Decipher Austin streets

Posted on Apr 22, 2011 in Austin Facts | 0 comments

This is the Bee Cave Road exit in Austin Texas. And yes, you’re right it does not say that anywhere! For those of us who live in Austin, we have all learned it the hard way…..Austin street names often need deciphering.  But you can learn too!

Many of Austin’s streets have several names for the same street, nicknames and wacky street name changes that can be frustrating for newcomers. Here is a list of some of the most common and confusing. Don’t worry if you get turned around or lost at first, promise you will eventually catch on. Safe U-turns however are paramount!

 

Highways

• Mopac Expressway (named after Missouri Pacific Railroad) and Loop 1 are the same thing. Locals call this Mopac. Although no signage says this!

• Capital of Texas Highway and Loop 360 are the same thing.

• Ben White Blvd and Highway 71 are the same thing

• Research Boulevard is the same thing as Interstate 183. At one point however, IH183 is called Anderson Lane and in another section it is called Ed Bluestein.

 

Roads

• Cesar Chavez and 1^st Street are the same thing.

• Dean Keaton is the same as 26^th Street (in the Campus area) and Manor Rd (East of IH35)

• Martin Luther King Boulevard and 19^th Street are the same thing. Locals call it MLK.

• Enfield Road and 15^th Street are the same thing. Mopac exit for 15^th Street only says Enfield.

• Windsor Road and 24^th Street are the same thing. Mopac exit for 24^th Street only says Windsor.

• Ranch Road 2244 is the same thing as Bee Cave Road (sometimes called Bee Caves Road). Mopac’s exit for Bee Cave Rd only says 2244/ Rollingwood/Westlake Hills!

• Spicewood Springs is on the west side of Loop 1 (Mopac). On the east side it is called Anderson Lane.

• When 290 comes into Austin from Houston and hits Interstate 35, it turns into Ranch Road 2222. As it continues west it is also named as E. Koenig, then W. Koenig,  then Allandale Rd., then Northland Rd., then again back to RR2222 as it heads to Lake Travis.

Welcome to navigating Austin! Just hang in there,  you will learn to know Austin like the back of your hand and be proud to call it home.