Best Alternate Route To San Antonio

U.S. 290 to TX 165 to U.S. 281

We try not to bitch too much about I-35; after all, it's our front yard. But as anyone who's driven to San Antonio knows, the trip plain sucks. What should be a fairly straightforward, hour-or-so trek has become anything but. Between the construction and the monolithic trucks, it's almost impossible to arrive at either destination without literally fuming road rage. So what about those good ol' Texas back roads? The 290 West bit toward Dripping Springs, the first leg of the trip, is a bit crowded, true. But from there, head south on TX 165 and revel in all that's beautiful about Central Texas. Rolling hills, lots of trees, two-lane blacktop and, most importantly, no traffic! Near Blanco, head down U.S. 281 and follow it smoothly into big SA. Ah, isn't that better?