Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Marfa, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10h 18m
Distance
560.2 mi
902 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$86
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 9m
★
6 AM
10h 18m
8 AM
10h 37m
10 AM
10h 25m
12 PM
10h 23m
3 PM
10h 26m
5 PM
10h 36m
8 PM
10h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Marfa, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
Rhode Island, TX to Marfa, TX is 560.2 miles and takes about 10h 18m via I 10, US 84, and Ranch Road 864, with a fuel budget near $83 and an overnight stay recommended. This route traverses the vast Great Plains region of Texas, offering a long-haul driving experience. Given the 10-hour duration, splitting this drive over two days is a practical approach to avoid fatigue. You'll spend a significant portion on interstate highways, making it a straightforward, albeit lengthy, trip across the state.
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
280.1 miles from Rhode Island, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 155.5 mi | 2h 25m |
| US 84 | 83.2 mi | 1h 33m |
| Ranch Road 864 | 42 mi | 45m |
| East Wallace Street | 40.9 mi | 46m |
| South US Higway 67 | 25.7 mi | 29m |
| West US Highway 90 | 24.9 mi | 26m |
| South US Highway 67 | 21.6 mi | 24m |
| TX 16 | 21.3 mi | 31m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 155.5 mi, about 2h 25m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,547 veh/hr typical · worst 2,388
Quietest
2 AM
~241 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 60 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 Marfa, 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
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 333A
Toward Loop 396
21
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
426 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
22
Turn right onto Loop 396
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Valley Mills Drive
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
24
Keep slight right at fork onto South Valley Mills Drive
107 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Valley Mills Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Turn left onto Spur 298
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Franklin Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Take the ramp onto Spur 298
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Spur 298
27
Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 298
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Spur 298
Toward US 84
28
Merge onto US 84
83 mi
·
1 hr 33 min
·
US 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Turn left onto Loop 15
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Loop 15
30
Turn left onto US 183; TX 16
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Fisher Street
31
Turn right onto TX 16
21 mi
·
31 min
·
TX 16
32
Turn right onto US 190
41 mi
·
46 min
·
East Wallace Street
33
Continue on US 190
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Boy Street
34
Turn left onto US 190; US 377
0.7 mi
·
57 sec
·
Bridge Street
35
At end of road, turn left onto US 190; US 377
127 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
36
Turn right onto US 190; US 377
356 ft
·
9 sec
·
Blackburn Street
37
Turn right onto US 190; US 377
274 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Commerce Street
38
Turn left onto US 87; US 190; US 377
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Bridge Street
39
Turn right onto US 190
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Menard Highway
40
Continue on US 190
19 mi
·
27 min
·
United States Highway 190
41
Continue on US 190
11 mi
·
11 min
·
East US Highway 190
42
At end of road, turn left onto US 83; US 190
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 83; US 190
43
Turn right onto US 190
16 mi
·
17 min
·
West US Highway 190
44
Turn left onto RM 864
42 mi
·
45 min
·
Ranch Road 864
45
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 10 West: El Paso
46
Merge onto I 10
156 mi
·
2 hr 25 min
·
I 10
47
Take the exit onto La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
Exit 246
Toward US 67 south, FM 1776: Alpine, Sul Ross State University
48
Continue on US 67
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
49
Turn left onto US 67
26 mi
·
29 min
·
South US Higway 67
50
Continue on US 67
22 mi
·
24 min
·
South US Highway 67
51
Continue on US 67; US 90
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
East US Highway 90
52
Continue on US 67; US 90
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Avenue E
53
Continue on US 67; US 90
25 mi
·
26 min
·
West US Highway 90
54
Continue on US 67; US 90
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East San Antonio Street
55
Turn right onto TX 17
183 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Highland Street
56
Turn left
190 ft
·
14 sec
57
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Considering the 10-hour drive time, planning for an overnight stop is highly advisable. Aim to start your first day early to cover a good portion of the 560.2 miles. A logical split would be around 5 hours of driving per day. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches on I 10 where services might be more spaced out. The final 24.7% of your route, after leaving the main highways, will be on less direct roads, so factor in a bit more time for that segment.
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 280.1 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 5h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 155.5 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 123 miles or 2h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 280.1 miles or 5h 32m 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 280.1 miles or 5h 32m
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 9h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marfa, 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 280 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Marfa, TX
Aim for roughly 280 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 123 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 I 10 for about 155.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
185 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
370 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 Junction, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
280 mi · about 5.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Brownwood, TX after about 280 miles or 5.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 123 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 280.1 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 I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 155.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 280 miles or 5.2 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.
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
East Pecos County Sheffield Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
East Pecos County Sheffield Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Sutton County Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Sutton County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Parking Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Parking Area
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
1.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
Doris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.6 mi from route
~7 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 375 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 478.1 — 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.
7
81.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
South Valley Mills Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto South Valley Mills Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
83.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
|
Spur 298
Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 298 toward US 84
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 84
6
478.1 mi into trip
|
~8h 45m in
|
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
Take the exit onto La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor toward US 67 south, FM 1776: Alpine, Sul Ross State University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 246
Toward US 67 south, FM 1776: Alpine, Sul Ross S...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$85.77 one way
$171.54 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
196 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.29 | $94.66 | $189.32 |
| premium | $4.64 | $102.29 | $204.58 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $136.28 | $272.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$86
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$216–$326
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 196 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $59 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 168.1 | 2 | $58.82 | $26.89 |
| Efficient EV | 140.1 | 1 | $49.02 | $22.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 224.1 | 2 | $78.43 | $35.85 |
Gas CO2
196 kg
EV CO2
66 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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
Late night in Rhode Island on Monday
Local time
12:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 18 at 2:18AM CDT until October 20 at 7:32PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:12AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Destination
Marfa, TX
Late night in Marfa on Monday
Local time
12:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
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
9 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
10h 18m 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.
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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 77.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 76% of the route utilizing them. You'll encounter a stretch of 155.5 miles on I 10 without needing to exit. The drive transitions from interstate cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination, with the main highway portion concluding before the final leg. Expect long stretches of open road with fewer immediate exits.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
57 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 155.5 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US 84. 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
9/10
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 37 significant decision points across 560.2 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 23 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 81.5 miles (South Valley Mills Drive): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,693 ft
393 ft
Total Climb
4,690 ft
Total Descent
390 ft
Highest Point
4,693 ft
~560.2 mi in
Elevation Range
4,300 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 Marfa, TX, road signs point toward Loop 396, Fm 1776: Alpine and Sul Ross State University.
Loop 396
79.6 mi in
|
~1h 30m
Fm 1776: Alpine
478.1 mi in
|
~8h 45m
|
via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
Sul Ross State University
478.1 mi in
|
~8h 45m
|
via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
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 Marfa, TX
Full guide →Marfa is a town of 1,600 people (2019) in the Big Bend Country region of Texas. It's known for two things: innovative art and mysterious lights.
Top landmarks
- • Chinati Foundation — contemporary art museum in Marfa, Texas
- • El Paisano Hotel — historic place in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas
- • Presidio County Courthouse — historic place in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 155.5 miles on I 10. 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 280 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 17 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 Marfa, 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 17 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 81.5 miles (South Valley Mills Drive): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.3 hours each way, a round trip means 20.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Marfa, 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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