Trip from Cotulla, TX to Rhode Island, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 13m

Distance

345.3 mi

556 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

6h 1m ★

6 AM

6h 14m

8 AM

6h 39m

10 AM

6h 22m

12 PM

6h 20m

3 PM

6h 24m

5 PM

6h 38m

8 PM

6h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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city in and the county seat of La Salle County, Texas, United States

Cotulla, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Rhode Island, TX

Beth Fitzpatrick

Trip Overview

This 345.3-mile journey from Cotulla, TX to Rhode Island, TX is manageable as a single-day trip, estimated to take around 6 hours and 13 minutes. The drive primarily utilizes the Purple Heart Trail, State Highway 31, and the South Pan Am Expressway, with about 28% of the route on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $52, this drive offers a straightforward option for crossing the Great Plains region of Texas. You'll experience a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, so be prepared for frequent directional changes. This route is best suited for those looking for a direct, no-frills transit through the state.

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

172.7 miles from Cotulla, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 5m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	231.3 mi	4h 1m
State Highway 31	35.8 mi	38m
South Pan Am Expressway	21.5 mi	26m
I 45	19.8 mi	19m
North Pan Am Expressway	7.4 mi	8m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway	6 mi	6m
Corsicana Bypass	5.5 mi	6m
Hubbard Bypass	5.3 mi	5m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 231.3 mi, about 4h 1m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 104 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~3,365 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~568 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.9×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cotulla, TX and Rhode Island, TX.

Start on TX 97

49 ft · 5 sec · Tilden Street

Turn right onto I 35 Bus

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Turn slight right onto I 35 Bus

0.1 mi · 12 sec · I 35 Bus

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Merge onto I 35

76 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

9.3 mi · 11 min · South Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35

10 mi · 13 min · South Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway

7.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 35: Austin Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

1.9 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

48 mi · 52 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290

96 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.0 mi · 6 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec

Exit 338 Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway

0.3 mi · 30 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Turn right onto US 84

0.3 mi · 52 sec · East Waco Drive

Continue on US 84

2.6 mi · 4 min · Bellmead Drive

Continue on US 84

2.7 mi · 3 min · East US Highway 84

Continue on TX 31

17 mi · 17 min · State Highway 31

Continue on TX 31

5.3 mi · 5 min · Hubbard Bypass

Continue on TX 31

19 mi · 21 min · State Highway 31

Turn right onto TX 31

5.5 mi · 6 min · Corsicana Bypass

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto South Interstate 45

0.5 mi · 50 sec · South Interstate 45

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Merge onto I 45

20 mi · 19 min · I 45

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Exit 206 Toward FM 833 Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto North Interstate 45

307 ft · 10 sec · North Interstate 45

Turn left onto FM 833

1.3 mi · 3 min · FM 833

At end of road, turn right onto TX 75; FM 833

52 ft · 1 sec · North State Highway 75

Turn left onto FM 833

0.9 mi · 1 min · East FM 833

Turn right onto County Road 161

10 ft · 0 sec · County Road 161

Arrive at destination

County Road 161

Trip Plan

Given the 6-hour and 13-minute duration, starting your drive early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and minimize fatigue. You'll want to plan for at least one stop to break up the drive and refuel, especially considering the $52 fuel cost. Pay close attention to your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll be making frequent adjustments. The longest stretch on the Purple Heart Trail (231.3 miles) is a good time to settle in, but be ready for more active navigation afterward.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 172.7 miles from Cotulla, TX, or about 3h 5m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 231.3 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 76 miles or 1h 17m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 172.7 miles or 3h 5m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 7m

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 Cotulla, 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 Cotulla, TX

This is one driving day of about 345.3 miles and 6h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Cotulla, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 231.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Austin, TX

173 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

San Antonio, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 172.7 miles from Cotulla, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+12104955888

Visit website

Toybrary Austin

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+15124343927

Visit website

Pioneer Farms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+15128371215

Visit website

Tube Chute

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

+18302214000

Visit website

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 86.6 and 342.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

86.6 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

88.3 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christ...

98.8 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in | North Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35: Austin

269.3 mi into trip | ~4h 47m in

Take the exit toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 338 Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive

342.7 mi into trip | ~6h 8m 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

$47.30 one way

$94.59 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 121 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$52.83	$105.66
premium	$4.23	$57.44	$114.87
diesel	$4.80	$65.20	$130.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 120.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	103.6	1	$36.26	$16.57
Efficient EV	86.3	0	$30.21	$13.81
EV Truck/SUV	138.1	1	$48.34	$22.10

Gas CO2

121 kg

EV CO2

40 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Cotulla, TX

Late night in Cotulla on Monday

Local time

12:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

97°F

Partly Sunny

SE 10 to 15 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:45AM CDT until July 18 at 12:18AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Rhode Island, TX

Late night in Rhode Island on Monday

Local time

12:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

92°F

Mostly Sunny

S 5 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:45AM CDT until July 18 at 12:18AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

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

5 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

6h 13m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

7 mi from route ~16 min detour Free near mile 83.4

View on nps.gov

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

7 mi from route ~18 min detour Free near mile 273.9

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this route, meaning you'll encounter numerous intersections and changes in direction. While 28% of the journey is on highways, the bulk of your time will be spent on local roads and state highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 231.3 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, offering a significant period of consistent driving before the turns become more frequent. This character suggests a drive that requires constant attention to navigation rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.

Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 231.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 86.6 miles in near I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 345.3 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 86.6 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 88.3 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 98.8 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

754 ft 393 ft

Total Climb

770 ft

Total Descent

802 ft

Highest Point

754 ft

~98.7 mi in

Elevation Range

361 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Cotulla, TX and Rhode Island, TX, road signs point toward Corpus Christi and Johnson City.

Corpus Christi

88.3 mi in | ~1h 31m | via I 35

Johnson City

88.3 mi in | ~1h 31m | via I 35

About the Cities

Starting in Cotulla, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1882

Arriving in Rhode Island, TX

Full guide →

“The Ocean State” · Founded 1790

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 345.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 231.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 32 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rhode Island, TX before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Explore more options from Cotulla, TX or browse trips ending in Rhode Island, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Cotulla, TX to Rhode Island, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Medina County Northbound Rest Area

Medina County Southbound Rest Area

Navarro County Northbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Buc-ee's

Navarro County Southbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Buc-ee's

TA

Petro Stopping Centers

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Stripes

QuikTrip

Pilot Travel Center

Service Plaza

Marlstone Retail Center

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Petro Stopping Centers

Morgan's Wonderland

Toybrary Austin

Pioneer Farms

Tube Chute

Doris D Miller Park

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

Wonder Chamber

US Army Medical Department Museum

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Cotulla, TX

Rhode Island, TX

Same local time

5 degrees cooler at arrival

6h 13m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Cotulla, TX

Arriving in Rhode Island, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More