U.S. Route 181
Encyclopedia
U.S. Highway 181, a north–south route, is one of many intrastate United States Highways in the United States
. It lies completely within the state of Texas
, and both termini are at Interstate 37
, the road that it mainly parallels to the east. US 181 begins in Corpus Christi, Texas
at mile marker 0 to the south, through south-central Texas to just south of San Antonio
to the north (mile marker 131), for a total length of 137 miles (220 km).
The highway's northern terminus is at an intersection with Interstate 37 a mile (1.6 km) south of San Antonio, Texas
' Interstate 410
loop, about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Floresville
. Prior to the Interstate era, US 181 traveled into downtown San Antonio along Presa St. to an intersection with its parent route, US 81, which then ran along Alamo St.
Its southern terminus is in Corpus Christi, Texas
at Interstate 37
near the Gulf of Mexico
. In fact, I-37 and US 181 share termini such that traffic traveling southbound on I-37 will automatically merge onto northbound US 181, and vice versa.
Proceeding northbound, US 181 runs through the following Texas counties: Nueces, San Patricio, Bee, Karnes, Wilson, and Bexar. At its southern terminus with Interstate 37 in Corpus Christi, TX, US 181 traverses as a freeway in the northeast direction across Harbor Bridge and the Nueces Bay Causeway, before entering Portland, TX. Past the Nueces Bay Causeway through Portland, US 181 shares a duplex with Texas State Highway 35.
Immediately after Portland is Gregory, where US 181 and TX 35 splits, and the freeway portion of US 181 ends. SH 35 proceeds eastbound to Aransas Pass and Rockport while US 181 proceeds northwest towards Taft and Sinton. US 181 shares a duplex with SH 188 and US 77 business in Sinton, and makes a right turn at San Patricio Street, proceeding northbound.
North of Sinton, US 181 passes through the towns of St. Paul, Papalote, and Skidmore, before reaching Beeville. US 181 business runs through downtown Beeville while drivers passing by can use the US 181 freeway bypass on the east side of town. In Beeville, US 181 intersects with US 59 (northbound to Victoria/Houston & southbound to Laredo).
North of Beeville US 181 passes through a number of unincorporated towns including Normanna, Pettus, and Tuleta before reaching Kenedy. US 181 business serves downtown while US 181 runs on the west side of town. Immediately north of Kenedy is Karnes City, where US 181 business runs parallel again east of US 181 through Karnes City.
North of Karnes City US 181 passes through Hobson (unincorporated), followed by Falls City, Poth, and Floresville. US 181 business runs west of US 181 through downtown Floresville.
North of Floresville US 181 passes through the city limits of Elmendorf before intersection with State Loop 1604 (Anderson Loop, surrounding San Antonio), and ends 8 miles north at its northern terminus at I-37, just south of I-37 and I-410.
, Kenedy
, and Karnes City
. The routes are previous alignments of US 181 through these cities, and were previously designated in the state highway system with other route numbers. The designations were changed to Business US 181 by TxDOT in 1991.
Although not officially concurrent with SH 72, the signage in the area directs traffic from one segment to the other, effectively completing the loop.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It lies completely within the state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and both termini are at Interstate 37
Interstate 37
Interstate 37 is a intrastate Interstate Highway located within the U.S. state of Texas. The highway was first designated in 1959 as a route between Corpus Christi and San Antonio. Construction in the urban areas of Corpus Christi and San Antonio began in the 1960s and the segments of the...
, the road that it mainly parallels to the east. US 181 begins in Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
at mile marker 0 to the south, through south-central Texas to just south of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
to the north (mile marker 131), for a total length of 137 miles (220 km).
The highway's northern terminus is at an intersection with Interstate 37 a mile (1.6 km) south of San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
' Interstate 410
Interstate 410
Interstate 410 is a loop route of Interstate 10 around San Antonio, Texas. It is identified as Connally Loop in honor of former Texas governor John Connally...
loop, about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Floresville
Floresville, Texas
Floresville is a city in Wilson County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,868 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wilson County. The city is also part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Prior to the Interstate era, US 181 traveled into downtown San Antonio along Presa St. to an intersection with its parent route, US 81, which then ran along Alamo St.
