Trip from Rhode Island, TX to New Braunfels, 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

4h 8m

Distance

226.4 mi

364 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

3h 55m ★

6 AM

4h 9m

8 AM

4h 35m

10 AM

4h 18m

12 PM

4h 15m

3 PM

4h 19m

5 PM

4h 33m

8 PM

4h 1m

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

Best Time

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Rhode Island, TX

Beth Fitzpatrick

city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in Texas, United States, that is the seat of Comal County

New Braunfels, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Rhode Island, TX to New Braunfels, TX is 226.4 miles and takes about 4h 8m via Purple Heart Trail and I-35/I-45, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward journey. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll experience a mixed driving profile that's manageable for most travelers. Plan for this trip to be mostly highway, so be prepared for typical interstate conditions as you head south toward New Braunfels.

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

113.2 miles from Rhode Island, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	87 mi	1h 33m
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 Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.2 mi	7m
Corsicana Bypass	5.6 mi	6m
Hubbard Bypass	5.5 mi	5m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 87 mi, about 1h 33m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 80 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~3,916 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~672 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 51 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 New Braunfels, TX.

Start on County Road 161

10 ft · 7 sec · County Road 161

Turn left onto FM 833

0.9 mi · 1 min · East FM 833

Turn right onto TX 75; FM 833

52 ft · 2 sec · North State Highway 75

Turn left onto FM 833

0.7 mi · 1 min · West FM 833

Continue on FM 833

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Farm-to-Market Road 833

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 50 sec

Merge onto I 45

20 mi · 19 min · I 45

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Exit 227 Toward TX 31: Athens, Waco

Turn left onto South Interstate 45

0.4 mi · 50 sec · South Interstate 45

Turn left onto TX 31

5.6 mi · 6 min · Corsicana Bypass

Use the straight lane.

At end of road, turn left onto TX 31

19 mi · 21 min · West State Highway 31

Continue on TX 31

5.5 mi · 5 min · Hubbard Bypass

Continue on TX 31

17 mi · 17 min · State Highway 31

Continue on US 84

2.5 mi · 2 min · East US Highway 84

Continue on US 84

2.6 mi · 4 min · Bellmead Drive

Turn straight onto US 84

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Waco Drive

Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway

519 ft · 12 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward I 35 South, US 77 South

Merge onto I 35; US 77

6.1 mi · 6 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

56 mi · 58 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290

49 mi · 53 min · Purple Heart Trail

Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Exit 187 Toward FM 725: Seguin Avenue, Lake McQueeney Use the slight right lane.

Continue on Interstate 35 North

361 ft · 7 sec · Interstate 35 North

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn right onto FM 725

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Seguin Avenue

Enter roundabout onto TX 46 Bus

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Main Plaza

Arrive at destination

Main Plaza

Trip Plan

Given this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best, though an early start will give you ample time to reach New Braunfels without feeling rushed. With a duration of just over 4 hours, you'll likely only need one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent. Your estimated fuel cost is around $34, so factor that into your budget.

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 113.2 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 2h 5m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87 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 50 miles or 56m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 113.2 miles or 2h 5m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Braunfels, 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 226.4 miles and 4h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 87 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Troy, TX

113 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

Italy, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Troy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 113.2 miles from Rhode Island, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.3 mi from route

Tube Chute

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

+18302214000

Visit website

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

New Braunfels, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18306291572

Visit website

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 224.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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.

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.

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

224.8 mi into trip | ~4h 4m in

Take the exit toward FM 725: Seguin Avenue, Lake McQueeney

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 187 Toward FM 725: Seguin Avenue, Lake McQueeney

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.01 one way

$62.02 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 79 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$34.64	$69.27
premium	$4.23	$37.66	$75.32
diesel	$4.80	$42.75	$85.50

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 79.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	67.9	0	$23.77	$10.87
Efficient EV	56.6	0	$19.81	$9.06
EV Truck/SUV	90.6	1	$31.70	$14.49

Gas CO2

79 kg

EV CO2

26 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.

Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Rhode Island, TX

Late night in Rhode Island on Monday

Local time

1:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

93°F

Mostly Sunny

SSW 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

New Braunfels, TX

Late night in New Braunfels on Monday

Local time

1:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

94°F

Mostly Sunny

S 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

96°F

Troy, TX

113 mi in

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

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

4h 8m 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 78.1

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route offers a mixed drive, with 54% of it on highways. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 87 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, providing a solid block of driving before transitioning. The journey will likely involve a combination of faster highway segments and potentially some local road driving as you progress. Expect the road character to shift as you move from the initial highway portions to potentially more varied terrain as you get closer to your destination.

54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 87 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 17 significant decision points across 226.4 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

Mostly flat terrain

778 ft 329 ft

Total Climb

747 ft

Total Descent

510 ft

Highest Point

778 ft

~161.7 mi in

Elevation Range

449 ft

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 New Braunfels, 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.

Arriving in New Braunfels, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1845

New Braunfels is a resort town in the Texas Hill Country. As the name implies, it has a German heritage, and many of the local attractions capitalize on this.

Top landmarks

• Comal County Courthouse — historic place in New Braunfels, Comal County, Texas
• Gruene Family Home — historic place in Gruene, Comal County, Texas
• Gruene Hall — historic place in Gruene, Comal County, Texas

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 8m. Total distance: 226.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 87 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 18 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 New Braunfels, 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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at New Braunfels, 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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Explore more options from Rhode Island, TX or browse trips ending in New Braunfels, TX.

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Trip from Rhode Island, TX to New Braunfels, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Buc-ee's

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Buc-ee's

TA

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Navarro County Northbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Marlstone Retail Center

Love's Travel Stop

Navarro County Southbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Tube Chute

The Sophienburg Museum & Archives

Austin Bat Tours

Children's Park

Village of Salado Visitors Center

Calaboose African American History Museum

Cultural Activities Center

Botanical Gates of Paradise

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Rhode Island, TX

New Braunfels, TX

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 8m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Rhode Island, TX

Arriving in New Braunfels, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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