Traveling from Abilene to Rhode Island, Texas, covers a total distance of 251.6 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 28 minutes to complete. Because this route is entirely contained within the Great Plains region, you can expect a consistent landscape throughout the journey. Given the manageable duration, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $38 for fuel to cover the trip in its entirety. It is a straightforward, highway-focused route that prioritizes efficiency over meandering detours, making it a reliable choice for getting from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125.8 miles from Abilene, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
128.2 mi
2h 10m
US 287
50.7 mi
56m
I 45
40.9 mi
40m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
22.6 mi
24m
East Highway 80
5.3 mi
8m
FM 833
1.3 mi
3m
East FM 833
0.9 mi
1m
North 1st Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 128.2 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Abilene, TX and Rhode Island, TX.
1
Start on South Pine Street
259 ft·7 sec·South Pine Street
2
Turn right
361 ft·16 sec
3
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
374 ft·14 sec·South 1st Street
4
Continue on this road
265 ft·13 sec·this road
5
Turn slight right onto South Pine Street
141 ft·3 sec·South Pine Street
6
Turn right onto North 1st Street
0.4 mi·46 sec·North 1st Street
7
Continue on I 20 Bus
5.3 mi·8 min·East Highway 80
8
Take the ramp
363 ft·8 sec
Toward I 20 East: Fort Worth
9
Merge onto I 20
128 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20
23 mi·24 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas, ShreveportUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287
51 mi·56 min·US 287
Exit 444Toward US 287 South: Little Road, WaxahachieUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 45 South: Corsicana
13
Merge onto I 45; US 287
41 mi·40 min·I 45; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 206Toward FM 833Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto North Interstate 45
307 ft·10 sec·North Interstate 45
16
Turn left onto FM 833
1.3 mi·3 min·FM 833
17
At end of road, turn right onto TX 75; FM 833
52 ft·1 sec·North State Highway 75
18
Turn left onto FM 833
0.9 mi·1 min·East FM 833
19
Turn right onto County Road 161
10 ft·0 sec·County Road 161
20
Arrive at destination
County Road 161
Trip Plan
To keep your travel day stress-free, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the 4-hour and 28-minute journey. Since the route relies heavily on major interstates, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before entering the longest 128.2-mile stretch on I-20 to ensure you aren't caught off guard between service points. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential traffic fluctuations on the more congested portions of the highway. Because the total drive time is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your departure to suit your personal schedule. Prioritize maintaining a steady pace, as the high highway percentage makes this an ideal route for efficient, focused driving.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 125.8 miles from Abilene, TX, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 55 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.8 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rhode Island, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Abilene, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Abilene, TX
This is one driving day of about 251.6 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Abilene, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 128.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.1 and 249 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.1 mi into trip|~9m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
134.2 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 East: Dallas, Shreveport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 20 East: Dallas, Shreveport
9
156.8 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 toward US 287 South: Little Road, Waxahachie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 444
Toward US 287 South: Little Road, Waxahachie
5
207.5 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Corsicana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 45 South: Corsicana
7
249 mi into trip|~4h 23m in
Take the exit toward FM 833
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 206
Toward FM 833
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.02 one way
$76.03 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$41.61
$83.23
premium
$4.54
$44.92
$89.84
diesel
$5.61
$55.55
$111.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.5
0
$26.42
$12.08
Efficient EV
62.9
0
$22.01
$10.06
EV Truck/SUV
100.6
1
$35.22
$16.10
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Abilene, TX
Late night
in Abilene on Sunday
Local time
2:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rhode Island, TX
Late night
in Rhode Island on Sunday
Local time
2:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 28m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its high-speed, highway-focused nature, with 90% of the mileage taking place on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of I-20, US-287, and I-45 as you make your way toward your destination. Expect a steady, predictable pace, highlighted by a significant 128.2-mile stretch on I-20 that allows you to settle into a comfortable rhythm behind the wheel. While the route transitions across different interstate systems, the overall feel remains consistent for those accustomed to Texas highway travel. You will find that the road conditions are generally geared toward long-distance efficiency rather than technical or winding terrain.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.2 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in near I 20.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 251.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.2 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.8 miles (US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Abilene, TX and Rhode Island, TX, road signs point toward Shreveport and Waxahachie.
Rhode Island (RI) is the smallest state of the United States of America, tucked between Massachusetts and Connecticut in New England. Nonetheless, it has over 400 mi (640 km) of coastline, courtesy of Narragansett Bay and islands such as Aquidneck Island, home to Newport, the "City by the Sea". While Rhode Island contains the name "island" in its name, most of its area is not on an island.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 251.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 128.2 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Rhode Island, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.2 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.8 miles (US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Rhode Island, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
