Are you in a rental car? Many of the car rental agencies rip you off on tolls. On the Dallas system, it’s all automated and you don’t have an option of throwing money into a basket. Some of the Houston toll booths take cash, some don’t last time I checked. On the booths that do take cash, it’s more expensive than a tag.
To answer your question, I find the Sam Houston beltway well worth the cost. You can use the free interstates as an alternative (45, 610, Southwest Freeway) but if you aren’t used to big city traffic, it can be risky. On a cash basis, it’s going to be 3 or 4 booths at $1.75 a pop to go 45, SHT, SW Fwy. (avoid the Hardy toll road - it never made any sense to me).
Ignore my comment about Southwest Freeway - you are going southeast, not southwest from Bush airport. Been a while since I’ve been to Houston.
Here’s a link to toll info:
https://www.hctra.org/tollroads_rates/
Thanks. I’ll probably just follow the toll roads.
On the other hand, I am renting a car. So swappin’ some paint is OK by me. I mean, how bad can the traffic be in downtown Houston at 5pm?
The Hardy south, I agree with you.. but, Northbound?? It's SAVED me... several times.
Also very good if you're going to the Woodlands at rush hour.