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Skiprr wrote: The route on 99 (the Grand Parkway) and the I-10 managed lanes assume the OP has an EZ Tag or TxTag, which he didn't indicate he did. There are no manual toll booths on either, and they can't be used without an automated tag. Mucho notices, bills, and probably extra fines will be in the mail to the registered owner of the license plate that goes through those toll sensors without a tag.

Good point - no toll tag would make these routes no good. Some folks in McClennan County (where the OP is from) may have TxTag, which does work well in the EZ Tag roads also - so if he has one, then all is OK.

Skiprr wrote:
I'd say you have two choices.

Option 1: take 290 to Beltway 8, then the Beltway south to I-10.

Option Two: exit 290 at Highway 6 southbound; travel 9 1/4 miles south to I-10 and climb on eastbound.

Or Option 3: Take 290 to 99, then south to I-10. Turn east on I-10, and use the HOV as soon as you can (if you have 2 or more people in the car), and then take the managed lanes as soon as you can, even if you're not HOV. Managed lanes = there are tollbooths, but if you're HOV, you don't have to pay.

Bottom line is this: get to I-10 when and where you can - the sooner, the better. Check the links I've added to all three options above to see what they look like.

They've done a good job on I-10, and it usually moves better than you'd expect.