Quickest route from Austin to Houston, anyone?

My sister and brother-in-law are going be spending most of next week shuttling between Austin and Houston to watch their children play in the Jr. Olympics (volleyball) and a few other tournaments... Looks like, on Yahoo!, it's a 3-1/2 hour drive via 71 and 10 (90)?. What's up with 290? Are there any easier ways to get between the two cities?

Any suggestions about travel, or weather, or generally helpful ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks!

What part of Austin are they coming into? Either way works fine.

Edit - Hwy 290 is more direct, but goes through a few small towns, meaning you'll have to slow a bit, possibly stop. The Hwy. 71 route is a tad better, but not stop-free either.

I went to TO Houston using Hwy 71 last week, and came home via Hwy 290 due to where I wanted to get in Houston when I arrived, and where I was leaving from.

They often do, I figured it'd be best to talk to a resident. I'm not sure where they'll be in either city, my sister was completely frazzled tonight and is going to check out the hotel/competition locations later... I imagine, with both big cities, location can easily add another 1/2 hr. or so.

Any place that stand out in either city that would host the Jr. Olympics? One of my nieces will be at the Doubletree SUites Galleria in Houston so I'm assuming that's pretty close to the competition venue (last year they were in Atlanta, and played right smack downtown at the CNN Center (or whatever it's called) and they stayed about 10 miles away... seems like big sports venues are often in kinda seedy areas.

is BOUND to be nice. There's a little construction going on around 610 and Westheimer, but nothing monumental. Inconvenient though.

If they are staying near the Galleria, I recommend taking the I-10 route. It's easier to get out of town that way. Using 290, you have to all the way through Houston and THEN you leave town. They would come into Austin near the Airport. The Hwy 71/IH35 intersection is under construction, but it's just got long stop light waits. They would be south of Austin's downtown.

I use the I-10 route. The roads are better and I usually make the trip in less than three hours.

Have fun.