Howdy, I'm going on a long tour from Kansas City down to Austin. I've got a decent route as far as Temple, TX, entering that city on highway 317. I was looking for some help with a route into Austin and up to the state capital. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance.

I dunno where 317 is, but this is how we did it.

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.672913&z=11

That's wierd, you ended a few miles from my mother's house, and started about 20 miles from mine.

As to the route, what is shown on the map is probably the best route unless you don't want so many turns. How are you getting to Temple?

That was a really flat, easy route. The year before, we left from Ft Worth and went thru Cleburne to Meridian, Copperas Cove, Marble Falls, Blanco and San Antonio. We didn't stop in Austin.

That's how I drive to SA (except for the Copperas Cove part), it has a lot more hills (if you're into that it's the way to go). Unless you're just a glutton for punishment and feel it necessary to go to Temple for some reason; I would go 217/215 to 84, take 84 west to 116 (skirt the west side of Ft. Hood). After you hit Copperas Cove head SW on 190 to 2657 and take that to 183 which will take you straight into Austin. Once you hit Austin ask some of the locals, they can probably point you to a safe bike rout to the Capital. In my opinion that will be a much more visually appealing rout than through Temple.

I agree, Miles. You probably keep to 281 when you're driving. We more or less paralleled 281 but stayed on on county and farm roads, except when necessary like in Marble Falls. That route takes you through a lot of pretty country and many exotic animal ranches.

I do drive 281 when visiting my parents.

I would defiantly recommend Marble Falls if you have time on your ride but from a direct route stand point it is not necessary.

Get you an inter-library loan through your local library for:
The best bike rides in Texas by White, Andy (Andrew S.)
25 bicycle tours in the Texas Hill Country & West Texas : adventure rides for road and mountain bikes by Ford, Norman D