US-281

US-281 travels from Brownsville, Texas to the International Peace Garden in North Dakota. 

From our perspective, it travels from Hico, Texas to San Antonio. Those 179 miles or so are the backbone of the "back way" from Dallas to San Antonio (and west to D'Hanis.) 

Once you tire of fighting your way up and down I-35, this is probably the best alternative. You can take US-67 out of Dallas, and then take Texas 220 into Hico to US-281. (TX 220 was a shortcut to avoid having to go all the way to Stephenville before turning south.)

So, we only drove 179 of the 1,875 miles of the highway, but it was a significant portion of the Dallas to D'Hanis run. 

Two key places to visit: Dutchman's Hidden Valley, for sandwiches and treats - I discovered it while I was doing laps to and from college - and the famous Blue Bonnet Cafe for pies. We visited the first time when we were in a B&B in Marble Falls during a Hill Country vacation.