Love's Travel Stop
0 mi from route
Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Borger, 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
8h 25m
Distance
457.2 mi
736 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$69
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 17m
★
6 AM
8h 25m
8 AM
8h 40m
10 AM
8h 30m
12 PM
8h 29m
3 PM
8h 31m
5 PM
8h 39m
8 PM
8h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Borger, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Rhode Island, TX to Borger, TX is 457.2 miles and takes about 8h 25m via US 81 and I 45, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. While the majority of this trip is on highways, it's a manageable distance for a single day if you get an early start. However, with a recommended two days, you can take your time and break up the 457.2 miles to make the most of your travel.
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
228.6 miles from Rhode Island, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 81 | 103.4 mi | 1h 49m |
| I 45 | 79.5 mi | 1h 22m |
| US Highway 287 | 55.8 mi | 57m |
| US Highway 287 East | 40.5 mi | 42m |
| East 11th Street | 28.7 mi | 32m |
| Boykin Drive | 26.2 mi | 28m |
| US Highway 287 West | 25.7 mi | 26m |
| Elsie Avenue | 22.9 mi | 34m |
Longest stretch:
US 81
— 103.4 mi, about 1h 49m
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 Rhode Island, TX and Borger, 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
80 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 286A
Toward Waco, Denton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Spur 366
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 35E North: Denton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 35E
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 183
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
John W Carpenter Freeway
Exit 433A
Toward TX 183: Irving, DFW Airport
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress
15 mi
·
14 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
SH 121/183 TEXpress
16
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
0.7 mi
·
42 sec
·
SH 121/183 TEXpress
18
Continue on I 820 TEXpress
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
I 820 TEXpress
Toward I 820 Express West Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35W Express: Fort Worth, Denton
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 35W Express North: Denton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 35W TEXpress
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
22
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto US 81; US 287
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on US 81; US 287
102 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
Lloyd Ruby Overpass
26
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Central Freeway
Use the straight lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwest Freeway
Exit 3A
Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
28
Continue on US 287
40 mi
·
42 min
·
US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
29
Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on US 287
26 mi
·
26 min
·
US Highway 287 West
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on US 287
29 mi
·
32 min
·
East 11th Street
32
Continue on US 287
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue F Northeast
33
Continue on US 287
14 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 287
34
Continue on US 287
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Burnett Street
35
Continue on US 287
14 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 287
36
Turn straight onto US 287
26 mi
·
28 min
·
Boykin Drive
37
Continue on US 287
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
38
Continue on US 287
28 mi
·
28 min
·
US Highway 287
39
Continue on US 287; FM 1151
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
40
Turn right onto TX 207
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Hurley Avenue
41
Continue on TX 207
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 207
42
Turn left onto TX 207; US 66 Hist
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Original U.S. Route 66
43
Turn straight onto TX 207
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 207
44
Continue on TX 207; FM 293
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Franklin Avenue
45
Turn left onto TX 207; FM 293
23 mi
·
34 min
·
Elsie Avenue
46
Turn slight right
300 ft
·
10 sec
47
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 25m estimated driving time, splitting this trip over two days is a good idea. Aim to leave Rhode Island in the morning to maximize daylight. Plan for at least two stops to break up the drive and refuel, especially since the longest stretch on US 81 is over 100 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be spread out in the Great Plains region. Consider stopping for the night around the halfway point to make the second day's drive more relaxed.
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 228.6 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 4h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.4 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 101 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 228.6 miles or 4h 4m 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 228.6 miles or 4h 4m
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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Borger, 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.
+
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 Rhode Island, TX
Aim for roughly 229 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Borger, TX
Aim for roughly 229 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 101 miles from Rhode Island, 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 US 81 for about 103.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
229 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 Jacksboro, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
229 mi · about 4.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Jacksboro, TX after about 229 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 101 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 228.6 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 US 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 229 miles or 4.2 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.
Donley County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Texas Travel Information Center at Wichita Falls
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Donley County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Wise County Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Wichita County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Wichita County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
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
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
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
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Northbound
0.3 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
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
Mr. Fuel Travel Center
2.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 81.9 and 224.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
81.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward Waco, Denton
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 286A
Toward Waco, Denton
9
87.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
|
TX 183 / John W Carpenter Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 183 / John W Carpenter Freeway toward TX 183: Irving, DFW Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 433A
Toward TX 183: Irving, DFW Airport
7
114.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35W Express North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W Express North: Denton
7
117.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur
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.
Toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur
9
224.7 mi into trip
|
~4h in
|
US 287 / Northwest Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 3A
Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.63 one way
$137.27 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
160 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $75.94 | $151.88 |
| premium | $4.57 | $82.17 | $164.34 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $112.97 | $225.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$199–$309
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 160 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 137.2 | 1 | $48.01 | $21.95 |
| Efficient EV | 114.3 | 1 | $40.01 | $18.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 182.9 | 2 | $64.01 | $29.26 |
Gas CO2
160 kg
EV CO2
53 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
Rhode Island, TX
Afternoon in Rhode Island on Thursday
Local time
4:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Borger, TX
Afternoon in Borger on Thursday
Local time
4:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Clear
S 15 mph
0% 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.
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
1 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 25m 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.
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Set within the wide‑open Texas Plains, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of rugged grasslands. Over thousands of years, the Canadian River carved dramatic 2...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 457.2
View on nps.gov
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
National Monument
13,000 years ago, Alibates Flint was used by mammoth hunters as a source of flint for tools. Learn how important this site was to the survival, commerce, and culture of the people of the High Plains.
17 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 457.2
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 80% of your time on highways, covering 457.2 miles. The longest stretch without a significant break is 103.4 miles on US 81. This means you'll encounter stretches of more rural cruising, interspersed with periods of denser traffic and more frequent exits as you approach and travel through towns. Expect to transition from highway driving to surface roads as you get closer to your destination.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
47 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.4 mi on US 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 81 and I 45. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 81.9 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 21 significant decision points across 457.2 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 81.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.8 miles (TX 183 / John W Carpenter Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,457 ft
347 ft
Total Climb
3,110 ft
Total Descent
427 ft
Highest Point
3,457 ft
~424.5 mi in
Elevation Range
3,110 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 Borger, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton, Dfw Airport and Amarillo.
Waco
81.9 mi in
|
~1h 26m
Denton
81.9 mi in
|
~1h 26m
Dfw Airport
87.8 mi in
|
~1h 35m
|
via TX 183
Amarillo
224.7 mi in
|
~4h
|
via US 287
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 Borger, TX
Full guide →Founded 1926
Borger is a city in the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle. It was a wild oil boom town through the 1920s, 30s, and 40s and is still very much an oil town to this day. Borger is also home to Franks Phillips College.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.4 miles on US 81. 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 229 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 33 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 Borger, 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 81.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.8 miles (TX 183 / John W Carpenter Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Borger, 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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