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Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Canyon, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 16m

Distance

461.7 mi

743 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$63

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
8h 8m ★
6 AM
8h 16m
8 AM
8h 31m
10 AM
8h 21m
12 PM
8h 20m
3 PM
8h 22m
5 PM
8h 31m
8 PM
8h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Rhode Island, TX, TX

Rhode Island, TX

Beth Fitzpatrick

city in Randall County, Texas, United States

Canyon, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Rhode Island, TX to Canyon, TX is 461.7 miles and takes about 8h 16m via US 81 and I 45, with a fuel budget near $67 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the state of Texas, transitioning from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. The route is predominantly highway driving, suggesting a straightforward path for travelers. With a recommended two days for this drive, you have the flexibility to enjoy the trip without feeling rushed, even though it can be completed in a single day if you start early. Consider this an efficient way to cover ground within Texas.

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

230.8 miles from Rhode Island, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 6m 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 75.4 mi 1h 17m
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
SH 183 TEXpress 16.5 mi 16m
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

~2,268 veh/hr typical · worst 2,709

Quietest

2 AM

~314 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.2×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 12 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 Canyon, 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

Continue on US 287

20 mi · 20 min · US Highway 287
41

Keep slight left at fork onto US 287

7.9 mi · 10 min · US 287
Toward I 40 West, US 287 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42

Take the exit onto US 287

470 ft · 8 sec · US 287
Exit 70 Toward I 27 South, US 87, US 60, US 287 North: Canyon, Lubbock, Dumas, Pampa, Downtown
43

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 70 Toward I 27 South, US 87 South, US 60 West: Canyon, Lubbock Use the slight left lane.
44

Merge onto I 27; US 60; US 87

13 mi · 14 min · Canyon Expressway
45

Keep slight right at fork onto US 60; US 87

2.4 mi · 2 min · Canyon Expressway
46

Keep slight left at fork onto US 87

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Canyon Expressway
Toward US 87 South, to TX 217: Palo Duro Canyon State Park Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47

Continue on US 87

0.4 mi · 59 sec · North 23rd Street
48

Arrive at destination

US 87

Trip Plan

This drive is best tackled over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace and time for any spontaneous stops. Start your first day early to maximize daylight and cover a significant portion of the 461.7 miles. The route has two recommended stops, so plan to break up your driving time accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches, and budget around $67 for gas. Since this trip can be done in a single day if needed, the two-day recommendation offers a buffer for enjoying the drive rather than just completing it.

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 230.8 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 4h 6m 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 102 miles or 1h 49m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 230.8 miles or 4h 6m 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 230.8 miles or 4h 6m

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 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Canyon, 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 231 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Canyon, TX

Aim for roughly 231 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 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.

city in and county sear of Jacks County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Jacksboro, TX

231 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, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Jacksboro, TX

231 mi · about 4.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Jacksboro, TX after about 231 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Euless, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 102 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wichita Falls, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 230.8 miles from Rhode Island, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.4 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 231 miles or 4.1 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.

Love's Travel Stop

0 mi from route

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

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

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

Texas Travel Information Center at Amarillo and Safety 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

National Truck Stop Amarillo

0.1 mi from route

Buc-ee's

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

Road Ranger

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.2 mi from route

Navarro County Northbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Buc-ee's

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

Service Plaza

0.6 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 24

5 decision points cluster between mile 81.9 and 444.7 — 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
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
8
436.8 mi into trip | ~7h 45m in | US 287

Keep slight left at fork onto US 287 toward I 40 West, US 287 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 40 West, US 287 North
9
444.7 mi into trip | ~7h 55m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 27 South, US 87 South, US 60 West: Canyon, Lubbock

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 70 Toward I 27 South, US 87 South, US 60 West: Can...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$63.24 one way

$126.48 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 162 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.89 $70.64 $141.27
premium $4.23 $76.80 $153.60
diesel $4.80 $87.18 $174.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$63

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$193–$303

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 161.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 138.5 1 $48.48 $22.16
Efficient EV 115.4 1 $40.40 $18.47
EV Truck/SUV 184.7 2 $64.64 $29.55

Gas CO2

162 kg

EV CO2

54 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.

Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Rhode Island, TX

Late night in Rhode Island on Monday

Local time

12:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

SSE 0 to 5 mph 47% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:41PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:41PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Destination

Canyon, TX

Late night in Canyon on Monday

Local time

12:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Partly Cloudy

SSE 5 to 10 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:41PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:41PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

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

9 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

8h 16m 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.

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

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.

29 mi from route ~71 min detour Free near mile 429.8
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 most of your time on highways, with 85% of the 461.7 miles on major roads like US 81 and I 45. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 103.4 miles on US 81, offering a good period of consistent cruising. Expect a mostly highway profile, meaning you'll encounter typical highway conditions with generally good speeds. You'll transition from these main thoroughfares to local roads as you approach your destination.

85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
48 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 24 significant decision points across 461.7 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 224.7 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,542 ft 348 ft

Total Climb

3,207 ft

Total Descent

58 ft

Highest Point

3,542 ft

~461.7 mi in

Elevation Range

3,194 ft

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 Canyon, 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.

Arriving in Canyon, TX

Full guide →

Canyon is a city in the High Plains region of the Texas Panhandle. It is home to the West Texas branch of Texas A&M University, the most prestigious in the region, and is the gateway city to Palo Duro Canyon.

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 231 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 43 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 Canyon, 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 43 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 224.7 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 8.3 hours each way, a round trip means 16.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Canyon, 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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