jimelissarichardson

Hi there, next month I'll be going to Onalaska, Texas to my mom's and picking up family at Houston Hobby Airport.

My question is which route would be fastest. I-45 thru Huntsville or Hwy 59. Mapquest shows 59, but it looks like the airport is on I-45.

The flight arrives at 2:20pm on a Friday and the trip back will be on Tuesday at 6:30pm all being on Southwest.

Any ideas would be great.
Thanks
Melissa

maryanntex

Are you saying that you'll be driving from Onalaska to Hobby and back on Friday, and then making the same trip on Tuesday? In any case, 59 and 45 converge and then diverge again just south of downtown Houston. You would take 59 south to Houston until it converges with 45, and then you can continue on 45 south to Hobby--the reverse will work, too. Check mapquest again and you'll see.

Rich

The simplest route, since you are close to I-45, would be to take 190 to I-45, and stay on that until you get to Hobby.

It may not be the shortest . .

jimelissarichardson

Thanks,
Yes, Maryann I'll be making the same trip again on Tuesday.

I noticed that both 59 & 45 meet. I wasn't sure as far as the rest of trip goes, would it be better to take 59 for the trip into Houston or 45. I wasn't sure of the traffic on both of the hwys at those times on those days.


So, Rich you think I should just use I-45? Onalaska is pretty much in the middle between I-45 & 59. So, I can go either way.

Is there any construction going on that ya'll know of?

Thanks for the tips,
Melissa

Rich

There is construction on I-10 near both interchanges, but that should not bother you if you stay on either 59 or I45

When I am driving in a area I am not familiar with, I keep the route simple . . If you take I-45, no change. Having said that, the change from 59 to I-35 is clearly marked and not difficult.

Toss a coin!

maryanntex

I, personally, would absolutely take 59 and then get on 45 south of downtown. As you get close to Houston, 45 is an ugly yucky congested highway, and 59 is much better. You just have to watch the signs where the two roads come together--but you have to watch them anyway even if you're just staying on 45 (or 59) all the way.

dfr4848

I also would MUCH prefer the 59/45 route. 59 was totally redone and widened a few years ago and it is a much better highway and less congested than 45. When you're headed south into downtown, take 45 South (toward Galveston) just past the Convention Center. You've got about 3 - 4 exit options for Hobby which are well marked. Then do the reverse coming back north.

jimelissarichardson

Thanks for all the great advice. I'll go 59 to 45.... Thanks again

Melissa

Rich

I do not want to make a meal of this, but I took a friend to the Airport yesterday . . just for grins and giggles, I took I-45 to the airport and 59 back . .

I sure could not see much differerence in the two routes. . .

maria_so

Generally, 45 will be more traffic than 59 will. I'd take 59 too until you get south of downtown then hop over to 45 from there. Having said that, 45 right by the exit to hobby is always a bottle neck also with alot of the freeways merging in to 45 but at least you're not there long before you get off.

rkkwan

US59 north of Downtown is so much nicer than I-45. I-45 is 3 lanes with lots of traffic and no shoulder on the left hand side. US59 is mostly 4 lanes, wide shoulders, and less traffic for most of the day.

And I know this thread is old, but from Onalaska, there's really no comparison. I'll do anything I can to avoid I-45 through Conroe, especially northbound. It narrows from 4 lanes to 2 there, and it's backed up for miles in late afternoon.