Alternative routes into and out of downtown are provided below to help you learn the many different routes to get wherever you want to go. The Downtown District issues this information with the assistance of the City's Traffic Management team, and the Special Operations Division of the HPD.

Do you have Jury Duty and want to know the best route or where to drop off someone?
Look for the three asterisks (***) below for special advice on the route and the next paragraph for good drop-off locations. The Harris County web site has a map of the buildings in the Harris County Campus at http://www.justex.net/Map.htm and other information for jurors at http://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/Jury Info/Jury_Info.asp Remember, the Jury Assembly parking garage is on Congress Street between Main and Fannin. On their map that building is marked as "1" and on the left side. You may find it easier to park at one of the surface parking lots in the area-those closer to Minute Maid Park will be cheaper. A few blocks walk can save you money. Be sure to have some $1.00 bills and quarters for the cash box in many of those lots.

If you want to go to Minute Maid Ball Park or the entertainment area in the historic district remember that the Harris County juror area is between the ballpark and the restaurant and bars on the north end of downtown. If you use the routes with the asterisks (for jurors) you will only be a few blocks away. There will be a lot of on-street parking (thanks to the Cotswold project) and surface lot parking.

HINT: One of the seldom-recognized "routes" in Downtown is the freeway "loop" around downtown and inside the I-610 loop. Many new access routes are open to you if you remember that I-10, I-45 and US-59 create a loop. You can enter that loop and quickly travel around downtown to exit at a ramp from one of the other highways or enter the loop and travel around to your highway home. Remembering this loop will give you many alternative combinations. We have identified the most common in the following list.

From I-10 West

***Exit Smith Street to the west side of downtown for the core business district, the theater district and the entertainment venues in the historic district. For Jurors turn left on Texas from Smith, turn left on San Jacinto; turn left on Congress to the Juror Parking Garage entry. If Congress is congested continue to Franklin and turn left to Fannin and turn left to Congress and turn right to find the parking garage entrance on your immediate right.

***Take the McKee Street exit and turn right on McKee that becomes Hamilton and then turn right on Commerce or Congress. This is a great way to get to the Harris County campus for those with jury duty or visiting the courts. To reach the Jury Assembly Parking Garage turn right on Congress and the garage will be on your right immediately after you cross Fannin turn.

Exit Hamilton to the east side of Downtown near the Ballpark. Turn right on Congress and the garage will be on your right immediately after crossing Fannin.

Exit to I-45 and take the McKinney exit or the Dallas/Pierce exit. If you take the Dallas/Pierce exit watch for the sign on the left to Jefferson or continue to Pierce. Either one takes you across downtown to streets going into the heart of the city. Turn on Louisiana or San Jacinto. (both of which have been rebuilt and are now complete!)

To IH 10 West

***Go north on Louisiana to I-10 West. For Jurors take Commerce, Prairie or Texas to Louisiana.

***Go west on Texas, right on Louisiana and left on Prairie that becomes Memorial, right on Westcott, to Washington, Left on I-10 West. Go west on Walker and follow the signs to I-45 North. Merge left and follow the signs to I-10 West. Go west on Pease or St. Joseph Parkway, follow the signs to I-45 North and follow the signs to I-10 West.

***Go east on Franklin, Texas or Rusk, turn left on Chartres and follow the signs to IH 10 West.

From I-10 East

***Exit US59 southbound, take Chenevert exit (be in left-side lane and watch for exit well before you cross I-10) and turn right on Franklin to reach the Harris County area. Turn left on Fannin then right on Congress and the Juror Assembly parking garage entrance on your right.

***Exit San Jacinto/Main and turn left at Main. Immediately after crossing the bridge turn left on Commerce and go one block to Fannin and turn right; go two blocks to Congress and turn right; the Juror Parking Garage is on your right immediately after turning.

Take I-45 South and exit Dallas/Pierce or McKinney. If you exit Dallas/Pierce watch for the sign to Jefferson. Jefferson takes you across downtown. Turn left off Jefferson to Louisiana, Travis, San Jacinto (streets that have been completed), or Travis.

To IH 10 East

Take Commerce, go north on San Jacinto, turn right on Rothwell, and merge left to I-10 East.

Go east on Franklin, Texas, Rusk, Leeland or Jefferson and turn left on Chenevert. Chenevert becomes the ramp to I-10 east. This is the best route from the east side of downtown.

Go east on Franklin, Texas, Rusk or Leeland, and turn left of Chenevert, left on Navigation, left on Jensen, right on I-10 frontage road, merge left to I-10 East.

Go west on Walker, Pease or St Joseph Parkway and follow the signs to I-45 North. Once you are on I-45 stay in the right-hand lanes and follow the signs to I-10 East and Beaumont.

From US-59 South

*** Take the new Polk Street exit and stay on Chartres. From Chartres turn left on Congress. When you cross Fannin the Juror parking garage is on the right immediately after crossing Fannin—be in the right hand lane.

*** Take the new Polk Street exit and turn left at the first traffic signal which is Polk Street taking you past the Convention Center, Hotel and Arena construction sites and continue to the west side of downtown. If your destination is the Harris County campus and the Juror Assembly building turn right from Polk to San Jacinto and continue to Congress and turn left to Juror parking garage on the right after crossing Fannin.

*** Take the new Polk Street exit and stay on Chartres. From Chartres turn left on Capitol, go to San Jacinto and turn right, go to Congress and turn left to Juror parking garage on the right after crossing Fannin.

*** Take the new Polk Street exit and from Chartres turn left on Prairie, go to San Jacinto and turn right, go to Congress and turn left to Juror parking garage on the right after crossing Fannin.

