Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Palm Valley, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 37m
Distance
455.5 mi
733 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 30m
★
6 AM
8h 38m
8 AM
8h 53m
10 AM
8h 43m
12 PM
8h 42m
3 PM
8h 44m
5 PM
8h 53m
8 PM
8h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Palm Valley, TX
Rockwell branding agency
Trip Overview
Rhode Island, TX to Palm Valley, TX is 455.5 miles and takes about 8h 37m via U.S. Highway 77, with a fuel budget near $68 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. With a recommended two days for the trip, you'll have ample time to break up the drive and enjoy the scenery at a relaxed pace. Consider this trip if you're looking for a straightforward drive through a familiar landscape with minimal transitions between regions.
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
227.7 miles from Rhode Island, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 89.3 mi | 1h 38m |
| United States Highway 77 | 67.1 mi | 1h 16m |
| Main Street | 51.1 mi | 58m |
| Alamo Street | 37.1 mi | 43m |
| TX 21 | 36.6 mi | 40m |
| US Highway 77 South | 34 mi | 38m |
| I 69E | 31.3 mi | 33m |
| I 45 | 26.6 mi | 26m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Highway 77
— 89.3 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rhode Island, TX and Palm Valley, 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
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 833
6
Turn left onto North Interstate 45
159 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Interstate 45
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
8
Merge onto I 45
27 mi
·
26 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 79: Buffalo, Jewett
10
Turn straight onto North Craig Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Craig Street
11
Turn right onto US 79
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
West Commerce Street
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on US 79
51 mi
·
58 min
·
Main Street
13
Continue on US 79; TX 6
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Market Street
14
Continue on US 190; TX 6
11 mi
·
12 min
·
South State Highway 6
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward TX OSR
16
Continue on South State Highway 6
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
South State Highway 6
17
Turn right onto TX OSR
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
West Old San Antonio Road
18
Turn right onto TX 21
37 mi
·
40 min
·
TX 21
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
20
Keep slight left at fork
103 ft
·
2 sec
21
Turn left onto US 77
27 mi
·
30 min
·
United States Highway 77
22
Continue on US 77
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Jefferson Street
23
Continue on US 77
25 mi
·
28 min
·
South US Highway 77
24
Continue on US 77
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
US 77
25
Continue on US 77
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
United States Highway 77
26
Continue on US 77
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Texana Street
27
Turn right onto US 77; US 90 Alt
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
West 4th Street
28
Continue on US 77; US 90 Alt
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Fairwinds Street
29
Turn left onto US 77
40 mi
·
45 min
·
United States Highway 77
30
Take the exit
278 ft
·
7 sec
31
Turn straight onto US 77
405 ft
·
8 sec
·
Northeast Zac Lentz Parkway
32
Take the ramp onto US 77
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 77
33
Merge onto US 77
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Zac Lentz Parkway
34
Continue on US 77
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Northwest Zac Lentz Parkway
35
Take the exit onto US 77
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 77
36
Turn left
170 ft
·
6 sec
37
Turn right onto US 77
34 mi
·
38 min
·
US Highway 77 South
38
Turn straight onto US 77
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Alamo Street
39
Take the exit onto US 77
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
US 77
Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
40
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
41
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
I 37; US 77; I 69E
Use the straight lane.
42
Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77
31 mi
·
33 min
·
I 69E; US 77
Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Keep slight left at fork onto US 77
61 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
44
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77
28 mi
·
28 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 28
Toward FM 2994: Wilson Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Turn straight onto North Expressway 77
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Expressway 77
47
Turn right onto FM 2994
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Wilson Road
48
Turn left onto Dilworth Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Dilworth Road
49
Turn right onto Bougainvillea Drive
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Bougainvillea Drive
50
Arrive at destination
Bougainvillea Drive
Trip Plan
For this 455.5-mile drive, splitting it into two days is recommended, with an estimated fuel cost of $68. Aim to start your first day in Rhode Island with a full tank, especially since the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is nearly 90 miles. Plan your overnight stop somewhere around the halfway point to break up the 8h 37m of estimated driving time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as it's always wise to refuel when you see a station, particularly when covering long distances on U.S. Highway 77.
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 227.7 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 4h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.3 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 100 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 227.7 miles or 4h 18m 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 227.7 miles or 4h 18m
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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palm Valley, 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 228 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Palm Valley, TX
Aim for roughly 228 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 100 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 U.S. Highway 77 for about 89.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
228 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 San Antonio, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
228 mi · about 4.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 228 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 100 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 227.7 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 U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 228 miles or 4.3 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
0.1 mi from route
Kenedy County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot 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
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
290 Travel Plaza
1 mi from route
Texas Travel Information Center at Harlingen
1.5 mi from route
San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area
2.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 305 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 452.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 45
Merge onto I 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
29.2 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward US 79: Buffalo, Jewett
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 79: Buffalo, Jewett
7
331.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 18m in
|
I 69E; US 77
Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77 toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
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 I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
6
424.2 mi into trip
|
~8h 2m in
|
I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
452.1 mi into trip
|
~8h 31m in
Take the exit toward FM 2994: Wilson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28
Toward FM 2994: Wilson Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.39 one way
$124.78 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
159 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $69.69 | $139.38 |
| premium | $4.23 | $75.77 | $151.53 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $86.01 | $172.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$192–$302
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 159.4 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 | 136.7 | 1 | $47.83 | $21.86 |
| Efficient EV | 113.9 | 1 | $39.86 | $18.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 182.2 | 2 | $63.77 | $29.15 |
Gas CO2
159 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
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
Palm Valley, TX
Late night in Palm Valley on Monday
Local time
12:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 9 to 17 mph
1% 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
6 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 37m 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.
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On May 8, 1846, U.S. and Mexican troops clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long war that changed the map of North America. Although the two countries have deve...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 455.5
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore
National Seashore
Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$25
near mile 392.6
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 76% of your time on highways, covering a significant distance before transitioning to surface streets. The longest continuous stretch on U.S. Highway 77 measures 89.3 miles, offering a good opportunity for steady cruising. As you approach your destination, expect the highway to give way to more local roads and Main Street, signaling the end of the primary highway portion of your trip.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
50 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.3 mi on U.S. Highway 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 and United States Highway 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near I 45.
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 30 significant decision points across 455.5 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 2.6 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 331.5 miles (I 69E; US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
423 ft
31 ft
Total Climb
139 ft
Total Descent
490 ft
Highest Point
423 ft
~32.5 mi in
Elevation Range
393 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 Palm Valley, TX, road signs point toward Jewett, Tx Osr and Brownsville.
Jewett
29.2 mi in
|
~31m
Tx Osr
94.7 mi in
|
~1h 46m
Brownsville
331.5 mi in
|
~6h 18m
|
via I 69E; US 77
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.3 miles on U.S. Highway 77. 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 228 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 15 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 Palm Valley, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 331.5 miles (I 69E; US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.6 hours each way, a round trip means 17.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Palm Valley, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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