Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Alamo Heights, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 38m
Distance
251.8 mi
405 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 25m
★
6 AM
4h 38m
8 AM
5h 5m
10 AM
4h 48m
12 PM
4h 45m
3 PM
4h 49m
5 PM
5h 4m
8 PM
4h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Alamo Heights, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Rhode Island, TX to Alamo Heights, TX is 251.8 miles and takes about 4h 38m via Purple Heart Trail, I 35, and I 45, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward path through Texas. With a recommended one-day drive, it's suitable for those looking to cover ground efficiently. The route is a mix of highway and surface roads, so expect varying driving conditions. Plan for a single recommended stop to break up the travel time.
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
125.9 miles from Rhode Island, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 99.6 mi | 1h 46m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| I 45 | 19.9 mi | 19m |
| West State Highway 31 | 18.8 mi | 21m |
| State Highway 31 | 17.2 mi | 17m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Corsicana Bypass | 5.6 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 80 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,797 veh/hr typical · worst 4,457
Quietest
2 AM
~660 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 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 Rhode Island, TX and Alamo Heights, TX.
1
Start on County Road 161
10 ft
·
7 sec
·
County Road 161
2
Turn left onto FM 833
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East FM 833
3
Turn right onto TX 75; FM 833
52 ft
·
2 sec
·
North State Highway 75
4
Turn left onto FM 833
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West FM 833
5
Continue on FM 833
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Farm-to-Market Road 833
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
7
Merge onto I 45
20 mi
·
19 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 227
Toward TX 31: Athens, Waco
9
Turn left onto South Interstate 45
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Interstate 45
10
Turn left onto TX 31
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
11
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
West State Highway 31
12
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
13
Continue on TX 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
14
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East US Highway 84
15
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
16
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Waco Drive
17
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
19
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi
·
54 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Use the slight left lane.
23
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 35
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 165
Toward FM 1976: Walzem Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn straight onto Interstate 35 North
431 ft
·
8 sec
·
Interstate 35 North
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
28
Turn right onto Walzem Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Walzem Road
29
Turn left onto Loop 368
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Austin Highway
30
Turn right onto Albany Street
363 ft
·
17 sec
·
Albany Street
31
Turn right onto Kokomo Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Kokomo Street
32
Turn left onto Blue Bonnet Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Blue Bonnet Boulevard
33
Arrive at destination
Blue Bonnet Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 38m estimated drive time, starting in the morning will allow you to complete this trip comfortably in one day. The route includes one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs or refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 99.6-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, to ensure you don't need to go far out of your way for a gas station. The mixed highway and surface road nature means you'll need to adjust your speed and awareness accordingly as you transition between road types.
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 125.9 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 55 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.9 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alamo Heights, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island, TX
This is one driving day of about 251.8 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Rhode Island, 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 99.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.9 miles from Rhode Island, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 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.
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
Austin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.4 mi from route
~3 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteSan Antonio Botanical Garden
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 8 am–6 pm
+12105361400
Visit websiteUS Army Medical Department Museum
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Fort Sam Houston, Texas
+12102216358
Visit websiteThe DoSeum
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.2 mi from route
~6 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12102124453
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteWonder Chamber
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 12–9 pm
+12104675504
Visit websiteRound1 Bowling & Arcade North Star Mall
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+12104482030
Visit websiteAnimal World & Snake Farm Zoo
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+18304024603
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 246.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
22.3 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward TX 31: Athens, Waco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 227
Toward TX 31: Athens, Waco
6
23 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
119.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
175.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
7
246.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 28m in
Take the exit toward FM 1976: Walzem Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 165
Toward FM 1976: Walzem Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.80 one way
$75.60 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $41.82 | $83.65 |
| premium | $4.57 | $45.25 | $90.51 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $62.22 | $124.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.5 | 0 | $26.44 | $12.09 |
| Efficient EV | 63 | 0 | $22.03 | $10.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.7 | 1 | $35.25 | $16.12 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Rhode Island, TX
Morning in Rhode Island on Thursday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Cloudy
ESE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Alamo Heights, TX
Morning in Alamo Heights on Thursday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
ENE 5 mph
1% chance
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 38m 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 78.2
View on nps.gov
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 251.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 52% of this trip on highways, with the Purple Heart Trail offering the longest continuous stretch at 99.6 miles. After this, you'll transition to a mixed highway and surface road profile for the remainder of the drive. Expect to encounter a variety of driving conditions, from more open highway cruising to navigating through areas with more frequent exits and intersections as you approach your destination.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 251.8 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 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 119.9 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
808 ft
393 ft
Total Climb
1,065 ft
Total Descent
655 ft
Highest Point
808 ft
~143.9 mi in
Elevation Range
415 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 Rhode Island, TX to Alamo Heights, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
Waco
22.3 mi in
|
~24m
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Alamo Heights, TX
Full guide →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 4h 38m. Total distance: 251.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 Alamo Heights, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 119.9 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Alamo Heights, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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