Trip from Rhode Island, TX to San Juan, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 48m

Distance

502.7 mi

809 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$75

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

22 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

8h 40m ★

6 AM

8h 48m

8 AM

9h 4m

10 AM

8h 54m

12 PM

8h 52m

3 PM

8h 54m

5 PM

9h 3m

8 PM

8h 43m

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

Best Time

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Rhode Island, TX

Beth Fitzpatrick

San Juan, TX

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

Rhode Island, TX to San Juan, TX is 502.7 miles and takes about 8h 48m via TX 130 Toll and I-37, with a fuel budget near $72 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though we recommend splitting it over two days. This long-haul drive stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and ending in the same. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward trip for those comfortable with extended driving. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover a significant distance within 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

251.4 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
TX 130 Toll	86.1 mi	1h 19m
South Nueces Street	66.2 mi	1h 10m
I 37	60.5 mi	1h 1m
Falfurrias Expressway	55.8 mi	58m
Purple Heart Trail	37.9 mi	39m
I 10	32.5 mi	33m
I 69C	27.9 mi	30m
I 35	26.5 mi	26m

Longest stretch: TX 130 Toll — 86.1 mi, about 1h 19m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~3,115 veh/hr typical · worst 3,909

Quietest

2 AM

~494 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 104 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 San Juan, 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

26 mi · 26 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec

Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.

Continue on TX 130 Toll

86 mi · 1 hr 19 min · TX 130 Toll

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 10 West: San Antonio Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; TX 130

11 mi · 11 min · I 10; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130

9.4 mi · 9 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130

12 mi · 12 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 410

1.4 mi · 1 min · Connally Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 410; TX 130

6.7 mi · 7 min · Connally Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 37

60 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 37

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 281 South

15 mi · 19 min · US 281 South

Toward US 281 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

9.5 mi · 10 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

56 mi · 58 min · Falfurrias Expressway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

18 mi · 20 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 2 East; US 83 East

0.5 mi · 33 sec · I 2 East; US 83 East

Continue on I 2; US 83

0.4 mi · 28 sec · I 2; US 83

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Turn straight onto West Expressway 83

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Expressway 83

Turn right onto FM 1426

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Nebraska Avenue

Turn left onto US 83 Bus

179 ft · 5 sec · US 83 Bus

Turn right

155 ft · 13 sec

Turn right

178 ft · 13 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 8h 48m estimated drive time, splitting this 502.7-mile trip over two days is highly recommended for comfort and safety. Plan to start early if you aim to cover a significant portion on your first day. With only 2 recommended stops, be sure to strategically plan your breaks, especially considering the 86.1-mile stretch on TX 130 Toll. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is around $72; utilize the available services along I-37. The transition from highway to surface roads near the end means you'll want to be extra alert for changing speed limits and traffic patterns.

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 251.4 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 4h 18m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 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 111 miles or 2h 2m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 251.4 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 251.4 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 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Juan, 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 251 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into San Juan, TX

Aim for roughly 251 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 111 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 TX 130 Toll for about 86.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Burleson, TX

166 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.

city in and county seat of Live Oak County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

George West, TX

332 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 George West, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

251 mi · about 4.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 251 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Burleson, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 111 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 251.4 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 TX 130 Toll if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.1 miles.

Overnight split

0.9 mi from route

QuikTrip

2.3 mi from route

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

McAllen, Texas

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+19563318228

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 33

5 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 274.6 — 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

146.3 mi into trip | ~2h 38m in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

233.1 mi into trip | ~3h 59m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 10 West: San Antonio

274.4 mi into trip | ~4h 42m in

Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi

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 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...

274.6 mi into trip | ~4h 42m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$75.46 one way

$150.93 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 176 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$83.50	$167.00
premium	$4.57	$90.35	$180.69
diesel	$6.28	$124.21	$248.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$75

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$205–$315

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 175.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

EV Charging Along Route

22 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Temple, TX - Tesla Supercharger

Temple, TX

Tesla

68 DCFC

Waco, TX - Tesla Supercharger

Bellmead, TX

Tesla

22 DCFC

Lorena, TX - Tesla Supercharger

Lorena, TX

Tesla

20 DCFC

Georgetown, TX - Tesla Supercharger

Georgetown, TX

Tesla

16 DCFC

Hutto, TX - Tesla Supercharger

Hutto, TX

Tesla

12 DCFC

Corsicana, TX Rechargery Relay - I-45

Corsicana, TX

IONNA

10 DCFC

Corsicana, TX - Tesla Supercharger

Corsicana, TX

Tesla

10 DCFC

Waco, TX Rechargery @ Casey's - Bagby Ave

Waco, TX

IONNA

10 DCFC

Tesla: 7 IONNA: 3 EV Connect: 2 ChargePoint Network: 2 SHELL_RECHARGE: 2 Electrify America: 1 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1 Non-Networked: 1 Blink Network: 1 FCN: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	150.8	1	$52.78	$24.13
Efficient EV	125.7	1	$43.99	$20.11
EV Truck/SUV	201.1	2	$70.38	$32.17

Gas CO2

176 kg

EV CO2

59 kg (66% 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 23, 2026

Origin

Rhode Island, TX

Late night in Rhode Island on Friday

Local time

3:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Mostly Clear

0 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

San Juan, TX

Late night in San Juan on Friday

Local time

3:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Partly Cloudy

E 3 mph 2% chance 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

15 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 48m 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.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 277.4

View on nps.gov

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...

9 mi from route ~23 min detour Free near mile 69.3

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 highway, with 74% of the 502.7 miles on major roads like TX 130 Toll and I-37. You'll encounter your longest stretch without a major exit on TX 130 Toll, covering 86.1 miles. The route transitions from highway to surface streets, such as South Nueces Street, after the main interstate sections conclude. Expect a mix of high-speed cruising and more urban merging as you approach your destination.

74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 86.1 mi on TX 130 Toll.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 130 Toll and South Nueces Street. 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 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 33 significant decision points across 502.7 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 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 146.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

802 ft 82 ft

Total Climb

550 ft

Total Descent

836 ft

Highest Point

802 ft

~143.6 mi in

Elevation Range

721 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 San Juan, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.

Corpus Christi

274.4 mi in | ~4h 42m

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 San Juan, TX

Full guide →

San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico and its largest city, with 342,000 (2020) inhabitants in the municipality and 2,203,000 in the metropolitan area. Founded in 1521 by the Spanish conquistadors, San Juan is the oldest city under the jurisdiction of the United States. San Juan is located in the north-east coast of Puerto Rico and features distinctly centuries-old architecture, such as Spanish military forts built from the 1540s to 1800s, an active harbor, and a very active economic area in the Hato Rey and Santurce districts. San Juan has magnificent beaches, hotels, plazas, historic sites, and museums.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll. 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 251 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 44 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 San Juan, 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 44 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 8.8 hours each way, a round trip means 17.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Juan, 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, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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