Spanning 148.1 miles across the Texas Great Plains, this drive from Hughes Springs to Rhode Island is a straightforward journey typically taking 3 hours and 18 minutes. Given the manageable duration, it works perfectly as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $23 on fuel for the trek. The route relies primarily on TX 155, State Highway 31 East, and FM 59 to navigate through the region. Because both your starting point and destination are situated within the Great Plains, you will enjoy a consistent landscape throughout the duration of your trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.1 miles from Hughes Springs, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
TX 155
41.6 mi
47m
State Highway 31 East
21 mi
24m
FM 59
12.6 mi
22m
FM 488
10.3 mi
18m
South Main Street
7.2 mi
10m
North US Highway 287
6.8 mi
10m
East FM 833
6.8 mi
7m
FM 250
6 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
TX 155
— 41.6 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hughes Springs, TX and Rhode Island, TX.
1
Start on Ward
104 ft·6 sec·Ward
2
Turn right onto TX 11; TX 49; FM 250
428 ft·12 sec·1st Street
3
Turn left onto FM 161; FM 250
1.0 mi·1 min·FM 161; FM 250
4
Turn right onto FM 250
6.0 mi·10 min·FM 250
5
Turn left onto US 259
7.2 mi·10 min·South Main Street
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
7
Keep slight right at fork
302 ft·8 sec
8
Merge onto TX 155
16 mi·17 min·TX 155
9
Turn left onto US 271; TX 155
1.5 mi·1 min·North Wood Street
10
Turn straight onto TX 155
13 mi·15 min·TX 155
11
Turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto TX 155
13 mi·14 min·TX 155
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto US 271; TX 155
4.8 mi·5 min·US Highway 271
14
Turn right onto Loop 323
1.6 mi·2 min·East Northeast Loop 323
15
Continue on Loop 323
4.3 mi·6 min·West Northwest Loop 323
16
Continue on Loop 323
0.6 mi·43 sec·South Southwest Loop 323
17
Turn right onto TX 31
1.6 mi·1 min·Chandler Highway
18
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi·6 min·State Highway 31 West
19
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi·2 min·East Highway 31
20
Continue on TX 31
21 mi·24 min·State Highway 31 East
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
22
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; Loop 7
5.6 mi·6 min·Dewitt C Greer Loop
23
Turn left onto Mill Run Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Mill Run Road
24
Turn right onto FM 753
5.1 mi·7 min·FM 753
25
Turn left onto FM 59
13 mi·22 min·FM 59
26
Turn right onto US 287
6.8 mi·10 min·North US Highway 287
27
Turn left onto FM 488
10 mi·18 min·FM 488
28
Turn right onto FM 833
6.8 mi·7 min·East FM 833
29
Turn left onto County Road 161
10 ft·0 sec·County Road 161
30
Arrive at destination
County Road 161
Trip Plan
Since the trip is just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to depart whenever suits you best. Plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to stretch your legs and break up the 148-mile drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before heading out, as the $23 estimated cost can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local prices. Because the route is relatively short, you can easily manage the entire distance in one go, but don't hesitate to pull over if you encounter heavy traffic on the highway portions. A pro tip for this specific route: prioritize checking your route map before hitting the FM 59 transition to ensure you stay on track through the secondary road segments.
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 74.1 miles from Hughes Springs, TX, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.6 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 33 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.1 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 37m
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 Hughes Springs, 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 Hughes Springs, TX
This is one driving day of about 148.1 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Hughes Springs, 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 TX 155 for about 41.6 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 100 — 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|TX 11; TX 49; FM 250 / 1st Street
Turn right onto TX 11; TX 49; FM 250 / 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
14.6 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
45.1 mi into trip|~59m in|US 80; TX 155 / West Broadway Street
Turn right onto US 80; TX 155 / West Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
45.9 mi into trip|~1h in|TX 155
Turn left onto TX 155
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
100 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.38 one way
$44.76 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$24.49
$48.99
premium
$4.54
$26.44
$52.88
diesel
$5.61
$32.70
$65.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.4
0
$15.55
$7.11
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.96
$5.92
EV Truck/SUV
59.2
0
$20.73
$9.48
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Hughes Springs, TX
Morning
in Hughes Springs on Sunday
Local time
9:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rhode Island, TX
Morning
in Rhode Island on Sunday
Local time
9:37 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
15 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
3h 18m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is defined by its efficiency, with 83% of the journey spent on major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel, particularly during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 41.6 miles on TX 155. The transition between these primary thoroughfares offers a balance between faster highway speeds and the slightly more relaxed pace of FM 59. While the road surface remains consistent, the character of the drive shifts as you move between the segments of state highways and local roads. It is a practical route designed for steady progress rather than winding exploration.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.6 mi on TX 155.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 155 and State Highway 31 East. You will hit about 22 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 11; TX 49; FM 250 / 1st Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 148.1 miles you will encounter 22 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: near the start (TX 11; TX 49; FM 250 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.1 miles (US 80; TX 155 / West Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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 3h 18m. Total distance: 148.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.6 miles on TX 155. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 11; TX 49; FM 250 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.1 miles (US 80; TX 155 / West Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Rhode Island, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
