Anybody ever make the drive from Dallas to South Padre? How is it? We usually take our summer vacations in Florida or Alabama and do the drive there. But, I just can't seem to get motivated about the drive to Padre. Padre is no Florida Panhandle. I've been to South Padre before, but I flew into Harlingen. Waited too long to book flights on Southwest and now it will be approx $930 for the 3 of us to fly. Our so-called "free vacation" with the in-laws suddenly doesn't seem so free. Any tips about the drive? Have never driven south of San Antonio. So, I have no idea about good places to stop/eat/get sodas/stretch legs south of San Antonio. I have a little one, so we'll have to stop a few times more than likely.

Not sure if it's the fastest way, but I would take 67 to 281 and head due south from there.

Quickest way from SA is IH-37 south to US 77.

BQ is correct that is ONE way, but 281 S to Falfurrias, then take the short cutoff to 77 in Fal and that may be faster. There is very little S of San Antone, fill up just S of SA and you should be good. S. Padre is a fun vacation, as you said, not Florida, but nice.

Be safe driving.

DVM

don't listen to any of these people....


i am from harlingen.

i have never driven directly from dallas but my roomate is from there, and it is about a 3 hour drive from there to BCS, he is coming from lewisville as well.

as far as CS to Harlingen goes you are looking at a 5.5 hour minimum (averaging 70). i take the back roads through snook, sommerville, and brenham and merge onto 77 at la grange. it is a much nicer scenic route and quicker, no traffic or cops. after that take 77 south and at halletsville take alt 77 (as in alternate 77). it will bypass victoria which has a lot of traffic lights and goes right through downtown. merge on to normal 77 again at refugio and take that all the way to Harlingen. if you take or merge on to 281 you will be driving west about 20-30 miles and will have to back track east at some point, so just don't do it. from Harlingen, 77 will take you all the way to South Padre in about 50 minutes.

so again not that i have ever done it but you are looking at

3 from dallas to cs
6 from cs to harlingen
1 from harlingen to south padre

total 10 (with stops and such)
i rounded up for convenience sake.

note* i don't go home much from cs because the 6 hour drive alone is pretty dreadful. when i do it, i usually have to take the rest of the day or night to recover mentally because it is just so boring. so along those lines planning for 10 i would recommend leaving as early as possible and then be prepared to have dinner and go to sleep after.

as far as stops go, you will not see anything until you are in the towns, but out of recommendation i will tell you the more stops you make the longer the drive will be and time adds up quick.

that being said, Somerville has the best steak house i have ever been to, halletsville has great BBQ resturants (you will see all the signs) and a bunch of little shops, goliad is a boring county/town buy has one of the best preserved Texas independence missions in Texas (beats the alamo bar none) and you will drive right in front of it, if you are looking for really cool stuff corpus christi has the USS lexington and a national aquarium that are pretty much right next to each other and very cool, but from then on it will be pretty boring till Harlingen and south padre. Also if you like mexican food feel free to stop anywhere south of refugio. that is pretty much where the real mexican food starts.

[This message has been edited by scottimus (edited 6/18/2010 9:45p).]

I had never considered driving the route that would take me thru College Station. Had just figured on driving to/near San Antonio and picking up 77.

Would the route going thru College Station save me any time vs. the 281/77 route? Or would they pretty much be the same?

i honestly would not be able to tell you, however if you are trying to get to s padre i would just recommend going east and trying to hit 77 as soon as possible. i made the drive with my roommate from lewisville once and we just took 45 to OSR to BCS. no traffic, no signs, no cops; again though, if you hit 281 you are going to have to back track east what ever amount of time you spent going west.

Ever hear of Mapquest?

take 35 to san antonio. 281 to falfurrias, cut over 285 to 77. take to hw 100. Profit.
i am from the valley and have def put some miles on the road(lived in cstat, houston, dallas). thats the quickest way. the cross over is only 22 miles so its not a big deal. If you go down 37, its more of a southeast movement that covers a good bit of ground before actually going south.

3 hours to atx from dallas, another 4.5 to fal. another 2.5 to padre. 10hrs

Honestly. either way you go, its going to take forever, if you dont want to hassle with going through the cities however, i do suggest you just go like you are going to cstat and then just take the back roads. you might be able to cut an hour or so off by traveling the less cop-populated areas.
thats a Long trip i must say. good luck and have fun.

[This message has been edited by AgeofEase08 (edited 6/18/2010 11:41p).]

Listen to scottimus about directions and Stop at Joe Cottons in Robstown for some great bbq its rite off the side of the road on the right hand side driving south.

Take I35 to Waco and get on 77 in Robinson.

I agree with what was said above. Hit 77 asap and you will be good. That ahould be the quickest way to go. Coming through cs i think would be a bit longer. Its a long ass boring drive either way though. We used to go every spring break back in the stone age when the speed limit was 55 and make it from bryan to the island in a little under 8 hours going 21 to 77 if that helps for any reference.

As someone who grew up right outside of brownsville and went to school in los fresnos i will say this. Watch your speed limit like your life depends on it while traveling on 100 through los fresnos.

Now on that note what is all this talk about traveling 281. We used to go to dallas all the time when i was growing up. Your best bet is catching 37, it doesn't take longer.