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Drives Texas East Texas and the Piney Woods

Highway 147: Zavalla to San Augustine

TX 147 · Zavalla → San Augustine

Leisurely33 mi40 min1,100 ft climbHigh point ≈ 400 ftOne way
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The drive

Highway 147 crosses the heart of the Angelina National Forest and the middle of Sam Rayburn Reservoir, the largest lake entirely within Texas. From Zavalla it heads north-east through pine forest, then runs out over the water on a bridge about a mile and a half long, built after construction began in 1957 so the reservoir wouldn't cut Angelina County off from San Augustine County. The crossing is near Broaddus.

Beyond Broaddus the road rolls on through pine hills to San Augustine, a town that grew up as a crossroads on El Camino Real de los Tejas. Mission Dolores State Historic Site, the site of a Spanish mission founded in 1717, is just south of town. The road itself is nearly straight; the reservoir crossing is the reason to drive it. Recreational Road 255 crosses the dam at the lake's south end, the Sam Rayburn Parkway drive.

Along the way

  1. Zavalla
  2. Broaddus
  3. San Augustine
Elevation
1,100 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 400 ft
ZavallaSan Augustine
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
ZavallaSan Augustine
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Some Forest Service recreation areas around the lake need a day-use pass or hangtag from the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas.
  • Mission Dolores State Historic Site is a short detour just south of San Augustine, on the original line of El Camino Real.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check DriveTexas.

Questions about this drive

How long is Highway 147 from Zavalla to San Augustine?

Highway 147 from Zavalla to San Augustine is 32.6 miles and takes about 40 minutes.

How long is the Highway 147 bridge over Sam Rayburn?

The Highway 147 bridge across Sam Rayburn Reservoir near Broaddus is about 8,050 feet, roughly a mile and a half.

Is Highway 147 twisty?

No. Highway 147 is mostly straight; it's a drive for the reservoir crossing and the pine forest, not the curves.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Highway 147: Zavalla to San Augustine, from Zavalla to San Augustine