Step sister-in law graduates Air Force basic on Friday. My inlaws are staying with me in College Station tonight and will be driving down in the morning for some pre-grad ceremonies. We will follow later in the day.

Best I can tell, it's 35 to the 410W loop. Take exit 4 to Airman's Gate. Google maps shows some construction on the loop. Estimates a 3:15 drive.

Question for locals - they will be leaving here around 4 AM. Have to be in their seats by 0800. What time does traffic start to become a problem? Any knowledge of this construction zone near exit 4? TIA for any info y'all have.

I would take 21 to either 130 or 304 to I-10. I-10 will turn into US-90 and take you straight there. 10/90 west has relatively light traffic. You never know how 35 will be.

I agree. I used to live in Seguin and commute to Lackland, and I also once lived in Schertz and commuted to Kelly. The longer (distance-wise) commute from Seguin (via I-10/90) took about the same time as the shorter Schertz-Kelly commute via 35.

Take 21 to 304 in Bastrop to I-10 to Hwy 90 West (stay on 90 toward Del Rio when I-10 splits off to the north into downtown San Antonio). Exit Military Drive and take a left. Visitor center is at (I believe) the second gate on the left. Leave time to process thru the visitor center (unless base passes are already provided? I'm ignorant as to the graduation procedures, but I know the visitor center is a nightmare on any weekday morning...)

If they really want to haul butt, they could go to the toll road (Hwy 130) and take that to I-10 to save a few minutes.

sorry, just saw your last question:

I'm not really familiar with "Airman's Gate" but I have to assume that exit 4 off of Loop 410 is the Valley Hi exit and "Airman's Gate" is the correct name for what I call the "Valley Hi gate?"

If that's the case, and they don't need to go to the visitor center, then stay on Hwy 90 W until they can get on Loop 410 South and Valley High exit should be the first exit they come to, and presumably the "Airman's Gate" is there. No knowledge of any construction, it must be on the access road, and you shouldn't have any traffic issues (except at the gate) at that time of the morning on those highways. There might be a slowdown at I-10 and Foster Road and maybe another at the I-10/Hwy 90 split, but they'll be pretty minor.

Appreciate it!

I believe 21 at Neiderwald or Uhland is still closed, so you don't want to go all the way to I-35.

As others have said, either take 304 our of Bastrop or Tx 130 at Mustang Ridge (hey, they can go 85 mph on TX 130) down to I-10 and come in from the East.

The secret route is to go 21 to bastrop, go south on 20, then take a left on 86 in Bateman which intersects 183 in Luling...go through town which turns into 80 an then intersects I10 a few miles south of Luling.

I used to make great time going this route in college. Careful with the little old men hauling hay at 5mph on 86 though.

Little to no traffic and you can save ~20 minutes.

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Careful with the little old men hauling hay at 5mph on 86 though.

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This is why I stopped going that route. Would get stuck behind some slow driver and there aren't great places to pass.

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The secret route is to go 21 to bastrop, go south on 20, then take a left on 86 in Bateman which intersects 183 in Luling...go through town which turns into 80 an then intersects I10 a few miles south of Luling.

I used to make great time going this route in college. Careful with the little old men hauling hay at 5mph on 86 though.

Little to no traffic and you can save ~20 minutes.

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This is my usual route

It's not too bad if you are eating a BBQ sandwhich from the Luling City Market.

If you're gonna take it that way - where should we eat on the west side? Staying off the 410W loop at a courtyard near Lackland.

There is good Mediterranean, Mexican burgers, seafood, Indian, Chinese, BBQ etc. there...what are you looking for?

Salt grass and a Texas Roadhouse within walking distance too.

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There is good Mediterranean, Mexican burgers, seafood, Indian, Chinese, BBQ etc. there...what are you looking for?

Salt grass and a Texas Roadhouse within walking distance too.

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Only there a couple of days, but I will take reccos for Mexican, bbq, burgers and Thai if you have them. And if there's a gotta try it pizza place, easy to please all with that too.

Burgers:
Chris Madrids - local favorite
Chunky's Burgers - was on man vs food for their ghost burger.

BBQ:
The Rusty Bucket - close to Lackland

Mexican
Don Pedro - on SW military dr...so you can experience puro SA.
Mi Tierra - local and tourist favorite.

Thai
Thai Taste - on Evers, its good, not great.

Pizza
Dough Pizzeria, I have heard good things

I'm sure others will chime in.

.head to the pearl

La Gloria (street Mexican) is a good place and there is a location at the Pearl.

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.head to the pearl

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The Pearl?

Again, many thanks!

The Pearl

http://www.atpearl.com

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Careful with the little old men hauling hay at 5mph on 86 though.

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This is why I stopped going that route. Would get stuck behind some slow driver and there aren't great places to pass.

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I stopped travelling this route for that reason an because 86 has gotten pretty rough in a 3/4 ton.

Make sure they don't need a visitor pass. My old company used to call on lack land and we did no sales calls th and fr because of the visitor line.

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I believe 21 at Neiderwald or Uhland is still closed, so you don't want to go all the way to I-35.

As others have said, either take 304 our of Bastrop or Tx 130 at Mustang Ridge (hey, they can go 85 mph on TX 130) down to I-10 and come in from the East.

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It's not closed but avoid it anyway.

Do all you can to avoid 35 at that time in the morning