Driving to Galveston

[nonna5]

Check out the Harbor House. It is walking distance to the port and it is usually about $30 to leave your car there for the entire cruise. Sometime they collect the $30 and sometime they do not. I live in Houston and have stayed there before my cruise about a dozen times. I have only had to pay the parking three times. I think it depends on who is at the front desk.

[Raven Days]

To me driving is not about saving money or to see how quickly we can get there, it is about a more relaxed and interesting trip. We only drive around 6 hours a day and stop for hikes or to see something or to visit with friends/family along the way. Of course it helps that we aren't on a time crunch - when time is short and the drive would be more than half a day you can't beat flying!

 

Yeah...I am just not the drive across country person. I dont have the patience for it. I get antsy driving from SA to Austin and thats only an hour drive! I would LOVE to see that part of the country but unless I can see it from the air it aint happening!

 

But as far as parking in Galveston I use Park N Cruise. They are the nicest people and they are closest to the terminal. Its litterly right across the street.

[xbatt8]

We drove back to Tampa in June for a cruise. We actually had a very good time with the drive.

 

We went to Phoenix the first night, Ft. Stockton Tx. the second night, and Houston the third. We stayed at Choice Hotels all the way (Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Comfort Suites etc.) and did their points specials. We got a few free nights by doing that.

 

We also came back a differnt way than we went. Different scenery helps to keep the trip from being too boring. It also helps that DW was making a photo journal of the trip and took LOTS of pictures of road signs, "welcome to (XYZ state)" signs, and gas price signs.

 

XM radio and a book on CD made the trip go by quickly.

 

Bob

[WriterOnDeck]

Do you mean border with NM? AZ does not border TX.

 

It's not far! El Paso is closer to western NM than eastern NM. Heck, El Paso is closer to LA than to Beaumont, TX.

 

Just sayin.... :)

[WriterOnDeck]

My nephew goes to school in Galveston. I bet he won't charge you ANYTHING to park your car on the campus if you leave him the keys and full tank of gas! :D

 

As others have said, hotel prices in Galveston can very greatly depending on what is going on in town, so check your dates. If too expensive, you can usually find something reasonable in the League City area, which is between Houston and Galveston. There are a lot of newer motels along I-45 in that area. If you get there early, go to the Space Center in Clear Lake or to the boardwalk in Kemah, both in that area.

 

We've parked for free at Galveston hotels and not paid for the shuttle to the pier, but that also may change depending on season and availability.

 

I love cross-country trips, so I say do it! Of course, I would have to take a week just to get through the "nothingness" of West Texas, because I would go to Marfa, Fort Davis, McDonald Observatory, Marathon, Big Bend National Park (float the river), Kerrville and the associated Hill Country, and that is all before getting to San Antonio, Gruene, New Braunfells, etc.... And I could spend 3 days in the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston....

[Ratt]

Sorry you lost me at DRIVING to Galveston from California! Holy Smokes I live in San Antonio and I HATE driving to Galveston! Of course I hate driving anywhere....if there is a plane I will take it. I dont care how much money I save by driving...I am in the end saving my sanity and that is worth so much more!

 

LOL...Reading this thread up to this point I've been thinking to myself "Oh how I would love to drive from CA to Galveston" but then think "oh dear GOD my wife would have a breakdown on the first day".

 

We drive down from the Dallas area to Galveston and it's about 5 hours. I love every minute of it and she hates all but the first 30 minutes. :D

 

Any thing more than 5 hours and there is NO way she is driving.

 

Your comment about the cost also made me laugh. I've asked my wife about driving to CA or to NY and that we could save hundreds if not thousands and she says she doesn't care how much it saves, we are NOT driving. Oh, and we are flying non stop!

 

I just shut the pie hole and go along with the program. :cool:

[FlorenceItaly]

Sorry you lost me at DRIVING to Galveston from California! Holy Smokes I live in San Antonio and I HATE driving to Galveston! Of course I hate driving anywhere....if there is a plane I will take it. I dont care how much money I save by driving...I am in the end saving my sanity and that is worth so much more!

 

 

My thoughts exactly! I live in Oklahoma City and don't like driving to Galveston. In fact, we got such dirt cheap airfare ($199 TOTAL FOR TWO) for Nov., we are flying. The transfers are not cheap, but, we are still ahead.

[GayleR]

I-10 East have a good time

 

El Paso to Houston is the killer segment. That's 12 hours in the car, with a whole lot of nothing between El Paso and San Antonio. Once you hit San Antonio, you might as well keep going and just finish the drive. Texas is an enormous state, and you're going end to end.

 

1/2 of your trip will be spent in Texas! :D Nothing wrong with that!

 

We've parked at EZ cruise and Lighthouse. Both were fine. If I were driving though, I'd stay at the Harbor House in Galveston and ask for a room that faces the water. It's just down from where you board the ship.

