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Trip from Edinburg, TX to Rhode Island, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 44m
Distance
471.4 mi
759 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$65
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 37m
★
6 AM
8h 45m
8 AM
9h 0m
10 AM
8h 50m
12 PM
8h 49m
3 PM
8h 51m
5 PM
9h 0m
8 PM
8h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edinburg, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Trip Overview
Edinburg, TX to Rhode Island, TX is 471.4 miles and takes about 8h 44m via I 69C, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with a fuel budget near $70 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a mostly highway experience. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, making for a straightforward trip. Plan for around 2 recommended days to comfortably complete the drive, allowing for rest and any necessary stops along the way. It's a practical choice if you're looking to cover a good distance efficiently.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
235.7 miles from Edinburg, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 31m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 69C | 138.2 mi | 2h 31m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 64.7 mi | 1h 6m |
| Pickle Parkway | 58.5 mi | 54m |
| State Highway 31 | 35.8 mi | 38m |
| King David Drive | 31.8 mi | 39m |
| State Highway 80 North | 30.8 mi | 35m |
| State Highway 80 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| I 45 | 19.8 mi | 19m |
Longest stretch:
I 69C
— 138.2 mi, about 2h 31m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,203 veh/hr typical · worst 3,865
Quietest
2 AM
~491 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 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 Edinburg, TX and Rhode Island, TX.
1
Start on this road
191 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107
186 ft
·
7 sec
·
North 10th Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107
377 ft
·
13 sec
·
West McIntyre Street
4
Turn left onto US 281 Business
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Closner Boulevard
5
Turn straight onto North Expressway 281
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Expressway 281
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 69C North, US 281 North
7
Merge onto I 69C; US 281
68 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281
70 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 69C; US 281
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Nueces Street
10
Turn right onto TX 72
32 mi
·
39 min
·
King David Drive
11
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
12
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Main Street
13
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Helena Road
14
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 80
15
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Nixon Avenue
16
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 80 North
17
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
18
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Colorado Street
19
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
United States Highway 183
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
21
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi
·
54 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 35
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 35
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 338
Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
27
Turn right onto US 84
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
East Waco Drive
28
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
29
Continue on US 84
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East US Highway 84
30
Continue on TX 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
31
Continue on TX 31
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
32
Continue on TX 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 31
33
Turn right onto TX 31
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
34
Turn right onto South Interstate 45
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Interstate 45
35
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
36
Merge onto I 45
20 mi
·
19 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 206
Toward FM 833
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Turn left onto North Interstate 45
307 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Interstate 45
39
Turn left onto FM 833
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
FM 833
40
At end of road, turn right onto TX 75; FM 833
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
North State Highway 75
41
Turn left onto FM 833
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East FM 833
42
Turn right onto County Road 161
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
County Road 161
43
Arrive at destination
County Road 161
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 44m estimated drive time, splitting this into two days is a sensible approach to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight and make the most of your driving time. You'll have about 2 stops planned, so consider how you'll break up the 471.4 miles. The longest stretch is 138.2 miles on I 69C, so be sure to fuel up before heading into that segment. Keep your fuel budget around $70 for this trip.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 235.7 miles from Edinburg, TX, or about 4h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.2 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 104 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 235.7 miles or 4h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 235.7 miles or 4h 31m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 38m
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 Edinburg, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Edinburg, TX
Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Rhode Island, TX
Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 104 miles from Edinburg, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 69C for about 138.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
236 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in San Antonio, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
236 mi · about 4.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 236 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 104 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 235.7 miles from Edinburg, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 69C if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 236 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Brooks County Rest Area
0 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Circle K
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.6 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
Museum of South Texas History
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0.1 mi from route
Edinburg, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19563836911
Visit websiteEdinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Edinburg, Texas
Hours: 8 am–6 pm
+19563819922
Visit websiteSouth Texas Motorcycle Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
Edinburg, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19562920770
Visit websiteKids Wonderland
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, ~9 min detour
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
McAllen, Texas
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+19569293106
Visit websiteHelium Trampoline Park
3.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, ~12 min detour
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
McAllen, Texas
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+19566824832
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 468.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue
Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
265.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
7
324.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Waco
8
395.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 18m 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
7
468.8 mi into trip
|
~8h 39m 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
$64.57 one way
$129.13 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
165 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $72.12 | $144.24 |
| premium | $4.23 | $78.41 | $156.82 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $89.01 | $178.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$195–$305
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 164.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 141.4 | 1 | $49.50 | $22.63 |
| Efficient EV | 117.9 | 1 | $41.25 | $18.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 188.6 | 2 | $66.00 | $30.17 |
Gas CO2
165 kg
EV CO2
55 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.
Origin
Edinburg, TX
Late night in Edinburg on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 10 to 17 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:21PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Rhode Island, TX
Late night in Rhode Island on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 5 mph
33% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:21PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 44m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
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 390.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 70% of the total distance utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 138.2 miles on I 69C, offering extended periods of consistent cruising. Surface roads will become more prominent as you near your destination, though the majority of the trip is on the freeway. Expect a steady pace with fewer interruptions on the primary highway segments before transitioning to less direct routes.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.2 mi on I 69C.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69C and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 471.4 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: near the start (US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 265.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 324.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
826 ft
66 ft
Total Climb
767 ft
Total Descent
469 ft
Highest Point
826 ft
~336.7 mi in
Elevation Range
760 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Edinburg, TX to Rhode Island, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
Waco
265.4 mi in
|
~5h 9m
About the Cities
Starting in Edinburg, TX
Full guide →Founded 1908
Edinburg is in the South Texas Plains and was originally called Chapin before its name took on a variation of the capital of Scotland. It is the county seat of Hidalgo County and also home to the main campus of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. For the tourists, there's an interesting museum and wetland reserve.
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 138.2 miles on I 69C. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 236 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 26 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 265.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 324.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.7 hours each way, a round trip means 17.5 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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