Llano Estacado Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Sundown, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 56m
Distance
455.5 mi
733 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$68
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 48m
★
6 AM
7h 57m
8 AM
8h 14m
10 AM
8h 3m
12 PM
8h 1m
3 PM
8h 4m
5 PM
8h 14m
8 PM
7h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Sundown, TX
Al d'Vilas
Trip Overview
Rhode Island, TX to Sundown, TX is 455.5 miles and takes about 7h 56m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and US 84, with a fuel budget near $67 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll mostly be on major highways. Plan for a full day of driving, keeping in mind the estimated duration and fuel costs.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
227.8 miles from Rhode Island, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 194.1 mi | 3h 17m |
| US 84 | 74.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| US 287 | 62.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| I 45 | 40.7 mi | 40m |
| FM 1585 | 26.1 mi | 26m |
| Highway 84 | 20 mi | 19m |
| East Highway 84 | 6.8 mi | 6m |
| Loop 289 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
— 194.1 mi, about 3h 17m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,599 veh/hr typical · worst 2,068
Quietest
2 AM
~199 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Sundown, 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
41 mi
·
40 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 287
63 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
US 287
Exit 247
Toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 West
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
190 mi
·
3 hr 12 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 84
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 84
Exit 238A
Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
74 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US 84
13
Turn right onto Loop 46
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Avenue F
14
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
North Avenue F
15
Turn straight onto TX 207
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Ralls Road
16
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 15th Street
17
Turn right onto US 84
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North US Highway 84
18
Continue on US 84
20 mi
·
19 min
·
Highway 84
19
Continue on US 84
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
20
Continue on US 84
6.8 mi
·
6 min
·
East Highway 84
21
Continue on US 84
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Slaton Road
22
Turn left onto Southeast Loop 289
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Southeast Loop 289
23
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
24
Merge onto Loop 289
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Loop 289
25
Take the exit onto Spur 327
0.6 mi
·
48 sec
·
Spur 327
Toward Spur 327: Brownfield
26
Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 327
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Spur 327
Toward Spur 327: Brownfield
27
Turn straight onto Marsha Sharp Freeway
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Marsha Sharp Freeway
28
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
29
Merge onto US 62; US 82
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Marsha Sharp Freeway
30
Turn right onto FM 1585
26 mi
·
26 min
·
FM 1585
31
Turn left onto FM 303; FM 1585
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
FM 303; FM 1585
32
Turn left onto FM 301
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Richardson Street
33
Arrive at destination
FM 301
Trip Plan
For this 7h 56m drive, leaving Rhode Island in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Sundown. The route has 2 recommended stops, which are good points to break up the drive and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 194.1-mile stretch on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility, but aim to start early to avoid driving in the dark. The estimated fuel cost of $67 is a helpful budget point.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 227.8 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 4h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.1 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 100 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 227.8 miles or 4h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sundown, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rhode Island, TX
This is one driving day of about 455.5 miles and 7h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 100 miles from Rhode Island, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway for about 194.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
228 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 100 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 227.8 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 194.1 miles.
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
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
I-20 Westbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Nolan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
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
Flying J 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
TA
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Eagles Landing Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Westbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Buc-ee's
2.4 mi from route
NTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
First break
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
Visit websitePainting with a Twist
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Lubbock, Texas
Hours: 10 am–3 pm
+18067947928
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 245 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 300 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 45
Merge onto I 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
43.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
US 287
Take the exit onto US 287 toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort Worth
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 247
Toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort Worth
7
105.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 20 West
7
109.9 mi into trip
|
~2h in
|
I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
6
300 mi into trip
|
~5h 13m in
|
US 84
Take the exit onto US 84 toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 238A
Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.38 one way
$136.76 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
159 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $75.66 | $151.32 |
| premium | $4.57 | $81.86 | $163.73 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $112.55 | $225.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
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, 2026-10-19.
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 Friday
Local time
3:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Sundown, TX
Late night in Sundown on Friday
Local time
3:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph
1% 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.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 56m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 53% of the 455.5 miles on major roads like the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and US 84. You'll encounter a mixed highway and surface road profile, so expect transitions. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 194.1 miles, so you'll have extended periods of cruising before reaching surface roads. Watch for the change in scenery and traffic patterns as you move between highway and local routes.
53% 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: 194.1 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway.
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 2.4 miles in near I 45.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 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 2.4 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.1 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 105.9 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,538 ft
348 ft
Total Climb
3,504 ft
Total Descent
359 ft
Highest Point
3,538 ft
~455.5 mi in
Elevation Range
3,191 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 Sundown, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Lubbock and Spur 327: Brownfield.
Fort Worth
43.1 mi in
|
~45m
|
via US 287
Lubbock
300 mi in
|
~5h 13m
|
via US 84
Spur 327: Brownfield
417.9 mi in
|
~7h 15m
|
via Spur 327
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 Sundown, TX
Full guide →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 7h 56m. Total distance: 455.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 56m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.1 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 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 Sundown, 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.1 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 105.9 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sundown, 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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