Aviation photo op this weekend - driving advice needed

[futurshox]

Hi,

This weekend (Fri/Sat) is the EAA Regional Fly-in at Hondo, west of San Antonio. For anyone interested in general aviation/homebuilt aircraft/microlights/gyroplanes/wierd and wonderful flying machines, this is not to be missed! Details here. It's basically a mini-Oshkosh. I went four years ago and there were upwards of 700 aircraft there.

Now, I want to drive down there on Friday from Buda, just south of Austin. My sister-in-law is flying in from the UK on Friday night, so I have to be back in some sort of sensible time to see her.

Here's where Google thinks I should go, and you'll notice it routes me right through the middle of San Antonio. Being as I want to spend the day down there, this means I'd be driving through the city in rush hour traffic. Would I be a complete fool to attempt this?

Should I go round the ring road instead of through the middle? Or should I go right around on Highway 46 (like this)?

Any advice gratefully appreciated! Thanks :-)

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

If memory serves me right 46 is a good road and I do know that 16 is a 70mph road without many things to slow you down between 46 and 173 that runs down to Hondo, and you do get into the hill country so the scenery is nice through there though at times the road can be curvey.

I think your idea of staying out of SA is a good one with just all the Traffic on I-35 merging with I-10 in town.

Man I wish I wasn't on crutches because this sounds like it could be one great short road trip.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by futurshox

Hi,

This weekend (Fri/Sat) is the EAA Regional Fly-in at Hondo, west of San Antonio. For anyone interested in general aviation/homebuilt aircraft/microlights/gyroplanes/wierd and wonderful flying machines, this is not to be missed! Details here. It's basically a mini-Oshkosh. I went four years ago and there were upwards of 700 aircraft there.

Now, I want to drive down there on Friday from Buda, just south of Austin. My sister-in-law is flying in from the UK on Friday night, so I have to be back in some sort of sensible time to see her.

Here's where Google thinks I should go, and you'll notice it routes me right through the middle of San Antonio. Being as I want to spend the day down there, this means I'd be driving through the city in rush hour traffic. Would I be a complete fool to attempt this?

Should I go round the ring road instead of through the middle? Or should I go right around on Highway 46 (like this)?

Any advice gratefully appreciated! Thanks :-)

I would avoid SA completely and from Austin take a route through Fredricksburg, Kerrville, Bandera and right into Hondo.

Get a copy of "The Roads of Texas" and cruise the Blue Highways.

[Cerbera LM]

Thanks for the link, I'm putting that on my list of things to do.

Didn't say when you were leaving but if you're leaving by 6 I'd take the google route right thru downtown that'll put you past downtown by 7 easy. Best way to make time is to get on the superslab and put the hammer down. Coming back I'd take the Stovall route. SA traffic will be worse Friday afternoon then early in the morning. If you're leaving later then 6:30a then take back roads. Have a Roads of Texas map, well worth the money.

[Coelus]

Let me know if the sign in Hondo is still there that says "This is God's country. Please don't drive through it like Hell." I always loved driving through there as a kid ans seeing that sign.

[futurshox]

Many thanks for the replies. I will definitely get hold of one of those map books, that sounds like a good thing.

I'll see what time I leave on Friday morning - I fear my Jeep doesn't have quite as heavy a hammer as a Cerbera so it's probably the back roads for me! I do like the back roads around here though, 70mph, virtually empty and much prettier than I-35.

I'll keep an eye out for that sign, I'd like to see it myself! Will report back :-)

[futurshox]

Reporting back as promised - the sign is still there, just as you said! Couldn't stop for a photo as it's on the main road in but it was nice to see.

The fly-in was good too :-)