Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Knox City, TX to Rhode Island, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 40m
Distance
309 mi
497 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 27m
★
6 AM
5h 41m
8 AM
6h 7m
10 AM
5h 50m
12 PM
5h 47m
3 PM
5h 51m
5 PM
6h 6m
8 PM
5h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knox City, TX
Thomas balabaud
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Trip Overview
Knox City, TX to Rhode Island, TX is 309 miles and takes about 5h 40m via Central East Freeway and US 277, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive. With 98% of the route on highways, you'll experience mostly uninterrupted travel. This is a practical choice for a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination efficiently without needing an overnight stay. Plan for a day with minimal detours and a consistent pace.
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
154.5 miles from Knox City, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central East Freeway | 98.6 mi | 1h 45m |
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 79.4 mi | 1h 21m |
| US 277 | 74.3 mi | 1h 21m |
| SH 183 TEXpress | 15 mi | 14m |
| State Highway 222 | 11.6 mi | 17m |
| I 820 TEXpress | 5.5 mi | 5m |
| US 81 | 4.6 mi | 4m |
| SH 121/183 TEXpress | 4.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Central East Freeway
— 98.6 mi, about 1h 45m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,266 veh/hr typical · worst 2,949
Quietest
2 AM
~317 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 63 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 Knox City, TX and Rhode Island, TX.
1
Start on TX 222
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
2
Continue on TX 222
12 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 222
3
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
4
Merge onto US 277
74 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
US 277
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 82
Toward US 82 East, US 281 South, US 287 South: Fort Worth
6
Merge onto US 82; US 281; US 287
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
Central East Freeway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
1.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Central East Freeway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
97 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
Central East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 81; US 287
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35W; US 287
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 57
Toward I 820
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 820 East
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 820
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
·
Northeast Loop
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
Toward I 820 Express East Toll
15
Merge onto I 820 TEXpress
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 820 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
SH 121/183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
12 mi
·
11 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
Toward TX 183 Express East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
19
Merge onto TX 183
0.8 mi
·
50 sec
·
John W Carpenter Freeway
20
Merge onto I 35E
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 429B
Toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Stemmons Freeway
23
Turn left onto Continental Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Continental Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn left onto McKinney Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
McKinney Avenue
25
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 75 North
26
Merge onto Spur 366
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 45 South: Houston
Use the slight right lane.
28
Merge onto I 45
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45
76 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 206
Toward FM 833
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn left onto North Interstate 45
307 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Interstate 45
32
Turn left onto FM 833
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
FM 833
33
At end of road, turn right onto TX 75; FM 833
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
North State Highway 75
34
Turn left onto FM 833
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East FM 833
35
Turn right onto County Road 161
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
County Road 161
36
Arrive at destination
County Road 161
Trip Plan
Given this is a 5h 40m drive with a $45 fuel cost, it's definitely achievable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight hours and allow for any unforeseen delays. Since the majority of the route is highway, you'll have a steady pace, but plan for your one recommended stop around the halfway point to refuel and stretch. Pay attention to the fuel gauge as you approach the 98.6-mile mark on Central East Freeway, as services might be spaced out in this section. The flexibility of a single-day trip means you can adjust your departure time slightly based on weather or personal preference.
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 154.5 miles from Knox City, TX, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.6 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 68 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.5 miles or 2h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 41m
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 Knox City, 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 Knox City, TX
This is one driving day of about 309 miles and 5h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Knox City, 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 Central East Freeway for about 98.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
155 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 154.5 miles from Knox City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Central East Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.6 miles.
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.
Wise County Northbound
0 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.4 mi from route
TA
1.6 mi from route
Texas Travel Information Center at Wichita Falls
2.2 mi from route
Mr. Fuel Travel Center
2.4 mi from route
Maniac’s Mansion (TAG’s)
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
Wichita Falls, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+19402575543
Visit websiteiFLY Indoor Skydiving - Fort Worth
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
2.2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Hurst, Texas
Hours: 10:30 am–6:30 pm
+18178184359
Visit websiteMuseum of North Texas History
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Wichita Falls, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+19403227628
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 305 decision points cluster between mile 193.6 and 306.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
193.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 820
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 57
Toward I 820
7
194 mi into trip
|
~3h 37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 820 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 820 East
8
225 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m in
Take the exit toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 429B
Toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
7
226.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 12m 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
7
306.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 35m 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
$46.39 one way
$92.77 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
108 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $51.33 | $102.65 |
| premium | $4.57 | $55.53 | $111.07 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $76.35 | $152.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 92.7 | 1 | $32.45 | $14.83 |
| Efficient EV | 77.3 | 0 | $27.04 | $12.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 123.6 | 1 | $43.26 | $19.78 |
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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
Knox City, TX
Afternoon in Knox City on Friday
Local time
2:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
S 7 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Rhode Island, TX
Afternoon in Rhode Island on Friday
Local time
2:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
58°F
Saginaw, TX
155 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 40m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend nearly all your time on highways, with 98% of the 309 miles utilizing major roadways like Central East Freeway and US 277. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 98.6 miles on Central East Freeway. This means you'll encounter a consistent flow of traffic and relatively few stops for traffic lights or intersections until you approach the end of the highway portion. The majority of the drive will feel like rural cruising on well-maintained roads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.6 mi on Central East Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central East Freeway and Julius Schepps Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 193.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 30 significant decision points across 309 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 193.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 194 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 225 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,529 ft
393 ft
Total Climb
185 ft
Total Descent
1,321 ft
Highest Point
1,529 ft
Elevation Range
1,136 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 Knox City, TX to Rhode Island, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Commerce Street West along the way.
Commerce Street West
225 mi in
|
~4h 9m
About the Cities
Starting in Knox City, TX
Full guide →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.
Top landmarks
- • Block Island Southeast Light — lighthouse in Rhode Island, United States
- • German corvette Hiddensee — Tarantul-class corvette in East German Navy ship, brought to US for analysis; no...
- • Barrington Civic Center Historic District — historic district in Rhode Island, United States
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 5h 40m. Total distance: 309 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.6 miles on Central East Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 193.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 194 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 225 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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