South Houston extends down I-45 from downtown Houston, passing by the 610 Loop, Beltway 8 and beyond, past Pearland, Friendswood and beyond to Galveston. Most of south Houston is contained inside Beltway 8, where there are many older neighborhoods and the city’s energy-focused economic core are located.
Highway 90, also Wayside Dr., is inside the 610 Loop, but still several miles from downtown and is considered a major boundary between central and south Houston. The University of Houston is just to the west and the Gulfgate and Pine Valley neighborhoods are located nearby. MacGregor Park and Brays Bayou also run next to Wayside Dr. and are popular spots for Houstonians seeking a bit of nature. East Downtown is just to the north and is one of the city’s epicenters for trendy restaurants and nightlife, along with chic lofts and shops.
Telephone Rd. splits off I-45 south and crosses over the south side of the 610 Loop, so it’s well south of the city’s center. The William P. Hobby Airport sits just off Telephone Rd. and drives a lot of the area’s business activity. Belfort Ave., just north of the airport, is a hotspot for restaurants looking to serve people flying in or out of Houston. There are also several bustling neighborhoods in the area, including Meadowbrook, Park Place, Glenbrook Valley, Brookhaven and the Greater Hobby Area.
Just before passing through the I-45/610 Loop exchange, you will travel past Fuqua St., one of the last major crossroads before leaving the southwest side of the city. With its close proximity to both I-45 and I-610, Fuqua St. receives a lot of traffic from people coming to the area for entertainment, shopping and dining. You will find the Alameda Mall here, along with several parks and hotels, and there is never a shortage of people exploring south Houston’s great restaurants that can be found here.
