DH and I are first-timers and planning to rent an RV for 30 days this winter. Cruise America has good rates for 30+ days, so we are considering renting a 30 foot Class C from one of their Houston locations and driving south (maybe S. Padre and Mission). Can anyone give any feedback on either of the Houston rental locations (Hobby vs IAH/Kingwood)? Any route or destination suggestions are also welcome.
If you are not planning on spending any time in Houston and just heading south, I would rent from the Hobby location. It is a relatively short jaunt via Beltway 8 (toll road, but your BEST bet) to Hwy 59 South. Hwy 59 is four lane divided which will take you to Victoria. From Victoria, you can catch Hwy 77 to Mission and the Valley.
ES4Me, DH....and crew!
07 MaxLite 30BHS
06 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, 6.0 L/4.10, 4x4 CC
Equal-i-zer and Prodigy keeping it all in check!
Texas R-Vision Mini-Rally or BUST!!
Guadalupe Valley RV Resort, Kerrville, TX
December 27 - 30, 2007
It depends on which freeway you are taking into Houston, it is a large city. If you are inbound on HWY 59, the Kingwood location is only about a mile of the highway then back on to HWY 59 towards the valley. If inbound on I-45, either location would work but I think the Kingwood location is more convenient.
Craig, Sue, 2 boys
06 F350 DRW Diesel, 04 Cedar Creek 362BBS, 05 Alpenlite 1150 Santa Fe
WendyG wrote: DH and I are first-timers and planning to rent an RV for 30 days this winter. Cruise America has good rates for 30+ days, so we are considering renting a 30 foot Class C from one of their Houston locations and driving south (maybe S. Padre and Mission). Can anyone give any feedback on either of the Houston rental locations (Hobby vs IAH/Kingwood)? Any route or destination suggestions are also welcome.
My wife and I rented a 30ft Class C from CruiseAmerica for 3 weeks this past March.
We used the Pasadena (Hobby) location and were very happy.
Let me know if you need anymore information.
'99 American Eagle 40NS
'04 Dodge Dakota 4x4 Crew Cab Toad
DH
DW
Mister & Emma - Designated Coach Cats
We will arrive on 59. If we rent in Kingwood, we will probably spend a couple nights at Rayford Crossing at Woodlands to get our "feet wet" and see a tiny bit of the area. If we rent at Hobby, I will seek a nice, convenient CG for out first nights.
As out-of-town newbies, we are certainly a bit intimidated by the thought of heavy traffic as our first driving experience. Would either location be easier for beginners?
Though both are busy, I think there'd be a bit less traffic around The Woodlands. However, if you're going into Houston (especially downtown), you'll be closer from the Hobby area.
Having never rented before, I'm not familiar with the terms of rental. My question would be "Do you pay for mileage?" If you do I would rent from the Hobby location because it's much closer to where you want to be. Kingwood is really north where Hobby is much closer to the part of 59 that you want to end up on. With the construction on 59 north of Houston traffic is quite busy in that area. We were out driving in the Kingwood area yesterday afternoon, and I couldn't believe how much the volume of traffic had increased in that area of Houston. It's been 8 years since I've been in Houston and that area was one of the busiest areas that we went to yesterday and we went all over the southwest side of town.
The least traffic approach is the Hobby area, as you can head south on 45 to Beltway 8 west to 59 and avoid all of Houston traffic.
If you are not in a huge hurry, you can also work your way down the coast:
NASA HQ, Galveston Island (Strand then drive SW to Freeport where you are back on the mainland and head for Placios and a nice quiet fishing village with great RV park/Marina and easy walking to good seafood restaurant. Continue south to Port Lavaca which also has a waterfront RV park and Rockport. Then through Corpus Christi and destinations south.
59/77 is the direct route from Houston to the Rio Grande Valley, but ain't much to see on that route.
To get to Port Lavaca, you will have to get off 59 at Victoria and take 87 South. And,I agree with Wolfe10 - 59/77 is the most direct route and there isn't much at all to see on that route as far as "scenery" goes. It is flat and "boring"...unless you aren't from S Texas and consider it "quaint".
However, if you are interested, there is TONS of history. They recently excavated LaSalle's Fort St. Louis here in the Victoria area. One of his ships was discovered in Matagorda Bay and artifacts are on display at the Museum of the Coastal Bend. In Goliad, there is the Presidio La Bahia - very fascinating place and site of a great tragedy in the Texas battle for independence from Mexico. In Berclair you can tour the Berlcair Mansion, Rockport/Fulton area has the Fulton Mansion and a maritime museum. Downtown Victoria is full of old historic mansions. If you have the time, this part of Texas is brimming with very interesting stops. I know I am forgetting quite a few.
We get inundated with people escaping the snow and cold this time of year, so you will probably need to plan the greater majority of your trip ahead of time and not leave your camping spots to chance. Try www.texascampgrounds.com
ES4Me, DH....and crew!
07 MaxLite 30BHS
06 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, 6.0 L/4.10, 4x4 CC
Equal-i-zer and Prodigy keeping it all in check!
Texas R-Vision Mini-Rally or BUST!!
Guadalupe Valley RV Resort, Kerrville, TX
December 27 - 30, 2007
I have the impression that traffic will be interesting no matter which location we select. I'm not surprised to hear that, but I feel better knowing what we face. We will pay 32 cent per mile for the rental, but my bigger concern is our safety and comfort on this first RV experience.
We are not in a hurry; I'll look closely at the coastal route. Are the roads and winds on the strand OK for RV newbies?
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