what is Houston's most congested stretch of highway
 

im planning a summer trip to Galveston and Kemah and will have to drive through Houston to get there. Ive never been before but have heard that traffic congestion can be rather bad in Houston. What are some tips and advice and areas I should avoid to alleviate having to be stuck in nightmarish bumper-to-bumper traffic.

It depends where you go and what time. I think the worse stretch of traffice can be found in the Galleria "bottle neck" that is 610 where 610 and 59 merge or 290, 610, & I-10 merge going the other direction.

Meant to add: Rush hour is rush hour otherwise, it's not that bad.

Avoid rush hour at all costs!

I don't think you can avoid Hwy 45 South to get to the places you are going, and do NOT do that stretch after 3 p.m. on weekdays. And if there is an air show at Ellington, do not try the 45 South stretch for a few hrs before the show starts and a few hrs after it is over (I know there is a big air show there in Oct. as I got caught in tnat traffic this past OCt., check online for summer shows) Try to do the entire Houston area freeways at mid-day, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

thanks to all, someone recommended i take the outer loop toll road,..loop 8, i think its called. i was wondering, is this toll set up to where you dont pay an actual person and it takes a pic of your tag and send you a bill in the mail? or the traditional kind where you are expected to pay loose change to someone stationed at the toll booth?

Unless you are driving during rush hours, I would not take the Beltway tollroad ( 8 ) . . Depending on whether you are comming in from the North or West, take I-10 to I45 south to Galveston.

If you are planning to drive during rush hours, change your plans!

Most of the tollroad has manned booths where you can pay cash, but the lines can be very long!

Use this traffic map to find out traffic conditions on the various routes you may plan to use. You can check it a day or two ahead to see what the situation is at about the time you expect to cross the Houston area. You can also access it with a smart phone while you are on the road.

I use it in LA which as you probably know has a reputation for very heavy traffic at certain hours of the day.

http://www.sigalert.com/Map.asp?regi...=-95.44878&z=1

You can avoid most of 45 by taking 288 South to Hwy 6. It's a bit longer but less traffic. Sometimes the traffic on 45 goes past Beltway 8...