK then take I-35W thru Ft. Worth. Don’t go thru Dallas.

Don’t take I-35 W through the down town area of Ft. Worth! Lots of construction, narrow lanes, and a traffic nightmare . Take 820 around Ft. Worth. Longer, but much easier on the nerves! It’s white knuckle time if you go straight through.

[Mikelff]

Originally Posted by jeririgged223

As an Austin metro resident I'd say ........NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not SH 130.

That is a privately owned TOLL ROAD. From San Antonio to Georgetown in a car runs nearly $70. If you are taking a vehicle and a trailer would cost you an arm, leg and any children you have or had.

I-35 north from San Antonio to Austin is under construction about 80 percent of the way as they are adding lanes, I -35 north around Waco is the same. I'd avoid 35 if at all possible.

You are better off leaving SA, heading east on 10 to the Houston bypass loop out of Katy headed towards Spring and then either continue north thru Nacogdoches OR take 45 to Buffalo and then start heading NE on 79 from there. Both are good drives, good roads. I recommend either route but my preference would be 79 out of Buffalo thru Palestine. More interstate fewer small town slow downs.

Just remember that if you are pulling your trailer gas up at the interstates as you leave and reach them as large stations on the back roads are not readily available..

I’m with you on this route!! Based on where the OP want to go, they are better off avoiding I-35 altogether.
I-35 from Austin to Dallas, including Ft.Worth, are under construction and are traffic nightmares. Last year I was headed to South Padre from Ft. Worth on I-35 and went through Austin on a Sunday late morning and it wasn't any different than 5:00 pm Friday rush hour! It cost me a few bucks but took the toll road back. Saved me over two hours drive time not to mention the white knuckle experience. I use alternate routes these days and try to avoid I-35 when ever I can.

[Mikendebbie]

The TxDot toll calculator shows the costs in the screen shot below to drive the full length of SH 130 from San Antonio (Seguin) to Georgetown. Then you would take IH35 to Waco before you start cross-country. I have not driven IH 35 Waco to Dallas for a while - but others here suggest it is a mess so I believe them. IH35 has been under construction since forever.
It’s not cheap to take SH130 - but going cross-country thru the back roads as suggested above will be very scenic and very slow. The $$ below are calculated for a car pulling a trailer...not sure if it is a dbl axle trailer though.

[drjjj]

For any MOC's following-we have been in Texarkana 4 days. Took IH35 from San Antonio-took the toll road from Buda to Georgetown-then back on 35. Minimal construction and no problems. Arrived in Texarkana earlier than expected. Only negative to report is ALL the Interstates we have been on so far are terribly "bumpy" in the right lane (where I try to stay to prevent "pi**ing off" other drivers) I am sure due to all the heavy 18 wheelers. Toll road definitely worth it. Talked to a traveler before we left who drove from Dallas to San Antonio and said it took him over 9 hours because it took him over 4 hours just to get through the Austin area on 35.

[Mikelff]

Toll road is the way to go if you are committed to using I-35. As far as the right lane goes, you are right about that. If I can travel in the left lane without boxing in traffic behind me I do that, but get over if there is traffic behind me. Center lane if 3+ lanes. Safe travels.

[Mikendebbie]

I decided to revise the toll charge calculation based on 4 axles (first calculation show above was based on 3 axles).
The first screen shot shows the cost to simply bypass Austin (like drjjj did) and
second screen shot shows cost to drive the entire toll road from San Antonio to north of Georgetown.

[BB_TX]

We have been driving I-35 from Dallas to Georgetown on our way to Fredericksburg for 52 years to our hunting cabin. And there has never been a year they were not working on some part of it. BUT. Except for short stretches thru Waco and Waxahachie (they are currently working on both) almost the entire length has been rebuilt and lanes added and in great condition compared to just a few years ago. For many years it ranked up there with the worst.

[Ram Montana High Country]

I lived in SA and now in East Texas on Lake Livingston -

look at: 21 to 84 to 315 to 59 - good highways across central Texas.

[Ram Montana High Country]

we've enjoyed Tom Sawyer Park in West Memphis. right on the Mississippi

[Ram Montana High Country]

Recently made the run from Fredericksburg to Bastrop to Huntsville - all easy running