Laredo to Fort Smith, AR

US-59 all the way to Texarkana, US-71 to FT Smith

 

You will incur out of route and fuel burn trying to avoid I-35. And if you did you had any number of smaller towns.

I would just eat the I-35 and be done with it. With the exception of US75 and US 69 through McAlister for I-40 closer to the line.

 

Agreed. You can take Loop 410 around downtown SA then Toll 130 around Austin. Traffic shouldn't be an issue by the time you get to Dallas.

 

i35 to exit 205 in San Marcos. TX80,, TX21, US77, US79 to Henderson. TX43 to Marshall and pick up US59 in Marshall and then run 59 to Texarkana. Common truck route. Mostly 70mph speed limits.

edit: Just realized the part where you state that you're planning to boogie at 1430. If you're not comfortable running a 2 lane at night, you'd want to stay on the bigger roads. @PacoTaco told you right for the night.

 

Yup 410 and 130 should do the trick.

 

The Tollroad past Austin.

 

I would just muscle through it. There is no easy way around it.