Skip to main content

Trip from Dallas, TX to Rhode Island, TX

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 29m

Distance

83.4 mi

134 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 23m ★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 25m

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

Downtown Dallas, TX, TX

Dallas, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Rhode Island, TX, TX

Rhode Island, TX

Beth Fitzpatrick

Trip Overview

This short, 83.4-mile drive from Dallas to Rhode Island, Texas, can be completed in about 1 hour and 29 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With a projected fuel cost of $13, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. The route is almost entirely highway, offering a straightforward journey through the Great Plains region of Texas. You won't need to worry about overnight stays or splitting the drive, giving you plenty of flexibility for your schedule. This trip is all about efficient travel within the state.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway 79.4 mi 1h 21m
FM 833 1.3 mi 3m
East FM 833 0.9 mi 1m
Woodall Rodgers Freeway 0.4 mi <1m
McKinney Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
North Lamar Street <0.1 mi <1m
North Interstate 45 <0.1 mi <1m
North State Highway 75 <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Julius Schepps Freeway — 79.4 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Lamar Street

433 ft · 14 sec · North Lamar Street
2

Turn right onto McKinney Avenue

0.2 mi · 24 sec · McKinney Avenue
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward US 75 North
4

Merge onto Spur 366

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Woodall Rodgers Freeway
5

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 45 South: Houston Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto I 45

3.1 mi · 3 min · Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 45

76 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 206 Toward FM 833 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn left onto North Interstate 45

307 ft · 10 sec · North Interstate 45
10

Turn left onto FM 833

1.3 mi · 3 min · FM 833
11

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

52 ft · 1 sec · North State Highway 75
12

Turn left onto FM 833

0.9 mi · 1 min · East FM 833
13

Turn right onto County Road 161

10 ft · 0 sec · County Road 161
14

Arrive at destination

County Road 161

Where to Stop

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

city in Ellis County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ennis, TX

42 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

Ferris, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ennis, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.7 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Julius Schepps Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 80.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | McKinney Avenue

Turn right onto McKinney Avenue

Navigation decision point

7
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Houston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 45 South: Houston
5
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Merge onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
4.5 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
80.8 mi into trip | ~1h 24m 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

$12.60 one way

$25.20 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $13.79 $27.59
premium $4.54 $14.89 $29.78
diesel $5.61 $18.41 $36.83

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$13

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25 0 $8.76 $4.00
Efficient EV 20.9 0 $7.30 $3.34
EV Truck/SUV 33.4 0 $11.68 $5.34

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 20, 2026

Origin

Dallas, TX

Morning in Dallas on Tuesday

Local time

7:33 AM

CDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rhode Island, TX

Morning in Rhode Island on Tuesday

Local time

7:33 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1h 29m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for 98% of this trip. The majority of your miles will be on the Julius Schepps Freeway, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 79.4 miles. This suggests a consistent, high-speed driving environment for most of the journey. The route's character is defined by its efficiency and directness, with minimal deviations from major roadways. You'll likely experience a steady pace as you traverse the landscape.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.4 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and FM 833. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near McKinney Avenue.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (McKinney Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Dallas, TX

Full guide →

“Big D” · Founded 1841

Dallas, with a population of more than 1.3 million residents, is the ninth largest city in the United States and the third largest in the state of Texas. It is an impressive melting pot of culture and character. Boasting high-end luxury hotels, innumerable fine dining spots, and one of the busiest airports in the world, Dallas maintains an upscale ethos reflected by an affluent population, world-class museums, and a shimmering modern skyline. Its history was marred by the infamous assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, but there is more historic and contemporary heritage to be discovered in the city. As a center of the oil and cotton industries in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Dallas was a classic American boom town and remains one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.

Top landmarks

  • Dallas Museum of Art — art museum in Dallas, Texas
  • Texas School Book Depository — building in Dallas, Texas, United States
  • George W. Bush Presidential Center — Presidential library and museum for U.S. President George W. Bush, located in Da...

Arriving in Rhode Island, TX

Full guide →

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 1h 29m. Total distance: 83.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 79.4 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (McKinney Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rhode Island, TX before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.