To US-59 South

***Go south on Smith, keep left and follow the signs to Spur 527 and US-59 South. For jurors take Franklin, Congress or Commerce to Smith and after 20+ blocks you will see signs to Spur 527 and US-59 South. Smith was resurfaced in April 2002 and you will find this a fairly quick trip.

To SH-288 and US-59 South

Take Hamilton south to Webster. Webster ends at a ramp to US-59. IF you are going to 288 ; stay in the right-side lanes and follow the signs. If you are staying on US59 merge to the left and follow the signs.

***Go south on LaBranch, left on Webster, right to US-59 South onramp. For jurors take Franklin, Preston, Texas or Rusk to LaBranch, left on Webster, follow the signs right to US-59 and SH-288. Go south on Caroline, left on Webster, right to US 59 South onramp and follow the signs to SH-288.

Go west on Walker, follow the signs to I-45 North, stay in the right-hand lanes, keep right to I-10 East, keep right to US 59 South and follow the signs to S-288.

***Take San Jacinto north across Buffalo Bayou and turn right on Rothwell, merge left to I-10 East. Stay in the right hand lanes and take the ramp US-59 South. Follow the signs to SH-288.

From US-59 North

Exit Lorraine, take Lorraine westbound to Hardy, take Hardy southbound to Downtown.

***Exit Chenevert and turn right on Commerce or Congress to reach the Harris County area. Turn on Congress and watch for the Juror Assembly parking garage entrance on your right after you cross Fannin. Those two streets also take you into the entertainment areas of the historic district.

To US-59 North

Go east on Franklin, left on Navigation, left on Jensen, right on IH-10 frontage road, left on Meadow to US-59 Frontage road, turn right on the frontage road and merge left to US-59 North.

Go east on Franklin, left on Navigation, left on Jensen, right on Lyons, left on US-59 frontage road and merge left to US-59 North.

Go east on Texas, left on Chartres, right on Franklin, left on Navigation, left on Jensen, right on Lyons, left on US-59 Frontage road and merge left to US-59 North.

Go east on Rusk, left on Chartres, right on Franklin, left on Navigation, left on Jensen, right on Lyons, left US-59 Frontage road and merge left to US-59 North.

Go west on Walker, Pease or St. Joseph Parkway, follow the signs to I-45 North, stay in the right hand lanes and follow the signs to I-10 East, follow the signs to US-59 North.

***Go north on Crawford, which becomes Elision Street, turn right on Quit man and follow the signs to US-59 North. For Jurors take Franklin, Preston or Texas to Crawford that becomes Elisian Street, turn right on Quitman and follow the signs to US-59 North.

From 1-45 North

Exit Milam Street to the west side of downtown for the core business district, the theater district and the entertainment venues in the historic district. To reach the Harris County area turn left on Texas from Smith, turn left on San Jacinto, turn left on Congress to the Juror garage entry immediately after you cross Fannin.

***Exit McKinney Street to the core business area. If you are going to the Harris County area turn left on Louisiana, Travis or San Jacinto. From Travis turn right on Franklin or Commerce, turn right on Fannin, turn right on Congress and the Juror parking garage is on your right immediately after the turn. From Louisiana turn right on Texas, left on San Jacinto, left on Congress to the Juror garage entry immediately after you cross Fannin.

Exit Dallas/Pierce to Jefferson and cross the south side of downtown. Jefferson takes you across downtown to streets with no construction underway going and into the heart of the city. Turn left on Louisiana, Travis, San Jacinto or Austin.

From I-45 North

***Go north on Travis and follow the signs to I-45 North. For Jurors leaving the Juror garage take Congress to Travis, turn right on Travis and follow the signs to I-45 North.

Go west on Walker; merge left to I-45 North. For Jurors take Fannin to Walker and turn right. Follow the signs on Walker to I-45 North.

Go west on Pease; merge left to I-45 North.

Go west on St. Joseph Parkway; merge left to I-45 North.

From 1-45 South

***Exit Scott (Follow signs to Downtown Destinations) to Pease or St. Joseph Parkway. If your destination is Harris County turn right on San Jacinto, left on Congress and the Juror Assembly parking garage is on your right as you cross Fannin. This is also a good route to reach the entertainment area in the historic district.

***Exit Scott to Pease or St. Joseph Parkway. If your destination is the theater district or the core business area turn right on Travis or Louisiana.

Exit Scott to Pease; turn right on Dowling; turn left on Capitol or Congress. Take Congress to the Juror Assembly Parking Garage just after you cross Fannin.

To I-45 South

Take any street in downtown going east (toward the GRB Convention Center); turn right on Smith, Milam, Fannin, Caroline, or LaBranch; turn left on Jefferson or Pierce and follow the signs to the I-45 South onramp.

***For Jurors take Franklin or Texas and turn right on La Branch or Caroline to Pierce or Jefferson. Turn left on Pierce or Jefferson and follow the signs to I-45 South.

From SH 288

*** Merge to US-59 North, take the new Polk Street exit and turn left at the first traffic signal which is Polk Street taking you past the Convention Center, Hotel and Arena construction sites and continue to the west side of downtown.

*** Merge to US-59 North, take the new Polk Street exit and stay on Chartres. At the top of the ramp you will be on Chartres so do not turn until you reach Capitol. Turn left to Capitol and , go to San Jacinto, turn right and go to Congress. Watch for the Juror parking garage on the right after crossing Fannin.

*** Merge to US-59 North, take the new Polk Street exit and from Chartres turn left on Prairie, go to San Jacinto and turn right, go to Congress and turn left to Juror parking garage on the right after crossing Fannin. Remember:

 ***Route description contains special advice for Jurors.

Last Update - 2/23/2010
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