Its southern terminus is in Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
at Interstate 37
Interstate 37
Interstate 37 is a intrastate Interstate Highway located within the U.S. state of Texas. The highway was first designated in 1959 as a route between Corpus Christi and San Antonio. Construction in the urban areas of Corpus Christi and San Antonio began in the 1960s and the segments of the...
near the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. In fact, I-37 and US 181 share termini such that traffic traveling southbound on I-37 will automatically merge onto northbound US 181, and vice versa.
Route description
Immediately after Portland is Gregory, where US 181 and TX 35 splits, and the freeway portion of US 181 ends. SH 35 proceeds eastbound to Aransas Pass and Rockport while US 181 proceeds northwest towards Taft and Sinton. US 181 shares a duplex with SH 188 and US 77 business in Sinton, and makes a right turn at San Patricio Street, proceeding northbound.
North of Sinton, US 181 passes through the towns of St. Paul, Papalote, and Skidmore, before reaching Beeville. US 181 business runs through downtown Beeville while drivers passing by can use the US 181 freeway bypass on the east side of town. In Beeville, US 181 intersects with US 59 (northbound to Victoria/Houston & southbound to Laredo).
North of Beeville US 181 passes through a number of unincorporated towns including Normanna, Pettus, and Tuleta before reaching Kenedy. US 181 business serves downtown while US 181 runs on the west side of town. Immediately north of Kenedy is Karnes City, where US 181 business runs parallel again east of US 181 through Karnes City.
North of Karnes City US 181 passes through Hobson (unincorporated), followed by Falls City, Poth, and Floresville. US 181 business runs west of US 181 through downtown Floresville.
North of Floresville US 181 passes through the city limits of Elmendorf before intersection with State Loop 1604 (Anderson Loop, surrounding San Antonio), and ends 8 miles north at its northern terminus at I-37, just south of I-37 and I-410.
Major intersections
Auxiliary routes
US 181 has business routes in BeevilleBeeville, Texas
Beeville is a city in Bee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,129 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bee County...
, Kenedy
Kenedy, Texas
Kenedy is a city in Karnes County, Texas, United States, named for Mifflin Kenedy, who bought and wanted to develop a new town that would carry his name...
, and Karnes City
Karnes City, Texas
Karnes City is a city in Karnes County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,457 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Karnes County. The town was named after Henry Karnes of the Texas Revolution. Karnes is some twenty-five miles south of Floresville on U.S...
. The routes are previous alignments of US 181 through these cities, and were previously designated in the state highway system with other route numbers. The designations were changed to Business US 181 by TxDOT in 1991.
Beeville business route
Business US 181 in Beeville travels through central Beeville while mainline US 181 uses a freeway bypass to the east of the city. It is officially designated by TxDOT as Business US 181-J, and was formerly Loop 516.Kenedy business route
Business US 181 in Kenedy travels through central Kenedy while mainline US 181 passes to the west of the city. It is officially inventoried by TxDOT as two separate routes, with a discontinuity at .- The southern segment, from US 181 northward to SH 72, is designated as Business US 181-G, and was formerly Spur 259.
- The northern segment, from SH 72 northward to US 181, is designated as Business US 181-F, and was formerly Spur 258.
Although not officially concurrent with SH 72, the signage in the area directs traffic from one segment to the other, effectively completing the loop.
Karnes City business route
Business US 181 in Karnes City travels northward and then westward through central Karnes City while mainline US 181 skirts the southwestern edge of the city. It is officially inventoried by TxDOT as two separate routes, which connect at the intersection with in the east side of the city.- The southern segment, from US 181 northward to SH 80/123, is designated as Business US 181-E. The route was previously part of SH 80, but it still signed as SH 80/123 to facilitate access to SH 80/123 for traffic from northbound US 181.
- The northern segment, from SH 80/123 westward to US 181, is designated as Business US 181-D. The route was previously part of .
Related routes
- U.S. Highway 81
- U.S. Highway 281
- Interstate 37