I drive the 290-HWY 21-HWY 190 route from the Houston area to Copperas Cove about 3 times a month or more.
NOT "small" roads. the "smallest" of them is 21 and its only about 35-40 miles and even at that its 2 lanes each way, except for a small patch of construction which brings it to 1 lane each direction. major pathway for anyone heading in the n-s direction. popular route.
Don't avoid it because it isn't "the interstate". I take my E-350 work van that route at all times.
The trip from Copperas Cove (well.. Lampasas) to I-20 is just as "populated", but more elevation change, and more areas of ranchland/farmland surrounding the road (not just open and bare). It is "slightly less" populated than the first half of the trip, but nothing like a "last gas for 200 miles" kind of thing.
TAKE THAT ROUTE. you will enjoy the shorter times, trust me. I average about 300 miles a DAY on my job.
