Houston

By car

Houston's major freeways include:

IH-45 North

"North Freeway": To Dallas

IH-45 South

"Gulf Freeway": To Galveston

IH-10 West

"Katy Freeway": To San Antonio

IH-10 East

"Baytown/East Freeway", not to be confused with "Eastex freeway" to Beaumont

IH-610

"The Loop": Loop around downtown

US-59 South

"Southwest Freeway": to Victoria

US-59 North

"Eastex Freeway": to Lufkin

US-290 West

"Northwest Freeway": to Austin

SH-249 North

"Tomball Parkway": to Tomball

SH-288 South

"South Freeway": to Freeport

SH-225 East

"Pasadena Freeway": to La Porte

BW-8

"The Beltway/Sam Houston Tollway": Loop about twice as far out as IH-610.

Approximate distance to nearby cities in miles:

Austin: 160

Baton Rouge, LA: 270

Beaumont: 90

Dallas: 240

El Paso: 745

Galveston: 50

Lake Charles, LA: 140

New Orleans, LA: 346

San Antonio: 200

Waco: 180

By plane

Houston is served by two major commercial airports and two smaller regional airports.

The large airports are:

George Bush Intercontinental Airport

IATA: IAH (http://iah.houstonairport...). The larger of the two airports and is located 23 miles north of downtown near Beltway 8, between IH-45 North and US-59 North. It is the largest hub for United Airlines and serves 24 domestic and international airlines.

William P. Hobby Airport

IATA: HOU (http://hou.houstonairport...). Located 7 miles south of downtown and is located off of I-45 South. It is convenient if you're travelling downtown or south of the city, such as to Galveston. Its main carrier is Southwest Airlines, and it also served by Delta Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, and AirTran which has been purchased by Southwest and will be absorbed by that carrier in 2012.

The smaller airports are:

Sugar Land Regional Airport

IATA: SGR (http://www.flysgr.com). Located 25 miles southwest of downtown on TX 6, just north of U.S. 59. It is a popular choice among the well-heeled corporate aircraft set.

Ellington Field

IATA: EFD (http://www.fly2houston.co...). Located 19 miles southeast of downtown, just off I-45. Formerly an air force base, now used for general aviation, non-passenger commercial traffic, and government aviation NASA, Texas Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard.