Rhode Island, TX to Pearsall, TX is 311.9 miles and takes about 5h 41m via Purple Heart Trail and I-35, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. You'll be traveling entirely within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. This is a straightforward, single-day drive that doesn't require an overnight stop. Given the relatively short duration, it's a good option for a quick transit between these two points.
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
155.9 miles from Rhode Island, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 104 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,300 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,862
Quietest
2 AM
~564 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Pearsall, 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 227Toward 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
6.1 mi·6 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi·54 min·Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton StreetUse the slight left lane.
23
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi·1 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi·11 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·8 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
2.1 mi·2 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, LaredoUse the slight left lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
10 mi·12 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo StreetUse the slight right lane.
29
Continue on I 35
40 mi·40 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward I 35 South Business
31
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
2.6 mi·3 min·Business Interstate 35 East
32
Continue on I 35 Bus
1.1 mi·2 min·North Oak Street
33
Arrive at destination
I 35 Bus
Trip Plan
For this 5h 41m drive, departing in the morning will allow you to arrive in Pearsall with plenty of daylight remaining. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with when you stop for fuel or a break. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is on Purple Heart Trail, covering 139.4 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you begin that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the end of that 139.4-mile stretch.
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 155.9 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.4 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 69 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.9 miles or 2h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pearsall, 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 311.9 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 139.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 257.6 — 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
8
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
7
249.1 mi into trip|~4h 31m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South
8
255.5 mi into trip|~4h 39m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
8
257.6 mi into trip|~4h 42m in|I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Housto...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.82 one way
$93.64 round trip
$3.81/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$51.81
$103.61
premium
$4.57
$56.06
$112.11
diesel
$6.28
$77.07
$154.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.6
1
$32.75
$14.97
Efficient EV
78
0
$27.29
$12.48
EV Truck/SUV
124.8
1
$43.67
$19.96
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Rhode Island, TX
Evening
in Rhode Island on Thursday
Local time
7:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pearsall, TX
Evening
in Pearsall on Thursday
Local time
7:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
ENE 5 mph1% chanceLive 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.
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
8 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
5h 41m 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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 75.3
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 258.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 311.9 miles with a 50% highway share. You'll experience a mixed highway and surface road profile. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 139.4 miles on Purple Heart Trail. Expect to transition between faster highway cruising and potentially more stop-and-go traffic as you navigate different road types and exit/entrance ramps.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.4 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 311.9 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 175.7 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 249.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
807 ft393 ft
Total Climb
828 ft
Total Descent
592 ft
Highest Point
807 ft
~155.9 mi in
Elevation Range
414 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 Pearsall, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Laredo and Spur 536: Houston.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 41m. Total distance: 311.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.4 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Pearsall, 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 1 rest area 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 175.7 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 249.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pearsall, TX before the return drive.
