What back roads from Dallas to Austin?

[Red Baron]

I'm heading to Austin in a few weeks and I was wondering what back roads to get there.
Also what raods to ride while in Austin.
Can anyone help???
Thanks a bunch in advance.

[Richard_]

I don't know which back roads to ride to get from Dallas to Austin.

Some of the top roads in the Austin hill country area are:

1. Lime Creek Road (west of Austin at Lake Travis)
2. 1431 between Cedar Park (which is just N of Austin) and Marble Falls
3. Park Road 4: If you rode 1431 to Marble Falls, then you are close enough to ride Park Road 4 which leads to Inks Lake State Park
4. Willow City Loop - if time permits, this is a very scenic road about 1 to 1.5 hours west of Austin and gives you a taste of some of the hill country back roads
5. Luckenbach, Tx: not a top road, but a top destination. About 1 hour west of Austin. If you haven't been to Luckenbach yet, going once via any of the back roads in the area is always popular. I suggest 290 west from Austin, to 165 west to Blanco, to 1888 west to 1376, 1376 to Luckenbach Town Loop.

Hope you enjoy your visit to Austin.

[M2]

When I got my CBR, Sleepy escorted me to Hico, where I picked up 281 south to San Antonio. You can try that, just scooting off at Austin instead...

Cheers! M2

[Red Baron]

Thanks to both of you.
With the info provided now I can map it out.

[1TallTXn]

When I went down there last I found this route in the Pie run (8 i think) topic. While some of it is rather straight (ie fast) there are a lot of good long sweepers.

Route From Arlington To Marble Falls
Hwy 377 to Granbury
Hwy 144 to Walnut Springs
FM 927 to Iredell
FM 1238 to Cranfills Gap
FM 219 to the southeast
Right on FM 182
Left on Hwy 36
Right on Hwy 84 (Gatesville)
Left on FM 116/FM580
Left on FM 2313
Left on Hwy 190
Right on FM 2657
Right on FM 963
Left on FM 1174
Right on FM 1431 to Marble Falls
(Make a LEFT onto 1431 if you want to go to Austin)
(watch your speed once you get too Lago Vista, the like to watch 1431 in Jonestown and into Cedar Park)

1431 will put you at exit 256 on 35 South or crosses 183 in Cedar Park.

When I took that route down I was averaging over 75mph and it still took me 4hrs to Jonestown, so make sure you are planning for the time.

Oh, enjoy FM927 to Cranfills gap, that's a blast!

[Gilk51]

If you are starting in Arlington (or just about anywhere along I20), skip the I20 to SH377 stuff to get to Granbury and try the following:

take I20 west toward Foat Wuth
take the US287 slab south to Mansfield, exit FM157 (Cooper St.)
right on FM157 to downtown Mansfield (don't blink)
right on FM917 to Egan, turn right to stay on FM917 to Joshua and Godley
FM917 deadends into SH171, left on SH171
right on FM2331
right on FM4
FM4 toward Granbury and US377
left on US377 to Granbury
...continue with above route...

[sharkey]

Chuck, I'll check my maps tonight. We've done it 3X and we ususally take 281 down but we stop and take a kick a** park road, and continue on to some FM road w/ some amazing sweepers that drops you off in Round Rock on I35.

Traveling an average speed, it is around 4-5 hours