Spring to Houston: A Flat Friday Forecast

Most of the day this trip takes about half an hour, and even the afternoon peak adds only about five minutes. On a drive this flat, how you get downtown matters more than when you leave.

When to leave

The very early and very late starts are a few minutes quicker, at around 26 minutes. Between 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM it hovers around half an hour, and 4:00 to 5:00 PM is the slowest, though only slightly. You do not need to rearrange your day around this one.

Other ways to go

METRO's Park & Ride buses are built for this commute. Routes 202, 204, 209 and 212 run from Spring-area lots to downtown, using the I‑45 HOV lane, for a Zone 3 fare of $3.75. These are commuter buses: Route 204, from the Spring Park & Ride at Bammel and Carlsway, runs inbound from about 4:45 to 9:00 AM and back out from mid-afternoon, with the last trips around 7:00 PM. There is no midday or weekend service.

Driving with a passenger? Cars with two or more people ride the I‑45 HOV/HOT lane free. Solo drivers can pay a toll outside weekday peak hours; check METRO for current rules.

Parking in downtown Houston

Downtown meters run Monday to Saturday, 7:00 AM-6:00 PM, and are free on Sundays and city holidays. On event nights at Toyota Center or Daikin Park, garage prices jump sharply, which is another reason to prepay or take the Park & Ride.

On the road

The Hardy Toll Road runs parallel to I‑45 from Spring to I‑610 and is worth knowing when I‑45 has a crash. It is cashless, so you need an EZ TAG or a compatible tag. TxDOT's North Houston Highway Improvement Project is rebuilding I‑45 around downtown, so check txdot.gov/nhhip for closures. And in heavy rain, underpasses flood fast; turn around rather than drive through standing water.

Planning another trip? Read Austin to Houston.