Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Tornillo, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

11h 18m

Distance

672.5 mi

1,082 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$102

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

11h 9m ★

6 AM

11h 19m

8 AM

11h 39m

10 AM

11h 26m

12 PM

11h 24m

3 PM

11h 27m

5 PM

11h 38m

8 PM

11h 13m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Rhode Island, TX

Beth Fitzpatrick

Tornillo, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

Rhode Island, TX to Tornillo, TX is 672.5 miles and takes about 11 hours 18 minutes via Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and I 10, with a fuel budget near $105 and best split over two days. This route traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a long-haul experience that's primarily highway cruising. Given the 11-hour drive time, planning for an overnight stop is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. The total distance and duration suggest a trip best suited for those comfortable with extended time behind the wheel, focusing on efficient travel across the state.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

336.3 miles from Rhode Island, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway	432.8 mi	7h 12m
I 10	130.8 mi	2h 3m
US 287	62.8 mi	1h 11m
I 45	40.7 mi	40m
O T Smith Road	2.8 mi	5m
East FM 833	0.9 mi	1m
West FM 833	0.7 mi	1m
Farm-to-Market Road 833	0.4 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway — 432.8 mi, about 7h 12m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~1,511 veh/hr typical · worst 1,850

Quietest

2 AM

~212 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Tornillo, 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

41 mi · 40 min · I 45

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

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.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 20

429 mi · 7 hr 8 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

Toward I 20 West: Abilene Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10

131 mi · 2 hr 3 min · I 10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec

Toward Tornillo

Turn left onto FM 3380

1.0 mi · 1 min · O T Smith Road

Continue on O T Smith Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · O T Smith Road

Turn left onto TX 20

77 ft · 1 sec · Alameda Avenue

Arrive at destination

TX 20

Trip Plan

For this 672.5-mile drive, it's best to plan for two days to make it manageable. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight hours and cover a substantial portion of the 11 hours 18 minutes. With 3 recommended stops, you can pace your driving and take breaks every few hours. Consider stopping for the night around the halfway point or where you find convenient lodging, keeping in mind the longest stretch of highway is over 400 miles. Ensure your fuel tank is full before departing Rhode Island, TX, as services can be spread out.

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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 336.3 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 5h 47m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 432.8 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 148 miles or 2h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 336.3 miles or 5h 47m 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 336.3 miles or 5h 47m

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 10h 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tornillo, 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 336 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Tornillo, TX

Aim for roughly 336 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 148 miles from Rhode Island, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway for about 432.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Crowley, TX

222 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.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Midland, TX

444 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 Midland, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Rotan, TX

336 mi · about 5.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Rotan, TX after about 336 miles or 5.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Crowley, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 148 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rotan, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 336.3 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 432.8 miles.

Overnight split

2.4 mi from route

Odessa Meteor Crater

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14323810946

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 109.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | FM 833 / East FM 833

Turn left onto FM 833 / East FM 833

Navigation decision point

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.

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

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

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$102.09 one way

$204.19 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 235 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$112.52	$225.05
premium	$4.58	$121.26	$242.52
diesel	$5.35	$141.65	$283.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$102

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$232–$342

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 235.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $71 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	201.8	2	$70.61	$32.28
Efficient EV	168.1	1	$58.84	$26.90
EV Truck/SUV	269	3	$94.15	$43.04

Gas CO2

235 kg

EV CO2

79 kg (66% less)

Plan for 2 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 May 25, 2026

Origin

Rhode Island, TX

Afternoon in Rhode Island on Wednesday

Local time

2:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Partly Cloudy

0 mph 10% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 1:02AM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 12:46AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Tornillo, TX

Afternoon in Tornillo on Wednesday

Local time

1:44 PM

MDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

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

1 hour earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

2 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

11h 18m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is largely on major highways, with 35% of the total mileage on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and I 10. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 432.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway before transitioning to other roads. Expect significant stretches of rural cruising with fewer exits once you leave the main interstate segments. The consistent highway use means fewer unexpected turns and more predictable driving.

35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

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

Longest single stretch: 432.8 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

At 11h 18m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near FM 833 / East FM 833.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 672.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (FM 833 / East FM 833): Navigation decision point; 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.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

4,653 ft 393 ft

Total Climb

4,673 ft

Total Descent

1,479 ft

Highest Point

4,653 ft

~624.5 mi in

Elevation Range

4,260 ft

Notable High Points

4,653 ft at ~624.5 miles +791 ft prominence

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 Tornillo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Worth along the way.

Fort Worth

43.1 mi in | ~45m | via US 287

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 3 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

11h 18m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Long-haul drive route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 432.8 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. 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 336 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 70 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 Tornillo, 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 3 meaningful breaks. There are 70 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 11.3 hours each way, a round trip means 22.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tornillo, 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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