Need a bike route from houston to galveston

[MikeIsOrganic]

some buddies and myself were thinking of biking out to galveston for a day. anyone know any good routes from downtown houston?

[scattered73]

Scratch crossing the causeway on 45 I don't think there is shoulder. Though I have ridden the ferry from galveston to Bolivar Peninsula via bicycle no problems they make you walk it it on so you don't wait in line. According to yahoo maps there is a bridge on the west end of galveston called san luis pass rd/3005 don't know if you can cross via bike I have never been on this bridge.

[bluebottle1]

According to yahoo maps there is a bridge on the west end of galveston called san luis pass rd/3005 don't know if you can cross via bike I have never been on this bridge.

No shoulder on that one, either, as I recall. It used to be a toll bridge ($1 in each direction). It's not all that heavily trafficked but it would likely get uncomfortable if automotive traffic approached from behind.

[Bluechip]

I did an organized ride from Houston to Galveston maybe 10 years ago that turned into a big mess. We were supposed to be able to cross the 45 causeway but as the early groups got there they told us the permits and support were not there. We were turned away. We waited for a while as more and more bikes showed up but still a no go. I finally just decided to head home. Later I saw on the news that it was finally opened up to the riders in small groups.

[McDave]

I wouldn't be afraid to cross the San Luis Pass bridge. It's still a $2 toll bridge but it's not that long and it's level so you wouldn't be holding up what little traffic there is for long. It, and the Blue Water Hwy (2 lanes no shoulders) leading to the bridge only get busy on holiday weekends.

288 south out of Houston to Lake Jackson is a nice wide divided road with shoulders. Then on down 332 to Surfside beach, then left on the Blue Water Hwy for about 10 miles. Once you cross the bridge the road has good shoulders again all the way into Galveston.

If you go this weekend, stop on the beach on the North side of San Luis Pass and check out the kite buggys running up and down the beach. There's going to be about 30 of us out there. :D

Edit 5/15: I drove down 288 from Houston that weekend with biking in mind and would not recommend it. It's more freeway now than I remembered it and what shoulders there are are generally in poor condition. If still intent on making the trip from Houston to Gal. I would explore the road conditions on the North side of the ship channel leading to the ferry as mentioned in another post above. I've never been that way before so can't help you there.