How bad is the commute to Fort Hood from Austin?

I’d be much more concerned about your spouse and the commute between Austin and JBSA. It’s a total Charlie Foxtrot on I-35 going either north or south. As far as the commute from Austin and Ft Hood is concerned, once off I-35 and on SH 195 there is a DPS training center near Florence. I’m sure you can guess where the state troopers get much of their practical experience. Also submitted for your consideration, there are always a number of freshly smushed four-legged Bambi type critters littering the side of the road between Georgetown and Ding Dong (yes, it’s a real place!).

It’s a little known fact in Texas history that the Texas Revolution wasn’t about independence but rather over Santa Anna’s refusal to allocate more funds to widen I-35 between San Antonio and Dallas. Sam Houston started construction on I-35 in 1836 and they’re still not finished.

I have been stationed at both Hood and Ft Sam and I would recommend against your plan and just live separately. If you have to make PT formation, you are leaving before 0400 every day you have that and not home till probably 2000. That gives you at best 8hrs sleep, will you have much of a relationship with that? Live apart and spend weekends or what ever days you have off together, it will be much more meaningful. The drive from San Antonio is not so bad, I still have a house in Belton we used to go back and forth from SA and before I rented it out, it was a nice little get away.

The commute from Copperas Cove and Killeen IS a commute from HELL and it's a lot closer! Road rage IS the norm!...and you're wanting to drive from Austin! You and your spouse have to think of another idea. Your stress level will be off the charts! I'm sure you and your spouse do not want to live apart, but to save your sanity...because Fort Hood, alone, IS insane, you have to think of another plan. Good luck, ma'am. "Welcome to Fort Hood!"