[jonbgd]

As someone who has done that drive(actually SFO to IAH) twice within 3 months of each other. IT SUCKS!!!!!!! Actually it isnt that bad but the view does get pretty monotonus:eek:

The only good thing is you can drive 85 on I-10 across parts of Texas and it gets you thru the exciting Texas landscape quicker:rolleyes:

 

Its basically a 24 hour drive..... with breaks and gas stops it is about 27hrs

If you are in no rush you can do it in 4 days

SO CAL to Tuscon

Tuscon to Van Horn TX

Van Horn Tx to San Antonio tx

San Antonio to Galveston

 

If you want to do it in 3days which Ive done(ok I went north to Kingwood)

So Cal to Deming, NM

Deming NM to Kerrville,TX or San Antonio, Tx

Than the last drive to Galveston

 

On the way back do

Galveston to Fort Stockton,TX

Fort Stockton,TX to Tuscon, AZ

Tuscon to home

 

Use Hotwire for hotels or

Join choicehotels or some other rewards group and book directly with the hotel and get points or free stays

 

I dont know how many people is going with you but for 2 people I would check Airfare to HOU with Southwest airlines

I dont know what you drive but with gas prices and hotel prices it isnt going to be cheaper

If your doing it for a road trip than have fun

[cathyz]

There's also a couple Amtrak trains that go from L.A. to places in Texas and to New Orleans. Of course, the cost is more than driving, but sure would be easier on the drivers!

[okwriter]

My thoughts exactly! I live in Oklahoma City and don't like driving to Galveston. In fact, we got such dirt cheap airfare ($199 TOTAL FOR TWO) for Nov., we are flying. The transfers are not cheap, but, we are still ahead.

 

My gal pals and I like driving down there from OKC because we get to make (*ahem*) potty stops at every casino in Oklahoma! :D

[FlorenceItaly]

My gal pals and I like driving down there from OKC because we get to make (*ahem*) potty stops at every casino in Oklahoma! :D

 

gal pals and casinos DOES sound like FUN!!!

[Naomi John]

I'd rather pay the $60 for a week of parking in a secured indoor parking lot then just park in an open parking lot, most likely not secured~ Would hate to come back from a wonderful trip to find something happened to my vehicle~~

 

I do not know of driving from CA to TX. Never done it, sound like fun.

 

I do feel it does not matter if the parking is indoor or not. We parked in the New Orleans Port parking for a cruise in 2009: It's indoor, should be secure, but my parents car was broken into and their GPS was stolen while on a 4 day cruise.

 

I do not want this to indicate a negative for sailing out of New Orleans, just indoor vs outdoor really does not make a difference.

[christyran1228]

We'll be driving from San Antonio to Galveston and as this is our first cruise I'm pretty sure we'll be too freaking excited to sit still for 4 hours. I may have them taking turns running outside of the truck. lol

 

 

We're doing the parking right across the street from the port, too. Seems so convenient not to have to worry about shuttles and all of that, and it's only $40 for indoor, secure parking for a 5-day trip. :)

[fab4cruisers]

we used to live in So. Ca. so we are used to the drive. Depending on where u live if you are closed to the 210 E. fwy take it all the way until it merges into the 10. therefore, you avoided most of the traffic on 10. We drive straight to El paso and spend the nite. From el Paso to San Antonio is a good 7 to 8 hrs you can speed up to 85mph. But be careful because speed drops(learned the hard way) just keep an eye on the speed limit. If you leave early from El Paso its approximately 12 hrs. to Galveston. Hope this will help you. Liked they mentioned before the worst part is El Paso to San Antonio is a long boring trip.

[aggie1]

We are doing just the opposite. We are driving from Richmond,Tx( about 1-1/4 hrs from Galveston) to Monterey, Ca. We do this about every 2 yrs. We are thinking about a different route this yr as getting tired of the other one. We usually drive to Amarillo, then Flagstaff, Pasa Robles, and then to Monterey. Coming back we always go thru Reno (to see SIL), Green? something, Co, Lubbock, Tx (to ck on farm) and then home to richmond. We are thinking this year maybe Albuguerque first night, then somewhere outside Vegas second nite and then on in to Monterey. We have rented a house this year in Pacific Grove so will be staying a month.

As for Galveston, we always park at EZ Cruise Parking. Very secure lot and you drive in they put your luggage on shuttle and drive you and your luggage to terminal. Very easy and you can book on-line for $50 for 7 nite cruise. It is maybe 2 blks from terminal.

Enjoy your cruise and your drive!! If you have any suggestions on routes please let me know. We are very open. All you have to do is hop on I-10 and drive.

[happy cruzer]

Driving to the port is great, driving home is a pain in my opinion. I would avoid a long boring drive home after a cruise. If there is stuff you want to visit, then fine but just hurring to get back home on a long trip is the worst in my opinion.

[Kokopelli2]

OUCH! My post got moved to here. I am glad it was on the main board for awhile though because I was looking for info on the drive more than anything. :)

 

I couldn't find an "I-10" or "desert" category. LOL

 

Thanks for the help everyone!