Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Alice, 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
6h 49m
Distance
391.2 mi
630 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$59
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 37m
★
6 AM
6h 49m
8 AM
7h 12m
10 AM
6h 57m
12 PM
6h 55m
3 PM
6h 58m
5 PM
7h 11m
8 PM
6h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Alice, TX
Atahan Demir
Trip Overview
Rhode Island, TX to Alice, TX is 391.2 miles and takes about 6h 49m via TX 130 Toll and I 37, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Texas, beginning and ending in the Great Plains region. The majority of your travel will be on major highways, making for a straightforward trip. With a recommended one-day drive, you can expect a consistent pace across the state.
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
195.6 miles from Rhode Island, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 130 Toll | 86.1 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 37 | 60.5 mi | 1h 1m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| South Nueces Street | 36.1 mi | 36m |
| I 10 | 32.5 mi | 33m |
| I 35 | 26.5 mi | 26m |
| I 45 | 19.9 mi | 19m |
| West State Highway 31 | 18.8 mi | 21m |
Longest stretch:
TX 130 Toll
— 86.1 mi, about 1h 19m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,115 veh/hr typical · worst 3,909
Quietest
2 AM
~494 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
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 Alice, 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
26 mi
·
26 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Use the slight right lane.
23
Continue on TX 130 Toll
86 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
9.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto I 410; TX 130
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
32
Merge onto I 37
60 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit onto US 281 South
15 mi
·
19 min
·
US 281 South
Toward US 281 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
36 mi
·
36 min
·
South Nueces Street
35
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
36
Continue on US 281 Business
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 281 Business
37
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 3rd Street
38
Turn right onto North Cameron Street
357 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Cameron Street
39
Turn left onto East 2nd Street
94 ft
·
4 sec
·
East 2nd Street
40
Arrive at destination
East 2nd Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6 hour and 49 minute drive, aim for an early morning departure from Rhode Island, TX. This will give you ample daylight to complete the 391.2 miles and allow for a relaxed pace. Consider planning your single recommended stop around the halfway point to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you near Alice, TX, as highway stretches can mean longer distances between services.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 195.6 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 3h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 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 86 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 195.6 miles or 3h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alice, 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 391.2 miles and 6h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 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 TX 130 Toll for about 86.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
196 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 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 195.6 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 TX 130 Toll if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.1 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.
Pilot Travel Center
0 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Live Oak County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Live Oak County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Circle K
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Jud's Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
Cultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 285 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 274.6 — 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
7
146.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
7
233.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
274.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
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 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...
7
274.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.73 one way
$117.45 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
137 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $64.98 | $129.96 |
| premium | $4.57 | $70.31 | $140.62 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $96.66 | $193.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 117.4 | 1 | $41.08 | $18.78 |
| Efficient EV | 97.8 | 1 | $34.23 | $15.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 156.5 | 1 | $54.77 | $25.04 |
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (66% 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
Rhode Island, TX
Evening in Rhode Island on Thursday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Alice, TX
Evening in Alice on Thursday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 3 mph
10% 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
12 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
6h 49m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 269.8
View on nps.gov
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
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 80.9
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 74% of your time on highways, covering a significant distance on TX 130 Toll. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.1 mi on TX 130 Toll.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 130 Toll and I 37. 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
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 28 significant decision points across 391.2 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 146.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
907 ft
190 ft
Total Climb
747 ft
Total Descent
940 ft
Highest Point
907 ft
~139.7 mi in
Elevation Range
718 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.
Between Rhode Island, TX and Alice, TX, road signs point toward Waco and Corpus Christi.
Waco
22.3 mi in
|
~24m
Corpus Christi
274.4 mi in
|
~4h 42m
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 Alice, TX
Full guide →Founded 1888
Alice is a city of 19,000 people (2018) on the South Texas Plains between Corpus Christi, McAllen, Laredo, and San Antonio. It is a focal point for the oil industry in the area, and is considered to the "birthplace of Tejano music".
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 6h 49m. Total distance: 391.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 37 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 Alice, 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 37 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 146.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alice, 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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